Thread by @ShastiConrad

👋🏽Hi! Shasti Conrad here. I’m the first Asian American woman to chair a major state party in the contiguous USA. I’m currently being attacked by the far-right in WA for championing Democratic values. Make their attacks backfire—chip in + support @washdems: secure.actblue.com/donate/fight-b…

@washdems First, some context: This past weekend I tweeted that we would be able to clean up the constitution here in Washington State if Democrats won supermajorities in the state legislature.

I meant it.

I'm proud that Washington state law guarantees abortion access. But we still have work to do.

As of 2017, 59% of Washington counties had 0 clinics that provided abortion care. That's unacceptable.

guttmacher.org/sites/default/…

Right now, there’s a bill making its way through the Washington State legislature to enshrine abortion rights in our Constitution. In order for this to happen, the bill needs to receive two-thirds (supermajority) approval in both the state House and Senate.

After that, it goes to a general election ballot. If a simple majority of Washington state voters approve it, the Constitution is amended and abortion rights are enshrined ✨

But here’s the catch: first, you need supermajorities in both the Washington State House and Senate to vote for the bill. Right now, Democrats don’t have that and WA Republicans spent the 2022 election cycle sending anti-abortion mailers across the state.

axios.com/local/seattle/…

We know we can’t count on Republicans to enshrine abortion rights into the Washington State Constitution. Which is why we need Democratic supermajorities. Hence my tweet.

But that’s not all! There’s also plenty we could do to streamline election administration + make voting easier. For example, in 2024, we have elections during at least 6 different months... that's half the year and very chaotic! How are working voters supposed to keep up with it?

We could amend the Washington State Constitution to clean up and fix this. But, as we’ve seen across the country, Republicans will obstruct and impede at every step along the way.

And, of course, the far-right will hate- and fear-monger. Just look at *some* of the hateful messages that have come my way since right-wing commentator @BrandiKruse posted a video about my tweet a few days ago.

And then she likes to pretend she isn’t far-right. Girl...come on.

Not to mention that she has hate-mongers like Andy Ngo cheering her on. Think she’ll disavow? Personally, I’m not holding my breath.

Commentators like Brandi Kruse serve one purpose: to sanitize and mainstream right-wing culture wars and grievance politics.

That’s why she made a whole video about a tweet of mine where I talk about the very good and democratic process of amending our state constitution.

Which, to note, has already been amended 108 times. But it’s somehow a problem when I talk about doing it? 🤔

.@BrandiKruse was trying to make a scandal out of my having policy positions about two (2) issues that Dems really care about: democracy and abortion.

The horror! 😱

I know it’s October spooky season but this is too much lol

Also: it’s literally my job as a Democratic State Party Chair.

Anyway, as a brown woman in politics I’ve come to expect this sort of nonsense. But I don’t accept it.

If you’re sick and tired of this type of right-wing divisiveness, will you make a donation to @washdems today?

secure.actblue.com/donate/fight-b…

We depend on grassroots donations to fund our operation, and to pay for organizers across the state. We have important elections coming up in a few weeks—and the opportunity to flip the Spokane Mayor’s office blue.

Spokane is the second largest city in the state, and a Democratic mayor there would be huge!

Help us do it: secure.actblue.com/donate/fight-b…

Next year, we need to defend Washington's 3rd and 8th Congressional Districts. That’s the key to ending the MAGA GOP chaos we see in Congress today, and ensuring Democrats win back our majority.

secure.actblue.com/donate/fight-b…

With the rise of MAGA extremism in the United States, we have a moral responsibility to secure states like Oregon, California, and Washington as a strong blue wall in the west.

We have to grow and strengthen the Democratic brand. We have to grow and diversify our organizations. We have to invest in year-round organizing like never before.

As the first Asian American woman to chair a major state party in the contiguous United States, I’m asking for your help.

Help me stand up for strong Democratic values in Washington State, and fight back against the far-right: secure.actblue.com/donate/fight-b…