First candidate to receive endorsements from Washington’s Democratic Congresswomen
BREMERTON, WA—Today, State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Emily Randall announced that her campaign for Congress has been endorsed by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the representatives from Washington’s 10th and 3rd Congressional Districts.
Randall, running in the open 6th Congressional District, is the first candidate in the race to receive an endorsement from Washington’s Democratic women members of Congress and the sole candidate endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Statement from State Sen. Emily Randall:
The people of Washington state deserve members of Congress who will work as hard for them as they work for their families. Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez understand the struggles families across Washington face, and that’s exactly why they are supporting my campaign for Congress.
Born and raised in the 6th Congressional District, my Union family didn’t always have it easy. But I saw my parents and my neighbors work hard, and I learned those lessons. That’s why I’ve spent my career finding common-sense, practical solutions to the problems our communities face, to ensure folks have the tools they need to build their own futures.
When I first ran for office in 2017, I was constantly told I was “too much,” that a queer Latina couldn’t flip one of the toughest legislative seats in the state – but we proved them wrong. Marilyn and Marie know what it’s like to be underestimated and win tough fights. That’s why I’m so proud to have these powerhouse leaders in my corner for the historic 2024 election cycle.
I look forward to working with Marilyn and Marie in Congress to fight for good paying jobs, cut healthcare costs, and defend reproductive freedom for Washingtonians in the 6th District and across our state.
Statement from US Rep. Marilyn Strickland:
I’m pleased to endorse Emily Randall for Congress. Our freedoms are under attack, we have a housing crisis, caregiving has become unaffordable, and we need lawmakers with the track record and grit to fight for all of us in DC. Emily grew up in this district, has won two tough State Senate races in it, and continues to expand her winning coalition.
Statement from US Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez:
Emily Randall isn’t like other candidates — she’s a homegrown, working class woman who wants to go to Congress to do the work and get things done. Emily’s an advocate for the trades and rural communities, and she’s led the fight to protect abortion rights in Washington state. And people like me who’ve started and operated an independent small business want Emily in Congress standing up for the little guy. Emily’s a normal person who drives a truck, pays her own bills, and lives in the real world, and Congress needs more people like her. Emily’s deep family roots in her district make her the right fit to represent Washington’s working people, and that’s why I’m endorsing her for Congress.
- Rep. Strickland was first elected in 2020, and will be a close collaborator with the next representative from the 6th District due to both districts encompassing Pierce County. Strickland served as the Mayor of Tacoma prior to entering Congress, and is a leader in the New Democrat Coalition, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
- Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez made headlines in 2022 for winning “the biggest upset of any House contest”, prevailing because of her connection with working families across Southwest Washington. Since taking office, Gluesenkamp Perez has become a leader of the influential Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of Democratic members “dedicated to pursuing fiscally-responsible policies, ensuring a strong national defense for our country, and transcending party lines to get things done for the American people.”
To date, State Senator Emily Randall’s campaign for Congress has received nearly 300 endorsements, including 60 current and former Washington elected officials as well as Planned Parenthood Action Fund, The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, South Kitsap Professional Firefighters, Sheet Metal Workers Local 66, Equality PAC, PODER PAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC, Latino Victory Fund, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, Washington State Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, and U.S. Representatives Marilyn Strickland, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Becca Balint, Robert Garcia, Mark Takano, and Ritchie Torres.
The 6th Congressional District spans from Tacoma to the Olympic Peninsula, and has been represented by Congressman Derek Kilmer since 2013. On November 9, 2023, Kilmer announced his retirement. If elected, Emily Randall, a third-generation Washingtonian and 25-year resident of the district, would be the first LGBTQ+ Latina ever elected to the United States Congress.
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