23rd ld Democrats News

Hello Democrats,

Happy Spring! The sun is out, flowers are in bloom, and our legislators are reminding us every day why it’s good to be a Democrat. We’ve made concrete progress on an issue that is particularly important to me and so many in our Party - reducing gun violence through common-sense safety legislation. 

Just last week the WA House passed HB 1143 - a lifesaving bill promoting responsible gun ownership by requiring safety training and a 10-day waiting period for the purchase of all firearms - and HB 1240 - banning the sale of assault rifles here in Washington.

And we’re not just making progress on the state level - on Tuesday, President Biden announced an Executive Order to make our communities safer by mandating the following:

• Increase the number of background checks conducted before firearm sales, moving the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation
• Keep more guns out of dangerous hands by increasing the effective use of “red flag” laws
• Strengthen efforts to hold the gun industry accountable
• Accelerate law enforcement efforts to identify and apprehend shooters

Please join me in thanking the President and his team for working hard to keep people across the country safe! 

It has never been clearer that Democrats are the only major Party to recognize the critical threat that unfettered and irresponsible access to firearms poses for our communities and particularly the lives of our children. I am so proud that the work we did to elect Democrats means we now have the power to put meaningful protections in place against the devastation that these weapons can cause. This only happened because we showed up and worked hard to build power on a state and national level - and with stakes this high we can’t afford to yield a single inch. 

Thank you for standing with us in the struggle to build a better, safer state and country. 

Biden Issues Executive Order to Strengthen Background Checks for Guns

President Biden announced steps designed to improve enforcement of existing gun laws during a trip to Monterey Park, Calif., the site of a mass shooting in January.

Rep. Derek Kilmer to issue new bill pushing Congress to incorporate data and evidence into policymaking

The bill would establish a commission and convene experts to review, analyze, and make recommendations to Congress in an effort to better incorporate federal data and evidence-based policymaking throughout the legislative process.

Schrier leads caucus Farm Bill task force

Eighth District U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier is chairing a caucus task force on the upcoming national Farm Bill.

Rifle ban, housing bills and more advance in the WA Legislature

At the midpoint of the 2023 legislative session, these are the winners and losers so far.

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,

We can’t seem to go a single day without being reminded that the GOP will stop at nothing to take away our rights and send our country backward – and that’s been especially clear this past week.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been watching the developing situation in Texas extra closely. If a Trump-appointed federal judge rules to block mifepristone, millions of Americans’ freedom to make their own health care decisions could be severely restricted overnight. 

Republicans simply don’t care that the vast majority of Americans support a woman’s right to choose - made clear by last year’s overwhelming nationwide pushback against the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade - all they care about is winning points with the MAGA crowd by advancing regressive policy that impinges on all of our rights. 

And this stance isn’t just limited to a fringe of the far right - 

• Donald Trump recently reminded everyone about his “unmatched” anti-choice record and how he was the architect of the conservative Supreme Court majority that overturned Roe v. Wade.
• Ron DeSantis put forward an extreme abortion ban last year with no exceptions for rape or incest that threatens doctors with jail time, and opened the door to signing an even more restrictive abortion ban this year
• Nikki Haley signed an abortion ban into law in 2016 with no exceptions for rape or incest and that threatened doctors with jail time.
• Mike Pence, the first Republican to call for banning abortion in every state in the wake of Dobbs decision, has also supported banning abortion pills.

It’s horrifying, but sadly unsurprising, that each and every one of the Republican frontrunners for the 2024 presidential nomination are virulently anti-choice and unconcerned with the health and safety of women across the country. We cannot let them win next year or any year. 

I’m proud to belong to the Party that is committed to keeping people healthy and improving the lives of every single American. And if you need evidence, look no further than President Biden’s Budget, which will fully fund Medicare for another generation without cutting benefits or raising taxes on anybody making less than $400,000.

Please join me in thanking the President and his team for fighting to protect benefits that are critical to families across the country!

Speaking of things that should make us proud to be Democrats, let’s not forget about the disaster that was CPAC last weekend. It might seem a bit difficult to take a conference that regularly hosts wannabe dictators and heralds them as aspirational figures seriously - but we should all take it as a deadly serious reminder of what the American far-right stands for and just how much we have to lose if we let them win. 

We’re truly in the midst of a battle for the soul of our Democracy, people, and we will fight tooth and nail until we win. Thank you for standing with us in this critical work every single day!

Last but not least, I was pleased to have the opportunity to appear on this week’s Hacks and Wonks podcast with Crystal Fincher. Please follow the link below to listen to a recording of the show or view the episode transcript:

Fight voter suppression with America Votes Act

The proposed America Votes Act, with its origins in Washington state, would remove just one barrier to voting for millions of Americans.

Joe Biden: My Plan to Extend Medicare for Another Generation

Medicare is more than a government program. It’s the rock-solid guarantee that Americans have counted on to be there for them when they retire.

President of Finland visits Washington Capitol

Monday marked the first time a foreign president has ever addressed Washington’s state Legislature: Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, who is at the start of a five-day tour of the U.S., was welcomed by Gov. Jay Inslee.

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

With gratitude, 

Chair Shasti Conrad

Washington State Democratic Party

DONATE

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,

It’s been another terrific week working hard for Democrats across Washington State! I’m so proud to serve as your Chair and I wanted to share a great video our staff put together, so you can learn a little bit more about me, my background and my priorities:

It’s a pleasure to do this important work each and every day! A recent highlight of the job was speaking at last Sunday’s Protect Trans Kids Rally - put on by the 27th LD Dems and Oasis Tacoma. I want to give a special shout out to Stella Keating and her mom, Lisa, for organizing this powerful rally. Stella is the first openly trans person to serve as a Vice Chair for a party organization in the state! At just 18, Stella is already a star! It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to amplify this important message and build a better, safer Washington for kids across our beautiful state!

Hundreds of Democrats showed up to send the message loud and clear that we will work around the clock to build a safer, more inclusive Washington for all!

It’s never been clearer than it is today - Democrats are the Party that cares about people and communities and we should all be proud to carry the mantle! 

On the national level, I’ve been especially grateful for all the Biden administration is doing to fight back against the deeply conservative Supreme Court in the battle for student loan forgiveness. This conflict serves as a strong reminder that the GOP will do everything in their power to stall progress again and again and deny transformative, life-changing support to the people who need it most. We must stand together and fight back every single day! 

Please join me in thanking the President, his team, and every Democrat working hard to make this vision a reality. We won’t stop until we win! 

Last Friday marked another deadline in the Legislature as lawmakers closed the end of the week with executive sessions in both the Senate Ways and Means Committee and House Appropriations Committee. Here are a few bills we’re watching: 

Senate Bill 5123: Some employers in Washington state would no longer be allowed to discriminate against applicants for their cannabis use outside of work under a bill passed by the Senate on Wednesday. The bill was introduced by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, and passed with a 28-21 vote. If passed through the House and signed by the governor, the bill would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024 and would only apply to pre-employment screenings, not an employer’s on-the-job policies after an employee is hired.

House Bill 1389: Landlords in Washington would no longer be able to quickly raise rents under this proposed legislation. Rents would not be able to be raised on tenants within the first 12 months after signing a lease, and rent increases could not be more than 3-7% in a 12-month period, although exemptions could apply in some circumstances. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Alex Ramel, D-Bellingham, and was passed out of the House Appropriations Committee on Friday.

SB 5257:  Recess could become mandatory for elementary school children in Washington under legislation sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles, D-Fircrest.

SB 5131: As the law currently stands, up to 95% of the money sent to people in prison by family members is kept by the Department of Corrections for various accounts such as payment of Legal Financial Obligations or simply the cost of being incarcerated. This bill would prevent money sent by family members from being used for those deductions, and instead, inmates could only spend the money on commissary items.

And here’s a fun one:

HB 1020: This bill passed from the chamber floor on Monday and would designate the Suciasaurus Rex as Washington’s official dinosaur. Fourth-grade students from Elmhurst Elementary in the Franklin Pierce School District brought the bill forward to Rep. Melanie Morgan, D-Parkland, in 2019 but the legislation has yet to clear all the legislative hurdles needed to become law.

This list is not exhaustive - and we encourage each of you to keep an eye out for legislation that affects you and your community. 

Please join me in wishing a huge thank you to our Democratic legislators who are working tirelessly to build a better, safer, Washington! 

Biden says Labor nominee Julie Su represents American dream

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that his labor secretary nominee Julie Su is a “real leader” who has supported unions, enforced worker safety and protected the victims of human trafficking.

Senator Murray Announces Over $40 Million for Clean Water Projects in Washington State

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced more than $40 million in federal funding to upgrade critical clean water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure across Washington state.

Washington Congresswoman DelBene tasked with winning back US House: "Big Opportunity"

DelBene is now in charge of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and is tasked with one thing: winning back the House for her party.

Proposal Addresses Shortage of Rural Physicians

8th District Congresswoman Kim Schrier wants more done to alleviate physician shortages in rural areas.

Black leadership thrives in the South Sound. Just look at the names on this list

Over the last 40 years we have made progress nationally with increasing Black leadership. Yet, locally, it has looked and felt a bit different — until now.

What’s still on the table for traffic safety in WA Legislature?

Right turns on red lights will continue for at least another year in Washington state, while anti-jaywalking laws could maybe become a thing of the past as lawmakers in Olympia settle into the second half of the 2023 legislative session.

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 I’m closing out my first month on the job, I am consistently so proud to be a Democrat. I’m proud of who we are, what we stand for, and how we build coalitions to win seats and help people. That could not be further in contrast to the  GOP’s cowardly infighting leading up to the 2024 Presidential Primary. What we’re seeing on the Republican side is a harsh refutation of the old (and if you ask me, deeply false) narrative that “Democrats Fall In Love, Republicans Fall In Line.” In a nutshell, the GOP appears to be faced with the choice between awful candidates and terrible candidates and they can’t seem to make up their minds.

Today’s Republican Party is so fragmented and disorganized that it’s anyone’s guess who will make it onto the ballot next year. But as of where we stand today it’s hard to picture someone other than the “Evil We Know” – former President Donald Trump and the “Evil We Don’t Know” - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. 

In all honesty - it’s the second possibility that scares me more. Donald Trump, for better or worse, lacks the subtlety to frame himself as anything other than a boisterous, xenophobic lout and the American people have voted him out of office once before. President Joe Biden is the only person who can say he has beaten Donald Trump in a presidential election, and given strong momentum built by the White House over the past two years, I remain confident we can pull it off again with enough hard work and elbow grease. 

DeSantis is a savvier politician than Donald Trump, and very popular in his home state of Florida with a wide range of reprehensible policy “victories” that read very well to Republicans nationwide. But at his core he is just as populist, just as xenophobic, just as self-centered, and just as backward-looking Trump himself. If he clinches the nomination we will have our work cut out for us and need to grind twice as hard every single day to make sure a DeSantis presidency is never a reality. 

We have no choice but to start our efforts now - organizing tirelessly, 24/7, everywhere in Washington State and nationwide in order to beat back the GOP and make sure Democrats hold the White House and win races at every level. 

We know what it takes to win, but it won’t be easy, quick, or cheap. Thank you for standing with us through the critical work to come!  

Last Friday marked the first cutoff date for the WA Legislature since session commenced in mid-January. We wanted to provide a quick rundown of bills that made it out of committee that we are watching closely:

SB 5232: This legislation would prevent firearms dealers from selling a gun to a consumer until a background check has been completed and 10 days have elapsed since the background check request. Additionally, it would prohibit firearms dealers from selling a weapon to a purchaser unless they show proof they have completed a firearms safety training course, or show proof of an exemption. A great step forward for common sense gun safety! 

HB 1025: Qualified immunity for law enforcement officers could end in Washington state under this proposed legislation. The proposed bill creates an avenue for civil action against individual law enforcement officers if those officers have violated a person’s civil rights under the state constitution.

HB 1516: The bill would designate the Lunar New Year as a state legal holiday – providing recognition and representation for countless Washingtonians who celebrate each year! 

This list is not exhaustive - and we encourage each of you to keep an eye out for legislation that affects you and your community. 

Please join me in wishing a huge thank you to our Democratic legislators who are working tirelessly to build a better, safer, Washington! 

Twenty states announce historic governor-led Reproductive Freedom Alliance

The Alliance is a non-partisan coalition of 20 governors committed to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom in their states, the largest such coalition ever convened.

Rifle ban among gun-control bills advancing in the WA Legislature

Other measures include mandated gun-safety training and imposed liability on firearm manufacturers.

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Finds Her Footing

From car shop owner to Congress, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's life has changed considerably since last fall, but one telling detail remains unchanged: She doesn't like wearing suits.

Jayapal Helps Secure $3 Million Grant for University of Washington PacTrans Program

Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) announced today that she helped secure $3 million in federal funding for the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium (PacTrans), a regional transportation research center led by the University of Washington (UW) in collaboration with Northwest Indian College, Washington State University, and others.

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!

Even though it’s very early in the year and the cycle, I’m proud to report that we just completed a small but significant round of special elections statewide! 

Notably, school levies appear likely to move forward in Marysville, Tri-Cities, Gig Harbor and several other districts across Washington State. Let’s take a moment to celebrate our schools getting the funding they need to thrive! 

Thank you to everyone who turned out to vote statewide and spurred investment in their communities! Civic engagement and voting in local elections are the building blocks for our democracy! I’m glad voters are getting a taste of the Democratic process here at the start of the election cycle. 

Let this be your reminder to stay informed, stay engaged and turn in each and every ballot that makes it to your mailbox over the next two years! 

Rest assured, we are still working day and night here at the State Party to build the infrastructure we need to get out the Democratic vote statewide and make sure our terrific candidates win. Stay tuned for more updates about what we have in store! 

We also wanted to share some exciting policy developments happening down in Olympia:

The Senate passed SB 5082 - to finally repeal the insidious advisory votes passed by “anti tax crusader” and conservative gadfly Tim Eyman. Instead of advisory votes, the Senate-approved bill would require the creation of a public website with summaries of government spending and require statements be published online with information about legislation that impacts state revenue. Congratulations to Sen. Patty Kuderer who sponsored the bill - and our friends at Northwest Progressive Institute who have been working on this cause for years. The bill goes to the House for consideration next.

Efforts to make the wealthiest Washingtonians pay their fair share and fix our broken tax system are moving forward - with SB 5486 and HB 1473 both heading to the appropriate Senate and House committees for further consideration.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg - there is a ton of terrific legislation moving forward this session to improve gun safety, protect our environment, improve workers’ rights, and strengthen our education and healthcare systems to name just a few. 

We are so proud of all that our powerful and diverse majorities in OIympia are doing to build an even better Washington. Please join us in thanking each and every one of our Democratic legislators!

Biden set his 'moonshot' on cancer. Meet the doctor trying to get us there

When it comes to curing cancer, President Joe Biden is shifting that sentiment into full throttle. And one person is taking up the challenge.

Murray, Colleagues, Advocates Rally and Make Clear: Child Care Has to Be on the Agenda This Congress

Leaders in Congress and child care champions highlight Democrats’ critical investments in saving child care sector from collapse, underscore need for more progress as child care crisis worsens

Rep. Schrier proposes bill to strengthen Medicaid for improved health care for children

U.S. Representative Kim Schrier (WA-08) is looking to strengthen Medicaid to boost health care access for children through a new House bill.

Washington Lawmakers Want to Beef Up State Aid for College Students

Several legislative bills are designed to beef up the Washington College Grant by extending the timeline or expanding money to provide further support for college students.

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,

It’s been an exciting first week back in Washington serving as your Chair! I want to start today’s note by thanking all of you for the opportunity to take on this role. It’s a pride and an honor to lead the best State Party in the country and I could have never made it here without the support of terrific Democrats just like you! 

As many of you know, I spent last week standing as a proud advocate for Washington State at the DNC’s winter meeting in Philadelphia. It was a great opportunity to learn from my fellow Chairs and forge powerful partnerships with Democratic leaders of every stripe from across the nation! We were even able to take a historic vote to change up our primary calendar to enfranchise more communities of color!

Check out this video I recorded on the ground - so proud to represent WA at this terrific event!

Some of my top highlights included speaking to the Environment and Climate Caucus about how to run on a platform of climate justice (check out a recording off that panel here!), attending my first DNC AAPI caucus meeting (so proud to be the first AAPI Chair representing one of the contiguous 48 states!), and meeting President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. 

I’ll always remember what Vice President Harris said when I told her that I am the first Indian American woman to serve as a State Party Chair anywhere in the country. She reminded me that although I may be the first, do not allow myself to be the last. I’m deeply proud to pave this path for future leaders and I don’t take the responsibility lightly. 

I also want to give major shoutouts to our WA State DNC members - all of whom were appointed to influential committees. Rest assured, Washington State is extremely well represented at the DNC! 

After an exciting week in Philly and a major crash course in DNC procedures, I’m back to getting to know my terrific staff, forging relationships with Party leaders and stakeholders, and doing the crucial work of building campaign infrastructure that will allow Democrats to win big this year and in 2024. Once more, thank you for this opportunity, I’m thrilled to have the chance to work with each and every one of you and earn major victories for Democrats up and down the ticket!

5 takeaways from Biden's State of the Union address

President Biden delivered a State of the Union address Tuesday night that Democrats will likely be thrilled with.

Washington politicians respond to Biden's 2023 State of the Union address

Washington's Democratic Congress members are responding to President Biden's 2023 State of the Union address, echoing the president's main message: "Let's finish the job."

WA Sen. Maria Cantwell’s great week highlights Alaska’s identity crisis

Having a pretty good week: Wild salmon and centuries-old cedars.

Having a great week: Washington’s junior U.S. senator, Maria Cantwell.

Having an identity crisis: Alaska.

Washington Rep. Rick Larsen on where common ground can be found in Congress

With millions of new jobs created over the last two years and unemployment dipping to its lowest level in decades, Washington Congressman Rick Larsen says there are plenty of signs that the U.S. economy is getting stronger.

Jayapal Named Ranking Member of Immigration Subcommittee

Jayapal is the first immigrant in recorded committee history to serve as either Ranking Member or Chair of this Subcommittee.

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,

My name is Shasti Conrad and I am thrilled to join all of you as the newest Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party! 

I chose to run for this seat to build and expand on our successes in elections up and down the ballot, everywhere in Washington State. Under my leadership we will continue to innovate every facet of our program and serve as a model for other State Parties across the country. I’m excited to work with each and every one of you to make sure we can keep building our power and win even more races across Washington! 

You’ll be hearing a lot more from me in the coming weeks but today I want to keep things brief and share my utmost gratitude for your support and the opportunity to lead the best State Party in the nation. I’m proud to say that I am the youngest person and first woman of color elected to this office and I’m excited to build on our past efforts and do great work for every Democrat on the ballot. I am also the first South Asian woman to lead a State Party in the entire country.

If you’d like to learn more about my background and policy priorities - please don’t hesitate to check out my (victorious) campaign’s website! 

Thank you to everyone who helped me get here - and most of all thank you to our outgoing Chair Tina Podlodowski. It’s because of her leadership and innovation, and the hard work of Democrats statewide, that we massively expanded our powerful and diverse majorities in Olympia, flipped federal and state executive offices once thought unwinnable, and paved the path to transformative, progressive policy at every level. 

I am proud to build on the foundation set by Tina and am excited to see how much more we can accomplish as a Party in the years to come. Thank you for the opportunity to lead the charge in our fight for an even more Democratic Washington!

I want to wish a huge congratulations to my fellow State Party officers - who were elected alongside me at last weekend’s reorganization meeting in Olympia!

Vice Chair David Green

David Green was first elected Vice Chair of the Washington State Democrats in 2019. He has also served as Chair of 3rd Legislative District (City of Spokane) since 2015 and ran for Spokane County Treasurer in 2018. As an experienced local party leader and candidate for office, David understands what it takes for Democrats to win in Central and Eastern Washington.

Secretary Rob Dolin

Rob Dolin was first elected Secretary of the Washington State Democrats in 2013 and has over two decades of Democratic party experience as a PCO and volunteer. He has filled over 200 PCO positions as an LD Vice-Chair for PCO recruitment and organized volunteers from Seattle to knock doors in swing districts, and helped local parties with websites and social media presences.

Treasurer David Kim

David Kim will be serving his first term as Washington State Democrats’ Treasurer for the 2023-2024 cycle. He has been active in Democratic politics since interning for his mentor the Late Senator Paul Shinn in 2008. David has been a grassroots organizer and campaign manager for the Washington House Democratic Campaign Committee He also worked with the Washington coordinated campaign to elect President Barack Obama in 2008 and served in the Obama Administration.

I am so excited to work with these terrific folks as we build powerful campaign infrastructure and help support Democrats statewide throughout the 2023/24 election cycle!

WA Democrats choose Shasti Conrad as new leader

The Washington State Democratic Party chose Shasti Conrad, the former leader of the King County Democrats, as its new chair Saturday morning.

Washington state legislators introduce bills to improve traffic safety

The Washington state legislature is hoping to improve traffic safety this legislative session following the deadliest year for traffic fatalities since 1990.

Attorney General Ferguson recovers another $9.3M in stolen unemployment money

Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that his office recovered another $9.3 million stolen as part of a massive fraud perpetrated against states across the country.

New funding will improve childcare, Sen. Murray says

Sen. Patty Murray joined with supporters in Olympia to celebrate passage of a $1.85 billion increase in federal funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The increase was part of a large appropriations bill adopted in December.

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,

Thank you so very much for all you do for our Party, day after day, year after year, and cycle after cycle. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with you and I cannot overstate how proud I am of all we have accomplished together.

As you know, this will be my final newsletter as Party Chair - and I wanted to share a just a glimpse of some of the work we’ve been able to do together over the last six years:

So many memories! Please accept my extreme gratitude for all the work you have done and will continue to do to elect Democrats up and down the ticket across Washington State. We’ve accomplished so much since 2017 and we owe that success to hard work from you. Thank you for helping us realize our vision of a more Democratic Washington:

• We flipped two Congressional Districts (WA-08 and WA-03) from Red to Blue! 
• We built Democratic power in the legislature - growing a one-seat minority to a nine-seat majority in the state Senate and a two-seat majority to an eighteen-seat majority in the state House and building the most diverse legislature in WA history. 
• We flipped the State Treasurer’s seat back to blue in 2020 and we elected a Democrat to the WA Secretary of State’s office for the first time since the 1960s in 2022! This marks the first time in WA history that every single state executive office is in Democratic control. 
• We protected our Democratic incumbents cycle after cycle - allowing them to boldly pass meaningful, progressive legislation at both the state and federal level! I can’t even begin to fit a laundry list of legislative achievements in this email, but I’m perhaps most proud of the work we’ve accomplished on voter access and protection; passing postage paid ballots, automatic voter registration, and the WA Voting Rights Act and more – making WA elections freer, fairer, and more accessible to everyone in our state.
• We reaffirmed our commitment to organizing everywhere in Washington State - reaching countless millions of voters, holding thousands of organizing events, and massively increasing Democratic turnout statewide!

When I first ran for State Party Chair in 2017, I didn't come for the title or to build a resume - I promised to work hard and make transformational change, born of over thirty years’ experience as an activist, elected official, organizational, and community leader. The unofficial job description is just two words: “Elect Democrats.” I believe I have delivered on that promise for these past six years – and it has been an honor to serve in this position.

I feel strongly that I have accomplished what I set out to do and it is now time to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders ready to light the fires of democracy, teamwork, and community around our state. I am so excited to see what’s to come for our Party, and just how much more we can accomplish for all Washingtonians in the future. 

Many have asked what is in store for me next. Well, after years of service it’s time for a break. I’ll be taking the next seven months off to spend time with family and catch up on birthdays, reunions, and travel. If you have ideas say…oh…about October on things I should do next feel free to reach out! Please know I’m committed to ensuring a successful transition to our new Chair. 

Once more, thank you so much for your commitment to our work. We could never have accomplished what we did without your investment of time, resources, and energy to the cause of growing Democratic power statewide. I am confident in the strong foundation we have built together and know that we have what it takes to help terrific Democrats win for years to come. 

The Washington State Democratic Central Committee will be meeting in Olympia this weekend for our biennial reorganization meeting and officer elections! 

Please keep an eye on your inbox for updates about what’s to come for the Party – and you can expect to hear from our new Chair directly in the coming weeks!

In the meantime, please note that State Party staff will be occupied with meeting proceedings for the next few days and may be unable to respond to inquiries until early next week. We will be back in touch as soon as possible! 

Thanks for all you do - and we look forward to seeing many of you in Olympia this weekend!

Senator Murray Statement on 50 Year Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement on the 50-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade—and the first anniversary since the landmark decision was overturned by the Supreme Court, unleashing a wave of Republican attacks on Americans’ reproductive rights.

SW Washington’s Gluesenkamp Perez focuses on common ground at first town hall

The congresswoman held her first town hall Wednesday night and marked her first public return to Washington state’s southwestern district since she won the seat in a surprise upset in November.

Several gun measures proposed in Washington state Legislature

Several gun control measures are working their way through the Washington state Legislature this session.

Middle housing bill begins with more support in WA Legislature than last time

A bill that would allow denser housing in cities across Washington state begins the legislative session on a stronger footing.

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

With gratitude, 

Chair Tina Podlodowski

Washington State Democratic Party

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