State Rep. Cindy Ryu, candidate for State Senate in Washington’s 32nd District (David Mendez/The Osprey)
by David Mendez
It’s uncommon for Democrats to challenge one another for a seat, particularly Dems as well-tenured as Cindy Ryu and Jesse Salomon.
If she wanted to, Ryu could stay in the Legislature as long as she liked — she’s represented the 32nd for 15 years already, and handily trounced her challengers in every election since 2012.
So why is she challenging Salomon for the 32nd District’s seat in the State Senate?
Frankly, it seems as personal as it is professional.
Upon being asked why she’s running, Ryu was blunt. “I started hearing complaints about Jesse three years ago in bulk,” she told The Osprey. Before that, she said, it was personality things — that Salomon runs late or doesn’t show up to things, that he “mansplains” issues.
Then, she said, she heard complaints from constituents — that people can’t get appointments with him, that he wouldn’t pay attention to visitors who landed appointments, that he wasn’t supporting bills that came to the Senate from his Democratic colleagues in the Legislature.
Ryu said that when she complained to Democratic leadership, she was told that Salomon would “settle down” when he was assigned to chair a committee.
“You’re telling me that a not-so-functional — in my opinion — a not-so-functional senator will get better once he gets more power? You have to be functional,” Ryu said. “We give chair positions to people who would do the best job, not the other way around.”
Last January, Ryu decided that she was done complaining about Salomon — instead, she would challenge him, just as he did in 2018 to his predecessor, then-Sen. Maralyn Chase.
“So instead of complaining, I think I can do a much better job,” Ryu said.
It’s worth noting that Ryu, in previous interviews, has said she feels that Salomon is “too moderate” for the district — she was specifically frustrated with his vote to raise the state’s cap on annual rent increases to 10%, increased from 7% as approved by her and her House Dem colleagues.
“Why couldn’t he pass the 7 percent?” she asked the Washington State Standard.
Salomon responds
When asked for a comment on Ryu’s remarks, Sen. Salomon provided a statement:
It is disheartening to read personal attacks like this from my opponent that she would never say to my face. Rep. Ryu seemingly cannot go a day without spouting off unfounded attacks on my character and on my legislative record.
I am proud of what I’ve accomplished on behalf of the 32nd LD and our state, leading in the Senate on building new housing, gun safety, reproductive freedom, and so many other progressive priorities. I run one of the most transparent and open offices in the legislature, and my staff and I are always available for any of our constituents to make their voices heard.
I’m proud to be endorsed by The Seattle Times, and proud to be endorsed by the person who knows Rep. Ryu and me the best, our seatmate Rep. Lauren Davis.
Rep. Ryu is running a deeply negative and cynical campaign that I am confident the 32nd LD will reject. And next year, Rep. Davis and I will enjoy a more productive and healthy relationship with whomever replaces Ryu in the House. The 32nd deserves better.
The Osprey was unable to schedule an attempted to schedule an interview with Sen. Salomon for this series.
Interview requests were sent to Salomon and his campaign via phone, text and email. Salomon directed The Osprey to his campaign manager, who did not respond.
Ryu is a first-generation Korean immigrant. She and her family moved to Washington in 1969 when she was 12, and she spent her adolescent years growing up on the outskirts of Centrailia.
After decades partnering with her husband at an insurance agency, she’s now a commercial landlord in addition to representing the 32nd District in the legislature.
She’s sat on a handful of commissions in her tenure, but she’s spent every session since 2017 chairing committees focused on housing, economic development, infrastructure and veterans’ affairs.
She also considers herself “the unofficial consumer protection caucus chair,” which she somewhat based on her stance against payday loan companies more than a decade ago. To that point, during the most recent legislative session Ryu was a primary sponsor on legislation that sought to protect car crash patients from facing delayed ambulance bills; on a bill that changes reimbursement policy requirements for vehicle insurance; and on a bill that criminalized AI-generated deepfakes.
“I’ve been working on those issues. Not very sexy or attention grabbing, but very important day-to-day stuff,” Ryu said.
What has been grabbed attention in Olympia, however, is the “millionaire’s tax” and the potential for an income tax in Washington. Ryu told The Osprey that she feels the $1 million income limit was too high.
“What others are saying is, I’m willing to pay; if I make $500,000 a year, I can afford to pay a little bit, but not 9.9%,” she said. “So I think we need to both broaden the base and lower the rate.”