Senate hopeful Maria Beltran is working to put a legislative district in Central Washington in play for Democrats

In Washington’s newly redrawn 14th Legislative District, which only encompasses twenty-five percent of the previous incarnation of the district, Democratic rising star Maria Beltran is on a mission: to flip a district long held by Republicans and give Central Washington the progressive representation that it has long lacked.

If Beltran prevails in November, she would become the first Democrat to win the 14th in over thirty years, as well as the first Latina from Yakima to serve in the state Senate. She would also become the youngest senator, at just thirty-one years old.

Despite her young age, Beltran already has an extensive career as a political organizer, having worked with U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, Washington State Representative Debra Entenman, and as the youngest Board President of OneAmerica, which provides community organization services to immigrants and refugees.

Beltran held a fundraising event in Seattle at the end of May, hoping to bring in dollars from the state’s largest city to help her win the district that includes her hometown of Yakima. Beltran has already raised nearly $80,000, but in her remarks at the event, she made clear that she has a long way to go.

https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2024/07/senate-hopeful-maria-beltran-is-working-to-put-a-legislative-district-in-central-washington-in-play-for-democrats.html