Osman Salahuddin
Osman Salahuddin (Democratic Party) is a member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing District 48-Position 1. He assumed office on January 7, 2025. His current term ends on January 12, 2026.
Salahuddin (Democratic Party) is running in a special election to the Washington House of Representatives to represent District 48-Position 1. He is on the ballot in the special general election on November 4, 2025. He advanced from the special primary on August 5, 2025.
Salahuddin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
The Metropolitan King County Council appointed Salahuddin to the Washington House on January 7, 2025, to replace Vandana Slatter (D).[1]
Biography
Osman Salahuddin earned a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from the University of Washington. His career experience includes working as a researcher at Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center and UW Medicine.[2]
Elections
2025
See also: Washington state legislative special elections, 2025
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Special general election for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1
Incumbent Osman Salahuddin and Dennis Ellis are running in the special general election for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Osman Salahuddin (D)  | |
| Dennis Ellis (R) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Special nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1
Incumbent Osman Salahuddin and Dennis Ellis defeated Ranga Bondada in the special primary for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 on August 5, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Osman Salahuddin (D) | 60.9 | 9,238 |
| ✔ | Dennis Ellis (R) | 30.6 | 4,649 | |
 | Ranga Bondada (D) | 8.5 | 1,287 | |
| Total votes: 15,174 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Salahuddin received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Salahuddin's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Osman Salahuddin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Salahuddin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I was born and raised on the Eastside, attended local public schools, and am a proud graduate of the University of Washington where I studied neuroscience. I come from a working-class, immigrant family — my father owns a small business, and my mother has served for over 20 years as a union-represented paraeducator in special education. Their example taught me the value of hard work, public service, and standing up for those who are often left off the table.
Before running for office, I worked for King Cunty Councilmember Sarah Perry and bring a data-driven approach from my experiences as a medical device consultant and research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. As a community organizer and now legislator, I’ve focused on lifting up the voices of immigrants, working people, and young people, those who too often don’t see themselves reflected in government.
In the Legislature, I’ve prioritized affordable housing, education, immigrant and refugee rights, and building an inclusive economy that works for all. I ran for office to make sure our communities are not only heard but centered in policymaking. Now I’m running to retain my seat to continue delivering on that promise.- Housing You Can Afford and Access: Everyone deserves a place to call home. I’m fighting to increase housing supply across the board — so that long-time residents can stay in their communities, and young families, workers, and new neighbors can afford to live here. That means faster permitting, more missing middle housing, and deep investments in affordable, emergency, and permanent supportive housing.
- Strong Public Schools and Workforce Pathways: As a proud graduate of local public schools in the district and the son of a preschool paraeducator, I know firsthand how vital education is to our community’s future. In Olympia, I’ll continue to fight for special education funding, increased compensation and classroom resources for educators, and expanded access to early learning. I’ll also champion workforce development, apprenticeship programs, and stronger connections between K–12, community colleges, and high-demand careers, ensuring every student, regardless of background, has a pathway to success.
- A thriving economy: The 48th is home to some of Washington’s most innovative companies and small businesses. As the son of an immigrant entrepreneur, I’ve seen both the challenges and the promise of our economy. I’m working to expand access to capital, training, and licensing support so small businesses can grow and succeed. I’ll continue fighting for an economy that uplifts immigrant families, supports workers, and ensures everyone has a fair shot, whether you’re starting a business or building a better future for your kids.
I also want to leave behind a more inclusive, accessible political system where young people, especially from immigrant, BIPOC, and working-class communities, feel empowered to speak up, organize, and lead. If my time in office helps even one young person believe they belong in these spaces, then I will be very proud of that legacy.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Other survey responses
Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Salahuddin completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
Scorecards
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Washington scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
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Candidate Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 |
Officeholder Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 |
Personal |
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vandana Slatter (D) |
Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
