Jessica Forsythe

Jessica Forsythe earned a bachelor's degree from Kent State University in 2007.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Jessica Forsythe is running for State Representative in the 48th Legislative District and is a Redmond City Councilmember, former non-profit Executive Director, and small business owner. Elected to Council in 2019 and chosen as Council President in her first term, she has passed billion-dollar budgets, conceived legislation that became state law (SB 5452), expanded tenant protections, co-authored Redmond's Climate Emergency Declaration, and added three Mental

Health Professional positions to the city's crisis response. A former award-winning creative director, she brings a design-thinking framework to governance — centering the voices most often excluded from decision-making. She works every day to build the bench of women and non-binary leaders Washington needs. In Olympia, she will fight for immigrant rights, reproductive freedom, housing affordability, fully funded multilingual education, and a clean energy transition built with strong labor standards.

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?

Affordability & Unlocking the Future — Everyone deserves to have housing where they feel stable and connected. I’ve heard from families and working people in our district who struggle with remaining in their homes or finding affordable housing. These are people who serve and have deep roots in our community. We need more housing options that provide affordable housing at all levels of affordability so that they can remain a part of the community they call home. As a Redmond City Councilmember, I have advocated for increased levels of deeply affordable housing and renter protections, and I will continue that fight in Olympia.Investment in Education & Future Generations — Investment in education is an investment in the long-term prosperity of our district. Washington ranks 40th in the Nation for investment in K–12 education as a percentage of our State's Total Economy. With a properly adjusted funding plan we could have avoided staff cuts, school closures, and service reductions. We must actively seek sustainable and equitable funding models that fully-fund education and reduce reliance on local levies to address the growing inequities. I will continue to advocate for sustainable and equitable funding for K-12 schools, expansion of access to early learning and special education, and an deeper investments in career-connected and post-secondary programs.Climate & Environmental Resiliency — It’s imperative that we take steps today to secure a healthy environment for future generations. Between the bomb cyclone and catastrophic flooding, we’re seeing the direct impacts of climate change right now. We need policy focused on tangible large and small scale actions that can be taken at all levels. I co-wrote the city’s Climate Emergency Declaration and shaped our Environmental Sustainability Action Plan that serves as the roadmap to an environmentally sustainable community and achieve net zero carbon emissions. I will bring the insights needed to shift the conversations on climate change legislation from the price tag of immediate costs to the price we are already paying.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Affordability, Consumer Protections, Climate Resiliency, Ethical Government, Public & Behavioral Health, Small Business support, Education, growing the Economy, supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ and immigrant communities, data privacy

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Former Governor Jay Inslee, Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, State Senator Vandana Slatter, King County Democrats, LD 48 Democrats, Washington State Labor Council AFL-CI0, SEIU 775, SEIU 915, UFCW 3000, UAW 6, Washington State Nurses Association, Washington Education Association, Stonewall Democrats, Washington Conservation Action, Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, One America Votes, Fuse WA, AFSCME Council 28, ATU Local 587, Washington Housing Alliance, Redmond Fire Fighters, The Urbanist, Bellevue Mayor Mo Malakoutian and Council Member Naren Briar, Kirkland Mayor Kelli Curtis and Deputy Mayor Neal Black, all Redmond City Council Members, 60+ elected officials, small business owners, community members & more!