Washington families are paying more and getting less.

Too many people are doing everything right and still falling behind.

Housing costs are squeezing families. Healthcare premiums keep rising while access to providers gets harder. Childcare is out of reach for too many working parents. Ferries are unreliable. Utilities, insurance, groceries, and transportation costs keep climbing. Small businesses are absorbing higher costs, more complexity, and less predictability.

Daria’s approach is simple: state government should make life more livable, not more expensive.

That means setting priorities, measuring results, holding systems accountable, and focusing on practical solutions that help people stay rooted in the communities they love.

For Daria, livability is the simple test of whether everyday life actually works for the people who live here.

Explore Daria's Platform to Improve livability

Daria Ilgen is a Kitsap dad, second-generation immigrant, and community-wide problem-solver.

For nearly 20 years, he built global partnerships and helped large organizations navigate complex challenges. When his wife started a small business, Daria chose family first - stepping back from his career to raise their kids and dedicate his professional skills to his community.

Today, he serves on local nonprofit and economic development boards and holds leadership roles within the Democratic Party. Life between barn chores and school drop-offs shaped his belief that leadership should be practical, steady, and rooted in real life. He’s running for State Representative to bring that same approach to serving Kitsap.

Meet Daria

FEATURED ENDORSEMENTS

Ed Stern

MAYOR OF POULSBO

“Daria embodies the kind of leadership Olympia needs - principled, balanced, and pragmatic. He’s committed to binding the wounds of our nation by cutting through the scar tissue of partisanship and focusing on what unites us.
A courageous and creative problem solver, Daria leads with both heart and reason, listening before he speaks, asking the right questions, and bringing people together to get things done.”
Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs
David Emmons

FORMER GREATER KITSAP CHAMBER PRESIDENT AND CEO
"What stands out most about Daria is his commitment to bringing people together around practical solutions. He understands the real concerns facing Kitsap families — affordability, education, transportation, healthcare, and economic opportunity — because he lives amongst us. His background in business, community leadership, and public service has prepared him to lead with both compassion and accountability.
Daria is not interested in political theater. He is focused on results, collaboration, and building a stronger future for the citizens in the 23rd District. I believe he will represent our communities with professionalism, honesty, and a genuine dedication to serving others."
Ardis Morrow

COMMUNITY ICON & FORMER NKSD BOARD CHAIR
"I’ve spent a lifetime in this community, and I care deeply about who we trust to lead it forward. Daria Ilgen stands out for his integrity, his respect for others, and his genuine commitment to people over politics.
He’s the kind of leader I believe in, and I’m proud to support him."
Diana Riggins

OWNER, RIGGINS ENTERPRISES
"I am proud to endorse Daria Ilgen for Washington State Representative, District 23. Daria brings a rare combination of leadership, integrity, and deep-rooted commitment to community. His background in community activism reflects not only a strong understanding of the issues facing our region, but also a proven ability to bring people together to create meaningful solutions. District 23 deserves representation that is inclusive, informed, and forward-thinking.”
Dan Weedin

BUSINESS OWNER
“Daria is honest, a straight-shooter, hard working, and respectful of all viewpoints. He has a love for his community and is always seeking ways to be a force-multiplier; someone who makes others around him better. He’s a devoted husband and father and is passionate about creating a better community.
I have no doubt that Daria Ilgen will serve the 23rd District with character, commitment, candor, and respect. He has my full support and I encourage you to join me in voting for him."
Doña Keating

COMMUNITY LEADER
“I'm endorsing Daria Ilgen for State Representative in the 23rd District. He's spent decades solving complex problems across diverse teams, cultures, and competing priorities - environments where you have to find solutions with those who disagree with you. Bridge-building is a skill increasingly absent in the political arena. Daria is running to make government work the way his career required him to work: listen, collaborate, deliver. Kitsap needs a representative who brings professionalism and backbone to the table. Daria is that leader.”
Nick Johnson

CREATIVE PRODUCER, LIBRO.FM
“I’ve gotten to know Daria over the last few years, and I can confirm a few things: he’s whip-smart, he’s kinder than he has any right to be, and he’s genuinely dedicated to his family and community. In a world of politicians who use their "community involvement" as a LinkedIn header, Daria actually shows up. Again and again and again. Whether it’s at our local Rotary projects or just being the guy who knows everyone's dog's name, he’s already doing the work.”
Washingtonians for a Brighter Future
Ashley Oaksmith

COMMUNITY LEADER

“I have come to know Daria through our shared community service, where he has consistently demonstrated unwavering integrity, thoughtful leadership, and a proven ability to bring people together around effective solutions.”
Nancy Moffatt

COMMUNITY LEADER

Daria understands deeply how to listen to constituents and look at all sides of an important issue. Further, he knows how critical it is to have leadership that will bring the focus back to common ground and truly represent the wishes of the community he serves.
Shannon Turner

BREMERTON SCHOOL BOARD & FORMER LEGISLATIVE AID TO SHERRY APPLETON
"In Bremerton, we know who shows up and who just talks. Daria leads with principle and respect - he listens, builds real relationships, and takes action alongside our community. Without holding office, he’s already brought people together across real divides, and that’s the kind of leadership our community and Olympia need more than ever.”

Phil Rockefeller

WA State Senator & State Representative (former)

Jewel Shepherd Sampson

Community Leader & Business Owner

Irene Moyer

Community Leader

Doug Newell

Poulsbo City Councilmember

Julius “Doc” Blackwell

Founder, DocLuvtheKids

See all endorsements

Daria crouched down smiling and hugging a large black and white pig. He is wearing tan pants, tan jacket, navy vest, and work boots .

Daria wearing a dark denim jacket and white shirt, smiling, right arm leaning on a counter

Smiling family photo in front of a blue barn. Daria hugs his wife while son and daughter stand in front.

Daria pushes his two small children in a red, hay-filled wheelbarrow. All three smiling.

Built on experience. Driven by community. Focused on results.

Rooted in Kitsap. Grounded in real life. Husband. Dad. Independent-minded community leader, shaped by family life, farm work, and the real-world realities facing local families - bringing accountability, service, and solutions-focused leadership.

Real-World Leadership. Daria brings 20 years of business experience - thinking critically, balancing tradeoffs, managing money responsibly, solving problems, and seeking diverse opinions to drive the best outcomes.

Built On Resilience & Responsibility. Daria leads with values of humility, integrity, hard work, and service, all shaped by his family’s immigrant journey.

Practical Problem-Solving; Not Politics. Housing and childcare costs, transportation needs, and economic and safety challenges don’t fit neatly into partisan boxes. Daria will work to connect all good ideas into progress.

A Trusted Leader & Coalition Builder. Daria brings people together to find consensus-driven solutions. In a county shaped by military families, Tribal nations, rural communities, and growing cities, respect for every voice isn’t optional…it’s essential.

Steady Leadership. Real Results. Fiscally responsible. Solutions-oriented. Community-focused. No extremes - just disciplined leadership focused on livability and long-term stability for Kitsap County.

Take Action with Team Daria

This campaign is powered by neighbors. Whether you want to put out a sign, knock doors, host a small gathering, or share ideas, there is a place for you here.