State Representative, District 43, Position 2
2-year term
Frank Chopp
(Prefers Democratic Party)
Elected Experience: Frank represents the 43rd District and serves as Speaker of the House.
Other Professional Experience: Former Executive Director, Solid Ground: a nonprofit that provides social services for 30,000 low income people and advocates for social justice.
Education: UW, BA, magna cum laude
Community Service: Community activist on initiatives that built affordable housing and raised the minimum wage to the highest in the nation. Tireless advocate for immigrant rights. Legislative leader responsible for raising taxes on the wealthy to fund education; massively expanding access to health and mental health services; and protecting Puget Sound jobs, the right to organize, and expanding worker rights.
Statement: Representing the 43rd District in the State House, I enacted a progressive agenda focused on education, healthcare, and social equity. With my leadership, we invested $1 billion in new education funding; made Washington the leader in healthcare coverage for all kids; protected Disability Lifeline; extended dental care to 600,000 adults; closed tax loopholes on Wall Street banks and big oil. I expanded financial aid for students; provided funding sources for $150 million per year for public transit, and achieved $1 billion for low income housing. We approved Marriage Equality; paid sick leave, and the Dream Act treating all youth equally.
Contact: (206) 381-1220; ;
Jessica Spear
(Prefers Socialist Altern Party)
Elected Experience: I’ve never been a corporate politician.
Other Professional Experience: I’m a climate scientist and worked previously for the Burke Museum at UW and the US Geological Survey.
Education: MS Marine Science, University of South Florida, BS Biology, Randolph College.
Community Service: I am the 15 Now Organizing Director, the grassroots organization which led the way on winning a $15 minimum wage in Seattle. I worked as Volunteer Coordinator for the historic campaign that elected Kshama Sawant to Seattle City Council. As an organizer with Socialist Alternative I stand for a new party to represent workers, women, LGBTQ people, and people of color.
Statement: Big business has a monopoly on politics in Washington State. My opponent, 20-year incumbent Frank Chopp, led the way in giving Boeing the largest tax handout in US history ($8.7 billion), while failing to secure critical funding for transit or education. I‘ll advocate for the needs of working people, including a major expansion of transit, renewable energy, and education – paid for by taxing the rich. Take a stand against corporate politics, and send a working-class advocate and climate scientist to Olympia to end corporate welfare and make our state a global leader on climate change.
Contact: (206) 538-0055; ;