2026 Endorsements

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal represents Washington’s 7th Congressional District, which encompasses most of Seattle and its surrounding areas. She is the first South Asian American woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, one of just two dozen naturalized citizens currently in Congress, and one of only 87 women of color to ever serve there. She is the proud Chair of the 100+ member Congressional Progressive Caucus and also serves on several key committees, including the House Judiciary Committee (where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement) and on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. She has spent over 20 years leading organizing and advocacy efforts for women’s and immigrant rights and racial and economic justice.

Pramila Jayapal is the founder of OneAmerica, our sister organization, and an integral member of our OneAmerica family. She has been a champion of immigrant rights in Congress, and we look forward to continuing to co-govern with her to create a thriving home for immigrants in Washington!

Visit Pramila Jayapal’s website to learn more.

Visit Jorge Barón’s website to learn more.

State Senator Manka Dhingra is the deputy majority leader of the Washington State Senate, 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 trafficking and 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. 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.

Visit Manka Dhingra’s website to learn more.

Brandy is a community organizer, activist, volunteer, mother and US Navy veteran. She was raised by a single mom with the understanding that we all have a responsibility to step up and serve our communities when we have the means to do so. She’s worked in a variety of fields, from manual labor to real estate, and was able to return to school as an adult to earn a degree in Business from UW Bothell. After being appointed to the WA legislature in 2021, she’s worked to carry the voices of those who have been unheard for too long to Olympia, and fights to ensure that policy decisions are made through an equity lens so that no one is left behind.

Visit Brandy Donaghy’s website to learn more.

Darya Farivar (she/they) is proud to serve as the State Representative for the 46th legislative district from Lake City. She is the youngest member of the House of Representatives and first ever Middle Eastern woman elected to the legislature. As the daughter of immigrants who fled Iran because of the Iranian Revolution she keeps her heritage close to heart looking for every opportunity to uplift and recognize her community. In the legislature, her priority is on lifting the voices of those with direct lived experience and addressing the intersection of behavioral health, homelessness, and the criminal legal system. Darya believes deeply in disability justice and works towards this in all her legislation and in the interim 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 enjoys spending time with her partner and dog, Chacha.

Visit Darya Farivar’s website to learn more.

Adopted from Taiwan by military parents and raised in South King County where she still resides with her family. She served as a city councilwoman, deputy mayor and mayor for the city of SeaTac (2007- 2015) and was appointed to the State legislature in 2013. Mia is currently a Vice Chair of Appropriations committee and chair of the Members of Color Caucus. Mia works to break down barriers for those who are the most marginalized which includes policy related to income inequality, voting rights, racial equity and housing. She worked in the dental field for over twenty years and enjoys hiking and spending time with her family and friends.

Visit Mia Su-Ling Gregerson’s website to learn more. 

Laurie Jinkins has served in the Washington State House of Representatives since 2011 and as Speaker of the House since 2020. Her focus as a legislator and as Speaker has been expanding civil rights and health care protections for Washingtonians, addressing gun violence, righting our upside-down tax structure and strengthening the power of working people.

Visit Laurie Jinkins website to learn more.

Teresa Mosqueda grew up in the Puget Sound, a third-generation Mexican-American, daughter of educators and policy wonks who fought for social justice and against oppression.

View Teresa Mosqueda’s website to learn more.

Lillian Ortiz-Self has a Masters in Counseling and a Masters in Public Administration. Her career has been spent working as a clinician and supervisor in the mental health field, and as a school counselor in the Everett School District. She has served as a State Representative for the 21st LD since 2014 and currently serves as the Majority Caucus Chair.

Ortiz-Self sponsored and championed our Dual Language Bill (HB 1228) that passed the legislature and was signed by Governor Inslee in March 2024.

Visit Lillian Ortiz-Self’s website to learn more.

Julia grew up in Seattle, the Black and bi-racial daughter of two public school educators who instilled in her the importance of public service, empathy, hard work, and collective action.  She attended Summit K-12 and later Holy Names Academy.

Following college, Julia served in the Obama administration, working at home and abroad with the State Department and the Office of Management and Budget. After returning to Seattle, she served as a senior policy advisor to the Mayor of Seattle, with a focus on workforce development issues.

Osman Salahuddin was raised in Redmond, where he has spent nearly his entire life. His drive to serve his community is rooted in his parents’ immigrant journey in pursuit of the American Dream. His mother has dedicated 20 years as a union-represented special education preschool paraeducator, while his father is a 35+ year small business owner. When hate surged during Trump’s first term, Osman was inspired by his parents’ resilience to stand up for the values that protect everyone.

After graduating from local public schools in the 48th LD, Osman attended the University of Washington, where he graduated with a BS in neurobiology while serving in his first foray in elected office as Student Body President, representing 45,000 students. He led on student issues like equity, international student health insurance, and affordable housing.

Before being elected, Osman worked as a researcher at Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center as well as the UW Medical Center in the Emergency Department. He has served his community on the Redmond City Council, worked for the King County Council, and contributed to non-profit boards and committees, including the Transportation Choices Coalition Board, LWSD Career and Technical Education Committee, and Asian Pacific Islander Americans for Civic Empowerment Board.

Visit Osman Salahuddin’s website. 

Chris Stearns is the State Representative for the 47th district and is one of only a handful of Native Americans ever elected to the Washington State legislature.

Chris is the Vice-Chair of the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, Vice-Chair of the Regulated Substances & Gaming Committee, and a member of the Capital Budget Committee. He is also the Co-Chair of the Legislative Nuclear Energy Caucus and an ex-Officio Member of the WA State Horseracing Committee.

As an attorney with over 30 years of experience, Chris has worked at the state and federal level to advance the health and rights of Native Americans, youth, and vulnerable communities. He has worked to advance human and tribal rights, expand clean energy jobs, champion health care access and affordability, and improve economic opportunity for tribal and other marginalized communities.

Chris was previously an Auburn City Council member, where he was the Chair of the Public Works Committee. While on the Council, he coordinated with other cities in King County on issues including strengthening public safety, affordable housing, drug dependency, and salmon recovery.

A longtime resident of Auburn, he and his wife Pamela have two adult daughters – both graduates of Auburn High School– and a grandson. They currently share their home with their dogs, Lovey and Peaches.

Visit Chris Stearns’ website to learn more. 

Jamila E. Taylor is a State Representative for Washington’s 30th legislative district, where she serves as the Chair of the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee, Chair of the Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Caucus, and Vice Chair of the House Members of Color Caucus. She has successfully secured millions of dollars in expanded state resources for refugee and immigrant populations. Outside of her legislative duties, Rep. Taylor is a staff attorney with Purpose Dignity Action (PDA). She provides civil legal services to recently unhoused individuals, her work focuses on family law, housing, and debt relief. Rep. Taylor currently serves as a board member for BlackPast.org, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Upsilon Omega Chapter. She graduated from University of Oregon School of Law with a Doctor of Jurisprudence and obtained her BA in Sociology from Virginia State University.

Visit Jamila Taylor’s website to learn more.

State Representative My-Linh Thai (D, LD 41, Position 2) is a former Bellevue School District President, a healthcare professional, and an award-winning PTSA parent who is committed to improving education, opportunity, and quality of life for all Washingtonians. As a State Representative, My-Linh has championed and sponsored legislation to protect reproductive care, provide healthcare coverage for undocumented people, prioritize food access and stability for students. She is serving as House Democratic Caucus Deputy Majority Leader.

Visit My-Linh Thai’s website to learn more.

Javier Valdez is the proud son and grandson of farmworkers and laborers.

A product of public education, Javier holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College, the City University of New York, as a participant in the National Urban Fellows program. Javier has worked for the City of Seattle for over 25 years, mostly in positions helping women and minority owned businesses get city contracts.

A longtime leader in Washington’s Democratic Party, Javier currently serves as one of Washington State’s representatives to the Democratic National Committee.  Javier is also former chair of both the 43rd and 46th District Democratic Party organizations.

A leader in the Latino community, Javier previously served as a board member for the Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and president of Hispanic Seafair.

A proud member of organized labor, Javier served for several years as the first president of the Washington State Council of County and City Employees (AFSCME Council 2), Local 21-C, and previously was a delegate to the Martin Luther King County Labor Council.

Javier was appointed to the state house in 2017 and subsequently won election in 2018 and 2020. In the state house, Javier currently chairs the State Government & Tribal Relations and also serves on Civil Rights & Judiciary and Transportation.

Born and raised in Moses Lake, Javier resides in Seattle’s Maple Leaf neighborhood.

Visit Javier Valdez’ website to learn more. 

Washington State House of Representative Janice Zahn was appointed to the 41st LD on January 21, 2025 and completed her first session with four bills passed and two more incorporated within passed legislation. She is running to retain her seat and continue serving her community in Olympia.

Janice immigrated from Hong Kong to the United States when she was 10 years old.  She has both a Masters in Structural Engineering and in Public Administration from the University of Washington, and is the Chief Engineer for the Port of Seattle. In that role, she oversees the Port’s Major Public Works construction and workforce programs, along with design, building information modeling, safety, mapping and survey.

Janice brings her many years of transportation, infrastructure, emergency management and public policy experience to the Washington State House of Representatives. During her over seven years on the Bellevue City Council, she was liaison on various transportation, education, disability and environmental boards and committees. Her local, regional and national knowledge is invaluable as our state and region develop strategies, policies and budgets to ensure a thriving, resilient and sustainable state.

Visit Janice Zahn’s website to learn more.