Introduction
This page is maintained by the reference staff of the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State. Historical legislators were identified using contemporary newspaper accounts, interviews, news releases, and other primary source materials. Current legislators must identify themselves to be included. Note that not all legislators wish to classify their cultural heritage in this way and may opt out. Given our process for adding legislators, this guide may not be considered comprehensive or completely up-to-date. However, new information is added as it is received by librarians at the State Library, and subsequently confirmed by legislative staff. Please contact Ask a Librarian with updates, corrections, or concerns.
About Black Legislators of Washington State
Lists of ethnic minority legislators in Washington State are among the Washington State Library's frequently asked questions. In order to assist in the preservation of knowledge about these members, our staff has created this resource to facilitate the discovery (or rediscovery) or these individuals. Black Legislators of Washington has now since been followed by Latino Legislators of Washington, and lists those members of the Legislature who have gone on record as identifying as Latino, Latina, Hispanic, or related terms (like Chicano). Additional minority legislative pages are planned for the future. The staff at the State Library wish to thank Black legislators past and present, as well as their staff, in assisting with the creation and maintenance of this list.
Sam Smith and his Sons, 1967
