Impact on State Level Policy-making
When we launched the First Mile Circle in 2019, we knew that having too few elected leaders of color in our government meant we were missing out on a breadth of experiences and knowledge that could help build strong policy and better address the needs of Washington’s diverse communities. It was known to us then and even clearer now that all of us benefit when the leaders whose communities are most impacted by public health, economic, and community safety responses are developing policies, budgets, and approaches to solve these problems.
Between 2019-2023, our cross-class, multi-racial donor circle moved nearly $1.6 million in total to 138 progressive candidates of color across 30 of Washington state’s 39 counties, helping 72 community leaders win and step into public office. Of these winning candidates, 12 were elected to the state legislature.
In 2019, five legislators came together to form the first Black Caucus in the WA State House of Representatives. In 2020, the Black Caucus membership nearly doubled – with First Mile supporting all four of these newly elected representatives, and Senator T’wina Nobles became the first Black state senator to serve Washington in over a decade. In 2021 the 44th district became, and remains, the only entirely Black delegation in Washington.
Today, the Members of Color Caucus’s 26 members make up 45 percent of the House Democratic Caucus. This is the most diverse and representative legislature in Washington state history.
Additionally, First Mile legislators are establishing themselves in leadership positions – First Mile electeds comprise over a quarter of the Senate Democratic Caucus leadership, and hold chair and vice-chair positions across a number of committees in the House and Senate.
First Mile legislators have championed policies for a number of critical issues – from democracy reform to affordable housing and renter protections to college scholarships and childcare access to police accountability and more – making Washington a safer and more prosperous state for all. Highlights include:
Wins for economic justice like Rep. Alvarado’s HB 1260 which removes barriers to financial stability for people with a work-limiting disability, Rep. Taylor’s HB 1747 which created the covenant homeownership account and program to address the history of housing discrimination due to racially restrictive real estate covenants in Washington state, and Rep. Donaghy’s HB 1771 which removed hurdles for mobile home tenants in accessing relocation assistance for closed or converted manufactured/mobile home parks.
Wins for reforming our criminal legal system like Rep. Farivar’s HB 1618 which allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to prospectively seek justice, Sen. Nobles’ SB 5588 which improved mental health sentencing alternatives, and former Rep. Harris-Talley’s HB 1894 which allowed for a juvenile diversion agreement to be extended by six months at the request of the juvenile to help keep youth out of the juvenile incarceration system.
Wins for healthcare access like Sen. Randall’s SB 6151, prohibiting bad-actor “crisis pregnancy centers” that mislead people expecting abortion care and subjecting them to procedures aimed at deterring them from proceeding with an abortion, Rep. Berg’s HB 1273 requiring schools across the state to make menstrual hygiene products available at no cost, and Rep. Alvarado’s HB 1694 which addresses the lack of long-term care workers to meet the needs of Washington’s age wave.
These highlights are just a fraction of the accomplishments of these incredible legislators. For a deeper dive into how these victories for increased representation have positively impacted the policies we’ve seen move through the legislature the last five years, check out this report: First Mile: Impact on State Level Policy-making.
Want to learn more about First Mile? Head to https://www.firstmilecircle.org/
