Expand Access to Care in Rural Communities
Too many parts of LD 2 are medical deserts. Specialists are scarce, clinics are understaffed, and families are driving hours for care that should be available close to home. I’ll fight to expand state investment in rural health clinics and Community Health Centers, facilities that serve everyone regardless of income or insurance status, so that healthcare is actually accessible, not just technically available.

Fix Our Emergency Response System
When someone in rural LD 2 calls 911, they may wait far longer than the national average for an ambulance to arrive. That gap costs lives. I’ll fight to increase funding and pay for first responders and EMS personnel across our rural communities, and push for better coordination between fire districts, EMS, and hospitals to improve response times. Nobody should die waiting for help that’s stuck in traffic or understaffed.

Take Mental Health Seriously
Mental health is healthcare. Full stop. Our region needs more mental health providers, more crisis services, and better integration of mental and physical health care. Telehealth has opened real doors for rural communities, virtual crisis care is already helping officers and clinicians manage mental health emergencies in areas where in-person services don’t exist. I’ll fight to protect and expand those programs, and push for mental health coverage that’s treated the same as any other medical care under state law.

Protect Medicaid and Healthcare for Working Families
Thousands of families in LD 2 depend on Apple Health (Washington’s Medicaid program) for their coverage. Any cuts to that program aren’t abstract budget numbers, they’re real people losing access to prescriptions, prenatal care, and preventive visits. I’ll stand firm against cuts to Medicaid and fight to strengthen the coverage that working families in our district rely on.

Protect LGBTQ+ Healthcare, Including Gender-Affirming Care
As an LGBTQ+ person myself, this isn’t abstract to me. Access to gender-affirming care, mental health support, and non-discriminatory treatment from providers are healthcare issues, full stop. In rural communities like LD 2, LGBTQ+ residents already face longer drives, fewer providers, and more barriers to finding care that is affirming and safe. Federal attacks on gender-affirming care make that worse, and Washington needs to hold the line.

I’ll fight to protect state law guaranteeing access to gender-affirming care, oppose any attempt to roll back anti-discrimination protections in healthcare settings, and push to expand access to LGBTQ+-affirming providers in rural communities, so that no one in LD 2 has to choose between getting care and being safe.

Lower Prescription Drug Costs
Nobody should have to choose between their medication and their groceries. Washington has made some progress on prescription drug pricing, but there’s more to do. I’ll support policies that give the state more negotiating power on drug prices and increase transparency so patients aren’t blindsided by costs.

Support Our Healthcare Workers
The people providing care in our community are under enormous pressure, short-staffed, underpaid, and burned out. That’s a patient safety issue, not just a labor issue. I’ll advocate for better wages and working conditions for nurses, home health aides, and other healthcare workers in our region. When we invest in the people providing care, everyone benefits.