23rd ld Democrats News

Hello Democrats and Happy September!
 
I don’t know about you – but this time of year reminds me of new beginnings. Between the start of the school year and campaign season ramp-up there’s a sense of energy and purpose in the air and I can’t wait to get to work helping great candidates in the weeks to come!
 
Don’t forget, we have just 61 days until Election Day 2023 (and 425 days until Election Day 2024!!) and we can’t afford to let a single moment go to waste! I’ll be traveling across Washington between now and November 7th and I look forward to seeing many of you out in the field!
 
If you’re not already volunteering for your local Democratic candidates – now is a great time to get involved! Please don’t delay and reach out to your local Party organization as soon as you can to help us get out the Democratic vote statewide. Without everyone on board, we risk leaving valuable votes and victories on the table – I hope you will help us maximize our opportunities statewide!

On Monday, I was proud to join the Snohomish and Island County Labor Council in celebrating our 129th Labor Day!

Here at the State Party, we firmly believe every worker deserves a union, and Democrats are fighting alongside our allies to guarantee that freedom is protected, and we can continue making meaningful progress, together, for workers across the country.

We are one of the longest-running unionized state parties in the country, having signed our first collective bargaining agreement in 2018. We are proud to nurture strong partnerships with so many allied organizations, so we can help fight for our shared, worker-forward, values every single day! 

I was also thrilled to join Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and WA Senator Manka Dhingra as a speaker at the Seattle-SETU Conference hosted by Seattle University’s RoundGlass India Center.

It was an inspiring opportunity to come together with our allies from India and discuss how greater collaboration can benefit both of our countries – a powerful reminder that we are stronger together, as states and as individuals!

Last but not least - I was delighted to address a wide range of Democratic Partners and stakeholders last night via Zoom for a “6-Month Progress Report” detailing my accomplishments as Chair and roadmap for the work to come. If you weren’t able to make it and would like to view a recording - please let us know and we will be happy to send it over! 

Cantwell preps AI education bill

A key senator is preparing to field input on a bill that would replicate a transformative post-World War II education and training effort.
 
Senator Murray Announces Nearly $6 Million for Rural Business Owners, Farmers and Ranchers in WA to Lower Their Energy Costs, Generate New Revenue
 
New funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will help agriculture producers and rural small businesses lower their energy costs and generate new income by installing solar arrays and other renewable energy systems.
 
Leaders, first responders discuss Bolt Creek Fire impacts and recovery

Rep. Kim Schrier introduced a new bill to aid in reforestation of the burn scar, an important part to preventing landslides and protecting communities.

Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

The work we do today wins elections tomorrow. If you're ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

 Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

Hello Democrats,

Please join me in cheering Ohio voters’ rejection of Issue 1! This Republican-backed legislation would have made it harder to amend the State’s constitution and was widely seen as a proxy battle over a proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights that will be on Ohio’s ballots in November. 

The GOP’s underhanded strategy backfired spectacularly on Tuesday, demonstrating that – even in red states – Republicans are at odds with the electorate on the issue of abortion rights. 

This is a huge victory for choice in Ohio and a strong reminder that the right to bodily autonomy remains a lynchpin issue for voters of all stripes. The writing is on the wall that the Republicans’ fervent devotion to rolling back fundamental human rights is not a winning strategy and we need to continue to hold them accountable for their antiquated, cruel, and repressive positions! 

As Democrats, we are firmly committed to fighting tirelessly for the right to choose and to providing safe haven for neighbors from states who lack this fundamental freedom. Thank you for standing with us in this struggle, we cannot stop now and will continue until we win. 

We’re proud to say that our “Opportunity District” candidates are still going strong more than one week out from the Primary Election!

In Spokane Lisa Brown and Betsey Wilkerson both maintained commanding leads of 47.52% and 49.02% respectively! We’re so proud to be on track to build an even bluer Spokane this November and we promise to work tirelessly up until Election Day to make it a reality!

And our other mayoral race of interest in Olympia is also going extremely well with Democrat Dontae Payne leading with 65.2% of the vote!

Across the State - the vast majority of our Democratic candidates appear poised to clear their primaries! And I want to give a special shoutout to Democrat Keren Vazquez in Sunnyside - who is hanging onto her narrow lead with an advantage of just 18 votes.

We still have a few days left until final certification, but on the whole this is looking like a terrific Primary election for Democrats statewide! With that said, we cannot take this momentum for granted and I’m looking to every Democrat statewide to keep showing up and doing the work to get out the vote for our excellent candidates.

I look forward to working with each of you to make sure we win! We have less than three months to go - let’s be sure to finish strong! 

Sen. Murray backs key journalism bill

The U.S. Senate’s powerful appropriations chair “strongly” supports a new tax proposal to help save local news outlets.

Strickland Leads Bicameral Legislation Directing $100 Million To Combat Health Risks Of Extreme Heat

Representative Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) reintroduced the Preventing Health Emergencies And Temperature-related (HEAT) Illness and Deaths Act to address the rising health risks of extreme heat following Earth’s hottest day on record.

Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Seattle for speech, fundraiser

Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit Seattle on Tuesday to deliver a speech touting the Biden administration’s actions on climate.

Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

The work we do today wins elections tomorrow. If you're ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

 Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

Hello Democrats,

With the Primary Election a few days behind us, it’s a great time to assess where we stand in many of the most critical races statewide. 

We’ll cover the highlights - but remember you can always check on the details via the Secretary of State’s website here: https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20230801/default.htm

At this point in the game, we don’t expect any more major ballot drops, which means most of the results here should hold. With that being said, more votes will be counted in the days to come and nothing is final until results are certified later this month!

As of now, we’re looking at a total voter turnout of 28.9% and projecting final turnout closer to 29.7%. While not earth-shatteringly high, this puts us roughly on pace with the 2019 and 2021 Primaries, meaning voter engagement has held steady cycle to cycle. Trust us when we say we’ll be picking up the pace in the coming months to ensure Democrats show up in a big way this November! 

In terms of actual results, we haven’t seen a ton of change since Primary night. That said, we did want to share a few shifts that are worth noting:

• Lisa Brown and Betsy Wilkerson both widened their leads significantly in Spokane – each picking up approximately 25,000 votes and beating the next runner up in their races by 11 and 13 percentage points respectively! Voters are fired up in the Lilac City and we are almost certain to exceed 2021 turnout by a wide margin.
• Jamie Smith and Joe Colombo both narrowed their margins slightly in their races for Pierce County Council and Puyallup City Council – we have a lot of work to do but this could be a sign they're picking up steam! 
• In Sunnyside – Democrat Keren Vazquez has inched ahead of her opponent with a 26 vote lead in the Position 5 race!

At the end of the day we’re proud to say that our Democratic candidates are holding fast. We’ll keep you apprised of any major changes, but we think we have a pretty solid picture of where races are landing across Washington. 

Once more – I want to say a massive thank you to every single person who helped get out the vote leading up to the Primary. Whether you helped friends and family complete and turn in their ballots, made calls in support of terrific candidates, or pounded the pavement and knocked on doors to ensure every vote was counted, your work made a huge difference and we couldn’t have achieved what we did without you!

Win or lose – we are extremely proud of every Democrat who made the brave, proud decision to run for office and represent our Party. And so I want to take this opportunity to give a major shoutout to all of our Local Party leaders who stepped up and ran for office this year!

• Jacob Borden for Elma City Council – Chair, Grays Harbor Democrats
• Andrew Ashiofu for Seattle City Councilmember No. 3 – Stonewall/LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair
• Satin-Deseree Arnett for Stanwood-Camano School District At-Large Board Member – LD 10 State Committee Member, Affirmative Action Committee Co-Chair
• Amanda Dodd for City of Bothell, Council Position No. 6 – Vice Chair, LD 1 Democrats
• Pam Stuart for City of Sammamish, Council Position No. 6 – Vice Chair, LD 41 Democrats
• Lisa Rivera Smith for Seattle School District No. 001, Director District No. 2 – Vice Chair, LD 46 Democrats
• Gina Topp for Seattle School District No. 001, Director District No. 6 – Former Chair, LD 34 Democrats
• Ashley Gregorious for Hospital Commission District 304 – Vice Chair, LD40 Democrats
• Carin Chase for Edmonds School District Director district 1 – State Committee Member, LD 32
• Talauna Reed for Olympia School Board Dist. No. 1 – State Committee Member, LD 22
• Olgy Diaz for Tacoma City Council At-Large – Former Party Affairs Director
• Tim Noonan for Si View Park District Commissioner 1 – State Committee Member, LD 5

Local Party organizations and our terrific local candidates are the true backbone of our Party and we couldn't be prouder of each and every one of these terrific folks! I can’t wait to work with each and every one of these terrific folks in our critical effort to get out the Democratic vote this fall! 

Inslee, lawmakers turn up heat on oil companies as WA gas prices top nation

Gov. Jay Inslee and lawmakers stood in front of a row of electric school buses to take aim at oil companies' record profits amid soaring gas prices.

Sen. Maria Cantwell readies alternative plan to tackle TikTok concerns

The yet-to-be-unveiled measure would mark a major new entrant in the debate over the app.

Rep. Larsen announces 2023 Congressional App Challenge

Rep. Rick Larsen announced the launch of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) this week.

Democracy Summer will be hosting a picnic fundraiser for Rep. Suzan DelBene at noon on Saturday August 5th in Kirkland. Learn more and RSVP here!

Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

The work we do today wins elections tomorrow. If you're ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

 Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

Hello Democrats,

Can you believe that the 2023 Primary Election is in just four days? That means the clock is ticking and we must do everything in our power to support our terrific Democratic candidates and ensure they have a great showing everywhere in Washington! 

We have tremendous opportunities to build Democratic power at the local level this year and set ourselves up for success in 2024 and we refuse to waste a single second. 

In Spokane – the largest Washington city with a Republican Mayor, Lisa Brown could flip the city’s top office back to blue, and we have the chance to elect Betsy Wilkerson as City Council President and flip additional council seats for Democrats!

In Central Washington — Yakima and Sunnyside have county and municipal races that routinely come down to one hundred or fewer votes and we are working tirelessly to engage a diverse community of voters and ensure Democrats carry the day!

In Southwest Washington — We have key Port Commission and School Board races that we must win in order to get out the Democratic vote early and often and help ensure we can hold CD 3 next year!

In Pierce County — We’re fighting for Democrats running tight local races at every level to ensure we can continue building meaningful power in critical turf countywide! 

And this barely scratches the surface of the long list of critical local races we’re fighting hard for in 2023! Tuesday’s Primary Election is our first chance to prove to voters statewide that Democrats practice what we preach and will work every single day to improve the lives of each and every Washingtonian. Please join us in making sure we don’t leave a single Democratic vote on the table! 

We want to make sure you have all the tools, resources, and information needed to make your voices heard in this critical election. Click here to find your ballot drop box and share this link with your community and network to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to cast their ballot by August 1!

And if you, or anyone you know, is having any trouble with their ballot - please call the WA Democrats Voter Protection Hotline via 206-309-8683 (206-309-VOTE) as soon as possible so we can help resolve any issues. 

Today is the last day we recommend sending ballots back via mail — so if you find yourself needing to return your ballot between tomorrow and Tuesday, we suggest using a drop box. And remember, you can check the status of your ballot or print a replacement at votewa.gov

And if you haven’t voted yet, what are you waiting for? Please return your ballot ASAP to make sure great Democrats statewide have the momentum they need to win! 

And if you’re curious about which Local Party Organizations have endorsed which candidates - check out this handy guide made by WA Dems Secretary Rob Dolin:

https://voterguide.info/

Thank you for standing with us in our efforts to get out the vote and support each and every Democrat running statewide. We couldn’t do it without you and we’re so glad to have you on our team!

Last weekend I had the terrific opportunity to engage with Democrats in some of the most important local turf statewide!

On Friday, I was proud to join terrific Democrats including Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Congressman Derek Kilmer, and state Senator Emily Randall for the LD 26 Democrats Bridge to Bridge Fundraiser! This is one of the most evenly divided districts statewide and it is so important that we fight hard to protect and support our terrific Democratic candidates. If we want to win in 2024 and for years to come, we can’t let up for a single moment! 

Then on Saturday I had the great opportunity to share remarks at the annual Spokane County Democrats CC Dill Salmon Feed! Some of our biggest local races are in Spokane in 2023 and it was extremely exciting to join future mayor Lisa Brown and future City Council President Betsy Wilkerson on the speaking bill! We’re proud to have their backs in these critical races and can’t wait to get out the Democratic vote every single day between now and November! 

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge that Wednesday marked the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act - which has impacted millions of lives for the better by creating a uniform set of guidelines to ensure everyone can access and navigate spaces many of us take for granted. 

This Disability Pride Month, please join me in thanking all the hardworking lawmakers fighting for the rights of Americans with disabilities and recommitting ourselves to building an even more inclusive and equitable Washington and USA! 

Washington’s governor on climate: ‘The Earth is screaming at us’

Gov. Jay Inslee said that the consequences of climate change have hit sooner than expected.

Washington to receive $5.6 million for apprenticeship programs

Senator Maria Cantwell announced Friday that the State of Washington is set to receive a grant of more than $5.6 million from the U.S. Department of Labor for its Registered Apprenticeship program.

Q&A: Rep. DelBene on new bill to save local journalism

One of the most promising policy ideas to stop the decimation of local newsrooms is back in play.

Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

The work we do today wins elections tomorrow. If you're ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

 Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

Hello Democrats,

As of today, ballots for the August Primary election have been sent out and should be landing in your mailboxes soon (if they haven’t already). Please keep an eye out, and be sure to return your ballot as soon as you can! 

We want to make sure you have all the tools, resources, and information needed to make your voices heard in this critical election. Click here to find your ballot drop box and share this link with your community and network to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to make their voices heard come August 1. 

Local races like these don’t often get much attention compared to state and federal level elections — but they are still critically important to the people of Washington State. 

Local elected officials create ground-level policy that can have massive impacts on the lives of people everywhere in WA – and it’s crucial we elect terrific Democrats who will fight for their constituents rather than far-right special interests. These leaders also constitute our “bench” of Democratic candidates statewide. Don’t forget, today’s school board member could be tomorrow’s governor and we can’t let a single great candidate slip through the cracks! 

Supporting down-ballot candidates is a crucial part of our movement. From city council and the school board, to county commissioner, district attorney,  and other critical positions across Washington state — we have the chance to build up our Democratic values and vision from the ground up. You can learn more about each position and their impact on our local policies here.

Thank you for standing with us in our efforts to get out the vote and support each and every Democrat running statewide. We couldn’t do it without you and we’re so glad to have you on our team!

I’ve spent the last three days in Chicago attending the annual Netroots Nation conference. It’s been a terrific opportunity to connect with great Democrats and progressive trailblazers from across the country, and I look forward to bringing what I’ve learned back to Washington State!

It’s so important that we remain on the cutting edge of organizing and data best practices if we want to have our best shot at victory in November and in 2024 and I want to say a huge thanks to conference organizers and presenters who make this work possible!

I’m also proud to say that I had the pleasure of speaking on a panel with my fellow Chairs from Michigan, Nebraska, and North Carolina about building Democratic power through innovative year-round organizing. 

It’s been an exciting few days — and I can’t wait to get back to Washington tonight and start putting the knowledge we’ve gained to work! 

White House details plan to lower child care costs for low-income families

The proposals would strengthen the Child Care & Development Block Grant program, the White House said.

Inslee, Cantwell visit site of destructive Columbia Gorge wildfire

As Washington officials gear up for a tough wildfire season, Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell on Friday visited the site of a destructive fire burning in the Columbia River Gorge.

Federal money to help pay for breakwater, trails, other projects in Washington state

The federal government is chipping in about $130 million to support several Washington state projects that range from replacing a storm-damaged breakwater at a Port Orchard marina to helping a Native American tribe move from ancestral villages threatened by rising seas on the Pacific Coast.

Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

The work we do today wins elections tomorrow. If you're ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

 Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

Hello Democrats,

I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling deeply disappointed and outraged by this week’s Supreme Court rulings, one of which will strike a massive blow to equity in higher education by effectively ending affirmative action in college admissions - while others will send our country backward by blocking student loan forgiveness and weakening critical protections for the LGBTQIA+ Community. As Democrats, we must do everything we can to fight back against today’s highly partisan court and protect the rights of all Americans.  

I wish these developments came as a surprise, but with the Dobbs decision just one year behind us, and countless other questionable rulings on the books - they feel like par for the course. Instead of the fair, just, and impartial body envisioned in the Constitution, today’s court is a hyper-partisan agent of the right and we must stand up against every single harmful decision they throw at us.

If we want to have any chance at fixing the Supreme Court and paving a path toward a more equitable and just future we must stand strong for our Democratic values and ensure we hold the presidency through multiple future appointment processes. We face an uphill battle, but we cannot and will not yield in this fight. 

While we still have a great deal of work to do - let’s not forget that Democrats are achieving big things for the American people. 

The first success I want to highlight is that the Biden administration fought and won to earn well-deserved sick leave for rail workers - a powerful victory for working people across the nation. With the largest worker strike in U.S. history impending - it has never been more important that we stand by our brothers and sisters in the labor movement and we commend the President for doing just that. 

I also want to amplify all the work the Biden admin has been doing to create jobs and spur economic recovery - I’ll let this White House fact sheet do the talking, but suffice it to say that “Bidenomics” are creating countless jobs and having a major positive impact nationwide.  

Last but not least, we should take note of the White House’s decision to allocate $42B to expand high-speed internet access to every American household by 2030. This will prove to be a huge boon to many rural communities nationwide that still lack access to high speed broadband and the benefits it provides. 

While it can sometimes feel like each step forward is followed by an equally large step back, we must remember to stay resilient and fight for what we believe in every single day. The simple truth is that when we do the hard work to elect Democrats at every level, they can and will do the work needed to improve the lives of people across the country. Thank you to all of you for standing with us in this critical fight.

This past weekend I was proud to come together with Democrats from across Washington State to support great candidates and stand strong for our values! 

On Saturday I had the pleasure of speaking at the Franklin County Dems’ Valoria Loveland dinner. A big kudos to Chair Ana Ruiz Kennedy for a great event. It was an honor to share the stage with great Democrats like Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Senator Manka Dhingra, and Senator Loveland herself to name just a few!

Then on Sunday I had the opportunity to join King County Dems marching in the Seattle Pride Parade. There has never been a more important time to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community and we will continue to do so long after Pride Month has passed! 

Biden announces $42 billion high-speed internet initiative

President Joe Biden is kicking off a more than $42 billion plan to give every American household access to high-speed internet by 2030.

Senator Murray speaks out against discrimination of LGBTQ+ Americans

This Pride Month U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced legislation to ban harmful practices against LGBTQ+ individuals.

Murray, Cantwell Announce $1.2 Billion Federal Investment in WA Broadband Infrastructure

U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced that the State of Washington will receive $1,227,742,066 from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to help expand broadband access to areas that remain without high-speed broadband.

“The consequences are severe:” Rep. Jayapal on fight for abortion access one year after Dobbs decision

MSNBC’s Alicia Menendez is joined by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) to discuss the ongoing fight to protect abortion access nationwide one year after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and her efforts to protect the trans community from Republican lawmakers who are pushing anti-LGBTQ legislation.

Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

The work we do today wins elections tomorrow. If you're ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

 Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

Hello Democrats and happy Friday!

After a few weeks traveling, let me say just how good it feels to be back in the great state of Washington!

I hope you’re all enjoying the first few days of summer and getting fired up for the terrific campaign season we have ahead. Don’t forget, hundreds of Democrats have filed to run in local races statewide this year and it’s up to all of us to fight hard to grow our Democratic power and build an even stronger “bench” of terrific local elected officials.

I also wanted to share a personal update. Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC) meeting in Minneapolis. There are two big updates from this conference — first of all I was elected Vice President of the Western States Caucus! This is the same role Chair Podlodowski held and gives me a seat on their executive board. 

I’m honored to carry this mantle and don’t take the responsibility lightly — under my watch, we will make sure Washington remains a leader for our peer states and continues to be first in the nation in innovative organizing and data practices.

Secondly, the Washington Delegate Selection and Affirmative Action Plan (DSAAP) was reviewed by the national Rules and Bylaws Committee, and was the only plan on the West Coast to be approved, while both California and Oregon have substantive additional steps to get their plans finally approved. A big win for the Washington Central Committees rules and affirmative action prowess!

Thank you all for making this incredible work possible – we couldn’t do it without your engagement and effort!

The Ms. Q&A With U.S. Senator Patty Murray: ‘Our Ultimate Goal Is to Put Roe Back into Law’

Our ultimate goal is to put Roe back into law. We don’t have the votes today, but that is our goal,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) told Ms. “A legislative body should not be deciding when a woman can get access to care.

Kilmer on mental health task force for military

Protecting the mental health of armed services members and reducing their suicides at Bremerton’s Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and military facilities across the country are the focus of a new effort taken by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer of Kitsap County’s 6th Congressional District.

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Reflects on First 100 Days in Congress

On Monday, May 1, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washougal, celebrated her first 100 days in Congress. In a news release, her office highlighted milestones from her work in Southwest Washington and Washington, D.C.

U.S. Rep Kim Schrier's new bill would allow for improved forest management using updated data collection

The new law will help foresters work together to make better management plans, one industry member said.

The 24th LD Democrats, with support from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, invite you to spend a day on the course! Your participation and donation will help support great democratic candidates! The 24th LD is currently the only rural legislative district in the entire state of Washington with full Democratic representation in Olympia. Let’s Rise and Organize!

Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

The work we do today wins elections tomorrow. If you're ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

 Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

Good morning fellow Democrats,

This week is one of my favorite times of the political calendar: filing week! We have hundreds of local offices across the state where you – yes, YOU – can make a difference in your community by filing to run. If you’re thinking that you don’t have the money, or time, to run for office – think again! Many local offices are part-time positions, and it’s very likely that there’s something open in your community where no one has even filed for the job yet.

These local races may not cost much to run or require a full-time commitment if you’re elected, but they’re critically important roles. Look no further than how the far-right has weaponized school boards in Florida and other red states to ban books featuring LGBTQ+ characters for an example of why it matters to have principled community leaders in these positions. 

So, how do you file for office? It’s much easier than you might think! First, check this link from the Secretary of State’s office to see what positions are up for election this year in your community. Then, click here to find out if anyone has filed for that position already. If you spot a vacant position that matches your skills or interests, you can file online using this form from the SOS’s official website. Many positions don’t even require a filing fee!

Yesterday, President Biden announced that the federal government will bring additional resources to bear on the homelessness crisis in Seattle – a much-needed infusion of federal money and staff to help bring people inside to safe shelter. The President’s initiative, ALL INside, aims to reduce our country’s unhoused population by 25% in the next two years. This is huge news, as many housing and homelessness experts tie the rise in unhoused people to the defunding of public housing and the Department of Housing and Urban Development under Reagan’s administration, and President Biden’s move to re-engage on this issue marks a dramatic shift from past Republican occupants of the White House.

This week, I’m reminding myself that even when our movement fails to carry the day, we grow stronger by fighting for our values. In South Carolina, where more than a dozen Republican state legislators co-sponsored a bill that would make getting an abortion punishable by the death penalty earlier this year, Republicans passed a bill to ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. 

Why does this give me hope? Because it took literally all week for them to pass this unpopular and unjust policy after Democratic women in the legislature filed more than a thousand amendments to bog down the process. Despite ultimately being unsuccessful in stopping the policy, these courageous women made damn sure their constituents and the entire nation paid attention to this latest assault on pregnant people’s fundamental freedom to control their own bodies. That’s the kind of unrelenting advocacy Democrats bring to the table, and why I’m drawing hope from their example this week. 

Also, if you have family or friends in South Carolina who will be affected by this ban, remind them that our Washington Democrats have passed a law that would protect them from prosecution if they come here to get the essential reproductive care they need.

Railway Safety Act will help protect communities | The Seattle Times

Senator Cantwell is leading a coalition as Chair of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to bring much-needed safety regulations to the rail industry. The recent derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio grabbed headlines, but train derailments have become more common than the public realizes in recent years after the Trump administration deregulated the industry. 

Pramila Jayapal introduces Medicare for All Act of 2023 | Twitter
This week, Rep. Jayapal joined Senator Sanders in introducing the Medicare for All Act of 2023 to provide universal health care to every American as a fundamental right. Check out the link above to watch her comments at the press conference they held to build momentum for the law! 

Gluesenkamp Perez Introduces Rural Broadband Bill | The Daily Chronicle
Another critically important bill from Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez this week would create more competition and improve broadband access in rural areas. As she told attendees at a recent town hall, broadband access is essential for access to education, telehealth, and so much more in our digital age. We’re proud to have Marie representing Southwest Washington in Congress and are working around the clock to keep her in office!

Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

The work we do today wins elections tomorrow. If you're ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

 Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

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Good morning fellow Democrats,

What a couple of weeks we’ve had in Democratic politics here in Washington state! Gov. Inslee announced he’s not running for another term, Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz have announced their campaigns to succeed him as governor, state Senator Patty Kuderer announced her run for Insurance Commissioner, and state Senator Manka Dhingra has kicked off her campaign to succeed AG Ferguson as our state’s top lawyer. With all this change on the horizon, you might be wondering, “What does this mean for the Washington State Democrats?”  

Well, it’s simultaneously a huge deal that doesn’t change much about our day-to-day work. Our mission hasn’t changed: in partnership with Senator Maria Cantwell, we’ll build the same organizing powerhouse of the Coordinated Campaign that has led to double-digit wins for our statewide candidates for the last six years. After all, that’s what flipped two Congressional seats from red to blue, delivered an historic third term for Governor Inslee, and consolidated Democratic control of every statewide executive office for the first time in recent memory. Once the voters choose who will represent our party in the general election, we’ll stand ready to keep the governor’s

seat in Democratic hands regardless of who advances past the primary. 
But at the same time, competitive primaries for so many statewide offices present an incredible opportunity for our state party. While maintaining neutrality throughout the process, we’ll be able to bring in new Democrats to our fold and engage a whole new generation of voters excited by our wealth of inspiring candidates. And although we don’t make endorsements at the state level, each of our local party organizations will weigh in on these compelling races, so there’s never been a better time to get involved locally!

Last Friday marked a day of awareness for the ongoing crisis affecting Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women. To bring more resources and attention to the cases from our state, Senator Cantwell discussed with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland about how the federal government can aid in investigating and resolving those cases. For more, check out the Senator’s interview with KHQ.

Earlier this week, I flew to DC for the White House’s celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month and drew such inspiration from the diverse leaders from across the country who showed up and showed out for the event. I kept thinking that if I could somehow go back in time and tell the version of myself who cut her teeth as a field organizer on President Obama’s 2008 campaign that the White House would even hold such an event – much less that I’d be an invited guest! – I’m not sure I would have believed it. Our party has come so far in respecting and valuing the diversity of our coalition in just the time that I’ve been working in politics. It's hard to believe sometimes, but it’s a valuable reminder that change is possible within our lifetimes.

Jay Inslee, Washington’s Departing Governor, Sees Greener Pastures Ahead | The New York Times 

Gov. Inslee’s leadership brought us incredible progress on so many issues and kept us safe during the unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for making our state a beacon of hope in this divided country, and wish him the best of luck in his next pursuits after leaving the governor’s mansion.

WA Attorney General Bob Ferguson announces campaign for governor | The Seattle Times 

The race to succeed Gov. Inslee is off to a hot start, with AG Ferguson kicking it off last week. You can learn more about his campaign at his website here.

WA lands Commissioner Hilary Franz announces run for governor, vying with AG Ferguson | The Seattle Times 

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz is also vying to succeed Gov. Inslee, and announced her campaign this week. You can learn more about Hilary’s campaign at her website here.

State Party Updates 

We’re hiring!

In case you haven’t seen, we’re looking to add talent to our incredible state party staff! We’re accepting applications for Executive Director and Communications Director, so let anyone in your network who might be interested know that they are invited to apply before Monday’s deadline! 

Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

The work we do today wins elections tomorrow. If you're ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

 Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

Good morning fellow Democrats,

What a week this has been! The sun is out and our Party is building momentum and making big things happen at every level. President Biden announced his bid for re-election and our Washington Democrats in Olympia wrapped up the legislative session in a whirlwind of good news for our party.

I’ve gone into detail on our policy victories below, but let’s start by taking a moment to thank our legislators for all they accomplished this session. There’s no stronger reminder of why we fight hard every single day to protect and expand our powerful and diverse Democratic majorities and I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to get done for the people of Washington! 

We could never get this done without the efforts of Democrats everywhere in Washington State and I’m committed to working with each and every one of our local party organizations to make sure we’re not leaving a single vote on the table. That’s why I’m hitting the road again today to head down to southwest Washington to speak with the terrific Klickitat County Democrats and the SW Washington Equity Coalition this weekend!

We’re so much stronger when we all come together to support our candidates – and I can’t wait to connect with Democrats in every corner of the state in the weeks and months ahead! 

The legislative session is finally wrapped up, and we have so much to celebrate! Yesterday, Governor Inslee signed a suite of bills to protect access to abortion for every Washingtonian and anyone from a red state who travels here to get essential reproductive health care. 

Earlier this week, he signed the assault weapons ban into law and immediately outlawed new purchases of weapons of war that have no place on our streets. Plus, we passed a balanced budget that invests $3 billion in public schools, $1 billion in our behavioral health care system, and $400 million in the state’s Housing Trust Fund to jumpstart affordable housing projects across the state! 

This weekend, I’m heading down to Vancouver to celebrate the graduation of a new cohort of aspiring community leaders from the Vancouver Community Leadership Institute and I couldn’t be more excited to meet these incredible graduates. Each of them have their own compelling story of transforming the hardship they’ve overcome into inspiration for improving the lives of their friends, families, and communities – a welcome reminder that for every election-denying conspiracy theorist making headlines on cable news, we have a dozen dedicated champions for social justice quietly working every day to make a difference. 

President Biden announced he’s running for re-election!

If you haven’t yet, I strongly encourage you to check out President Biden’s video announcing his campaign for re-election. It’s a compelling reminder of the stakes of this battle for the soul of our nation and how we must dedicate ourselves to giving him the chance to finish the job of protecting our democracy.

Bernie Sanders endorses Biden, rules out 2024 bid of his own | AP News 

With so much at stake, I’m thrilled to see our party united behind the President. Regardless of where you fall on the ideological spectrum within our diverse party, we all understand that keeping President Biden in office is the best path we have to building on the transformative investments in clean energy, American manufacturing, and a sustainable economy that Biden has delivered in his first term.

With assault weapons ban, Washington enters a new era of gun reform | Crosscut 

I’m going to keep these words from Gov. Inslee in mind for the rest of the election cycle, particularly when our work gets tough: “This has been a very long bending of the moral arc of the universe, but it does bend toward justice,” Inslee said. “The victory we are celebrating today, I think ought to be a victory for anyone involved in any long-term cause,” he added. “Keep your head up, keep your heart strong.”

Upcoming Events
May 5th Grassroots Reception: The evening before my first state committee meeting as Chair, we’re hosting a reception for all our Democratic volunteers to come and celebrate our return to in-person work together to elect Democrats across the state! We’ll be hearing from AG Bob Ferguson, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, Senator Rebecca Saldaña, and Latino Caucus Chair Rep. Lilian Ortiz-Self for what will be an inspiring and exciting event! 

Get your ticket here!

State Party Updates
We’re hiring!

In case you haven’t seen, we’re looking to add talent to our incredible state party staff! We’re accepting applications for Executive Director and Communications Director, so let anyone in your network who might be interested know that they are invited to apply! 
Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

The work we do today wins elections tomorrow. If you're ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

 Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.