MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Happy Friday, Washington Democrats!
Happy early Pride Month! We’ll have more next week about how we plan to celebrate Washington’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ community!
Working for Washington
This past week, I attended the Association of State Democratic Committees meeting in Little Rock to share our best practices and receive training alongside other state parties. Everyone had an inspiring story to share from their state (even the deep red ones!) of the incredible passion and energy that Democrats are marshalling to take back our government in elections this year and next.
As we visited the Little Rock 9 site, I was overcome by the history of these young students who stood up for justice against an unjust government. For those who are unfamiliar, in 1957, nine Black students went to high school to leave behind more than half a century of segregated education to embark on a new era of equality. They paid a personal price for their beliefs in equality, yet their sacrifice enabled others to achieve a more just future. As John Lewis, former Freedom Rider and U.S. Representative said, “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”
Washington State Legislature Readout
Last week we also got the full look at everything our Democrats were able to accomplish in the 2025 Washington state legislative session. Here’s a quick look at some of the many victories we secured thanks to Democratic leadership in our state:
Rent Stabilization – Renters in Washington will now have clarity on how much their landlords can increase rent at the end of a lease. This legislation capped rent increases for existing tenants at 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower. Rent increases for manufactured homes are limited to 5%. Other housing bills allow for disabled veterans to qualify for property tax relief, created additional insurance options for condos, required cities to adopt rules for converting existing buildings into housing in commercial and mixed-use zones, limited the number of parking spaces cities and counties require for housing projects, reduced housing permit timelines, and expanded tax incentives to support affordable housing.
Right to Repair – Consumers can now get their phones and other devices repaired through small businesses, increasing competition and increasing affordability.
Permit-to-Purchase – The purchase, transfer, and possession of firearms now requires gun owners to obtain a state-issued permit. The permit requires gun safety training, expanded background checks, and other safety measures to promote responsible gun ownership.
Special Education Expansion – Students with disabilities that require special education can now access these services until the end of the school year in which they turn 22 years old.
Recycling Reform Act – Washington is joining Canada and many European countries in “shifting the responsibility of managing how packaging gets recycled from consumers to brands and producers.” The new program will eventually decrease the cost of recycling for Washingtonians by 90%, boost recycling of materials covered by the bill by 66%, and expand recycling services to about 500,000 households by 2032!
Unemployment for Striking Workers – Unionized workers engaging in strike actions may now qualify for unemployment benefits.
Expand Veteran Services – Washington will hire more specialists to help veterans obtain the benefits they earned through their service.
Maritime Career Training – Increased opportunities for students to receive career training and education for jobs in Washington’s crucial maritime economy.
Medical Debt Protections – Increased protections for consumers by removing barriers created by medical debt.
Washington State Budget – Additional $1 billion to fund K-12 education, $15.5 billion transportation budget to maintain roads and vital infrastructure, $6.5 billion to protect Apple Health beneficiaries, additional $95 million for behavioral and mental health services, $1 billion for environmental protection and climate mitigation programs, $165 million in public safety funding.
Democrats Fighting Back
Our U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell joined health care providers and advocates to sound the alarm that at least 274,000 Washingtonians are at risk of losing their health insurance thanks to the Republican reconciliation legislation. That includes approximately 194,000 Apple Health (Washington’s version of Medicaid) enrollees and approximately 79,000 Washingtonians who will lose their Affordable Care Act coverage. In fact, thanks to the Republicans inclusion of work requirements, 620,000 Washingtonians are at risk of losing their health care coverage or having it delayed because of a wall of new paperwork. The whole press conference is worth a watch – you can do so here.
Storybanking–Send Us Your Stories
WA Dems Director of Communications, Stephen Reed, gave a quick explainer on the impact of Trump’s tariffs on consumers this week. Click the image above or go here to watch!
Please send your stories about the impacts of Trump’s policies on your life and community. These stories put a human face on the policy implications of the lawless president and his enablers.
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. Please consider sharing your own story of the direct impacts of Trump 2.0 on your life, by sending 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.
Call to Action
- Help Our Neighbors in Kentucky and Missouri – Washington Democrats mourn the lives lost in Kentucky and Missouri from the recent deadly tornadoes. We urge everyone in a position to help our neighbors in these states to consider supporting the following organizations which are helping survivors on the ground.
- Team Kentucky
- Red Cross
- City of St. Louis Tornado Response Fund
- Gateway180 – Missouri’s largest emergency family shelter set up this Amazon Wishlist to provide essentials for families.
- Center for Animal Rescue & Enrichment of St. Louis
- Support Rep. Jayapal’s College for All Act – Rep. Jayapal and Sen. Sanders are introducing their College for All Act this week and are asking for help to build support.
- Download this letter for your U.S. Representative, sign it and send it via email to their staff. Follow up with a phone call to their Capitol Hill office through the switchboard at 202-224-3121.
- Download this letter for your U.S. Senators, sign it and send it via email to their staff. Follow up with a phone call to their Capitol Hill office (phone numbers available here).
- Rally, Protest, and Gather
- Saturday, June 14 – NO KINGS Seattle Mass Protect from NOON-3PM. Location TBA. Sign up here.
- Every Friday – Refuse Fascism Fridays in Everett at the Social Security Administration Office from 5PM-6:30PM. Sign up here.
- Every Saturday – Say It Saturday at B.A. Clark Park in Spokane. 3PM-5PM. Sign up here.
- Every Monday – Mikey Mondays in Spokane outside the office of U.S. Representative Michael Baumgartner. Sign up here.
- Every Tuesday – Tesla Tuesday in Liberty Lake from 4:30PM-5:30PM. Sign up here.
- Every Wednesday – Musk or Us Protest in Redmond from 4PM-5PM. Sign up here.
- Send us details on rallies and protests in your communities
- Email details to press@wa-democrats.org
- Donate
- If you would like to see less Washington D.C. and more Washington state in your community, please DONATE to The Real Washington Fund – our rapid response account to counter MAGA’s chaos with real organizing, real solutions, and real results. We can’t do the work of holding Republicans accountable without your support.
- Follow us on social media
Republicans Behaving Badly
What Medicaid cuts passed by U.S. House could mean for WA,
Washington State Standard
At least 200,000 Washingtonians are at risk of losing their Apple Health coverage and our state could lose billions in federal funding thanks to Congressional Republicans’ disastrous budget. Only nine other states would see an even bigger loss in Medicaid coverage than Washington. If this GOP Budget becomes law, Washington hospitals will close, nursing homes will close, and prices for groceries, utilities and healthcare will go up.
Baumgartner, Newhouse help House pass Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ after GOP state lawmakers warn of Medicaid cuts,
The Spokesman-Review
70% of Rep. Newhouse’s constituents under 18 years old rely on Medicaid and more than half of Rep. Baumgartner’s do as well. Yet both of those Republican House Members voted for a bill that would cut at least 200,000 Washingtonians off Medicaid and result in hospitals closing. They have betrayed their constituents in order to appease Trump and their mega-millionaire donors with tax cuts.
Washington state GOP megadonor planning new round of initiatives on taxes, parents’ rights,
OPB
He’s baaaaack! Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood is planning a new slate of initiatives that would discriminate against trans students, wreck our state budget, and force cuts for services that help low-income families obtain healthcare and put food on the table. If you see any signature gatherers for Let’s Go Washington in your community, make sure people know they should not sign!
With rural libraries under attack, a Washington town rallies to defend its own,
Barn Raiser Media
Republican State Sen. Shelly Short pledged to help fund an expansion of services at the Ferry County Library, until anti-LGBTQIA+ activists launched an effort to remove the Pride flag on display there. Despite the community rallying together and a 6-1 vote from local authorities affirming the library’s right to curate its collection as it wants, Sen. Short still won’t increase support for this vital community institution. This is a great story of how communities can overcome hate and the cowardice of their Republican elected leaders.
Democrats in the News
WA Democrats: GOP Medicaid cuts would gut $2B, threaten coverage for 274K,
Everett Post
Ferguson warns ‘cruel’ Medicaid cuts would rip health care from 200K WA residents,
The Olympian
WA governor calls U.S. House Medicaid cuts ‘dire,’ vows to fight,
CascadePBS
Washington state governor calls on Reps. Newhouse, Baumgartner to explain ‘dire’ cuts to Medicaid,
The Chronicle
WA Gov. Ferguson signs Right to Repair bill into law,
Fox13
Parties offer varying tax estimates of what families will pay under Washington’s new budget,
The Columbian
Governor Bob Ferguson signs landmark bill to refine sentence reduction program for incarcerate
Hoodline
Wait, not everyone in WA recycles? How a new law may change that,
The Seattle Times
Looks like they made it, or not. Highlights from Washington’s 2025 legislative session,
KUOW
What I’m Reading
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Trump & The Press,
HBO
As institutions like higher education and the press come under relentless authoritarian assaults by the Trump administration, it is more important than ever that we stick together to fight back. In this episode, John highlights a Filipino journalist who stood against her country’s crackdown on a free press. She tells us we have to hold the line today because now is when we are at our most powerful. Harvard University has taken this to heart as they battle in court to preserve their academic freedom from the unlawful interference by the Trump administration. We must work to support all of the colleges and universities that are threatened by the Trump administration like Harvard and our own University of Washington.
Thanks for all you do,
Chair Shasti Conrad
Washington State Democratic Party
In 2024, Washington Democrats led the nation with sweeping electoral victories. Now, we’re fighting to elect a supermajority in Olympia, protect our swing seats in the House, and stand up to MAGA extremism across the country.
WA Dems empowers grassroots organizing and elects Democrats up and down the ballot. Your support fuels our fight to stop Trump and defend our democracy.
We sincerely thank you for your help and support.
Washington State Democrats PO Box 4027 Seattle, WA 98194 United States