Kristine M. Reeves

Defense / Veterans

I will continue to be a knowledgeable, compassionate and effective advocate for military families and veterans – from helping to reduce the suicide rate among veterans with better mental health treatment and services to better housing for military families to greater assistance in easing the transition between service and civilian careers. Learn more

Economy

I also believe that expanding health care coverage and lowering medical and prescription drug costs will help promote income growth and stabilize our economy since it is often unforeseen health care events that can bankrupt struggling families. Making child care more accessible and affordable, ending the gender pay gap, raising the minimum wage and reinstating overtime rules, and enforcing and strengthening protections for organized labor that allow strong unions to flourish and effectively negotiate for workers – these are all important steps in chipping away at income inequality, ensuring the economic security of our families and promoting dignity and pride in the work we produce. Learn more

As someone who was raised in poverty cycled in foster homes and was even homeless for a time, helping those in need is personal for me. I am not another lawyer or another multi-millionaire. Instead, I bring a unique perspective in that I understand what it means to struggle under tough circumstances, and that inspires my unwavering commitment to helping others struggling through tough times. I am committed to fighting every day to make sure that hard-working families never slip through the cracks. Learn more

Education

Everyone should have access to an affordable college education if they choose, one that lets them pursue their dreams and a great career – without crushing debt from student loans. I speak from firsthand experience. With the help of a state need grant and scholarships, I was able to leave a childhood of poverty and tumult to become the first in my family to go to college and am today a proud Washington State graduate. Learn more

Every student deserves to have a quality public school in their community, and educators who can afford to live in the community they teach, so that we can prepare the next generation to succeed – no matter their ZIP code. I have fought for educators and for key investments that have strengthened the path to opportunity in our state – the biggest teacher salary increases in the nation, the largest-ever expansion of early childhood education, and linking tens of thousands of students with apprenticeships and on-the-job training. Learn more

Environment / Energy

I believe Washington State must take a leadership role in addressing climate change, not only to protect ourselves from threats like hurricanes and wildfires that increasingly threaten our daily lives and resources but because we must take advantage of the economic opportunity that exists to be a leader in the creation of clean energy jobs and the next generation of economic innovation. Learn more

Healthcare

I believe passionately that health care is a right for every person, not a privilege. I’ve spent much of my life with no health insurance coverage, and have a pre-existing health condition in diabetes that makes me acutely aware of, and like so many Americans, uniquely vulnerable to attacks that seek to deny health care coverage. I believe we need to do everything possible to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable. Our state is the first state in the country to plan for a public option for health care. I’m excited to make sure that plan reduces costs, increases transparency, and ensures accountability. Creating a public option will force insurance companies to compete, lowering health care costs for everyone. Learn more

Social Services

Childcare is essential. Now more than ever, families need safe, affordable, high-quality childcare to get our economy back on track. 63% of Washingtonians live in a childcare desert where there are either no childcare providers or 3 times as many children as licensed care spots. Working families will find a way for their kids to be cared for while they’re at work, but by not investing in licensed spots, they may be driven to find care on the unlicensed grey market with no safety standards. Now is the time to invest in facilities and workers that are supporting the reopening of our economy – by allowing the workforce to work. We must compensate childcare workers fairly, offer a stimulus and reopening grants for providers to offset new COVID-19 requirements, and create career pathways and financial aid for caregivers seeking early learning degrees. High-quality childcare builds America two generations at a time. This will require a unifying framework and national minimum standards for knowledge and competencies, educator qualifications, industry standards, and compensation that recognizes the professional nature and requirements of the industry. Learn more