The Washington state legislature could have more Indigenous people in its ranks than at any other time in state history after the Nov. 3 general election.
And for the first time an Indigenous person could be elected assessor for King County, the state’s most populous county with 2.4 million residents.
An estimated 14 Native Americans and/or Alaska Natives have served in Washington state’s legislature since territorial days in the mid-1800s – it became a state in 1889 – and at most five have served at the same time.
There are currently three Indigenous people in the legislature and all are seeking reelection. This year, a total of 10 Native Americans are candidates for the state House of Representatives and state Senate. (All but one are Democrats.)
This is important because 29 federally recognized tribal nations share geography with Washington, and those tribal nations play a significant role in managing natural resources and fisheries while contributing to regional economic development.
All told, those tribal nations create $7.4 billion in gross state product – the total monetary value of all goods and services produced within the state’s borders over a given year – and pay $3.9 billion in wages and benefits and $1.5 billion in state and local taxes. That’s according to Washington Tribes, a public education program sponsored by the Washington Indian Gaming Association.
“Having more members of Native American communities in the state legislature will not only help bring our voices forward, but it helps educate and create an understanding of the government-to-government relationships that we hold within the state of Washington,” said Debra Lekanoff, Tlingit, in an interview with ICT. She is seeking a fifth term in the state House of Representatives from the 40th District in western Washington.
“For me, bringing a tribal perspective to healthcare and healthcare systems is important,” Lekanoff said. “Out of the 38 recovery centers in Washington state, 21 of them are owned by tribes. Eighty percent of their clients are non-Native. Tribes are investing in healing all Washingtonians because we all make a better Washington state together.
“Understanding how we can better work as partners in renewable energy across this state has been vital to our government-to-government relationship. The other is understanding jurisdiction and collaborating when it comes to our local, state and tribal court systems. We do better for all Washingtonians when we break through the barriers of jurisdiction and provide solutions.”
Here’s a look at the Indigenous candidates in Washington state’s Aug. 4 primary.
The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, will advance to the general election.
14th District: William Chichenoff, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, and Chelsea Dimas, Nahua/Purapecha, are candidates for the state House from the 14th District, which encompasses five counties along the Columbia River in eastern Washington. The district shares geography with the Yakama Reservation.
Chichenoff and Dimas are challenging state Rep. Gloria Mendoza, Republican, who is seeking a second term.
Chichenoff’s priorities include: public safety rooted in early intervention; improving access to food and housing; promoting drought-year conservation and providing drip irrigation grants for farmers; and installing solar on public buildings.
Dimas wants the state to build partnerships with developers to prioritize affordable housing; protect workers’ rights; provide universal childcare and fully fund education; create health care jobs to close the staffing shortage in the region; and preserve natural resources.
24th District: Patrick DePoe, a former Makah Tribal Council member, is seeking election to the state House from the 24th District, which includes the Olympic Peninsula.
The other candidates are youth sports coach Bradley Nemo Callaway, Democrat; Port Angeles City Council member Mark Hodgson, Democrat; attorney Marcia Kelbon, a former Republican running as an Independent; and educator Kaylee Kuehn, Democrat.
The 24th District shares geography with the Hoh, Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Makah, Quileute, and Quinault reservations.
DePoe is executive director of the Association of Washington Tribes. He wants to reverse cuts to the state’s education trust fund; invest in apprenticeship programs; make it easier to build affordable housing; lower sales, property and gas taxes and balance the tax code; expand access to affordable healthcare; and manage the state’s natural resources.
26th District: Educator Renee Hernandez Greenfield, who is from Cochiti, San Ildefonso, and Taos Pueblos, is a candidate for state House from the 26th District, which includes the Navy base city of Bremerton. Also seeking election are nonprofit leader Katy Cornell, Republican; education advocate Randy Phillips, no party preference; and cannabis store owner Tedd Wetherbee, Democrat.
