State Senator Sharon Shewmake on Politics, Power, and Why She's Walking Away
Episode notes
What happens when an economics professor who never planned on politics ends up serving four years in the Washington State House and four more in the Senate? In this episode, host Brad Kelly sits down with outgoing State Senator Sharon Shewmake (42nd Legislative District) for a candid, wide-ranging conversation that crosses party lines without losing its warmth.
Sharon opens up about her unlikely path from growing up with no connection to politics, to filing for office on a whim with a $500 fee, to representing her community for six years. She talks honestly about what it feels like to be "put on a pedestal," why she hated losing her first name to the title "Representative," and why she's choosing her kids over a political career.
The conversation doesn't stay comfortable for long. As an economist, Sharon breaks down where she thinks markets work — and where they don't. She and Brad dig into capitalism vs. socialism, the millionaire's tax, healthcare in the U.S. versus the U.K., gun control and suicide prevention, trans athletes in youth sports, and immigration reform — all with the kind of respectful back-and-forth that's becoming rare in political conversations.
Whether you agree with her or not, this is a conversation about what it actually looks like to serve, to listen, and to disagree well.
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