Image: A photo collage of community leaders across Washington.
Inatai Foundation is launching today two complementary reports that show Washington has a bright future when it comes to reflective leadership.
The Our People Are Everywhere Data Project provides information about the richness of racial and ethnic diversity in every corner of our state, while Electoral Representation in Washington State, by research partner Washington Community Alliance, looks at elected representation, including where communities are better reflected in electoral leadership and where gaps remain wide. Together, these projects show that Washington is more diverse than dominant narratives suggest and that there is growing enthusiasm and support for candidates of color.
The Our People Are Everywhere Data Project shows that more than half of Washington’s counties have 25 percent or more people of color
This project was inspired by our early community visits as a newer foundation, where our team noticed a discouraging pattern of people in powerful positions describing counties and entire regions of Washington as being absent of people of color. This assessment did not match the clear presence of communities of color in those same places, which is documented in readily available data sources. Even more discouraging, under-acknowledging people of color frequently served as an excuse for why boards, executives, staff, and elected officials did not reflect the multiracial reality of our state.
These experiences propelled us to deepen our knowledge of data practices that help tell the true story of Washington. Using a full-count data approach, we examined racial and ethnic data in every county and for the entire state to better understand the story of communities of color in Washington. We found that in four counties (Yakima, Adams, Grant, and Franklin), people of color make up more than half of the population. Additionally, in 18 of 39 counties, people of color make up between 25 percent and 68 percent of the population. Visit the report’s webpage to see the racial demographic breakdown by county and the entire state.
Electoral Representation in Washington State shows that local offices are least reflective, but enthusiasm is growing for diverse candidates
Inatai believes that an equitable and racially just future cannot happen without decision-making power by the communities to whom we are accountable to: people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, immigrants, those living on low incomes, and people who hold several of these identities. Washington’s population and diversity have been steadily increasing over the years, but the same is not true for its elected officials. Our research partners Washington Community Alliance looked at this issue and found:
- Local offices were the most likely to be uncontested, and unchallenged incumbents were disproportionately older, white, and male, compared to their respective constituents.
- Campaign financing was highly predictive of a candidate’s success, and older, white, and male candidates received most campaign contributions.
- In rural areas with majority-young and Latino/a/x populations—such as Benton, Franklin, and Yakima counties—local elected offices remain overwhelmingly held by older, white candidates.
But there is good news in the numbers: on average, women and candidates of color receive more donations than their male and white counterparts, suggesting strong enthusiasm for more diverse leadership. Given that campaign finances often predict a candidate’s success, this finding offers us a look into what is possible for diverse candidates. Visit the report’s webpage to read more findings.
We encourage you to visit each report page to learn more. We hope to make our research work actionable for community leaders and organizations and values aligned institutional partners. If you have questions or feedback, please email research@inatai.org
