Bernie Sanders once famously called Seattle “one of the most progressive cities in the United States of America.” It has a growing socialist movement (it is one of two major US cities with socialist mayors and this fall could possibly be one of four) and is a refuge for many queer and trans people from around the country.

Jaelynn Scott (she/her) a trans rights activist and transplant from Mississippi, is a democratic socialist and if elected would be one of two serving in the Washington legislature. Jaelynn won over 88% of the vote in her Democratic primary last month and if she wins in the general election in November will be the first trans state representative in Washington’s history and the first Black openly trans state lawmaker elected in the country. Ironically, this fall she will be on the ballot with a conservative-backed initiative to bar transgender girls from competing in girls’ school sports. This ordained Buddhist minister is most passionate about investing in Black and Brown communities, LGBTQ+ rights, taxing the rich, universal housing, universal healthcare, protecting the environment, and fighting for the working class.

Where are you based?
Seattle, WA

What position are you running for?
State Representative 37th LD

How would you briefly summarize your platform?
I’m Jaelynn Scott and I’m running to continue the tradition of firsts in the 37th LD. We, in South Seattle, were the first to send Black lawmakers to Olympia, the first to challenge the status quo of corporate greed. I am running to fight to ensure our most vulnerable communities are provided with sanctuary in my beautiful state.

This campaign is about building a multi-racial working class movement. This means building on my relationships as a community organizer, but also about leading with policy solutions. I am ready to pass laws in Olympia that ensure compassionate public safety, sending care workers with a helping hand instead of officers with handcuffs, care for our neighbors with childcare for all of our children and state-funded healthcare for all, and taxing those who can afford it to make living in the 37th affordable for all of us.

What inspired you to run?
As Executive Director of Lavender Rights Project, one of the largest Black-trans led advocacy and service organizations in the country, community organizer, and former minister; I’ve worked to move gender and racial equity policies forward on the local and state level. In this policy advocacy work the greatest barrier that we face is a lack of competency and care for the communities on the ground. There is a lack of understanding of the sense of urgency that communities have in the face of direct attacks from the Trump administration as well as economic realities for individuals. My campaign has sought to bridge the divide, to organize a multi-racial, gender equitable movement of community who have not felt their voices reflected in our legislature. I am running to ensure that we have representation in the state legislature and to contribute to the growth of a multi-racial, gender diverse working class movement of people who have political power and that can disrupt business as usual in Washington state.

What change are you hoping to bring to your district and country?
The historical significance of this race has not escaped me, it weighs heavy on my heart that, if elected, I will be the first openly transgender legislator in the state of Washington and the first Black trans woman elected in any state legislature in the country. This has to change. It is important that we have a democracy that is reflective of its people, but more importantly, I believe in the power of Black women and gender diverse people to lead. Our leadership has never been needed more. I hope that my race shows that not only do trans people and trans women of color have the right to exist but that we are a critical part of building a way forward for our country.

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
I’ve heard from constituents from the 37th three distinct but intertwined issues; concerns about safety, federal attacks on our neighbors, and affordability. We are facing austerity measures due to budget deficits caused by HR1 and billions of tax cuts from the wealthiest of Washingtonians. While corporations thrive and the wealthiest in our community deepen their pockets our neighbors are suffering.

The situation requires urgent and immediate action on taxing the ultra-wealthy, eliminating corporate tax loopholes, and ensuring corporations are sharing their profits with the community.

Priority one is urgent action on ensuring universal access to healthcare and childcare for working people. State-funded universal healthcare, utilizing a healthcare trust and single payer system guarantees we can offer the healthcare that Washingtonians believe are a human right.

My second priority is deep investments in social housing including publicly funded and controlled social housing; Vienna model, STEP, Affordable Housing, CLTs.

Finally, we’ve created alternatives to traditional policing and can take action to stop ICE. I hope to invest deeply and expand these systems, working closely with labor to remove contractual barriers for expansion of behavior health response models. I will support restrictions on ICE’s ability to operationalize our local law enforcement resources.

America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
There are outsized, powerful corporate forces and wealthy individuals deeply invested in dividing Americans and our newly arrived neighbors. It is very clear that their motivation is personal profit and the protection of one class of people at the expense of us all. It is important that we continue to disrupt harmful narratives, including scapegoating trans and gender diverse youth, criminalization of people of color and immigrant communities, and imperialist dominant narratives that dehumanize and advocate for the mass killing of peoples around the globe. We have to be truth tellers, the truth is that we have more in common than separate us. We are all struggling to get by day to day in this country, many of our communities are being decimated by the fascistic, inhumane actions of this administration. I believe in the basic goodness of people, we care for our neighbors and we care for our environment. This is where we will find unity, to lean into our shared humanity and work together to institute economic justice and policies that unify the working people and the working poor.

How do you see your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
Black trans women have long lived under what has felt like authoritarianism, with the highest rate of community and political violence of any LGBTQ+ group. We are intimately familiar with how racial capitalism strips the humanity of the individual and our ability to contribute to our democracy and to thrive. I bring to this office the inheritance of my elders, Black trans women such as Ms Major Griffin-Gracy, Ms Sharyn Grayson, Monica Roberts, Marsha P Johnson; and so many other Black women who have forged a way forward and plotted a course forward for economic thriving and commonwealth for all. It is not in spite but because of my identity that our socialist message to fix our upside down tax system, invest deeply in community, and fix the social safety net have resonated with the 88% of the residents of the 37th who voted for me in the primary.

What is your motto in life?
“The Earth is my Witness.”

As a practicing Buddhist, I am continually reminded of the words of Shakyamuni Buddha when faced with haters. They asked why should anyone trust or believe him, and this was his response. Let my walk on this earth and the work we do in the community speak for me.

Where can we find out more about you?
Insta: @votejaelynn
votejaelynn.com

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Jaelynn Scott, Washington House of Representatives, District 37