Elected Experience: Washington State Senate, 2015-Present
Other Professional Experience: Non-Profit Executive in International
Health and Human Rights, Financial Analyst, Author
Education: B.A. in English, Georgetown University; Masters in Business
Administration, Northwestern University
Community Service: Founder, Hate Free Zone/OneAmerica—Washington State's
largest immigrant and refugee rights organization; White House Champion of
Change Award—for doing extraordinary things to create a more equal, safe, and
prosperous future; Board Member, 21 Progress—labor community alliance for 21st
Century; Former Board Chair, Chaya—supporting survivors of domestic violence,
sexual assault, and human trafficking; Member, Mayor's Committee on Income
Inequality—enacting path to $15 minimum wage.
Statement: I've dedicated my life to achieving real results that
help the middle class and those working their way into it. As a community
organizer, civil rights leader, and State Senator, I've led progressive
movements that bring people together to get things done. I bring the values,
leadership, and experience to be a bold progressive voice for the 7th District
in Congress and ask for your vote.
I created Washington's largest immigrant rights
organization, OneAmerica, stopped illegal deportations, and helped pass
immigration reform in the US Senate. I helped enact Seattle's $15 minimum wage,
and led efforts to raise the minimum wage statewide.
In the State Senate, I expanded access to contraceptives for
women; passed legislation providing critical services for sexual assault
survivors; secured $5,250,000 for construction preapprenticeships that train
women and people of color for transportation jobs; introduced legislation to
provide free community college and automatically register voters; and led
fights against Republican initiatives that would harm our environment
Only 1 in 5 members of Congress are women. We know that
policy decisions are better when all voices are at the table. As the first
woman elected from the 7th district, I'll stand up to right-wing attacks on
Planned Parenthood; ensure equal pay for equal work; guarantee paid family and
sick leave; raise the minimum wage nationally like we did in Seattle.
As a mom, I'm committed to enacting bold plans to address
climate change for future generations. I'll expand Social Security and Medicare
for all to keep promises to workers and prioritize patient care.
Endorsements: King County Democrats, Washington
State Labor Council, WEA, AFT, IAM, UFCW, WFSE, 15 more unions, EMILY's List,
NARAL, Gloria Steinem, Wendy Davis, Friends of the Earth, Bill McKibben,
MoveOn, PCCC; 32nd, 33rd, 36th, 37th, 46th District Democrats; 35+ federal,
state and local elected officials