Access to Democracy

Democracy is the foundation on which we build progress, fairness, and the future we all deserve. This is why in all my roles - community organizer, public servant, Representative - I have been committed to protecting our democracy and expanding access to political decision making.

Growing up, I felt like an outsider to our system of government. I was raised in East Pasco where candidates did not knock on our doors or ask what we needed. Since then, I made it my mission to build a more inclusive democracy - one that represents us all.

There is no more powerful tool in building a government that reflects our values, and meets our needs, than voting. Your vote determines who you send to work on your behalf and what they work on. It’s powerful. And this is exactly why corporations and special interests are doing everything they can to disenfranchise you, to make it harder for you to vote, and to diminish the power of your vote. 

I have been tireless in response. Before joining the Legislature, I worked to register voters in our district. As your Representative, I have been hard at work, protecting your right to vote and expanding the franchise and access to the ballot. We can never have a truly representative democracy until every eligible voter has equal access to the ballot.

This value drove me to run for Chair of the State Government Committee overseeing elections policy. In this role, I shepherded the Voter Power Package, including several laws that will keep Washington a place where your vote counts and matters. I remain committed to pushing back on the Trump administration’s war on Washington’s safe, secure, and reliable all-mail voting system. I’ll never stop working to strengthen our elections to ensure Washington continues to lead on voting access.

TRACK RECORD

• Passed a law requiring preclearance of substantial voting system changes by the Attorney General, responding to the U.S. Supreme Court’s weakening of the federal Voting Rights Act. This will ensure local jurisdictions with a documented history of discrimination have proper oversight. (HB1710)

• Passed into law the Washington Voting Rights Act 2.0 which made it easier for Tribes and communities to challenge voting systems that disenfranchise them. (HB1048)

• Sponsored legislation to protect the voting rights of our servicemembers deployed overseas. (HB2206)