WA-10: Marilyn Strickland's Black and Korean American roots are historic 1st for Congress
SEATTLE — Former Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland won the open seat in Washington’s 10th Congressional District, besting a fellow Democrat to become the first Black representative from Washington state.
She is also the first Korean American woman elected to Congress in the country. Strickland was born in Seoul; her father, a veteran of World War II and the Korean war, met her mother while stationed there.
Republican U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Democratic U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier held leads after tough campaigns in the 3rd and 8th districts.
In the 10th District, which includes parts of Mason, Pierce and Thurston Counties, Strickland defeated state Rep. Beth Doglio, a fellow Democrat. They were fighting for the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, who stepped down from Congress but was seeking to be elected the state’s lieutenant governor.
“Our campaign was focused on the issues — not labels and partisanship — and I will take that same approach to our nation’s capital,” Strickland said in a written statement Wednesday. “Just as I have always done, I will work with anyone who is willing to work with me to get results.”
Doglio, a state representative who identifies as bisexual, would have been the first LGTBQ member of the Washington delegation.
Strickland said Tuesday night it was a bit unusual to campaign against another Democrat in a general election, given that they share many of the same values, but that it gave her a chance to stress her experience leading Tacoma through the last recession while helping attract jobs and improve education. She said health care, education and clean energy jobs would be some of her top priorities if elected.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/marilyn-strickland-s-black-korean-american-roots-are-historic-1st-n1246705?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma
