Debra Lekanoff
Debra E. Lekanoff is a Democratic member of the Washington Legislature representing the State's 40th House district for position 1. She is a member of the Tlingit tribe and was credited with being the first female tribal member to serve in the Washington House of Representatives. However, Lois Stratton was actually the first female tribal member to serve in the Washington House of Representatives, starting her first term in 1979, making Lekanoff the second female tribal member to serve in this position.
Career
Lekanoff won the election on 6 November 2018 from the platform of Democratic Party. She secured sixty-seven percent of the vote while her closest rival Republican Michael Petrish secured thirty-three percent.Lekanoff was the head sponsor of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's and People's Alert System, the first nationwide alert system for missing Indigenous people in the United States. On 31 March 2022, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed six bills into law, two of which focus on helping missing Indigenous people that will take effect June 9.