Frank Gaimari: What inspired you to run for state representative, and how do you plan to bring your city council experience to Olympia?

Kim Harless: On the city council, I've worked on housing, climate, immigrant protections, and equity, gaining valuable experience in navigating a political process that often resists change. I'm bringing that experience to Olympia, because this district deserves someone who already knows how to get things done. 

I grew up here, raised my family here, and have seen firsthand how working people are being squeezed from every direction while the systems meant to support them are being hollowed out. I want to take my lived and elected experiences to the next level to represent this community in the best way I can.

FG: As someone who has faced systemic barriers firsthand, how will your lived experiences shape your policy priorities?

KH: I'm multiracial (Indigenous Ópata, Mexican American, and white), and I identify as Two-Spirit. I also identify as pan and demiwoman, using she and they pronouns. I was a young mother living in poverty, going to college, and trying to figure out how to hold everything together — balancing immediate needs like food and housing while keeping an eye on the future. 

I've been told before to wait my turn or to support others who were seen as leaders. To me, that always felt like coded language for not being wealthy enough, straight enough, cisgender enough, or white enough. Instead, I’ve chosen to show how these experiences are "real" expertise — not just for me, but so others can recognize that kind of expertise in the people around them.

All this shapes how I legislate and how I lead. I know firsthand what has helped, what hasn’t, and what dignity looks like when you’re just trying to survive. I believe good policy means bringing people with you, not just acting on their behalf, because every person carries their own expertise through their lived experiences.

FG: Housing affordability is a major issue in Washington. What specific policies do you propose to address this crisis?

KH: We're in this crisis because we've treated housing as a financial asset instead of a human need. That must change, because housing is — and should be treated as — a human right.

I'll fight for eviction protection, rent stabilization, and the right of first purchase for tenants when a building goes up for sale, as well as for social housing and housing trusts. I also want to expand the Covenant Homeownership Program, so it truly reaches the people it was designed for: those who were historically prevented from purchasing homes because of racial covenants. In Vancouver alone, there were over 1,300 parcels with such covenants. 

Additionally, I want to direct antidisplacement resources specifically to BIPOC communities being pushed out of neighborhoods their families have been part of for generations. I've worked on this at the city level by supporting the antidisplacement section of the update to our comprehensive plan, and I'm ready to take this work to the state level, where even more can be done to address housing needs.

FG: You’ve been a vocal advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. What legislative measures would you champion to protect and support Queer rights?

KH: This is personal for me, because I’m Two-Spirit and a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. It’s also personal because of my immediate family, friends, and the many people in the 49th Legislative District who are part of this community. It is both my duty and my honor to represent the LGBTQ+ community.

Washington made real progress this past session by protecting LGBTQ+ students in schools, strengthening accountability when schools violate nondiscrimination protections, and safeguarding students' private information, including their gender identity. I’ll defend those gains and urge voters to reject IL26-001 and IL26-638 — two November ballot initiatives that would roll back these protections for LGBTQ+ students. 

I’ll fight to protect Transgender and Nonbinary people in healthcare, housing, and public life. When the federal government targets our community, I want Washington state to stand as a firewall and a haven.

FG: How do you plan to ensure that marginalized voices, including those of the LGBTQIA+ community, are represented in the legislative process?

KH: I approach community engagement the way I always have — not as a box to check but as a crucial step in policymaking. Too often, people are asked to show up, share their pain, and then watch decisions get made without them. At the city level, I’ve been a strong advocate for ensuring that our diverse communities are part of the process from the very beginning, especially those most impacted or for whom the policy is intended.

I’ll continue building real relationships with LGBTQ+ organizations, Indigenous communities, immigrant advocacy groups, and others most affected by state policy. I’ll advocate for removing barriers to participation, such as language access and childcare. And I’ll use my own identity to show that people who’ve been told they don’t belong in leadership spaces absolutely do. I bring people with me — I don’t just break through and pull the ladder up behind me. I’ve experienced firsthand the pain caused by those who pull the ladder up, and I never want anyone else to go through that.

FG: As a single mother who juggled multiple responsibilities, what advice do you have for young parents facing similar challenges?

KH: The first thing I’d say is that the struggle you’re in is not your fault — it’s a policy failure. You deserve support, and our systems are failing families. I know firsthand how smart and resourceful someone must be to keep their family safe and well fed when bills are piling up, and wages aren’t keeping pace. Remember to still make time for joy — it’s what you’ll end up cherishing the most.

Find your community and build a support system around you. And while it’s hard to stay politically engaged when you’re focused on meeting basic needs, it’s essential to prioritize it. The decisions made in Olympia and DC, and at the local level, directly impact your access to childcare, paid leave, and affordable housing. These fights are yours, and we need your voice. Our community can’t afford to lose your involvement, because if you’re not voting, others will make decisions for you.

FG: How will you work to combat discrimination and promote inclusivity in schools and workplaces across the state?

KH: In schools, I’ll protect DEI programs, advocate for culturally responsive curriculums, and defend LGBTQ+ students from federal attacks. I’ll push for mental health resources instead of punitive discipline, which disproportionately impacts students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ youth. I’ll also work to pass legislation like the SAFE Act (SB 5906), which didn’t pass last session but would have protected immigrant students from federal immigration enforcement in schools.

In workplaces, I’ll fight to strengthen antidiscrimination protections and ensure they are effectively enforced. I’ll also fight to protect the right to organize and form unions, because collective power is one of the most effective tools workers have to combat discrimination and exploitation — issues that disproportionately affect workers of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.

FG: What message do you have for young LGBTQIA+ people who may feel disheartened by the current political climate?

KH: I know what it’s like to be told you don’t belong or that you aren’t enough. As a Two-Spirit person, I’ve lived the balancing act of holding multiple identities in race, gender, and sexuality. But what I also know is that the rights we’re defending today exist because those who came before us refused to give up. You are part of that history, that legacy, and even though times feel uncertain right now, I’m seeing more people in our community fighting and raising their voices.

Find your people, rest when you need to, and always remember that joy is a form of resistance. There’s no version of the future worth building that doesn’t include you.

Kim Harless’s responses reflect her unwavering commitment to equality, inclusion, and progress. Her vision for a better Washington is rooted in her belief that leadership is about listening, showing up, and delivering for the people. 

As her campaign unfolds, it’s clear that Harless is not just running for office — she’s running for her people, with her people, and for a future where everyone can thrive.

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