Vancouver nurse Sarah Mittelman running for 49th District in state House of Representatives

Vancouver nurse practitioner Sarah Mittelman announced Monday she is running for the state House of Representatives' 49th District seat.

Mittelman, who until recently served as chair of the Clark County Democratic Women, is running as a Republican.

The legislative seat is currently held by Rep. Sharon Wylie, a Democrat who announced in January that she would not seek a ninth term in office but would instead run for Clark County auditor in the upcoming election.

Mittelman said her campaign will focus on everyday issues: the cost of living, public safety, behavioral health and substance misuse, transportation and how communities grow.

"These are not abstract policy issues to me," she said in a press release. "They show up when moms tell me they no longer feel comfortable letting their kids walk home from the school bus, when families are doing everything right and still falling behind, and when people in crisis cannot get help until everything falls apart. That is why I'm running."

Mittelman works as a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She said she wants to bring practical leadership, accountability and real-world experience to the Legislature.

"I've spent my career working with people at their most vulnerable," Mittelman said. "I've seen where systems work, and I've seen where they fall short. We need to be honest about that and build systems that actually help people move forward."

Her campaign announcement came just a short time after stepping down from the Democratic group's executive team, a decision that didn't sit well with some members of her former party. Several posts on social media called Mittelman's party switch a calculated political move.

"The timeline around her announcement raises serious questions about her leadership and accountability," community activist Adrienne Mason said.

Mason said Mittelman was attending Republican events and exploring whether there was a place for her as a Republican candidate while still serving as chair of the Democratic organization she was preparing to leave.

"What I witnessed was not practical leadership or accountability. It was a carefully timed political pivot presented as principle," Mason said.

Mittelman said she began considering a run for office last year but wasn't sure her values still aligned with the direction of the party.

"I still made a real effort to stay engaged by taking on more responsibility, joining committees, and reconnecting with colleagues. But over time, it felt like there was less room for nuance, moderation, and honest disagreement," she said.

This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism, a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation. Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 5:53 PM.