Washington Democrats open convention in Bellevue with unified push on reproductive rights, education and voter outreach

The Washington State Democratic Convention opened in Bellevue with party leaders and statewide candidates urging delegates to turn out voters and defend Democratic priorities ahead of the fall elections.

Chair Shasti Conrad welcomed delegates, outlined a weekend of trainings and caucuses and unveiled a refreshed party look, saying the convention will formalize nominees and “adopt a platform that uses progressive policy to achieve practical results for all Washingtonians.” She introduced a slate of speakers and down‑ballot candidates the party plans to support.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen framed the election as a “values election,” placing reproductive rights, community safety and veterans’ care at the top of the agenda. “This is an election about our values,” Larsen said, adding that codifying Roe v. Wade nationally via the Women’s Health Protection Act is a priority if Democrats win and hold majorities. He also highlighted fentanyl and opioid responses and urged delegates to support coordinated campaign activity and local organizers.

State leaders used their remarks to put local issues into the broader electoral frame. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal called public education an institution “we have to defend” and cited recent improvements in kindergarten readiness and student mental‑health outcomes as reasons to keep investing in public schools. “The institution of public education is strong,” Reykdal said, urging delegates to help win statewide offices that will sustain those systems.

State Auditor Pat McCarthy described the auditor’s work auditing roughly 2,700 governments a year and framed oversight as a way to restore public trust. “We audit anyone that gets public money,” she said, explaining the office’s role in holding government accountable and urging support for down‑ballot races that affect oversight.

The convention highlighted tribal representation and down‑ballot campaigning. Julie Johnson, chair of the Native American Caucus, noted that Washington has 29 tribes and said tribal leaders are increasingly elected to public office; she introduced tribal candidates including Bob Aiel (from the Nisqually tribe, running for state senate in LD 20) and Patrick Depoe (running for Commissioner of Public Lands) and called for delegates’ support.

State Senator Patty Kuderer, speaking as a candidate for insurance commissioner, framed her campaign around protecting reproductive health care and lowering health‑care costs. “As your next insurance commissioner, I’m committed to fighting for affordable, accessible, universal health care for all,” she said.

Former White House social secretary Disha Dyer closed the program with an appeal to expand the party’s reach beyond its current networks by intentionally inviting people who may not know party processes. Dyer urged delegates to remove gatekeeping, meet neighbors who are not yet engaged and treat political participation as community organizing.

Housekeeping items included registration opening at 8 a.m. the next morning, caucus meetings beginning at 9 a.m., a film screening of Bad Faith and a gala featuring U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

The convention’s opening night stressed both the policy priorities delegates will carry into the campaign — reproductive rights, education and oversight — and a recurring operational theme: broaden participation and strengthen down‑ballot organizing across the state.