Please plan to join Washington State Democratic Party Chair, Tina Podlodowski on Monday, May 16th at 11:00 a.m. for a discussion of Political Parties, and what the State Democratic Party hopes to achieve in 2022.
The event will be held in the Mount Baker room, and available on Zoom and Channel 370.
Many of you may remember that Chair Podlodowski visited with us in January of 2019 to discuss what works in election politics, and what doesn’t. She has agreed to join us for a discussion of the upcoming 2022 Primary and General Elections.
If you have any questions or topics you would like Tina to address, please send them to Jim Sanders at jimsanders1947@gmail.com by Friday, May 6th. The list will be sent to our speaker on Saturday, May 7th.
Our Speaker:
Tina Podlodowski has served as the Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party since her election to that post in 2017. She also serves as the Chair of the DNC Western States Caucus, and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of State Democratic Party Chairs.
Tina has held leadership roles with Washington Citizens for Fairness, the Pride Foundation, The Human Rights Campaign, The Victory Fund, The Task Force and LPAC. She is a former lecturer and member of the Visiting Committee at the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. She was the first LGBTQ member of the DNC Platform Committee in 2000, adding “planks” on civil rights and social justice.
In addition to serving as the State Chair, Tina has also served one term on the Seattle City Council. Prior to her election to the City Council she was a senior manager at Microsoft.
She is the daughter of two naturalized U.S. citizens who fled post-WWII Europe as refugees. As a first generation American, “union kid”, and lifelong Democrat, Tina has spent her life fighting for equity and equality and gained prominence as a visible leader in both the Democratic party nationally, and the LGBTQ community nationally and internationally.
She was awarded the “Spirit Award” from the Urban League for her accomplishments in engaging diverse communities. And her political and philanthropic work has been profiled in The New York Times, The Washington Post, People, and Vanity Fair, as well as on German Public Radio and CanelPlus in France.
Tina, her wife and three children live in Seattle, with a lovable sheepdog named Hank.
Our Subject Matter:
Some of the issues we have asked Chair Podlodowski to address include:
1. What is the role of political parties in today’s body politic?
2. What are the core issues of the Democratic Party?
3. How does your party differ from the other major party?
4. What are the prospects in 2022 for a change in control of the United States and State House and Senate?
5. What issues do you believe will be the focus of the election, both at the federal and state level?
6. Which Congressional and State House and Senate seats to you believe may be competitive?
7. Will this be an election tied to national or local issues?
8. Will your party endorse or otherwise support a candidate in a race (primary or general election) if multiple candidates from your party are on the ballot?
9. If the Republicans take control of the United States House of Representatives who will be the Speaker of the House, and will the Republican Caucus be governable by the Speaker?
10. If the Democrats retain control of the United States House of Representatives, do you expect Speaker Pelosi to continue as Speaker? If not, who is likely to replace her?
Please send any questions or comments about this event to Katherine Graubard at graubard@uw.edu or Jim Sanders at jimsanders1947@gmail.com.