Senator Tom was first elected in 2002 as a Republican to the State House of Representatives. He was re-elected in 2004. In 2006, Rodney Tom ran as a Democrat and won a tough race for State Senate against now GOP Chairman Luke Esser.

Senator Tom currently serves as the Vice-Chair of Ways & Means, the Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee and the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.

A graduate of Newport High School in Bellevue, Tom got his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and a graduate degree from the University of Southern California.

Rodney Tom worked as Realtor on the Eastside for over 18 years. Tom is active with the March of Dimes Seattle. Rodney Tom is an avid outdoorsman who has climbed all of Washington’s five volcanoes, competed in four marathons and has ridden in the Seattle to Portland bike ride. Tom and his wife Deborah live in Medina and their two kids.