[CCCNFBW] The Columbian: 49th Legislative District: Monica Stonier vs. Derek Thompson

[Merribeth Greenberg]

49th Legislative District: Monica Stonier vs. Derek Thompson
Democratic incumbent cites accomplishments, goals; Republican challenger
says focus would be school funding
Photo of Will Denner
By Will Denner, Columbian Staff Reporter
Published: October 7, 2026, 2:00pm
49th Legislative District: Monica Stonier vs. Derek Thompson - The Columbian
<https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/oct/07/49th-legislative-district-monica-stonier-vs-derek-thompson/>

Alt text of picture: 49th Legislative District Position 2 between incumbent
Monica Stonier and Derek Thompson. (Contributed photos)

Rep. Monica Stonier is running for reelection in the 49th Legislative
District, a seat she’s held since 2016.

The Democrat faces Republican challenger Derek Thompson, who’s seeking
public office for a second time after a losing a bid for Vancouver City
Council in 2025.

Stonier is an access coach at Evergreen Public Schools, where she has
worked for two decades. Thompson is a retired hairstylist and cosmetology
instructor and was also a department supervisor at Nike.

In the August primary, Stonier earned nearly 73 percent of the 33,500 votes
cast to Thompson’s 27 percent.

49th District House Position 2 Candidates
— 2026 General Election —

Monica Jurado Stonier
Age: 50 years old
Residence: Vancouver
Party: Democrat
Web site: votemonicastonier.com
Education: bachelor’s degree in psychology and teaching certificate from
Western Washington University; master’s degree from Washington State
University Vancouver
Occupation: Educator
Political experience: 49th District Washington Legislature elected
official; previously elected in the 17th District
Major endorsements: Washington State Labor Council, Washington Education
Association, Service Employees International Union Local 775, Washington
State Building & Construction Trades Council

Derek O. Thompson
Age: 75 years old
Residence: Vancouver
Party: Republican
Web site: votederekthompson.com
Occupation: Retired hairstylist and cosmetology instructor
Major endorsements: None listed.

Stonier, 50, was first elected to the House in the 17th Legislative
District in 2012. She served in that position until moving in 2016 to the
49th District, which encompasses most of Vancouver.

While serving as the House majority floor leader, Stonier has led her
caucus on issues like education, healthcare access, worker protections and
behavioral health, according to her campaign website.

Education, in particular, has been a major focus for Stonier.

She wrote and passed House Bill 1508, which requires high-needs schools to
offer Breakfast After the Bell programs to students after the beginning of
the school day. She chairs the Financial Education Public-Private
Partnership and helped expand free financial education training for
Washington teachers.

Additionally, Stonier told The Columbian she created pathways to graduation
that reflect students’ learning and talents, created grants for
school-based health centers and made Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library a
statewide program.

“During my time in office, I am proud of the bills passed,” Stonier said,
“but also of the reputation I have built here in Vancouver and Clark County
as a collaborator, an advocate and a responsive legislator who is willing
to listen regardless of whether or not we are in agreement on policy.”

If Stonier wins reelection, she plans to push for school bonds to pass by a
simple majority, rather than the current 60 percent supermajority.

Stonier also plans to continue working on restructuring school funding
models, pass a recycling return program and continue efforts to address
affordable housing and behavioral health.

“I am running on accomplishments … goals for our state and community with
articulated paths to success, an understanding of the barriers we may face
in policymaking and a history of working around those barriers to serve our
community,” she said.

Thompson, 75, meanwhile, notes that he’s not a career politician and wants
to bring “a neighbor’s voice” to the Legislature. Thompson’s top issues
include education funding, public safety and fiscal responsibility,
according to his campaign website. Attempts by The Columbian to interview
Thompson were unsuccessful.

“We all feel the weight of rising costs and a broken school funding
formula,” Thompson wrote in the Voters’ Pamphlet. “As a retired instructor
and former Nike supervisor, I know leadership requires accountability. I
will fight to fix school funding at the source and protect our legacy
businesses from being sidelined by major infrastructure projects.”

Stonier’s campaign has raised nearly $140,000 compared with $2,000 for
Thompson, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. Nearly half of
Stonier’s contributions ($69,400) have come from political action
committees such as Koch Industries, The Boeing Company, Washington
Education Association along with several healthcare and dental groups.
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