22nd Legislative District Democrats

08/26/2026

Help support Chris Pettit for Thurston PUD tomorrow night at Well 80!

Join us on August 27 and help hydrate the campaign! Link to RSVP in comments.

08/26/2026

If you are worried about if your vote will count this November, please don't. The Auditor's Office has been preparing for whatever decision the Supreme Court made. Check out this gift article from The Olympian

Thurston County ballots are scheduled to be mailed in early October.

08/12/2026

The 22nd Legislative District Democrats is proud to support No Hate in WA State. Every child deserves to feel safe being themselves in school without worrying it will cause them to be unsafe at home.

Did you know 40% of LGBTQ+ homeless youth were kicked out of their homes because of their identities? Now imagine how much worse that would be under I-001, when LGBTQ+ kids will be outed to unsupportive families.

Take a stand against hate. Vote NO on I-001 this November.

07/28/2026

Please, please, please get your ballot in the Ballot Box. Unless you are outside Washington, DO NOT MAIL YOUR BALLOT. The ballot boxes are safe and will be collected on time. It can take 2 weeks or more for the Post Office to deliver ballots right now.

So, don't forget to vote. Get your ballot in by 8pm Tuesday August 4th.

07/11/2026

Friends and community,

Over the past week, a number of public statements have referenced the 22nd Legislative District Democrats and my role as its Chair. Because of that, I believe it is appropriate for me to clarify where I stand and, by extension, the values I believe our organization should continue to uphold.

First, I want to be unequivocal: violence, intimidation, harassment, and discrimination directed at anyone, including transgender people, have no place in our communities, our politics, or our Party. Every member deserves to participate fully and safely, knowing they are valued, respected, and supported.

Second, I want to acknowledge that some members have experienced this past week very differently. Some have felt unsafe. Some have felt unheard. Others, myself included, have found our own motives, integrity, and character publicly questioned while trying to navigate an extraordinarily difficult situation. Those experiences should not be dismissed simply because they differ from one another.

I also want to be transparent about my own role.

My involvement in the rescinding an endorsement for a candidate for office came through my service on the Thurston County Democrats Campaign Services Committee. My involvement afterward came from something more personal: a genuine desire to support someone I care about and to help our community move toward healing. Looking back, I recognize those roles were not as clearly separated as they could have been. If that created confusion or caused someone to feel blindsided, I sincerely regret that.

As Chair of the 22nd Legislative District Democrats, I believe our responsibility is not simply to respond to individual conflicts. It is to cultivate a culture where difficult conversations can occur without dehumanizing one another, where marginalized members know they will be protected, and where volunteers and leaders alike know they can step forward to help without becoming permanent adversaries in the process.

Those principles are not in conflict. In fact, they depend on one another.

I remain committed to advocating for LGBTQPIA+ people. I remain committed to accountability when our values are violated. And I remain committed to leading with honesty, humility, and compassion - even when those commitments are tested.

That is the standard I intend to hold myself to, and the standard I hope our organization continues striving toward together.

Humbly,
Rory J Summerson
LD 22 Chair.

Send a message to learn more

07/05/2026

Check out the candidates at Thurston County Democrats first Burger Booth event of the year!

See you this Sunday at Eastside Big Tom’s!

Come meet these candidates and find out how they plan to serve Thurston County if elected.

🍔🇺🇸🫡

07/04/2026

On June 30th, the US Supreme Court ruled that states can ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports.
This decision makes No Hate in WA State’s work to defeat the anti-LGBTQ+ ballot measures IL26-001 and IL26-638 more pressing than ever. Can we count on you to support our work by donating to No Hate In WA State now?
Here’s some context for what this means for this fight:
The measures that the Supreme Court ruled on today are from West Virginia and Idaho. And they are actually less extreme than what a MAGA mega-donor is trying to pass in Washington this November.
Neither West Virginia nor Idaho required girls to undergo invasive ge***al exams to participate in sports.
As KUOW and the Seattle Times have both reported, IL-638 in Washington would. In fact, the ballot measure explicitly bans using birth certificates to verify s*x, forcing students to do exams instead.
Washington’s current policy has worked successfully for almost two decades. This new approach would be more expensive for our families and more invasive, medically unnecessary, and potentially harmful to our kids. It is the most extreme of its kind in the country.
While our opponent can write checks for millions of dollars, we’re relying on grassroots supporters to help us defeat these ballot measures. The most effective way you can help our campaign’s work right now is donating to No Hate in WA State today. It supports us more than you know.

07/01/2026

From the Washington State Democratic Party

Chair Conrad Statements on SCOTUS Decision Day

Seattle, WA – Today, Chair Shasti Conrad, released the following statements reacting to three U.S. Supreme Court Decisions on the final day of its term.

Responding to the decision in West Virginia v. B. P. J., Chair Shasti Conrad stated:

“No matter what the Supreme Court decides, Washington state will continue providing access to sports for trans athletes. Every student deserves to participate in sports and the benefits they provide ranging from community to leadership training and health benefits. Today’s ruling strips a marginalized community of their dignity, but Washington Democrats are proud that our state will continue to provide practical guidance for schools hosting trans athletes. Now we must focus our efforts on fighting the forced ge***al exams for female athletes being pushed by Let’s Go Washington to keep our state welcoming and safe for every student athlete.”

Responding to the decision in NRSC v. FEC, Chair Shasti Conrad stated:

“Citizens United is a cancer killing our democracy. Today’s ruling in NRSC v FEC uses that decision to trample 50 years of settled law and kills one of the last limits preventing billionaires from buying and selling our politics. The vast majority of voters will now have their voices silenced by the deluge of oligarchs plunging their fortunes into campaigns to secure policies that only favor their fortunes.”

Responding to the decision in Trump v. Barbara, Chair Shasti Conrad stated:

“Birthright Citizenship is plainly read in the 14th amendment and has been reaffirmed as a bedrock constitutional right. As we near America’s 250th anniversary, we must remember that every signer of the Declaration of Independence was an immigrant to this continent. America would be nothing without the immigrants who have chosen to build their families and legacies here. Immigrants don’t just ‘get the job done,’ they enliven and strengthen our communities. They are our friends, family and neighbors who are each striving to create a more perfect union alongside every other American.”

Send a message to learn more

06/29/2026

From the Washington State Democratic Party:

Chair Conrad Statement on Watson v. RNC

Seattle, WA – Today, Chair Shasti Conrad released a statement reacting to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding the legality of ballots postmarked by Election Day in Watson v. Republican National Committee:

“Washington Democrats know we have the best elections system in the country. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court defended that system from Trump’s unconstitutional meddling by confirming vote by mail states should continue accepting ballots postmarked by Election Day. The decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee protects hundreds of thousands of Washington voters, including military service members who rely on voting by mail to make their voices heard in our elections.

“The Trump administration’s sabotage of the U.S. Postal Service continues to threaten vote by mail infrastructure so we continue to encourage every voter who decides to cast their ballot by mail to do so as early as possible or to use an official ballot drop box. Washington Democrats will never stop fighting to ensure our elections are safe, secure, convenient, and count every eligible vote.”

The Washington State Democratic Party is committed to advancing progressive policy, empowering the grassroots, and ensuring Democratic victories up and down the ballot. Chair of the Washington Democrats, Shasti Conrad, is the first Indian-American woman to chair a major state party and led the most successful Democratic state party in 2024 and continued that streak in 2025.

06/28/2026

LD 22 Showed up for the Pride Parade with Chair Rory J Summerson and Vice Chair Tracey Carlos walking with 2 of the candidates from one of our neighboring districts, LD 35 at Capital City Pride