Meet Jesse

Since 2018, Jesse has worked tirelessly in the State Senate to ensure that every community in Washington has the resources it needs to thrive. He has led efforts to expand affordable housing, protect survivors of domestic violence, strengthen gun safety, and restore our natural environment—delivering real results for families across the state.

Jesse has fought back against federal overreach throughout his career. He has defended Washingtonians against Donald Trump’s attacks on reproductive care, public education, and other programs our families rely on, always prioritizing people over political pressure.

As Senate Local Government Committee Chair and a member of the Housing, Law and Justice and Rules Committees, Jesse pushes for practical solutions in Olympia. His experience spans public service and law—as a Shoreline City Councilmember and Deputy Mayor, a public defender, and a prosecutor protecting abused children—giving him the expertise and leadership to tackle the state’s toughest challenges.

During his time in the Senate, Jesse has sponsored successful legislation that:

  • Made over the counter drugs more affordable

  • Increases access to affordable housing

  • Passed a Millionaires Tax to make our tax code more fair

  • Free school lunches

Before being elected to the Senate, Jesse served for seven years on the Shoreline City Council, including one year as Deputy Mayor.  This city government experience has given him the background to personally understand neighborhood issues and best represent the cities of Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, NW Seattle, Shoreline, and Woodway.

Jesse worked for 15 years as a public defense attorney. His experience representing thousands of clients, conducting the defense in numerous jury trials, working in local jails, and, at the start of his legal career, serving as a prosecutor in child welfare, has given him a unique set of experiences that inform his work in the legislature on crime and law.

Jesse serves on these state-wide Committees:

  • Executive Committee Member of the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Committee that is focused on spending accountability and auditing tax breaks

  • Marine Resources Advisory Committee to combat the effects of climate change and ocean acidification

  • Joint Committee on water supply during drought and the water resource mitigation task force

In the past, Jesse has served in many volunteer capacities:

  • Planning Commissioner

  • Board member of the Ridgecrest Neighborhood Association

Jesse graduated from the University of Washington School of Law and Western Washington University. An avid hiker, fisher, snowboarder, and boater, Jesse loves to spend spare time in the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest. Jesse lives with his family in Shoreline!