Washington State Democrats open convention as chair outlines organizing, fundraising and diversity goals

Shasti Conrad, chair of the Washington State Democrats, called the convention to order and used the opening address to lay out the party’s strategy for 2024, emphasizing organizing in every county, investments in local party organizations and a broad fundraising push. Conrad said the state party has raised more than $6 million since her election as chair and announced a $150,000 program to spur local-party innovation and a coordinated campaign placing 30 organizers across the state.

Conrad described efforts to increase representation at all levels of party leadership and cited affirmative-action bonuses that added 90 bonus delegates across 18 districts. She told delegates the state party will take up a resolution in September to form a Muslim caucus and said the convention already features the most diverse delegation in a decade.

Her remarks framed the convention’s work as both practical and aspirational: defending reproductive rights, protecting voting access and maximizing turnout for critical congressional and statewide races. U.S. Rep. Suzanne Del Bene, who followed Conrad, urged delegates to target competitive House seats in the region and underscored the role of door-knocking and voter contact ahead of the primary and November elections.

The chair also presided over a routine vote to adopt the convention’s final rules and led introductions of temporary and permanent convention officers, including the acclamation election of April Sims as convention chair. A prerecorded message from national party leaders reiterated the campaign’s urgency and federal policy priorities.

The convention’s opening established the convention’s dual focus on party-building and on policy platform work to be completed later in the day.