Claire Wilson has represented the people of the 30th District since 2018. She is proud to serve as chair of the Human Services Committee, vice chair of the Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, and a member of the Rules Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee. She has held the role of Assistant Majority Whip since 2018 and currently co-chairs the LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus, and co-chairs the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Oversight Board.
In her time as Senator, Claire has been a strong proponent of reform in the juvenile justice, child welfare, and corrections systems. She is motivated to disrupt the institutions that keep people where they are instead of providing them the supports, tools, and resources to be successful. Claire continues to be an advocate for children and families, championing historic legislation, such as the Fair Start for Kids Act to make child care and early learning more affordable, and making our K-12 education system, as well as services for children and families, stronger and more accessible.
Before her time in the legislature, she spent 25 years serving as an administrator in early education and family involvement at the Puget Sound Educational Services District, taught pregnant and parenting teens in Tacoma, and was program director for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Food and Nutrition Education Program in rural Montana. She also served for eight years as an elected school board director for Federal Way Public Schools.
Throughout her career, she has volunteered for and served on numerous organizations and boards. Claire identifies as a lesbian woman and mother and is one of nine LGBTQ lawmakers in the Washington State Legislature.
Currently, Claire serves on the following task forces, work groups, and committees:
National
CSG Shared Services Legislation Committee
2026 NCSL Childcare Policy Workgroup
CSG Toll Fellow 2024
NCSL Early Learning Fellow Alum
NCSL Child Welfare Fellows Alum
CSG West Education Committee
CSG West – Western Legislative Academy (WLA) Class of 2022
NCSL State Policy and Research in Early Education (SPREE) Workgroup
State
Washington State LGBTQ Commission
Washington State Leadership Board
Commission on Children in Foster Care
DCYF Oversight Board (Co-Chair)
Sentencing Guidelines Commission
Education Related
Task Force on Improving Institutional Education Programs and Outcomes (IIEPO Task Force)
Jt. Select Committee on Governance & Funding for Institutional Education
Education Ombuds Appointment Committee
Professional Educator Collaborative
Early Learning/Child Welfare Related
Jt. Legislative and Executive Committee on Behavioral Health
The UW Master of Arts in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology: Prevention and Treatment Program Advisory Board.
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Task Force
Help Me Grow Advisory Committee
Early Learning Strategic Plan Committee
Advisory Board for UW Center for Early Childhood Policy and Equity
Child Care Collaborative Task Force
Early Learning Advisory Council
Child Support Guidelines and Report Review Work Group
Corrections Related
Reentry Services Work Group
Correctional Industries Advisory Committee