Discriminatory Washington State Legislative Map to Remain in Place for 2022 Election, Lawsuit Heads to Trial

Tacoma, WA — Paul Smith, senior vice president of Campaign Legal Center (CLC), issued the following statement after a district court in Washington denied a CLC motion to block the enacted state legislative map for district 15 from going into effect for the 2022 election cycle. The complaint alleges that the map denies Latino voters the ability to elect their preferred candidates to the Washington state legislature.

“No matter our color, background or zip code, most of us want to have a say in who represents us. Latino voters in the Yakima Valley and Pasco regions deserve to have a fair opportunity to make their voices heard and elect candidates who will listen to them and meet their needs. The fight is far from over and we will continue to advocate for Latino voters in Washington so they can have a say in important matters that impact them every day.”

The state legislative map drawn this year will shape lives and communities in Washington for the next decade. While the lawsuit made a strong case that there would be irreparable and immediate harm to the Latino community in the Yakima Valley and Pasco regions, the district court held that the Supreme Court’s Purcell doctrine prevented the implementation of relief at this point in the election cycle. Campaign Legal Center and co-counsel, the UCLA Voting Rights Project, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Morfin Law Firm will continue to advocate for Washington’s Latino voters in a trial scheduled for January 2023 so that Latino voters have an equal chance to make their voice heard in future elections.

At Campaign Legal Center, we are advancing democracy through law. Learn more about our work.