Washington Democratic legislative leaders made it clear on Tuesday that they intend to “Trump-proof” the state from federal interference in Washington’s LGBTQ+ rights and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. During a press conference at the Washington State Capitol, Democratic House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, who is openly gay, emphasized the importance of Washington’s commitment to protecting transgender individuals and youth.
Read MoreIn the News


OLYMPIA Wash. (KPTV) - On Monday, Washington Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen and Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins issued a joint statement vowing to fight back against federal executive orders “attacking transgender youth:”
“As parents, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and the elected leaders of the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives, we ...
Read More
Washington state lawmakers will convene in Olympia next week for a 105-day marathon legislative session. Leaders offered a preview of their priorities Thursday as they gear up for lawmaking and budget writing, as the clock starts on the new fiscal cycle July 1. Five panels of leaders, including House and Senate leadership, budget and transportation leaders, outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee and Democratic ...
Read More
Democratic state lawmakers are again pushing a proposal to restrict rent hikes across Washington. Despite the rent cap bill’s dramatic failure last session, backers say its prospects this year are better given new lawmakers, revamped legislative committees and growing public support. The road to final passage, however, could still be tough. Rep. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle, prefiled a “rent stabilization” ...
Read More
OLYMPIA — Washington has a new governor, a mix of new lawmakers and a multibillion-dollar problem. The exact partisan makeup of the state Legislature is still fuzzy as ballots continue to get counted, but Democrats are expected to hold on to strong majorities when legislators convene in Olympia in two months. They might even pick up a ...
Read More
Washington Senate Democrats chose state Sen. Jamie Pedersen as their new majority leader on Monday. Pedersen, who represents the 43rd Legislative District in Seattle, replaces retiring Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig of Spokane. Democratic senators made the much-anticipated leadership decision in a caucus meeting in Tukwila. Pedersen has served as the majority floor leader in the Senate since 2022. In his ...
Read More
The state’s bipartisan Redistricting Commission has been a source of recurring drama the past two months. The four voting commissioners — who were charged with the once-per-decade task of redrawing the state’s political maps — eventually agreed on new lines for the state’s congressional and legislative districts. But they did so after meeting for hours in private and voting on ...
Read More
At a press conference Tuesday, Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D – Seattle) said that the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) did not fully support ESSB 5226 until an amendment from Sen. Annette Cleveland (D – Vancouver) was added. But after assessing public testimony offered by WASPC and following up with the organization to hear about how their stance ...
Read More