For Immediate Release:
Feb 24, 2026

Contact:
Friends of Katy Cornell
Info@katycornell.com
360.216.7400

Katy Cornell decides to run for Washington State House 26th District, Position 2

GIG HARBOR, WA – February 24, 2026 – Today, Port Orchard native, nonprofit leader, community advocate, and pastor, Katy Cornell decides to run for Washington State House 26th District, Position 2, Following Rep. Michelle Valdez’ Announcement to Not Seek Re-Election.

“Michelle Valdez has served the 26th District with unwavering intelligence and integrity for more than a decade.” Katy Cornell said. “I am deeply honored to step forward at this moment, to meet the challenge of continuing that legacy while bringing my own leadership experience to take the next step forward for our families, businesses, and communities in the 26th District.”

Born and raised in Port Orchard, Katy Cornell has lived her entire life, worked, and raised her family here. She graduated from South Kitsap High School, earned an Associate’s degree from Olympic College, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northwest University, and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University. 

In her nonprofit work she provided critical support to refugees and families displaced by war, helping the Ukrainians fleeing to Romania and the displaced Burkinabes in Burkina Faso. Since 2009, she has led Walk In The Light, a nonprofit that has built schools and health centers, and developed more than 25 wells bringing clean water to over 50,000 people in Burkina Faso.

For the past 13 years, she has also served as a pastor, walking alongside families through life’s most meaningful moments — weddings, baptisms, funerals, and personal crises — with compassion, hope, and strength.  

A wife of 18 years and blessed with three great children, Katy Cornell is deeply motivated to ensure that her children and the entire next generation have the same opportunities she had growing up. 

Katy Cornell has already earned early endorsements from legislative leaders, including strong backing from Rep. Michelle Valdez. Representative Valdez expressed her high regard for Cornell: “I have had a chance to get to know Katy, who she is, her work ethic, her integrity and her love for this community. I cannot think of a better person to succeed me. I’m proud to endorse Katy Cornell and confident she’ll build on the work we’ve done with fresh energy, practical solutions, and the common-sense leadership our district needs.”

“My roots are here. My family is here. My calling to serve has always been rooted in the belief that government should be strong where it must be, limited where it should be, and always accountable to the people,” Katy Cornell stated. “We the people are the solution. I will bring that same results-driven approach — proven through decades of effective nonprofit leadership and community service — to Olympia to deliver safer neighborhoods, stronger families, better education outcomes, affordability for working families, and real tax relief support for small businesses.”

“I am ready to hit the ground running and build on the strong foundation Michelle has laid while moving our district forward with fresh energy, practical solutions, and common-sense leadership,” Cornell added.

Her campaign can be reached at (360) 216-7400 or info@katycornell.com. More information is available at KatyCornell.com, with a full biography at KatyCornell.com/about.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec 2025

MEDIA CONTACT
Monica Marchetti
(253) 324-8134
monica@themarchettico.com

GIG HARBOR, WA — Local nonprofit leader, pastor and business owner Katy Cornell announced her candidacy for State Representative in Washington’s 26th Legislative District, outlining a results-driven campaign centered on affordability, education outcomes and accountability in state government.

Cornell said voters in the 26th District are increasingly concerned that Olympia is focused on ideological priorities while everyday challenges for families continue to grow.

“Families in Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, and Bremerton are feeling squeezed by rising costs and uncertainty in our schools,” Cornell said. “They want solutions that make life more affordable and deliver results, not more politics.”

Cornell was born and raised in the 26th Legislative District — growing up in Port Orchard and graduating from South Kitsap High School before settling in Gig Harbor. She holds a degree in psychology from Northwest University and a master's in nonprofit leadership from Seattle University. 

In 2009, Cornell and her husband founded Walk In the Light, a nonprofit that serves vulnerable communities, primarily in Burkina Faso, West Africa. 

When asked about her nonprofit leadership, Cornell said the organization has built schools and health centers and developed more than 25 wells providing clean water to over 50,000 people. She said the nonprofit has also supported refugees displaced by war and expanded its work to assist Ukrainian families fleeing to Romania.

Cornell and her husband of 18 years are both pastors. She said her nonprofit work and role within the church have given her firsthand insight into areas where communities can be better served at both the state and local levels. She also highlighted her experience in ensuring efficient use of funds and the need to develop and evaluate program effectiveness. 

Cornell went on to state that “a big heartbeat of mine is that we’re actually helping people out of poverty. Program effectiveness means that when there is a need, people get the help they need, and they get the tools to break free from that situation. I will bring that same eye for effectiveness to the State Legislature,” said Cornell.  

Cornell has secured early support from House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary and Deputy Republican Leader Chris Corry, as well as from current 26th Legislative District official Michelle Caldier.

Cornell said she intends to focus on practical solutions that address affordability in housing and cost of living, education, lowering taxes for small businesses and the effective use of public resources. 

Her campaign can be reached at (360) 216-7400 or info@katycornell.com. More information is available at KatyCornell.com, with a full biography at KatyCornell.com/about.

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