National Women's Political Caucus of Washington

CONGRESSIONAL POSITIONS

Maria Cantwell
U.S. Senate

Susan DelBene
U.S. House
1st Congressional District

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
U.S. House
3rd Congressional District

Emily Randall
U.S. House
6th Congressional District

Dual Endorsement

Hilary Franz
U.S. House
6th Congressional District

Dual Endorsement

Pramila Jayapal
U.S. House
7th Congressional District

Kim Schrier
U.S. House
8th Congressional District

Marilyn Strickland
U.S. House
10th Congressional District

STATEWIDE POSITIONS

Patty Kuderer
Insurance Commissioner

Patty is a mom, state senator and trial attorney who has lived her life in service to others. Her community volunteerism started nearly 40 years ago helping those experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. She also served on non-profit boards and committees fighting to end extreme poverty and discrimination, and advancing reproductive rights. After serving one term in the WA state House, she went to the Senate where she has represented her District as its first female state senator since 2017. She currently chairs the Housing Committee where she passed the first in the nation statewide right to counsel in evictions and bills aimed at strengthening reproductive healthcare and gun safety. An ardent supporter of universal healthcare, Patty’s experience as an attorney taking on the insurance industry and her personal experience with health insurance during her newborn’s 5 month hospitalization stay motivates her to seek the position of Insurance Commissioner for Washington state.

Manka Dhingra
Attorney General

 State Senator Manka Dhingra is a 20-year Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor, award-winning behavioral health and community safety leader, and mom. In the State Senate, Manka has led efforts to protect survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence, strengthen gun laws, as well as advance criminal justice reforms and policies rooted in her experience as a prosecutor and advocate for behavioral health innovations. As Attorney General, Manka is committed to protecting access to reproductive rights, safeguarding worker rights, holding polluters accountable, addressing the epidemic of gun violence, and improving the lives of every Washingtonian. Manka received her JD from the University of Washington, School of Law and her BA in Political Science and History from the University of California at Berkeley. A native of India, she will be the first immigrant, first person of color, and only second woman to serve as Washington State Attorney General.

LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS

Davina Duerr
LD1 State Representative
Position 1

A graduate of the Syracuse University School of Architecture, Davina moved to Seattle in 1997 seeking to pursue a career in sustainable architecture, While working part-time, she got involved with Bothell’s Landmark Preservation board and the Northshore Schools Foundation. She served on Bothell City Council from 2016-2022 and was appointed to the Washington state legislature in 2019 where she serves as the chair of the Local Government committee and well as on the Environment and Energy committee and Transportation committees. Her passion is the intersection of the environment, local government and buildings. Her legislative priorities are the environment and housing. Her most impactful legislative win to date was adding climate change as an element to the Growth Management Act in 2023.

Janet St.Clair
LD 10 State Senator

I spent my 30+ year career as first a bilingual teacher and then a social worker working while also serving as a volunteer foster parent, helping children find stability and permanency in their lives. As a director of large social service organizations, I balanced complex, multi-million dollar budgets with diverse funding streams. I worked on cutting edge, integrated behavioral health and primary care services that recognized the importance of both physical and mental health. After I “retired”, I volunteered for Island County on the Community Health Advisory Board, as a Board Member on the Stanwood Camano Community Resource Center and worked part-time helping establish a nascent non-profit environmental organization. Believing the county needed to better reflect the needs of the communities they served, I successfully ran for County Commissioner in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022.

Jessica Bateman
LD22 State Senator

Jessica grew up in the PNW, raised by a working-class single mom, and was the first in her family to graduate from college. She received an associate degree from Green River Community College, a graduate degree in public administration, and an undergraduate degree in environmental studies from Evergreen State College. Before being elected to the state house, she served five years on the Olympia City Council, including two years as Deputy Mayor. In her day job, she works as a strategic advisor for community health centers in Washington and is a WFSE member. As a state representative, she has led on housing, healthcare, and supporting our seniors. Some of her proudest accomplishments include securing over 1.2 billion dollars to address our housing & homelessness crisis, passing middle housing, improving access to comprehensive and affordable health care and protecting reproductive rights in Washington.

Lisa Parshley
LD22 State Representative Position 2

Lisa Parshley is a dedicated public servant who serves her community on the Olympia City Council. She has been an active member of various city committees including Land Use and Environment, Tribal Relations, Public Safety, and Finance. Her term is 2018-2026. * Her regional community contributions include serving on various inter-jurisdictional committees: Thurston County Climate Mitigation, Olympia Sea Level Rise Phase I through III, Thurston Communication (911), Joint Animal Services Commission, LOTT Clean Water Alliance Board, and Regional Fire District Planning. * Dr Parshley's professional journey began by earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Oregon Health Sciences University and a postdoctoral fellowship at University of Washington. She received a DVM from Colorado State University. She completed an internship at Cornell University and a medical oncology residency at Michigan State University. She is also a small businesswoman, owning the Olympia Veterinary Specialists.

Jamila Taylor
LD30 State Representative
Position 1

Jamila E. Taylor is a State Representative for the 30th District. She is the Chair of the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee, Chair of the Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Caucus, and Vice Chair of the House Members of Color Caucus. She also serves on the Washington State Women’s Commission. Outside of her legislative duties, Jamila is a staff attorney with Purpose Dignity Action. She provides civil legal services to recently unhoused individuals and her work focuses on family law, housing, and debt relief. Prior to joining PDA, statewide advocacy counsel at Northwest Justice Project. An experienced regional leader, she has more than 25 years of community involvement and advocacy experience. Jamila currently serves as a board member for BlackPast.org, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She graduated from University of Oregon School of Law with a Doctor of Jurisprudence and obtained her BA in Sociology from Virginia State University.

Kristine Reeves
LD30 State Representative
Position 2

First elected in 2017, Kristine was the first African American woman to join the legislature in nearly two decades and the only mom with young children at the time. Kristine has been a forceful advocate for women, children, working families, veterans, and the environment. With experience in community and economic development, she has led efforts in childcare reform, environmental justice, and consumer protection, drawing on her background as a first-generation college graduate, former foster youth, & someone who has faced homelessness. Kristine co-founded and now serves as Vice Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus; holds vice chairmanships on Consumer Protection & Business, Agriculture & Natural Resources, and is a member of the Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee. The CEO of a strategic planning and change management firm, a doctoral student specializing in political institutions as places of work, a wife, and a working mom of two school-age kids, Kristine keeps busy.

Cindy Ryu
LD32 State Representative
Position 1

Rep. Cindy Ryu is running for an 8th term in the State House of Representatives. She chairs the Innovation, Community & Economic Development and Veterans Committee. She also serves as a US Vice Chair of Pacific Northwest Economic Council and as a member of the FCC Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. Rep. Ryu previously served as Council member and Mayor of City of Shoreline, becoming the first Korean American woman mayor in the USA. She seeks to improve our disaster preparedness and resilience while advancing economic empowerment of women and working families.

Tina Orwall
LD33 State Representative
Position 1

Tina has represented the 33rd district since 2009 and serves as the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives. Rape kit reform and creating a trauma-informed response for survivors of sexual assault, AI/intimate images and fertility fraud protections, 988/suicide prevention and strengthening our crisis response system, anti-trafficking, the Foreclosure Fairness Act and other consumer protections for homeowners, improving language access in the schools, compensation for those wrongly convicted, airport impact mitigation and improving air quality, and adoptee rights are among her legislative accomplishments. Tina has worked with all levels of government to help embrace best practices to better serve the community. Her 20 years of experience working in the public mental health system, as well as her expertise in strategic planning in workforce development and affordable housing have established her as a valued legislator and community leader.

Liz Berry
LD36 State Representative
Position 2

State Representative Liz Berry represents Washington's 36th legislative district located in the shadow of Space Needle. It includes the Northwest Seattle neighborhoods of Queen Anne, Magnolia, Interbay, Ballard, Phinney Ridge, Crown Hill, and Greenwood. Liz is Chair of the Labor & Workplace Standards Committee and Member of the Environment & Energy and Transportation Committees where she is a passionate advocate for working families, combating climate change, and ending gun violence in our communities. A lifelong champion for women in leadership and reproductive justice, Liz proudly served as President of the National Women's Political Caucus of Washington and as a board member of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington. She lives with her husband and two young children, George and Eleanor, in Queen Anne.

Sharon Tomiko Santos
LD37 State Representative
Position 1

Elected in 1998, Sharon Tomiko Santos represents the diverse communities of the 37th Legislative District where she grew up and forged decades of leadership on women’s rights, immigrant and refugee rights, and civil rights. In 1996, Santos was honored by the Washington State Women’s Political Caucus; she received the Hate Free Zone 2006 Leadership in Justice in Government award; and, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Organizing Committee gave her a Lifetime Achievement award in 2019. As a legislator, Santos focuses on issues of educational equity, access to public contracts for women and minority owned businesses, and community development and preservation. Santos is the Chair of the House Education Committee and sits on the Consumer Protection & Business and Finance committees. A graduate of Evergreen State College and Northeastern University, Santos worked in banking, in local government, and in non-profit management. She is a former Chair of the King County Women’s Political Caucus.

Mary Fosse
LD38 State Representative
Position 2

Mary Fosse is a mother of two, wife of a veteran, survivor, daughter of a single mother, and State Representative for the 38th LD. She has long been known for her dedication to community advocacy and volunteer service. Having experienced childhood homelessness and poverty, she has become a leader in advocating for workers’ rights and equitable policy. She has been a consistant champion of resources for childcare and early learning, as well as passing legislation expanding safetynets for working families. She has also been successful in passing bold policy to reform our criminal justice system, and increase access to apprenticeships and avenues to diversify our building and construction trade workforce. She serves as House Assistant Majority Whip, as Vice Chair of the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee, and on the Capital Budget and Community Safety, Justice & Reentry Committees, and on the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee.

Lisa Wellman
LD41 State Senator

I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in education and psychology. Starting as a teacher, my career moved to technology where I served as computer programmer and systems analyst on main frames before moving to the desktop. I developed my background managing technical and sales training, public relations, produc.t development and marketing. I was recruited by Apple and grew my initial position to VP of worldwide creative markets, Recruited by HP to be President and CEO of a spin-off brought me to Seattle. With colleagues I created "digital marketing" and held the first conference on that at Javits Center in NYC. I started a consultancy and conference on sustainability that worked with many companies. I was recruited by Governor Gregoire to join the Community Economic Revitalization Board where I served for 7 years. I was asked to run for the Senate in 2016 and have now served 2 terms on Education Committee, Energy, Environment & Technology and Ways in addition to numerous workgroups.

Tana Senn
LD41 State Representative
Position 1

Tana Senn has served the people of the 41st LD since 2013. After receiving her Master in Public Policy and Administration from Columbia University, Tana worked at Hadassah, the largest Jewish women's organization in the country, as their American Affairs/Domestic Policy Director. After moving to Seattle, she worked for over a decade in marketing and communications for nonprofits and foundations until becoming a Mercer Island City Councilmember. Tana serves as Chair of the Human Services, Youth and Early Learning Committee and on the Appropriations Committee, and is known for her passage of the Equal Pay and Opportunity Act and the Fair Start for Kids Act. She is the founder of the Mom's Caucus, serves as co-President of the National Assocation of Jewish Legislators and on the board of Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue. In 2021, Tana received the inaugural Marian Wright Edelman Award from the Women's Commission.

Nicole Macri
LD43 State Representative
Posiiton 1

First elected to the State House in 2016, Nicole has been a legislative leader in housing justice, health care access, and in enacting protections for LGBTQ people and people with disabilities. She has introduced and passed policies to protect renters and increase health care affordability and access, and works to prioritize behavioral and reproductive health and long-term care in the State budget. Nicole is Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, serves on the Health Care and Wellness Committee, and co-chairs the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. Outside the Legislature, she is Deputy Director of the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) which provides housing, integrated health care, and other social services in the Seattle area. In 2019, Nicole was named one of Seattle’s most influential people by Seattle Magazine and again in 2021 by Seattle Met magazine. In 2022, Nicole received the Human Right to Housing Award from the National Homelessness Law Center.

Darya Farivar
LD46 State Representative
Position 2

Darya Farivar (she/they) is proud to serve as the State Representative for the 46th LD in Lake City. She is the youngest member of the House of Representatives and the first-ever Middle Eastern woman elected to the legislature. As the daughter of immigrants who fled Iran because of the revolution, she keeps her heritage close to her heart and believes in the leadership of those most impacted. In the legislature, she focuses on the intersection of behavioral health, homelessness, and the criminal legal system. Darya believes deeply in disability justice and works as the Community Engagement Manager at Disability Rights Washington. Off the clock, she serves on the board of directors at the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability, volunteers for Peyvand a cultural non-profit, and is the former Chair of the Seattle Women’s Commission. She received her degree in communicative disorders with a minor in women, gender, and sexuality studies from the University of Redlands.

Vandana Slatter
LD48 State Representative
Position 1

State Rep. Vandana Slatter (D-Bellevue) has been serving since 2017, working on progressive legislation to increase access to education, reproductive rights & healthcare, workers rights, address climate change, grow affordable housing, and create an inclusive and innovative economy for all. Vandana previously served on the Bellevue City Council, the State Board of Pharmacy and was formerly a member of SEIU. She has always championed access to medicine, innovation, education, and the opportunity to serve in public office, especially for women and BIPOC individuals. In the legislature, Vandana has passed nation-leading policies including aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, health data privacy, postsecondary education and apprenticeships for first generation students, multimodal transportation investments, behavioral health workforce, student loan forgiveness, and opportunities for women and all workers to strengthen and fully participate our economy.

Amy Walen
LD48 State Representative
Position 2

my Walen was educated in Australia and earned a Law Degree and a degree in Political Science. She is a cancer survivor, step-mother and dog lover. After the acquisition of a business in Kirkland, Amy became involved in community, and ran for Kirkland City Council in 2009. She served on the City Council for 9 years, with 4 as Mayor. Amy was a champion for creation of affordable housing, support for seniors, education and expansion of parks and open spaces. Amy served as President of the Sound Cities Association, representing cities in King County and supporting regional efforts to end homelessness, to develop transit and tackle climate change. After determining that state action was required to go further in housing policy and to address preventable gun violence, Amy ran for the state legislature, and won a seat in the 48th legislative district. During her 6 years in the State House, Amy has been a bold leader. She currently chairs the Consumer Protection & Business Committee.

COUNTY POSITIONS

Melanie Bacon
Island County Commissioner
District 1

Melanie Bacon is the incumbent Island County District 1 Commissioner, a position she has held since January 2021. Prior to running for political office she spent thirty years working in Human Resources and Compensation. A Vietnam-era Army Veteran, Ms. Bacon has spent most of her life working on and advocating for women's issues, including reproductive rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, protection for victims of domestic violence, childcare, school safety, affordable housing, and equitable treatment for all residents in all governmental policies, practices, and laws. Where once she advocated for women's issues as an observer, she is grateful to be able now to make positive change for women from a position of power. She appreciates the endorsement she received in 2020 from the National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, and hopes to be endorsed once again for this campaign.

Heidi Eisenhour
Jefferson County Commissioner
District 2

Elected to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners in 2020, Heidi Eisenhour is an experienced non-profit executive having served as Chief Operating Officer at the Northwest Maritime Center and Executive Director at Jefferson Land Trust previously. A longtime advocate for natural resource conservation, Heidi grew up in a commercial fishing family on a 50’ troller in the Port Townsend boatyard and on the Pacific Ocean. Over her first term as a Commissioner she has served on committees focused on diverse issues including solid waste, marine resources and behavioral health. She has also played an active role in statewide forestry issues. Heidi has lived in Jefferson County since 1981 and attended both Chimacum and Port Townsend Schools. She graduated from The Evergreen State College with a degree in Environmental Science in 1994.

JUDICIAL POSITIONS

Sheryl Gordon McCloud
State Supreme Court Justice
Position 9

Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud was elected to the Washington Supreme Court in 2012 and re-elected in 2018 after more than 25 years as an accomplished lawyer serving clients across the state. As a Supreme Court Justice, she co-Chairs the Court’s Gender & Justice Commission. She also serves as the Court’s liaison to the Washington State Bar’s Council on Public Defense. She is a long time member of the Court’s Rules Committee, responsible for rules governing trials throughout the state – such as rules targeting race discrimination in jury selection. In addition, she speaks regularly at legal and community events throughout the state on topics ranging from the importance of an independent judicial branch to current noteworthy cases. Her dedication and expertise as a Justice have been recognized by groups ranging from Washington Women Lawyers to the Cardozo Society. Justice McCloud's decisions decisions reflect careful attention to constitutional and individual rights.

Maureen McKee
King County Superior Court Judge
Position 5

Judge Maureen McKee obtained a BA degree from Oberlin College and JD degree from Cornell Law School. Prior to law school, Judge McKee was committed to public service, working as an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer in Chicago and at the YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities in New York. Upon graduating from law school, Judge McKee joined The Defender Association in Seattle where she was a public defender for over 15 years. In the fall of 2018, Judge McKee was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the King County Superior Court. Since her appointment, Judge McKee has presided over family law, dependency, civil commitment, civil and criminal matters. She strives to ensure that every litigant who comes before her is treated with respect and dignity.

Haydee Vargas
King County Superior Court Judge
Position 12

 Judge Haydee Vargas is a native Spanish speaker and a proud member of the Latina/o/x community. She has served honorably as a public servant, both as a public defender for indigent King County residents for 18 years, and then as a judge in King County Superior Court for 2 years. Prior to becoming a judge, she worked hard to attend college and law school as the first member of her immediate family. With the help of scholarships, financial aid, and working while going to school, Judge Vargas was able to achieve her dream of getting a four-year degree, a law degree, and successfully practice as a public defender and then as a judge. Judge Vargas remains an active volunteer in the community including mentoring attorneys, serving as a moot court judge, at youth law forums, and at local K-12 schools where her children attend.

Averil Rothrock
King County Superior Court Judge
Position 16

 Judge Rothrock joined the King County Superior Court bench on October 28, 2018. She has twice been elected to the position, in 2019 and 2020. Judge Rothrock is a lifelong resident of King County and a graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle. She obtained a B.A. cum laude from Colorado College, and obtained her J.D. cum laude from Willamette University College of Law. Before becoming a judge, Judge Rothrock represented clients for 24 years of private practice at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt. Judge Rothrock developed significant experience in the appellate courts. Judge Rothrock served as Chief Juvenile Court Judge in 2022. In 2024, Judge Rothrock's peers elected her Assistant Presiding Judge of the King County Superior Court. Judge Rothrock has served on the SCJA Family and Juvenile Law committee for 5 years and volunteered for the Gender and Justice Commission working on revisions of the civil protection order statutes.

Elizabeth Berns
King County Superior Court Judge
Position 25

Judge Berns graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a B.S. in Environmental Health and Law. In 1993, she received her J.D. from the University of Puget Sound School of Law. Judge Berns began her legal career working with the State Attorney General’s Office, Division of Labor & Industries. She then opened her own practice supporting individuals, families, and businesses in the areas of workers’ compensation, estate planning and probate, business and intellectual property, and family law. In 2009, Judge Berns began serving her community as a Pro Tem Judge and Commissioner in Municipal, District and Superior Courts. Judge Berns joined the King County Superior Court Bench in January 2013. She provides judicial education and training in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, and the impact of trauma exposure. She has co-authored chapters in several Bench Guides for Judges, and has held multiple leadership positions on the Court.

Cindy Larsen
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Position 3

Judge Cindy Larsen was elected to the Snohomish County Superior Court bench in 2016. She is a life-long Washington resident, earning both her BA and Law Degree at the University of Washington. Judge Larsen has served Snohomish County as a law clerk, deputy prosecuting attorney, and judge for over 28 years. Judge Larsen has been a strong leader in our community and in the state-wide Superior Court Judges Association. She volunteers as a Mock Trial Judge and has taught the Street Law program at Cascade High School. Judge Larsen is particularly passionate about areas of law that impact children. She focused on crimes against children and Juvenile Court when she was a Deputy Prosecutor and served over 3 years as Family Drug Treatment Court judge, working to help parents struggling with substance use disorders to reunite with their children. Judge Larsen lives in Everett with her husband Jeff and has raised three grown children, Lauren, Jake and Grace.

Jennifer Langbehn
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Position 13

Judge Jennifer Langbehn was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to fill a vacant seat on the Snohomish County Superior Court bench in 2018. She successfully retained her seat by election in 2019, was re-elected in 2020, and now stands for re-election in 2024. Judge Langbehn is a Washington native who graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2005 and had a 13-year career representing Snohomish County parents and families in dependency and termination actions, adoptions and other family law matters. She also served as an Arbitrator and a Superior Court Commissioner pro tempore. Since joining the bench, Judge Langbehn has served in a number of leadership positions, including chairing the Superior Court’s Family Law Committee in 2019 and 2020, and chairing the Court Operations committee since 2021. In 2021, she was honored to be ranked 1st in the quadrennial Snohomish County Bar Association Judicial Evaluation. Judge Langbehn and her husband live in Everett with their two sons.