Senator Javier Valdez

Javier A. Valdez was born on July 3, 1970, and is a Democratic politician representing Washington State Senate District 46. He is the proud son and grandson of farmworkers and laborers, and was born and raised in Moses Lake before relocating to Seattle's Maple Leaf neighborhood.

Valdez has been a longtime leader in Washington's Democratic Party. He currently serves as one of Washington State's representatives to the Democratic National Committee. He has held significant party leadership positions, including chair of the 43rd District Democrats and chair of the 46th District Democrats . He also served on the Executive Board for the Washington State Democrats from 2003 to 2017.

Beyond electoral politics, Valdez is a recognized leader in the Latino community, having served as a board member for the Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and president of Hispanic Seafair. As a proud member of organized labor, he served as the first president of the Washington State Council of County and City Employees , Local 21-C, and was a delegate to the Martin Luther King County Labor Council.

Education and Professional Background

Valdez holds a bachelor's degree in business and is a product of public education. He worked for the City of Seattle for over 20 years in various capacities, including leading Seattle City Light's women and minority business program, serving as a special assistant on WMBE programs in the Seattle Mayor's Office, and currently working as a senior equity and inclusion advisor with the City of Seattle Finance and Administrative Services Department. He also previously served as an aide to former Mayor Ed Murray.

Political Experience

Valdez was appointed to the Washington State House in 2017 and subsequently won election in 2018 and 2020 before transitioning to the State Senate. He was selected as the first choice of Precinct Committee Officers to fill the Senate vacancy left by Jessyn Farrell's resignation.

In the State Senate, Valdez serves as vice chair of the State Government & Elections Committee and also serves on the Law & Justice and Transportation committees. He has championed legislation addressing civil rights and public safety, including introducing Senate Bill 5855 to prohibit law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from wearing face-concealing masks while interacting with the public.