Laurie Jinkins
Representative · State house · Washington · District 27
Democratic
Biography
Laurie Jinkins made history on January 13, 2020, when she became Washington state’s first woman and first lesbian Speaker of the House. She represents the 27th legislative district in Pierce County. She is a native Midwesterner. Laurie started her career litigating child abuse and neglect cases for the state Attorney General’s Office. She then shifted her career toward public health, serving as an assistant secretary of health at the state Department of Health, and now as senior advisor at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. She has also been active in advancing Washington’s anti-discrimination laws both prior to and during her time in the House. Prior to becoming Speaker, Laurie served on the House Appropriations and Health Care & Wellness committees, and chaired the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee.
On the record
- Education
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, bachelor’s degree; University of Wisconsin-Madison, master’s degree; Seattle University School of Law, Juris Doctor; Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, executive studies
- Profession
- Attorney; Assistant secretary of health; Senior advisor
- Born
- 1964-08-01
- Family
- Married; one child.
Contact
- Capitol office
- Room 339C, Legislative Building P.O. Box 40600, Olympia, WA 98504 · 360-786-7930
- Phone
- 360-786-7930
- laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov