Bio

The last four years have not been kind to residents of the 43rd Legislative District. For young voters, the reality of a permanently altered climate continues to linger like smoke. Working-class voters have seen wealth inequalities increase and costs of living increase, while major corporations continue to dominate local elections and evade what few progressive taxes Washington State has enacted. The majority of renters can’t afford rent. Students are still penalized for seeking higher education with a life-sentence of debt. Despite Democratic control of the White House and a clear left-of-center mandate after the Trump Administration, progressives have watched Republicans successfully repeal hallmark midcentury progressive gains. Meanwhile, quarantine endured for millions of disabled and immunocompromised Washingtonians who enjoy few public accommodations. Long COVID looms as a public health emergency.

Washingtonians have met this moment by rallying to keep themselves and their communities as healthy as possible. In 2020, citydwellers participated in the largest civil rights uprising in American history, urging city councils and mayors to fund the urban infrastructure we all use. Seattle voters approved an initiative for a public social housing developer; others opposed sweeps of homeless encampments with mutual aid programs and public advocacy.

Washingtonians picketed and joined unions to build worker power; they stood alongside essential workers who held the fabric of society together – grocery store workers, nurses, teachers – while fighting for the right of educators to teach American history in Washington schools. Many Washingtonians rode mass transit, and many wore masks. Washingtonians called on big business to pay what they owe in taxes.

Through the collective response needed to meet collective challenges, Washingtonians have demonstrated that we don’t need to wait on the other Washington to implement the programs we need.

We have everything we need to create A Better Washington.