Pam Kohlmeier

A candidate for House Pos. 2, Legislative District 9 (Southeastern Washington) in the 2024 Washington Primary Election, Aug. 6

Party: Democratic

Age: 55

City: Spokane, Washington

Education: Graduated from Manson High School in Manson, Iowa, in 1987. Holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and earned a doctor of medicine degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2018.

Work experience: Worked as an emergency room physician for 15 years, including at St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island, Illinois; St. Elizabeth’s Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska; and Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. She also has been an adjunct professor and lecturer at Eastern Washington University and a clinical risk manager at CHAS Health. She has been with the Washington Medical Commission since January 2022 and is currently the policy manager and a hearings examiner.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married to Dr. Stephen Thew. They raised four children together. One died in 2022.

Campaign finance: Raised more than $61,000, including $7,500 in loans, as of Oct. 2, 2024, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Kohlmeier has given more than $16,000 to her campaign. Other contributors include the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Room Physicians Political Action Committee, Hamilton Studios, the Washington Machinists Council, former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and former candidate for Congress Bernadine Bank.