Fighting to Keep Washington Affordable for Everyone
Meet Jesse
Elected to the Washington State Senate in 2018, Senator Jesse Salomon has demonstrated leadership, energy and compassion as he represents Washington's 32nd Legislative District.
Through his advocacy and legislative work, Jesse has become known as a champion of families, the environment, youth and children, and campaign finance reform.
Jesse worked for 15 years as a public defense attorney. His experience representing thousands of clients, conducting the defense in numerous jury trials, working in local jails and, at the start of his legal career, serving as a prosecutor, has given him a unique set of experiences that informs his work in the legislature on crime and law.
Jesse’s Top Priorities
Transportation
Traffic is a huge challenge to our region, and housing is becoming less affordable. We need to expand light rail now and create affordable housing options. In 2022, I am proud to have helped pass a $16 billion transportation package, the greenest and most transit-friendly package in Washington State history.
Education
High-wage jobs in computer technology, biotechnology, and other related fields are coming into this area in droves. Unfortunately, our education system is not adequately equipped to prepare our children for these jobs. I am proud to have been the lead sponsor of a bill called “Girls Who Code,” which passed as HB 1577. This law helps support girls in gaining a strong, tech-based education and enables them to enter tech- and math-intensive industries when they grow up.
Affordable Housing
The cost of housing is driving staggeringly unequal outcomes in people's quality of life. I have focused on increasing the supply of rental units, condos, cottage housing and smaller "starter" homes as these have been missing from the housing market. I am proud to have written and passed SB 5818, which makes it easier to build rental units, condos, cottage housing and smaller "starter" homes in urban areas by repealing red tape. I also supported SB5160 that increased support for renters and helped create a dispute resolution process where state funds helped resolve eviction moratorium based back rent disputes.
During his term in the Senate, Jesse prime-sponsored and passed legislation that helped close the education gender opportunity gap, fought hate and bias-based crimes, prevented foreign interference in our elections, banned fracking for natural gas, preserved union jobs, and protected salmon habitat.
In the 2020 legislative session, Jesse was part of passing a bipartisan Coronavirus response bill that authorized a significant amount of funding for public health efforts, testing, and healthcare related to the outbreak. Responding to constituents, he also passed legislation protecting employees during the pandemic who wanted to wear personal protective equipment by making it illegal to fire or take adverse action against them if an employer did not want to allow PPE.
