The wide-open race for legislative seats in District 14 is starting to get more crowded.

Gloria Mendoza, a former Grandview mayor and city council member, announced plans to run for state representative as a Republican.

District 14 encompasses much of the Lower Yakima Valley and the Yakama Reservation, as well as East Yakima, East Pasco and a large stretch of the Columbia River.

It’s an area Mendoza has served as a public official. She was elected to Grandview City Council in 2013 and as mayor in 2019. In 2023, she lost a mayoral election against Ashley Lara.

“I am anxious to represent the Lower Valley, as well as all of the district,” Mendoza said in a news release.

Mendoza said she was focused on community and her career centered around creating educational opportunities. Mendoza owns several businesses in Grandview.

State senate and representative seats in District 14 are open after a lawsuit in federal court resulted in new boundaries being drawn for legislative districts across Central Washington. The incumbents for all three seats – Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and Reps. Chris Corry, R-Yakima, and Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale – were all put in new districts.

State representatives and senators represent voters in state government in Olympia.

Mendoza didn't say which of the two state representative seats she will run for, but she could face Chelsea Dimas or Raúl Martínez, who both announced plans to run for the District 14 seats as Democrats. Mendoza joins Debra Manjarrez in running as a Republican.

King and Democrat Maria Beltran plan to run for the District 14 Senate seat. King is moving his residence to stay in the 14th.

The lawsuit in U.S. District Court that led to redistricting argued that new boundaries would give the Latino community in the region a better chance at electing candidates.

Candidate filing begins Monday , May 6, and closes Friday , May 10 .

Jasper Kenzo Sundeen's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund . For information on republishing, email .