Biography
22nd Legislative District
Sen. Jessica Bateman is a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest who grew up in a single-parent, working-class household. Watching her mom – a public service union member – work hard to provide for their family deeply shaped her worldview and motivated her career of advocacy for struggling families and those most vulnerable in our communities.
Sen. Bateman has dedicated her career to serving the 22nd Legislative District and all of Washington state, taking on some of our most important challenges. As a champion for affordable housing, Sen. Bateman sponsored the landmark “middle housing” legislation HB 1110 in 2023, and as chair of the Senate Housing Committee, she has been nationally recognized for her leadership to pass some of the strongest housing affordability reforms of any state in the nation. Sen. Bateman is committed to ensuring all Washingtonians get the comprehensive health care they need, particularly behavioral health care. She has sponsored legislation eliminating copays for abortion care, ensuring access to mifepristone and increasing our behavioral health workforce. And every day, Sen. Bateman works to create an inclusive, equitable future for all who call this region home – a state and economy where no one is left out or left behind.
Sen. Bateman is a first-generation college student who earned her master’s degree in public administration from The Evergreen State College and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies. She earned her associate degree from Green River Community College. She paid her way through school, working in customer service and as a housekeeper. Outside of the Legislature, she works as a health care strategic advisor and previously served as a member of the House of Representatives and the Olympia City Council.