Brady Walkinshaw

Brady Walkinshaw
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 43rd district
In office December 16, 2013 – January 9, 2017
Preceded by	Jamie Pedersen
Succeeded by	Nicole Macri
Personal details
Born	Brady Piñero Walkinshaw (1984-03-26) March 26, 1984 (age 40) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Micah Horwith (m. 2015, div. 2023)
Residence(s)	Seattle, Washington
Alma mater	Princeton University
Occupation	Businessman, politician

Brady Piñero Walkinshaw (born March 26, 1984) is an American businessman and politician who served in the Washington State House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017.^[1] Walkinshaw represented the 43rd legislative district, which encompasses much of central Seattle. Since 2017, he has served as CEO of Grist, a Seattle-based online magazine focusing on environmental news.

Walkinshaw was a candidate for Washington's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in the 2016 elections.^[2] He had the endorsement of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and The Seattle Times,^[3] but lost the election to Pramila Jayapal. Walkinshaw was named by Washington State Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig to the Washington State Redistricting Commission following the 2020 United States census.^[4]

Washington legislature

Elections

A Democrat, Walkinshaw was appointed to office in 2013 following the election of Ed Murray as Mayor of Seattle.^[5] When Jamie Pedersen assumed Murray's former seat in the Senate, Walkinshaw succeeded Pedersen in the House.^[5] Walkinshaw was then elected in 2014.^[6]

Legislation

Walkinshaw was the primary sponsor of 'Joel's Law' (HB 1258),^[7] which allows family members to petition Washington courts to involuntarily commit a relative for mental health treatment. The legislation adds $15 million to the state's mental health system. The bill passed through the State House on a unanimous vote, and its companion bill passed through the State Senate on a vote of 46 to 3, becoming law on July 24, 2015.^[8]

On January 26, 2015, Walkinshaw introduced HB 1671, to increase access to opioid antagonists in order to reduce deaths resulting from drug overdose.^[9] The bill passed through the State House on a vote of 96 to 1, through the State Senate on a unanimous vote, and became law on July 24, 2015.^[10]

Walkinshaw served as primary sponsor for 'CROP' (HB 1553), which allows those released from prison to obtain a court certificate that restores access to licensed professions.^[11] The bill passed unanimously through the State House and Senate, and was signed into law by Governor Inslee on March 31, 2016.^[12]

On January 19, 2016, Walkinshaw introduced HB 2726, which establishes rights for senior citizens entering continuing care retirement communities and requires disclosure of costs and fees.^[13] The bill passed through the State House on a vote of 83 to 13, unanimously through the State Senate, and was signed by the Governor on April 1, 2016.^[14]

Committee assignments

House, 2016 session

• Agriculture & Natural Resources (Vice Chair)
• Appropriations
• Early Learning & Human Services

Media career

On March 7, 2017, Grist named Walkinshaw as its CEO, taking over from founder Chip Giller.^[15][16]

Walkinshaw purchased Index Media, publisher of alt-weekly newspapers The Stranger and Portland Mercury, in July 2024.^[17]

Personal life

Walkinshaw is of Cuban American descent, and is openly gay.^[18] Walkinshaw previously worked as a program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He is a graduate of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Walkinshaw has served on the boards of Princeton University and The Trust for Public Land.^[19]

References

1. "Seattle Sends A New Face To Olympia - Brady Walkinshaw, 29". KUOW-FM, January 13, 2014.
2. "State Rep. Brady Walkinshaw Will Challenge US Rep. Jim McDermott in 2016" The Stranger, December 3, 2015
3. "Bradley Walkinshaw shows strong fundraising momentum". Victory Fund. September 6, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
4. December 10th; 2020|Uncategorized| (December 10, 2020). "Senate, House leaders announce their appointees for Redistricting Commission". Washington State Senate Democrats. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
5. "Democrats Choose Rep. Jamie Pedersen To Replace Sen. Ed Murray" KUOW-FM, December 3, 2013.
6. "November 4, 2014 General Election". King County Elections. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
7. "Governor signs 'Joel's Law' allowing families to ask judge to commit suicidal, dangerous relatives" Q13 Fox News, May 14, 2015.
8. "HB 1258 - 2015-16". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
9. "New state law for overdose drug could be a life-saver" Yakima Herald, June 3, 2015.
10. "HB 1671 - 2015-16". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
11. "Inmates re-entering society should not face lifetime barriers to work" Seattle Times, February 16, 2015.
12. "HB 1553 - 2015-16". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
13. "CCRC Bill Heightens Oversight" Senior Housing News, March 6, 2016.
14. "HB 2726 - 2015-16". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
15. Stewart, Ashley (March 7, 2017). "Former state lawmaker, congressional candidate Brady Walkinshaw named Grist CEO". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
16. Connelly, Joel (March 8, 2017). "Brady Walkinshaw leaves politics to take on the Grist of journalism". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
17. Hiruko, Ashley (July 29, 2024). "The Stranger newspaper sold to former state legislator Brady Walkinshaw". KUOW. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
18. "New legislators, old lawmakers in new jobs" Archived December 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 4, 2013.
19. "Unknown".^{[permanent dead link‍]}

External links

• Profile at Vote Smart