Ida Keeley

Ida Keeley earned a bachelor's degree from Washington State University.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Ida Keeley is an effective leader with more than 25 years of experience advocating for children, families, and communities across Washington. A resident of Lake Stevens, Ida is running for the Washington State House of Representatives in the 39th Legislative District (pos 2) as an Independent Democrat committed to putting people over politics.

Born and raised in Washington, Ida’s path to public service is personal. Growing up in an unstable home and moving between relatives, she saw firsthand the challenges vulnerable children and families face, an experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to public service.

Over 25 years, Ida has worked at every level of government: local, county, and state, building a depth of experience few candidates can match. She helped build a child advocacy center from the ground up, rose through the state’s child welfare agency from social worker to administrator, and went on to lead complex juvenile justice operations, managing large public budgets and multi-agency partnerships. Along the way, she built lasting relationships with military families, Tribal nations, legislators, and community leaders across the state.

As Chair of Children’s Campaign Fund Action, Ida helped pass childcare legislation in Washington, turning advocacy into real results for working families.

Ida and her husband, an Arlington teacher, have called Lake Stevens home for twenty years, raising their daughter and son and their two rescue dogs from Save-A-Mutt.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Experience

I’ve lived our systems, and then worked to fix the system from within. From my own experience in child welfare and juvenile justice to years working as a professional inside these systems, I know what’s worked and what hasn’t. I’ve collaborated across agencies, with schools, hospitals, and nonprofits, and had the honor of working alongside our Tribal nations and our Military. I’ve successfully managed complex government budgets at the county and state level, and with my background in mediation, I’ve brought agencies together that often function in silos. These are the skills and experience I’ll bring to the legislature: practical, proven, and tested where it counts.People Powered Campaign

This campaign isn’t built in an office, it’s built on doorsteps, farmers markets, and small businesses across our community. I’ve talked with police and fire chiefs about community safety strategies and the barriers they face, with educators about what our kids and schools need, and with the Machinist Institute about building real pathways into skilled trades. Every conversation has confirmed what matters most: affordability, fully funding education from early learning through college and apprenticeships, safe and healthy communities, and leadership that puts kids and families, especially victims, first. This is what I’m hearing from you, and it’s the platform I’m running on.Trusted and Endorsed

My endorsements aren’t the product of a campaign season, they’re the product of years of relationships. Serving on boards, volunteering, and showing up in rooms where decisions get made, from county workgroups to statewide advocacy work, I’ve built trust with legislators, county officials, and organizations representing labor, education, and healthcare, not because I asked for support at the last minute, but because they’ve seen my work firsthand. That’s the kind of relationship building I’ll bring to the legislature: earning trust through action. See my full list of endorsements at https://idaforwa.com/early-endorsements/

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Affordability & Economic Stability: Families are struggling with rising costs, housing, childcare, healthcare, and basic necessities. I’ll focus on policies that reduce financial pressure and help people stay in the communities they love.

Education & Workforce Development: Investing in early learning, public education, apprenticeships, and career pathways leads to family-wage jobs, including through the trades.

Community Safety & Support for Families: I’ll prioritize victim advocacy, wraparound support services, and public safety policies that address root causes while supporting healthy communities.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

International Association of Machinists 751, Washington State Labor Council, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 191, Snohomish County Democratic Central Committee, Washington State Nurses Association, Alliance for Gun Responsibility Victory Fund, Skagit County Democrats, Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, Children’s Campaign Victory Fund, U.S. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, U.S. Congressmen Adam Smith, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, Senator June Robinson, Senator John Lovick, Senator Claire Wilson, Senator Marko Liias, Senator Liz Lovelett, Representative April Berg, Representative Cindy Ryu, Representative Julio Cortes, Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self, Sno.County: Executive Somers, Council Mead, Council Dunn