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Emily Randall

Emily Randall
Randall in 2023
Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 6th district
Assuming office
January 3, 2025
SucceedingDerek Kilmer
Member of the Washington Senate
from the 26th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 14, 2019
Preceded byJan Angel
Personal details
Born
Emily Elissa Randall

(1985-10-30) October 30, 1985 (age 39)
Bremerton, Washington, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationWellesley College (BA)

Emily Elissa Randall[1] (born 1985)[2][3] is an American politician and activist who is a U.S. representative-elect for Washington's 6th congressional district and a member of the Washington State Senate.[4][5] A member of the Democratic Party, she will succeed Derek Kilmer in the U.S. House of Representatives.[4][5]

Early life and education

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Randall was born in the Kitsap Peninsula to a white mother and a Chicano father.[6] She grew up in Port Orchard and graduated from South Kitsap High School in 2004.[1] She graduated from Wellesley College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and women's studies. Her sister, Olivia, was born with severe developmental and physical disabilities.[7]

Career

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Alongside Senator Claire Wilson, Randall is one of two openly LGBTQ+ women serving in the Washington State Senate.[4]

Prior to serving in the Washington State Senate, Randall worked as a community organizer, where she focused on issues related to public education and healthcare.

As senator, Randall has focused on increasing access to better behavioral health and reproductive health, affordable housing, and public safety.[8][9] She serves as whip for the state senate majority.[8] In March 2022, Randall sponsored a bill to lower the toll to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge by 75 cents. The bill was passed and took effect in October of the same year.[10]

Randall serves in the senate’s Higher Education committee, Workforce Development Committee, and on the Health and Long Term Care and Transportation committee.[11]

After U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer announced his retirement from Congress, Randall entered the race to succeed him. Washington's 6th congressional district covers the Olympic Peninsula, the Kitsap Peninsula, and the majority of Tacoma. During her primary campaign, Randall was endorsed by several prominent Democrats including U.S. Senator Patty Murray, U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland, U.S. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, and former governors Christine Gregoire and Gary Locke.[12] She was endorsed by incumbent Derek Kilmer during her general election campaign.

Election

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In 2018, Randall was elected to the Washington State Senate, defeating Republican challenger Marty McClendon by 104 votes.[13]

In 2022, Randall won re-election to the Washington State Senate with around 51% of the vote.[14][15]

In the 2024 open primary for Washington's 6th congressional district, Randall finished first.[16] State senator Drew MacEwan finished second, joining Randall on the general election ballot.[16] Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, who was endorsed by incumbent Derek Kilmer, did not advance to the general election.[16]

Randall defeated MacEwan in the 2024 general election.[5] When seated, Randall will become the first queer Latina to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b "South Kitsap High School Graduating Class". Kitsap Sun. June 8, 2004. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "2019-2020 Legislative Manual" (PDF). State of Washington. 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "We endorse: McClendon, Randall; Evans, Fitzpatrick; Caldier, Stanford for Peninsula legislative races". The News Tribune. July 23, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2021. Closed access icon
  4. ^ a b c "New Washington state legislators headed to Olympia in 2019". MyNorthwest, December 31, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Washington House District 6 General Election Results 2024". NBC News. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Sound & Vision: Washington State Senator Emily Randall and the Music That Inspires Her". kexp.org. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  7. ^ sdcadmin. "Biography". Sen. Emily Randall - Washington State Senate Democrats. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Dice, Vince (October 27, 2022). "Election profile: Randall vs. Young for state Senate". Gig Harbor Now. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  9. ^ Bajko, Matthew (October 10, 2022). "Political Notes: Queer Washington state senator with SF ties seeks 2nd term". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  10. ^ "Tacoma Narrows Bridge tolls will drop with the passage of this bill. Here's how, when". KIRO 7 News Seattle. March 14, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  11. ^ "Q&A: Sen. Emily Randall on higher education". Washington State Wire. September 22, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  12. ^ Averill, Owen (July 25, 2024). "Crypto-financed independent expenditure for Emily Randall turns heads in Washington State politics". NPI's Cascadia Advocate. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  13. ^ "November 6, 2018 General Election Results - Legislative District 26 - State Senator". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  14. ^ "Emily Randall". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  15. ^ "Republicans hit blue wall in WA: Meet your new state Legislature". The Seattle Times. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  16. ^ a b c "Washington Primary Election Results". NPR. August 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)