The Washington State Democratic Party chose former King County Democratic Party leader Shasti Conrad as its new chair Saturday morning.
Conrad, a 38-year-old political consultant, ran unopposed with the support of Gov. Candidates below.
She is the youngest chairperson in the state’s history and the first woman of color to serve as chairperson. According to the State party, she was also the first Indian-American woman in the country to chair the state party.
She succeeds Tina Podlodowski, who has served as party chair since 2017 and announced her resignation this month.
Since Podlodowski took over, Democrats have flipped two congressional seats, expanded their majority in Olympia and now hold offices in every state in Washington.
Conrad has served as Chairman of the King County Democratic Party since 2018. She worked on former President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and served in the Obama administration. She also worked on Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.
She co-founded Opportunity PAC, a political action committee focused on electing black women to office. It raised and spent about $400,000 in 2020 and 2021.
“I’m excited to be working with Democratic leaders from every community to build an unprecedented on-the-ground effort to bring the message of how Washington Democrats serve working families to every community,” Conrad said in a statement. voters.”
Caleb Heimlich was re-elected as chairman of the state’s Republican Party on Monday. Heimlich, 37, has worked for the state since 2011 and has been chairman since 2018. He faces a challenge this year from Seattle police captain and repeat congressional candidate Keith Swank.
“The Republican Party is the party that fights for all, and I am honored to serve as its chairman,” Heimlich said in a statement.
Heimlich was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
