Democratic Sen. Patty Kuderer announced her campaign to retain the state Senate seat from the 48th Legislative District, which includes parts of Kirkland.
“We are at a critical time for our public schools, our transportation system and standing up for our progressive values. I am excited to run to retain my Senate seat to keep working on these urgent issues,” Kuderer stated in a campaign press release. She was initially appointed to the House in 2015 and won her election to retain that position in 2016. This past January, she was appointed to the Senate, becoming the 48th Legislative District’s first female state senator.
“I’ve worked closely with Patty Kuderer, both as her former legislative seat mate, and in my current role as lieutenant governor,” said Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib in the press release. “Patty does a superb job of representing the Eastside. From her work improving our public school system, to her advocacy on behalf of frustrated commuters, she prioritizes results over rhetoric and principles over party.”
A strong supporter of public education, Kuderer successfully passed legislation aimed at helping Washington’s deaf and hard of hearing students this past session and continues to lead in the fight to fully fund basic education. Gov. Jay Inslee also signed her bills during her short time in the Legislature, streamlining Washington’s legal system to make government more efficient and closing the loophole on background checks on private sector IT service providers for state and local governments, protecting them from personal and security risks.
“Patty Kuderer’s excellent legal mind and her passion for our public schools make her the outstanding choice in the 48th District. I am proud to endorse her candidacy,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
Kuderer believes that health care is a right and was fortunate enough to be asked to serve as assistant ranking minority member on the Senate Health Care Committee. She is also a member of the Financial Institutions and Insurance and State Government Committees where she has worked on legislation to expand voting rights with same day registration and to strengthen consumer protection in financial transactions.
Kuderer has over 30 years of legal experience covering public and private sector law. Since moving to the Bellevue area about 20 years ago, she focused her practice on helping individuals in employment discrimination cases and those injured by texting, drunk or other negligent drivers. She is an advocate for open government, becoming well-versed in public records laws when working as a city attorney.
She has volunteered for numerous nonprofits including Sacred Heart Social Concerns Congregations for the Homeless, The Peace Alliance, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Virtue’s Children Nepal, Chrysalis Domestic Violence Center and the Minnesota International Health Volunteers. She was a frequent volunteer in the schools and earned the “Golden Acorn” for her service as co-president of Chinook Middle School PTSA. She is a current board member of the Anti-Defamation League Seattle and serves on its Civil Rights Committee.
Kuderer grew up in Minnesota, earned her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law and worked as a prosecutor, city attorney and a personal injury/employment discrimination lawyer. She has two grown children who attended Bellevue area public schools. She lives in Bellevue.
