Manka Dhingra is a Democratic State Senator representing Washington's 45th Legislative District . She serves as Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State Senate, Chair of the Senate Law & Justice Committee, and a member of the Environment, Energy & Technology and Ways & Means committees. Elected in November 2017, she was the first Sikh state legislator in the nation. Notable achievements include sponsoring legislation to curb domestic violence and sexual assault, prevent firearm violence, provide property tax relief for seniors and people with disabilities, prosecute financial fraud, and reform the criminal justice system. She has advanced behavioral health reforms, including expanding the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, transforming the state's system toward prevention and crisis response, and serving on task forces for poverty reduction, criminal justice reform, and equity.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley; Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law.
• Professional Experience: Served 20 years as a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, chairing the Therapeutic Alternative Unit overseeing mental health, veterans, and diversion courts. Developed 40-hour crisis intervention training for law enforcement and instructed at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission for 10 years. Prior roles include interning with the State Attorney General’s Criminal Division on sexually violent predator cases and clerking for Justice Barbara Madsen at the Washington State Supreme Court .
• Community Involvement: Board member of National Alliance on Mental Illness Eastside , Hopelink , and Honorary Advisory Cabinet for King County Sexual Assault Resource Center. Active volunteer in schools as a PTSA leader, coach, and Girl Scout organizer. Lives in Redmond, WA, with husband Harjit and two children.