Legislative Questionnaire
Candidate Info
Candidate Name: Emily Randall
Position Sought: U.S. Congress WA06
Are you an incumbent for this position? Non-incumbent
Home Legislative District: 26
Are you a Democrat? Yes
Campaign Info
Campaign Manager or Point of Contact: Anna Carlson-Ziegler
Website: https://electemilyrandall.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyRandallWA/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyRandallWA
Part I – Candidate Background
1. Please briefly describe your qualifications, education, employment, community and civic activity, union affiliation, prior political activity, and other relevant experience. Beyond your qualifications, what makes you the best candidate for this position or office? Please describe any specific background or unique perspective you offer and how those will help you accomplish your goals for the position sought. If possible, give practical examples.
I’m proud to be born and raised in a Union household in Washington’s 6th district. My neighbors deserve to continue to have representation in Congress who will fight as hard for them as they fight for their families. In my time in the State Senate, I have proven that I am a fierce advocate for my district, and I look forward to continuing to do that as a member of Congress.
I also look forward to making sure that policymaking in Washington DC centers those who will be most impacted – women, communities of color, LGBTQ folks, immigrants, the disability community. I am dedicated to fighting that trend by ensuring hard-working folks have a say in legislation that impacts them.
I am currently the State Senator for the 26th Legislative District, and have been since being elected in 2018, and re-elected in 2022. I’ve been elected by my colleagues to serve in multiple leadership positions, and am currently the Deputy Majority Leader.
In the state senate, I have led passage of landmark legislation to help my community—from protecting abortion access, to expanding Medicaid, to improving apprenticeship programs for high school graduates.
My experience in the state legislature has prepared me well for the policymaking, coalition building, and constituent service duties of congressional work.
I am also fueled by my family’s experiences. When my sister Olivia, born with complex disabilities, received access to newly expanded Medicaid, I became a fierce advocate for quality, affordable healthcare. And as the first in my family to attend a four-year college, I know the importance of education that aligns with the community’s needs and leads to family-wage jobs.
2. What prompted you to run for this office?
I am running for Congress because it’s the best way for me to continue delivering for the community that has given me so much. Born and raised on the Kitsap Peninsula in a Union, working-class family, my neighbors’ stories are my stories. I want every one of our neighbors to have a path to a good life. In Congress, I will fight for affordable and accessible healthcare, including reproductive freedom for all; common-sense gun reform; a just transition to a green economy; and affordable education, job training, and apprenticeship programs.
3. What are your campaign’s most important themes, issues, or priorities (three to five)? Share issues or priorities specific to the office that you’re running for.
My top priorities include protecting reproductive freedom, cutting costs for families, protecting democracy, and accelerating our transition to a green economy.
PROTECTING REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
As a State Senator, I have been one of the top abortion rights and reproductive rights advocates. I have sponsored legislation to block religious hospital mergers that lead to reduced reproductive healthcare and gender affirming care access; extend postpartum healthcare coverage support birthing parents for a full year after giving birth; expand the types of healthcare professionals who can perform abortions require all health plans to cover reproductive healthcare and contraception; and many other pieces of legislation expanding access to healthcare generally and reproductive freedom specifically.
I work closely with reproductive care providers and advocates to find more ways to expand and protect access to this essential aspect of basic healthcare – including regulating CPCs/fake clinics in 2024. I am proud to have a 100% lifetime pro-choice voting record.
CUTTING COSTS FOR FAMILIES
In Congress, I will work across the aisle to make sure that working class families like mine are able to earn a decent living where we can put food on the table, pay our bills, and breathe a little easier toward the end of the month.
I believe in an economy that works from the middle class out–not trickle down–putting working families at the center of economic policies. I believe in equal pay for equal work, a tax structure that requires big business to pay its fair share, and in creating good jobs by investing in small and mid-sized businesses. I believe in removing the barriers to economic freedom and opportunity for our most marginalized communities such as communities of color, LGBTQ folks, and the disability community.
I am especially focused on cutting costs for healthcare. No family should go bankrupt or lose their home because of a medical emergency or an unexpected diagnosis. No parent should have to choose between food for their kids and treatment for their cancer. I will fight to ensure every one has access to the comprehensive, high-quality care we need.
We can build a better future for all of us by strengthening the middle class, by giving folks the opportunity to earn a good wage and benefits, keep their lights on and food on their table, and have money in their pockets.
PROTECTING DEMOCRACY
We are at a critical moment for our democracy, and protecting the right to vote for Americans is crucial. This starts with ensuring that all eligible voters have access to the ballot box. I will continue to fight to remove barriers to voting and ensure every citizen’s voice is heard.
Washington’s 6th District deserves a champion who will work as hard for them, as they work for their families. For too long, too many in Congress have placed partisan politics and corporate special interests above The People and that needs to end.
As a member of Congress, I will be dedicated to lifting up the voices of Americans–not special interests. I am a part of the community I am running to represent–I see my constituents at the grocery store, and one thing that I consistently hear is that they appreciate the stand I’ve taken against taking corporate PAC money since I started running for office. They know where I stand, and it’s with them, not corporate special interests.
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE
We know that the communities that will be most impacted by climate change are the ones with the least means to survive it. This is why I have been a leader in ensuring a just transition to a greener transportation system and adapting our electrical grid to the needs of a greener economy. I want to build on my success in Washington and expand these advancements across the country.
4. What steps are you taking to run a successful campaign?
I have built a strong team of staff and consultants and continue to successfully fundraise to run an aggressive paid communications program including mail, television, and digital ads. I also look forward to running a robust field program – our volunteers have been knocking doors in Tacoma since the first weekend in March! In my state senate races, which were the most competitive in the state, I focused on a field program that engaged a large volunteer organization to have substantive conversations with voters. I have also always placed a special emphasis on rural organizing and finding strategic ways to meet voters where they are. I am excited to replicate this success across the 6th district.
Part II – Yes or No Questions, please qualify your response if necessary
1. Do you support steps to build a fairer economy through tax reform, including a wealth tax? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #1
2. Do you support the right of public workers, excluding military, to bargain and strike? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #2
3. Do you support legalizing multi-unit homes statewide, as proposed in the #Homes4WA bill, to help alleviate the affordable housing crisis? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #3
4. Do you support legislation to address climate change and protect our environment, including the Keep Washington Evergreen Act? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #4
5. Do you support women’s unrestricted access to reproductive healthcare? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #5
6. Do you support achieving a universal, affordable, quality single payer healthcare program? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #6
7. Do you support laws regulating the purchase, ownership, and carrying of firearms? Yes
Optional: Qualify Your Response to #7
Part III – Free Response (Please answer at least four questions fully, consider the remaining three optional)
1. Why are you running as a Democrat? What aspects of the Democratic platform most resonate with you?
I know that the Democratic Party is focused on delivering results for every member of our communities and addressing the many challenges we are facing. During my six years in the legislature, I have championed the issues of the Democratic Party: working families, organized labor, quality education, access to healthcare, access to abortion, and other critical issues. I am particularly proud to lead on reproductive freedom and I am proud to be part of a Party that champions this issue.
2. What important state and local issues have you worked on (or taken an interest in) that you feel aren’t getting enough attention from elected leaders and the media?
Reproductive healthcare and abortion is a core issue for me. Although this issue does receive attention and care from elected leaders and the media, I know that we have to continue to raise the alarm and face this issue head-on. From passing Reproductive Health Access for All in 2019, to working to ensure student health plans covered abortion care, to ending cost sharing, to preserving access to mifepristone, I have been a leader on reproductive health policy in Washington – and have worked in coalition with reproductive justice partners. I will continue that work – as a coalition builder and a policy maker – in DC. That is why I am the only candidate in this race sole endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
In Washington state, I have been one of the top abortion rights and reproductive rights advocates. I have sponsored legislation to block religious hospital mergers that lead to reduced reproductive healthcare and gender affirming care access; extend postpartum healthcare coverage support birthing parents for a full year after giving birth; expand the types of healthcare professionals who can perform abortions require all health plans to cover reproductive healthcare and contraception; and many other pieces of legislation expanding access to healthcare generally and reproductive freedom specifically.
I work closely with reproductive care providers and advocates to find more ways to expand and protect access to this essential aspect of basic healthcare – including regulating health systems by passing the Keep Our Care Act in 2024! I am proud to have a 100% lifetime pro-choice voting record.
I know there is more we can do at the federal level. In Congress, 6th District voters can be sure that I will fight as hard for abortion rights as I do in Washington State.
3. What legislative reforms do you support to achieve greater equity and inclusion for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals in our communities?
As Deputy Majority Leader for the Senate Democratic Caucus and as a LGBTQ Latina lawmaker, I have worked to train and educate my colleagues on how to bring an equity analysis into their policymaking, asking: Who is impacted by the policy? How have those impacted been engaged? Does this work remediate or perpetuate disproportional impacts? Asking these questions over and over again has helped our caucus and our state. These questions have led to expanding a medicaid lookalike program to undocumented Washingtonians, expanding wraparound services and supports to first gen and minoritized college students, to rethinking the way we fund transportation projects.
Diverse lived experience in policy conversations leads to better outcomes. I am proud to be a leader in the legislature on racial equity in health, education, civic engagement, and employment. My focus on college and career training access and health equity has led to nation-leading legislation to increase representation in medical schools, and expand health equity curriculum for all healthcare providers.
I am proud to have always fiercely advocated not only for my community, but all communities of color and anyone who is in a traditionally marginalized community. I will always work hard to keep the voices of the people most directly impacted by policies at the center of conversations about them. I am committed to not simply keeping an open door to racial justice and community groups, but to seeking out folks whose voices are missing from political conversations, and meeting community where they are. As a member of Congress, just as I’ve done in the State Senate, I plan to hold in-district and virtual townhall and community events and welcome hearing how I can better advocate for our district.
4. What are some obstacles inherent in proposed legislative solutions to climate change? How would you approach those obstacles in order to best overcome or minimize any negative effects?
5. What safety, law, or justice reforms are you currently in favor of, and how will you work to implement them?
6. What steps do you think need to be taken to improve voter turnout and increase voter trust in our election process?
7. Do you think public schools are adequately funded? If not, what minimum requirements should be met in an adequately funded public school system? What specific forms of taxation would you support to attain that funding?
I strongly believe we need to increase funding for public schools, and I support a variety of progressive taxation including capital gains tax – which has dramatically increased capital funding for school construction in the short time it has been in place. We need to continue exploring progressive revenue options to increase operating funding – especially for student transportation, special education, and paras and classified staff.
As the proud product of public education, I understand the many challenges our system is facing. I attended public school from kindergarten through grade 12, at Sunnyslope Elementary, Cedar Heights Junior High, and South Kitsap High School all in the 6th Congressional District. My mom has worked as a paraeducator at South Kitsap High School for the last 22 years.
During my tenure in the State Senate, I fought to increase funding for our institutions of higher education and, in the process, helped make Washington one of the most affordable states to go to college. As we faced the economic uncertainty of the COVID 19 pandemic, I joined my colleagues in advocating for a no-cuts budget, recognizing that the best way through challenging economic times was by investing in regular people – not cutting essential safety net services like we had following the Great Recession. And I’ve worked alongside colleagues, labor unions, and community to make progress balancing Washington State’s tax code – long the most regressive in the country – by passing a 7% capital gains tax on the sale of capital assets above $250,000, funding our financial aid program through a B&O tax increase on the wealthiest Washington businesses, and advocating for a socialized payroll tax to fund our long-term care insurance.
I believe that a budget and tax code are a statement of values, and the values I will fight for in Congress are to ensure our kids can all receive a quality education. I will prioritize funding these programs by ensuring the rich pay their share and working families aren’t unfairly burdened, just like I’ve done in the State Senate.
Printed Name Emily Randall
Date (mm/dd/yy) 05/13/2024
