MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
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!
WORKING FOR WASHINGTON
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!
DEMOCRATS IN THE NEWS
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
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