WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced 2024 Spotlight candidates in Washington running to flip and defend seats and strengthen the Democratic majority.
The Spotlight candidates unveiled today are:
- Maria Beltran (LD-14, Senate) – Born and raised in Yakima, Maria is intimately aware of the struggle and triumphs many in the region experience. She is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants and agricultural workers. As a queer person of color, she knows that thriving communities are ones in which everyone feels safe and free to be themselves and pursue their dreams. Over the last decade, she has helped Democrats up and down the ballot win difficult races. Now, she’s rising to the occasion to make Washington State history as Yakima’s first Latina to represent the area in the legislature.
- Sen. T’wina Nobles (LD-28, Senate) – Sen. Nobles has spent her career giving back to her community, first as the President and CEO of the Tacoma Urban League, and now as a University Place School Board Member, inaugural CEO of the Black Future Co-op Fund, and the State Senator for the 28th Legislative District. In her last four years in the Legislature, she’s worked hard to expand access to financial aid and protect books from being banned. She’s also made strides in expanding transportation infrastructure to relieve congestion, passed legislation to bring housing costs down, supported climate legislation, and worked hard to protect communities from gun violence.
- Ana Ruiz-Kennedy (LD-14, House – Position 2) – Ana is running to represent the newly drawn 14th Legislative District. She’s a community development professional with decades of service to her community. Born in Mexico, Ana raised her three children in the district. If elected, she’d be the first Democratic Latina representative in the 14th LD.
- Rep. Alicia Rule (LD-42, House – Position 1) – Rep. Rule is a mental health professional, who has focused on ensuring that Washington supports the mental health and well-being of our children by adding more school nurses, counselors, and social workers to our schools. She’s a single mother of three boys and grew up in the district.
The DLCC and our allies have worked to defend the state’s Democratic trifecta since it was established in 2018 and most recently reelected in 2022. In their last legislative session, the Democratic-led legislature passed gun safety legislation, funded expanded access to child care, and kept MAGA extremism at bay.
These strong Washington candidates join hundreds of candidates who are mounting inspiring campaigns in every corner of the country to build Democratic power and counter MAGA control of state legislatures.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“The DLCC is proud to unveil the candidates running in Washington state’s most competitive races. These Spotlight candidates are critical to ensuring that Democrats maintain their stronghold in Washington where they have fought tirelessly to protect key freedoms. These bold candidates would strengthen their majorities and continue to block Republicans’ MAGA agenda from taking root in Washington. The DLCC’s Spotlight program lifts up the best opportunities to defend and build Democratic power and by electing these leaders, we can ensure the legislature continues to be led by champions of freedom.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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