Pramila Jayapal

Pramila Jayapal

Pramila Jayapal, 2015
Member of the Washington Senate
from the 37th legislative district
Assumed office
January 12, 2015 (2015-01-12)
Preceded by Adam Kline
Personal details
Born (1965-09-21) September 21, 1965
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Steve Williamson
Children Janak Preston
Residence Columbia City, Seattle, Washington
Alma mater Georgetown University (B.A.)
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University (M.B.A.)
Profession Financial analyst
Activist
Author
Website Official

Pramila Jayapal (born September 21, 1965) is an Indian-American activist and politician. A Democrat, she has represented the 37th legislative district in the Washington State Senate since January 12, 2015. Before her election in 2014, she was a Seattle-based civil rights activist, serving until 2012 as the founder and executive director of OneAmerica, a pro-immigration advocacy group.[1]

In January 2016, Jayapal declared her candidacy for Congress in Washington's 7th congressional district, after Congressman Jim McDermott announced his retirement.[2]

Early life and education

Jayapal was born in India and raised in Indonesia and Singapore.[3] She came to the United States in 1982, at the age of 18, to attend college, earning a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and a MBA from Northwestern University in Chicago.[1]

Advocacy work

Jayapal founded Hate Free Zone after the September 11 attacks in 2001 as an advocacy group for Arab, Muslim, and South Asian Americans targeted in the wake of the attacks. The group went on to become a political force in the state of Washington, registering new American citizens to vote and lobbying lawmakers on immigration reform and related issues. It changed its name to OneAmerica in 2008.[4][5] Jayapal stepped down from leadership in the group in May 2012. A year later, she was recognized by the White House as a "Champion of Change" for her work on behalf of the immigrant community.[6]

Politics

After State Senator Adam Kline announced his retirement in early 2014, Jayapal was one of several Democrats to enter the race to succeed him. She was endorsed by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray.[4] She won more than 51% of the vote in Washington's open primary on August 5, 2014, out of a field of six candidates.[7] She went on to defeat fellow Democrat Louis Watanabe in November.[8]

In January 2016, Jayapal declared her candidacy for Congress in Washington's 7th congressional district, after Congressman Jim McDermott announced his retirement.[2]

Personal life

Jayapal became a U.S. citizen in 2000.[5] She is the author of Pilgrimage: One Woman's Return to a Changing India, published in March 2000.[9][10]

Jayapal lives in the Seattle neighborhood of Columbia City with her husband Steve and their son.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pramila's Story". Pramila Jayapal for State Senate. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Connelly, Joel (2016-01-21). "Pramila Jayapal enters U.S. House race with blast at 'the 1 percent'". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  3. ↑ "About". Pramila Jayapal. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Turnbull, Lornet (March 10, 2014). "Seattle activist Pramila Jayapal seeks state Senate seat". Seattle Times. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Shephard, Aria (June 30, 2008). "Hate Free Zone gets new name, OneAmerica, With Justice for All". Seattle Times. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Seattle woman honored as 'Champion of Change' at White House". KING5. May 6, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Pramila Jayapal wins six-candidate primary race for WA state senate". Nri Pulse. August 13, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Democrats trailing in state Senate races". Seattle Times. November 5, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Nonfiction Book Review: Pilgrimage: One Woman's Return to a Changing India by Pramila Jayapal, Author Seal Press (CA) $22.95 (288p) ISBN 978-1-58005-032-6". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  10. ↑ Stephen, David (June 25, 2001). "Pramila Jayapal talks about her book Pilgrimage: One Womans Return to a Changing India". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved April 29, 2016.

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