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Laurie Jinkins makes history in Washington state: Laurie Jinkins, Todd Jinkins

Laurie Jinkins ’85, MA ’87, made history when she was sworn in as Speaker of the Washington State House of Representatives in January 2020. She is Washington’s first woman Speaker, as well as first lesbian Speaker. Laurie has served in the Washington State House since 2011, representing the 27th Legislative District, which includes most of her hometown of Tacoma. She previously chaired the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee, and served on both the Health Care and Wellness and the Appropriations Committees. Laurie’s brother Todd Jinkins ‘96, a smokejumper firefighter who was featured on the Winter 2016 cover of OnWisconsin, was not able to attend her swearing-in because he’d been called up to help fight the catastrophic wildfires in Australia.

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