MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Happy Valentine’s Day, Washington Democrats!
Celebrating Black History Month
Every February we not only celebrate the history of Black people and their enormous contributions to our state and nation, but also those Black icons who are making history right now!
Today’s spotlight is focused on one of my favorite people in politics, Washington’s very own U.S. Representative from the 10th Congressional District, Marilyn Strickland. Not only is Marilyn the first Black person elected to represent Washington state in Congress, she is also the first Black-Korean American to be elected to Congress and one of the first three Korean-American women elected to Congress in the entire country. This year, Rep. Strickland was chosen by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to be the House Democrat’s representative to the Democratic National Committee.
In Congress, Rep. Strickland has fought hard for working Washington families, helping pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, returning millions of dollars in owed benefits to South Sound residents, and securing more than $45 million in investments directly for the South Sound – including investments in clean drinking water, road safety, and supporting Tribes.
Today is really special because it also marks the culmination of Rep. Strickland’s Annual Valentines for Veterans and First Responders Drive. Throughout the 10th Congressional District, veterans and first responders, and for the first time – JBLM soldiers deployed to South Korea, are receiving Valentines from local residents.
A HUGE thank you to ALL of our Black lawmakers who are making history in Washington state!
Working for Washington
This week, I was invited to speak with Shorecrest High School students about careers in public service, how to be change agents in their communities, and took questions about what mattered most to them. I was impressed by their commitment to their school and friends and their recognition that these chaotic times require more engagement – not tuning out. Thank you, Shorecrest High School for having me!
Here at WA Dems, we are compiling resources to help those communities bearing the brunt of the Trump administration’s cruelty and providing actions you can take right now to help build our resistance. Our elected officials are also doing everything they can to check Trump’s unconstitutional power grab.
Senator Patty Murray has been working to identify the real world impacts of Trump’s chaos and demand answers about how Elon Musk and his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” may be breaking U.S. law. She also pulled back the curtain on RFK’s dangerous beliefs.
Senator Maria Cantwell voted against Trump’s nominee for Commerce Secretary in committee and has been defending vital funding programs from the floor of the Senate.
Democratic Senators created a Whistleblower website to help federal employees and officials describe and document illegal activity from Trump and Elon’s cronies.
Attorney General Nick Brown secured a nationwide halt of Trump’s illegal attempt to end birthright citizenship, launched a lawsuit to stop Trump’s Executive Order attacking gender-affirming healthcare for children, and on Monday sued the Trump administration over its funding cuts to medical research.
Governor Bob Ferguson has been supporting those lawsuits and having his staff make preparations to square off with the Trump administration and announced that the Department of Health will now process all requests to change gender designation on birth certificates within three business days. This ends what had been up to a 10 month wait.
OSPI Superintendent Reykdal blasted Trump’s order on transgender athletes and vowed to uphold state law.
Take Action Today
- Republicans in the Washington State Legislature are up to their old voter suppression tricks. Last week, they introduced legislation that would attempt to end vote by mail in our state. Unsurprisingly, ZERO Democratic lawmakers have signed on. Still, I urge everyone to take a moment to protect the democratic norms that have increased civic engagement by registering your opposition to this legislation here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1584
- Print and distribute “Know Your Rights” cards available HERE as a pdf in 15 different languages.
- Share the resources we’ve collected below to provide support for those bearing the brunt of Trump’s inhumane policies.
- Follow our social media accounts for rapid responses to the Trump 2.0 unconstitutional power grab.
- Do you live in Central Washington? SEIU 775 is asking Rep. Dan Newhouse’s constituents to pressure him to protect Medicaid and Apple Health from illegal spending cuts. You can find more info here: https://centralwafamilies.org/
- DONATE to The Real Washington Fund – our rapid response account to counter MAGA’s chaos with real organizing, real solutions, and real results.
Storybanking
WA Dems and our elected Democrats need your help. We are collecting stories of people in Washington impacted by Trump administration policies.
Are you a federal employee who received an email saying you could be offered a buyout or that you were terminated without notice? Do you work at a research institution or non-governmental organization and have had your federal funding yanked away? Was someone in your family denied gender-affirming healthcare? We need your stories.
The best way to persuade people about the horrible impacts of Trump’s chaos is to share real stories from real people in their communities. If you are interested in sharing your story of the direct impacts of Trump 2.0 on your life, please send an email to press@wa-democrats.org that includes your name, contact information, which Washington community you reside in, the story you would like to share, and permission to share your story with the public.
Our Communications team will be in touch within a few business days after you have reached out to help collect your story.
Senator Cantwell and Murray have also asked for help finding stories like these. Please be sure to note that you want your story told and be as detailed as possible. You can share your stories with our U.S. Senators here:
Resources for Resistance
We must be prepared to protect our friends and neighbors from illegal searches and incarceration. As Trump policy directives come into focus, it is more important than ever that we stick together and fight back. Please share the resources below, and if you have ideas on other organizations or services we should be spotlighting – please don’t hesitate to send them to chair@wa-democrats.org.
Trans Lifeline: Trans Lifeline is dedicated to the wellbeing of transgender people. Their hotline is staffed by transgender people for transgender people to respond to whatever needs members of the trans community may have. The hotline number is 1-877-565-8860
Gender Justice League: Gender Justice League provides direct support and advocacy for the trans community and assists transgender people in obtaining government documentation that matches their gender identity. You can contact them through the website or call 206-538-0423.
If you see ICE activity taking place or any marked vehicles, please report it immediately to Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network at 1-844-724-3737.
Know your rights. Do not open the door. “ICE warrants” authorities may claim to have are not legal to enter your home. ICE warrants must be signed by a local judge to enter your home.
If you need legal assistance, call the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project at 1-800-445-5771
Services for immigrants:
Chinese Information & Service Center
East African Community Services
The International Rescue Committee in Seattle
Jewish Family Services – 253-850-4065
Archdiocese of Seattle – 206-274-3194
Lutheran Community Services Northwest
Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs
Happy Valentines Day
Please enjoy (and share!) these Washington Democrats Valentines Cards our social media team created:
WA Republicans Behaving Badly
Rep. John Ley filed to run in a district he was drawn out of, so he set up a scheme to circumvent residency laws. Rather than risk his legislative seat, he pled guilty to lesser charges. As his fellow Republicans in the State House seek to end vote by mail and institute ID laws, maybe they should look to the voter frauds in their own caucus.
Rep. John Ley pleads guilty to two voter violation charges, The Columbian
Democrats in the News
‘The purge has begun,’ Environmental justice workers locked out of EPA Seattle office, KUOW
Democratic state lawmakers push back against Trump’s deportation policies with new clemency bill, MyNorthwest
House Democrats begin push to repeal Washington’s cap on property tax hikes, Washington State Standard
WA Democrats back bill to raise revenue. But critics say folks ‘not in the mood’ for more taxes, The News Tribune
Point Roberts in uniquely vulnerable to a cross-border trade war, Vancouver Sun
What I’m Reading
Voters were right about the economy. The data was wrong., Politico Eugene Ludwig, Chair of the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity teases apart how government economic indicators paint a far rosier economic picture than what most Americans experience. As someone who generally “trusts the data” this was a great wakeup call about how even objective measures of our economy can fail to reflect what most voters experience in their daily lives. As Trump fails again and again to bring down prices, we must tailor our economic agenda to meet reality, broadening our focus beyond the unemployment rate and inflation indexes that are weighted to capture the experience of wealthier Americans.
Thanks for all you do,
Chair Shasti Conrad
Washington State Democratic Party
We sincerely thank you for your help and support.
Washington State Democrats PO Box 4027 Seattle, WA 98194 United States