The Washington state Legislature is more diverse than ever

Rep. Julio Cortes, D-Everett, was born in Mexico City before immigrating with his family to the U.S. when he was 6 years old. He and his parents worked in the fields of the Yakima Valley picking apples, cherries and pears.

After being elected to the Washington Legislature in 2023, Cortes met around 20 immigrant farm workers from the Yakima Valley. Some of them reminded him of his mother since they wore similar clothes.

Cortes remembered the looks on their faces when he spoke to them in Spanish.

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Washington’s Legislature, like that of other states, has been growing more diverse in terms of age, gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. In 2020, the state for the first time had five Black women serving in the House simultaneously.

https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/11/washington-state-legislature-more-diverse-ever