23rd ld Democrats News

Greetings from the other Washington!

I’m checking in from DC, where I’m meeting with our friends at the DNC ahead of attending an Earth Day celebration hosted by Vice President Harris. In the spirit of the holiday, I want to highlight some of the incredible work on climate change that our Washington Democrats have accomplished recently.

In the state legislature, we’ve passed a new law that will prohibit utilities and landlords from cutting off power or water for people who are behind on their payments when a heat wave strikes. We also saw the first auction for Gov. Inslee’s signature cap-and-invest law take place last month, which brought in $300 million for the state to invest in clean energy and environmental justice projects!

The revenue from the cap-and-invest law also shows that there doesn’t need to be tension between taking action on climate and growing the economy: several of the projects funded by this first round of carbon credits will help train workers to qualify for jobs in the clean energy industry that pay a living wage. I know there’s a lot of bad news out there on this issue, but it’s important to remember that we aremaking progress towards a sustainable future in Washington state!

One final update on the assault weapons ban, which is now finally headed to the Governor’s desk for signature! The House concurred with a minor amendment from the Senate this week, crossing the final "t" and dotting the last "i" before making Washington the tenth state to ban the purchase and sale of military-style rifles. 

In other gun violence prevention news, the Senate has sent a bill to Governor Inslee’s desk that will allow victims of gun violence to hold firearm manufacturers accountable in our state courts. Congress exempted the gun industry from these kinds of lawsuits in federal court years ago, but now families of people who are harmed due to gun violence will finally get their day in court.

Finally, Governor Inslee signed a bill that repeals capital punishment in Washington state! We all know our court system isn’t perfect, and this important reform means that a mistake in a trial court will no longer cost an innocent person their life. 

Even a week later, I find myself reflecting on the warm welcomes I got from all our local Democratic volunteers during my trip through Central and Eastern Washington last week. The passion you all shared with me for improving your communities fills me with hope, and I could not be more excited to be in this work together!

Democratic chair sees big potential in rural, Eastern WA. Can they make Tri-City gains? 

As I told the Tri-City Herald, the path to long-term success in Central and Eastern Washington is delivering the message that Democrats are the ones delivering for working families in every community. Investing in rural infrastructure through the Climate Commitment Act and putting money back in folks’ pockets with the Working Families Tax Credit is exactly what people in those communities need to know Democrats are doing for them, and I know the local volunteers I met with last week will deliver that message!

How Washington plans to spend money from the new carbon-cap law | Crosscut 

Want more details on how the state will spend the $300 million generated by Gov. Inslee’s Climate Commitment Act? Check out this in-depth review by Crosscut!

This WA tax credit could give you free money. If you sign up | The Seattle Times 

A reminder to check your eligibility for the Working Families Tax Credit, and remind your friends and neighbors to do the same! You can see if you qualify for this tax credit by heading to workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov and filling in your information. 

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.

Hello again fellow Democrats!

I’ve just returned from an exciting week of travel across Eastern and Central Washington, with every day this week jam-packed full of meetings and meet-and-greets with our dedicated local party volunteers. I was so grateful for the warm welcome from our LPOs in the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, Pullman, and Yakima – thank you to all who came to share their passion for staying engaged in this work and contributed their ideas for how we can boost rural organizing!

For the many of you who I couldn’t meet, here’s the message I gave all our Eastern Washington volunteers: I’m in this for the long haul. We might not flip every seat in this cycle, or even the next one, but I have the utmost confidence that our person-to-person organizing work is already laying the foundation for the long-term gains we need to compete in every single legislative district.

Look no further than the 3rd Congressional District for an example of how that dedication pays dividends when you might least expect it. After four years of taking the fight to Jaime Herrera-Beutler, our volunteers in Southwest Washington were ready to capitalize on the GOP’s disarray when election denier Joe Kent bested JHB in the primary. Their organizing work pushed Marie Gluesenkamp Perez to victory, and helped Democrats come within a razor’s edge of keeping control of the House of Representatives.

Now, we’ve got to double down on that neighbor-to-neighbor organizing work to protect all the gains we’ve made in the last six years and I couldn’t be more excited to be in this work with all of you! 

HUGE news out of Olympia this week: the assault weapons ban passed the Senate and is now headed to Gov. Inslee’s desk for his signature! I know that the time it takes to make progress on these tough issues can be depressing, so I want to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come on gun violence prevention since 2016.

Back then, Washington ranked #1 in the country for NRA spending. That’s right, the gun lobby spent more money here than anywhere else in the nation. That year, Republicans in the Senate blocked the passage of a bill to allow concerned family members to get an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) to temporarily remove guns from the possession of someone who they believed could be a threat to themselves or others. 

Now, we’ve not only passed that law, but we’ve also mandated universal background checks, established training requirements and waiting periods for gun purchases, allowed victims of gun violence to hold firearm manufacturers accountable in court, and are on track to ban assault weapons altogether. 

None of that could have happened without the organizing work we have done in the last six years to elect champions of public safety to the state legislature, so take a moment this morning to reflect on the progress you made possible.

In Tennessee, Democrats have shown that we will not let the GOP strangle our democracy. Both of the state representatives who were expelled from the Tennessee state legislature have regained their seats after their local governments re-appointed them to their seats after the GOP’s unprecedented move to remove them from office. If you need an extra dose of hope with your morning coffee, take a minute to watch this speech from Rep. Justin Jones to take strength from his resolve to keep fighting for common sense gun laws.

Justin Pearson reinstated: Memphis sends expelled Black lawmaker back to Tennessee House days after GOP lawmakers ousted him - ABC7 Chicago 

Rep. Justin Jones spoke to his constituents after getting re-appointed to the Tennessee House by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. A reminder that local elections matter!

Amid post-Roe landscape, WA lawmakers pass abortion ‘shield law’ | The Seattle Times 

The Senate passed Rep. Drew Hansen’s Shield Law that protects people from other states seeking abortions or gender-affirming care from prosecution in their home state. As long as the Supreme Court continues to divide this country into red and blue states by rolling back personal freedoms like the right to an abortion, Washington Democrats will do our part to make sure anyone who seeks care here can do so safely.

Fed grant funding to help West Canal, Yakima River | Columbia Basin Herald 

While this might not have made front-page news, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this significant investment that Senator Cantwell secured to renovate the Columbia Basin Project’s West Canal. These kinds of investments in the necessary infrastructure for both farmers and our salmon populations are what Democrats deliver for our rural communities, and Senator Cantwell’s leadership made sure the communities I just returned from meeting with will get the millions of federal dollars they need to preserve our way of life. 

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,

At the end of what has been a heavy week, I’m reflecting on several moments that keep me committed to the the work we all do: without politicizing the very real human tragedies we’ve witnessed, the recent school shooting in Nashville and gun violence right here in Washington that resulted in 23-year-old Elijah Lewis’s death are stark reminders that changing public policy can actually save lives.

And although we can’t end every crisis overnight, I’m drawing strength and resilience from the real progress Washington Democrats at every level of government are making to create a safer world for all of us. 

As I’ve been traveling around the state to meet with our local Democratic volunteers in every corner of Washington, I’ve been struck by the resolve, determination, and hope people have that a better world is within our reach. At its core, our person-to-person organizing work is the expression of that hope: we each have something to offer that helps advance our community toward the vision we all share of a just and equitable world where everyone can thrive.

If I haven’t been to your neck of the woods yet, you won’t have to wait too long! Next week, I’m hitting the road to meet with our local volunteers in Central and Eastern Washington, so if you’re in the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, Pullman, or Yakima and want to connect, send me an email!

In the state legislature, the Democratic majorities you helped protect last year are set to pass a ban on assault weapons that will help keep kids safe in their classrooms and prevent mass shootings. The measure has already passed the House, and will soon be before the full Senate floor for a vote to send the measure to Gov. Inslee’s desk. 

Our Washington Democrats have also continued to advance the shield law for patients seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care I highlighted in this newsletter two weeks ago. That bill is even more important now that Idaho has become the first state in the country to criminalize interstate travel to get an abortion. 

This week, the Midwest gave us quite a few victories to cheer for! Led by an incredible organizing effort from the Wisconsin Dems, Wisconsin got a major win by electing a progressive judge to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Judge Janet Protasiewicz is a strong advocate for reproductive rights and beat a truly horrific Republican! 

In Chicago, they elected an awesome new mayor, Brandon Johnson, who was backed by the teachers’ unions and offered a reprieve from messaging overly focused on crime. And in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer overturned a 1921 ban of abortion, a week after repealing the right to work laws that had been in place for years! Good things are happening across this country because of year-round organizing efforts! 

Liberals gain control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the first time in 15 years 

Our fellow state party organizers in Wisconsin notched an incredibly important win this week after Janet Protasiewicz’s victory secured a Democratic majority that can now strike down abortion bans, end gerrymandering, and protect the integrity of the 2024 presidential election. 

Applications open to join Congresswoman Kim Schrier at Democracy Summer!

If you’re a high school or college student (or know one) interested in getting trained to help defend our democracy, you have until April 14th to apply to Congresswoman Schrier’s Democracy Summer program. Aspiring student organizers from across the 8th Congressional District will join together for this informative and engaging program that will teach you all you need to know about registering voters and turning out your neighbors!

WA stockpiles abortion pills ahead of federal court ruling | The Seattle Times 

Ahead of a right-wing judge’s possible ruling in a Texas lawsuit brought by anti-abortion activists, Gov. Inslee has secured a four-year supply of mifepristone to ensure Washingtonians continue to have access to the medication. At the same time, AG Ferguson is fighting back against the lawsuit with one of his own that would compel the FDA to make it easier to access medication abortion. 

Rep. Joel McEntire OK’d Twitter Account in His Name Calling People ‘Loser,’ ‘Pathetic’

Finally, a quick shout-out to the 26th LD Democrats for lifting up the alert they received from a 19th LD constituent about Rep. McEntire’s appalling use of social media. Honestly, I know I shouldn’t be surprised by a lack of common decency from any Republican elected official at this point, but I really thought there’d be a better explanation for this behavior in 2023 than “blame the intern.” If you see anything like this from your local GOP, be sure to flag it for us!

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!

I wanted to start today’s newsletter with a shout out to both the State House and Senate for putting forward budget proposals that truly work for the people of WA State! You can see more details on the proposed budget here, and more changes are expected before the Governor’s office signs it into law, but it looks like we can anticipate many transformative and positive investments, including:

• Hundreds of millions in proposed allocations for public schools - including massive expansion for special education budgets and free breakfast for students in need. 
• Well deserved raises for state employees, with a focus on essential workers, like home care providers and employees of assisted living facilities – who tend to make less than other healthcare professionals and are more likely to be women of color. 
• Increased investment in childcare, affordable housing, and clean energy projects – just to name a few!

Please join me in thanking our Democratic legislators for passing policy and building budgets rooted in a commitment to care for the people all throughout Washington State and to making their lives better. It’s a proud day to be a Washington Democrat and I look forward to providing a full accounting of our accomplishments when the legislative session wraps up next month! 

In addition, I’m so excited to announce that I will be hitting the road on April 10th for a weeklong tour of Central and Eastern Washington. I’m so excited to connect with local Democrats from Yakima to Walla Walla, Pullman and everywhere in between! Because let’s face it, we can only reach our full potential as a State Party when we all come together to organize, build critical infrastructure, and elect Democrats everywhere in Washington! 

We’re working hard to make sure I have the chance to connect with local parties all across Washington and I look forward to attending a meeting in your neck of the woods soon!

WA's $70B budget proposals boost state worker raises, special ed

Democratic lawmakers will work with Gov. Jay Inslee's office to negotiate a final agreement before the legislative session ends.

Gov. Jay Inslee visits Grant County, talks future of clean energy in eastern WA

Governor Jay Inslee is in Moses lake Tuesday afternoon, speaking with leaders on various clean energy topics ranging from hydrogen-powered aircraft to the booming tech industry and new businesses coming to eastern Washington.

Sales tax exemption for seniors’ meals passes WA House 

WA House Bill 1431, sponsored by Rep. Joe Timmons, provides sales tax relief for residents of senior living communities when it comes to meals. 

Michigan Democrats Rise, and Try to Turn a Battleground Blue

With a strong governor, a Legislature passing a raft of liberal measures and a looming early presidential primary, Democrats are testing the promise and pitfalls of complete control of the state.

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 a terrific week traveling across the state! This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the 95th annual Pacific County Crab Feed. It is the longest running political event in our state! It was so great to meet with committed Democrats and awesome elected officials to compare notes on strategy and priorities for this election cycle. Thanks so much to the Pacific County Dems for hosting!

Such a great time with the Pacific County Dems!

Thanks as well to the Thurston County Democratic Women for inviting me to speak at their meeting! It was fabulous to speak to such an inspiring room of folks, and I was so grateful to join one of my faves, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland on the bill.

I’ll be traveling nearly everywhere in Washington State in the coming weeks and months and I hope to be able to join a meeting near you. Thanks again so much to all the great Democrats working around the clock - you’re the engine that keeps our Party going and we appreciate all you do so much! 

Last but not least, I wanted to share an inspiring letter I received just last night from President Biden himself:

The letter may be addressed to me, but the message contained within is meant for every Democrat in Washington - “if we come together as a nation, there is nothing we can’t accomplish.” I am proud to lead the best State Party in the country - and I look forward to working with each and every one of you to build on our past success and lead Washington toward an even brighter future. 

There’s so much great legislation moving forward in Olympia that I can’t even begin to list it all here - but I wanted to give a special shoutout to HB-1469 which passed through the House just a few days ago. In essence, it is a “shield law” to protect those from out of state who seek reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare in Washington. Congratulations and thank you to our Democratic legislators who are fighting hard to ensure everyone has safe, effective health care! 

I also want to give quick kudos  to SB-5082 for passing through the House State Government Committee and moving on to the House Rules Committee. This is a critical step toward finally abolishing conservative gadfly and “anti-tax” crusader Tim Eyman’s useless and misleading “Advisory Votes” and creating more open, transparent policy that works better for each and every Washingtonian! 

Please join me in thanking our powerful and diverse Democratic majorities for all the terrific work they are doing on your and my behalf!

A New Voice for Winning Back Lost Democratic Voters

To court rural and working-class voters who had supported a Republican in the district since 2011, she had to speak to them in a way that her party’s left wing usually does not — to acknowledge their economic fears, their sense of being left out of the political conversation, their disdain for ideological posturing from both sides of the spectrum.

Senator Murray Announces Nearly $25 Million in Funding to Reduce Wildfire Risk Across Washington State

Senator Patty Murray announced nearly $25 million to fund 14 projects all across Washington state to work towards reducing wildfire risks. 

U.S. Congresswoman Kim Schrier helps serves lunch at senior nutrition program

U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, D-WA 8th District, visited Cle Elum on Monday, March 20.

Rep. Rick Larsen discusses priorities of homeless veterans with VA Secretary 

Rep. Rick Larsen joined the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affair, Denis McDonough, Dr. Thomas Bundt, Executive Director of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and regional stakeholders to discuss efforts to assist and house homeless veterans in Washington State.

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,

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

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