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.

Brady Walkinshaw
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 43rd district
In office
December 16, 2013 – January 9, 2017
Preceded byJamie Pedersen
Succeeded byNicole Macri
Personal details
Born
Brady Piñero Walkinshaw

(1984-03-26) March 26, 1984 (age 40)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMicah Horwith
Residence(s)Seattle, Washington
Alma materPrinceton University
OccupationBusinessman, politician

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

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Elections

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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

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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

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House, 2016 session
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources (Vice Chair)
  • Appropriations
  • Early Learning & Human Services

Media career

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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

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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

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  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b "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]
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