Julia G. Reed

Arts / Culture

As the daughter of an artist and as a recipient of public school arts education, I know how the arts can transform lives. The creative economy can be a thriving economic sector in our state, on par with agriculture and manufacturing. The 36th District is home to many of the state’s largest and more powerful cultural, arts, science and heritage institutions. Let’s bolster our creative economy and bring jobs, investment, and celebration of Washington’s heritage to the world. Learn more

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

We should invest in more advocates and victim services for victims of rape, sexual assault, and domestic and partner violence, fast tracking those cases to ensure people have protection and real access to justice. Learn more

And we should address the scarcity and poverty that is at the root of so much low-level crime. Lack of access to jobs, education, housing, mental and physical healthcare, food, lead to increases in crime in our communities. The legislature’s responsibility is to address scarcity in our state, and as a legislator this will be a priority. Learn more

We need to have a deliberate, proactive approach to address community safety and community-police relations. And when communities make it clear — as they have already done time and time again — what they want and need to be truly safe, we should fight for that, even when it's politically inconvenient. Learn more

We should invest in not only addressing but preventing criminal activity, by scaling effective solutions like the work of Community Passageways and Choose 180 right here in Seattle. Learn more

Education

Supporting pathways to credentials, apprenticeships, and post-secondary education A credential beyond the high school diploma is essential for almost all good paying jobs of the future. Learn more

Fully funding public education also means fully serving students in special education and students with IEPs, who deserve to have their educational needs fully met at their local schools. We should be ending the expensive and harmful practice of sending students with disabilities to out of state schools, and meeting their needs at home. Learn more

Fully funding public education also means investing in our educators and paraeducators, and ensuring education can be a viable, family-wage profession that attracts and retains educators who are passionate about our young people, and who reflect the populations of their local communities. We should be investing in helping more people of color in particular become educators. Learn more

As the daughter of public school educators, I believe that every child in Washington has the right to an equitable, fully funded education, in a healthy and safe school, with qualified teachers, small class sizes, and a well rounded curriculum that teaches 21st century skills. After a traumatic and challenging pandemic school year, that includes ensuring every student has access to social-emotional learning supports, in school nurses, and counseling services. Learn more

Workforce development and workforce investments have been an essential part of my career, as well as in my work as a board member for the YMCA Social Impact Center, which helps young adults transitioning out of foster care and homelessness. To keep Washington’s economy vibrant, we have to invest in creating an innovative, highly-skilled, and green jobs-focused workforce. Learn more

For our early-career workers, we can massively expand work-based learning opportunities at the K-12 and community college level, fund salaries for pre-apprenticeship trainees, expand apprenticeships and apprenticeship-style learning across all industries and fields. Learn more

Guns

Weapons of war have no place on our streets, at our schools, or in our homes. Guns make our communities and each other less safe, and we need to be doing everything we can to stop gun violence. We must also engage in more education and intervention to prevent guns from entering our communities, the hands of young people, and those experiencing crisis. Learn more

Healthcare

Every Washingtonian, regardless of age, race, gender, income, or immigration status, deserves high-quality, affordable healthcare. It’s a basic human need. We’ve made some progress in our state, but there is more to do. I’m ready to support the work of the Washington Universal Healthcare commission and implement their recommendations for bringing healthcare to everyone in Washington. Learn more

Housing

We must strike a balance between a waterfront people can access for health and recreation, and a working waterfront that provides middle-class, family wage jobs and are part of the unique economic heritage of our region. Learn more

We should prioritize building up along transit and commercial corridors and in urban villages, but ultimately to provide the level of housing we need to make our state a viable future home for most people and to ensure we fight urban sprawl and have climate-friendly cities, we need to also create inclusionary zoning for modest-sized home choices city and statewide. Learn more

We must invest in housing options of all types; helping build inclusive, livable, and greener communities less reliant on commuting and fossil fuel infrastructure. The 36th District has examples of rapid growth that will help welcome light rail to vibrant neighborhoods and commercial centers. Let’s continue to chart a path toward greater affordability, density and livability. Learn more

Social Services

As a legislator, I will support capping childcare costs at 7% of household income, ensuring our childcare workers are paid a living wage, and investing in the growth and expansion of childcare providers. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

Washington cannot thrive long term with the most regressive tax code in the country. We’ve made positive steps forward, but must continue to work to relieve the burden on low income families, seniors on fixed incomes, veterans, and middle income households being squeezed out of our city. Representing one of our state’s most progressive and wealthiest district, I will be a champion for ensuring that we all pay our fair share so that all can share in our state’s prosperity. Learn more