Protecting King County from the Trump Administration

Friends,

Across the country, the Trump administration has once again sent a wave of fear and destabilization through our communities.

From reproductive rights to immigrant protections, climate action to democratic institutions, the hard-won progress of recent decades is under siege. For many Americans, President Trump’s return to office is not just a political event, it’s a direct assault on their safety, dignity, and future.

I know this fear firsthand because I’ve lived it. Donald Trump and his movement have targeted my life’s journey.

This administration has halted refugee admissions programs and cut off funding for refugee resettlement efforts like those that once helped me and my family leave Sudan and build a life in the United States.

Growing up, we relied on SNAP to eat and Medicaid to stay healthy. Those weren’t handouts, they were lifelines. Today, these programs face potential cuts that would hit low-income families and children hardest. For first generation college students like I was, Pell Grants opened doors to higher education. But President Trump’s agenda would make those doors harder to reach for the next generation.

He has even attacked the very law firms where I launched my legal career — Perkins Coie and Skadden Arps. Skadden, under the weight of that pressure, recently eliminated its diversity and affinity groups where I personally found support and community.

He’s gone after the courts, the press, and the rule of law itself. This is not normal and we shouldn’t treat it like it is.

And it doesn’t stop there. President Trump has threatened to strip federal funding from communities like King County simply because we protect our immigrant, refugee, and LGBTQIA+ neighbors. As a local elected official, I’ve seen what that means on the ground. Federal overreach disrupts our public health efforts, transit investments, and social safety nets. It punishes local governments for doing the right thing.

That’s why I’m running for King County Executive. In a time when federal leadership is threatening us, strong local government can be our shield. Our region should be a model of what inclusive and effective leadership looks like.

If elected, I’ll fight to protect and expand the programs that gave my family a fighting chance.

Actions I would work toward as Executive to protect King County from federal overreach:

• Uphold our commitment to Keep Washington Working, ensuring local resources aren’t used for federal immigration enforcement without proper judicial oversight.
• Collaborate with state leaders, including Attorney General Nick Brown and Governor Bob Ferguson, to challenge unconstitutional federal actions and protect our residents’ rights.
• Expand civic participation and political empowerment, especially in communities that have historically been marginalized, by supporting voter registration efforts, civic education, and pathways for residents to engage directly with government and advocate for themselves.
• Strengthen the County’s Civil Rights Program to proactively combat discrimination.
• Expand access to legal services for immigrants and vulnerable communities.
• Support community-based organizations that serve immigrants, refugees, LGBTQIA+ communities, unhoused people, and all other vulnerable groups.
• Ensure inclusive law enforcement practices, maintaining policies that build trust within our diverse communities.
• Establish a rapid-response task force to monitor and address federal policy changes impacting our residents.
• Advocate at the state level for legislation that counters harmful federal policies and supports our local values.
• Advance a strong reproductive rights agenda by protecting and expanding access to abortion, contraception, and maternal health services across King County.

The contrast between our values and Trump’s couldn’t be clearer. While he seeks to divide, we bring people together. While he gives tax breaks to billionaires, we invest in working families. While he undermines democracy, we build it from the ground up.

Actions You Can Take:

The threats coming from the Trump administration are real, but so is our collective power to resist them. Here are a few ways you can take action right now to protect our values and support our communities:

• Join the next “Hands Off” rally once it’s scheduled. These community mobilizations send a clear message: we won’t stand by while our rights and freedoms are stripped away.
• Support congressional races in swing districts. A change in Congress can be a powerful check on dangerous federal policies. Consider donating to or volunteering for candidates who reflect our shared values.
• Write your members of Congress. Urge them to stand strong against cuts to safety net programs, immigrant protections, reproductive rights, and environmental protections.
• Support strong local leadership. Local government can be our shield. Electing leaders at the county and city level who share our values is one of the most effective ways to fight back.
• Donate to my campaign. If you believe in this vision for King County, your contribution helps us reach more voters and build a government that defends and uplifts every community. electgirmay.com/donate

Together, we can protect what’s at stake and build a future rooted in equity, justice, and opportunity for all.

This campaign isn’t just about one election. It’s about defending the people and programs that shape our lives and making sure they’re still there for the next generation.

With gratitude,
Team Girmay
electgirmay.com