About Kristine

Overcoming Adversity Early In Life

A Moses Lake native, Kristine grew up the daughter of a single mother who struggled with substance abuse and relied heavily on social services including Head Start and food stamps. In and out of foster care and even homeless at points in her childhood, Kristine’s journey to elected state representative, a Director of Economic Development in the Commerce Department, and happily married mother of two children is a testimony to the value of public education and the critical investment of public-school educators in transforming her life and helping her break the cycle of poverty.

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The first in her family to graduate from college, Kristine received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Washington State University (Go Cougs!) and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University in Spokane.

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Helping Veterans With Senator Patty Murray

After receiving her degrees, Kristine served as an immigration advisor at several higher education institutions, helping hundreds of international students pursue educational opportunities in the United States, and as South Sound Regional Director and then Statewide

Veterans Representative for U.S. Senator Patty Murray. Reeves’ role included increasing and developing relationships to help improve military transition, workforce development, and veterans’ healthcare initiatives.

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Pioneering Election to the State House

In 2016, Kristine was elected as a Democratic State Representative in the 30 th Legislative District, covering parts of Pierce and southern King Counties. She defeated an incumbent Republican in a hard fought general election, becoming the first African-American woman

elected to the Washington House in 18 years and the only woman in the legislature with children under the age of 5. She won re-election in 2018 with 64% of the vote.

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Working Mom Promoting Economic Development in Industries Critical to the South Sound

Kristine is the Director of Economic Development for the Military and Defense sector for the state of Washington. Her role focuses on promoting public and private economic development that supports military bases, defense industry suppliers, contractors and small businesses, as well as working with civilian organizations in their engagement with the U.S. Military in Washington

State. In this role, Kristine has helped secure millions of dollars in federal grants to improve private sector job growth, support military personnel transitioning to private sector jobs, and support the 1900+ small businesses in the defense sector supply chain during Department of Defense downsizing.

As a working mom who understands the balance between working hard to succeed and raising a family and as someone who overcame childhood adversity and poverty with the help of caring mentors, Kristine’s record of achievement demonstrates she’ll be a strong advocate for working families and their needs in Congress.

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Landmark Progressive Achievements

After her first term in the state house, the Seattle Times called Reeves “a thoughtful lawmaker who dives deep into the specifics of complicated policy.” Her hard work combined with a unique background and professional perspective played an important role in multiple

achievements that have provided a national model for progressive action:

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• ensuring educators can afford to live and work in the communities in which they teach our kids

• launching a Career Connect program that’s linking tens of thousands of students with apprenticeships and on-the-job training

• passing the country’s most progressive paid family leave policy to care for loved ones or newborns 

• creating the country’s first long term health care benefit to help seniors stay in their homes

• pushing for the state’s first environmental justice directive to combat climate change and protect communities of color

• leading the effort to make childcare more accessible and affordable for ALL working families

Fresh off these historic progressive achievements in Washington state, Kristine is now running as a Democrat for Congress to break the gridlock and dysfunction in Washington, D.C., end the special interest stranglehold and partisan bickering, and help enact these critical progressive priorities in Congress.

Kristine lives with her husband Camron and their two small children in Federal Way.

Paid For By

Kristine Reeves For Congress

PO Box 39536

Lakewood, WA 98499