Indigenous candidates hope to boost representation in WA state

The numbers ebb and flow, but Indigenous influence remains entrenched in the politics of Washington state.

Julie Johnson, Lona Wilbur and Patricia Whitefoot will cast three of Washington’s electoral votes for presidential candidate Kamala Harris in November.

Debra Lekanoff, Chris Stearns and Claudia Kauffman are working in the state Legislature to pass bipartisan laws that protect access to health care; improve behavioral health crisis response and access to treatment; ensure students have the food they need so they can concentrate on learning; protect worker pay and worker rights; promote development of clean energy; and ease the tax burden on disabled veterans and active-duty military personnel.

And in Olympia, port commissioners Bob Iyall and Maggie McCarty Sanders are contributing to the decision-making that is attracting businesses and jobs to the city’s waterfront, restoring habitat and safeguarding the health of the nearshore environment.

https://www.cascadepbs.org/indigenous-affairs/2024/10/indigenous-candidates-hope-boost-representation-wa-state-0