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Rental Housing Association of WA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
How to Make a Difference in the 2022 Elections Daniel Bannon | Grassroots Organizer | dbannon@RHAwa.org | (206) 905-0609
Combating new rental housernment affairs departing regulations in Washington ment works tirelessly to has proven to be an uphill batmake real changes in the tle for housing providers in rental housing market, recent years. While there are and we are overjoyed to several lawmakers who are see our members engaged sympathetic to the experiencin our efforts. We provide es of small housing providers, as many resources as posthey are outnumbered by a sible in order to make it significant majority of lawas easy as possible to makers who support policies engage in our advocacy Daniel Bannon that have a detrimental imefforts and we are incredpact on the rental housing market. This ibly encouraged by the turnout from problem is especially present in the this year's legislative session. City of Seattle, where rental housing laws have strangled rental housing proBut the fight is never over! We need to viders to the point where we are seeing keep this momentum we have built and housing providers leaving the city in set ourselves up for success in the fustartling quantities. While the situature. We want to build on our successes tion has been difficult in recent years, and help get lawmakers elected who RHAWA believes this year's election understand and support rental housing cycle can help turn the tide of politics so we can work together and improve in order to give small housing providthe rental housing policy in Washingers a break from these highly restrictive ton. regulations. We believe this could be one of our most crucial election cycles So, you may be wondering what you because we are noticing palpable shifts can be doing to help our Government in the legislative landscape and public Affairs department make the changes opinion. we desperately need in Washington. Donating to our Political Action ComIn last year's election cycle, we were mittee is essential in supporting our successful in nearly all elections we government advocacy efforts as well. engaged in, and we continued our sucDonations to the PAC go directly to cess in the 2022 Legislative Session, candidates who support rental housing. killing all of our highest priority bills, You can donate to the RHAPAC here: amending the remaining problematic RHAwa.org/products/donations. bills, and working to pass a much need Landlord Mitigation Fund Expansion. Additionally, attending fundraisers and We are looking to continue this streak donating to candidates who support of successes in the upcoming elections our position on rental housing policies and the 2023 Legislative Session. It is is necessary to ensure that moderate, essential for our members to stay endata-observing lawmakers get elected. gaged and continue to participate for This is something that nearly all of our this success to continue. State elections members can do, and we would like to are coming up and we must continue to increase our fundraiser turnout even have widespread member engagement. more than we did last year. We are currently working on scheduling our upOur confidence for this upcoming eleccoming fundraisers and we do our best tion is bolstered due to the outstandto host fundraisers in multiple districts ing participation of our membership in Washington state to provide easy acin the 2022 Legislative Session. We cess to these events to a wide group of could never overstate how much our our members. members' involvement helps advocacy efforts through public testimony and RHAWA is always on the lookout for messaging your lawmakers. Our govespecially engaged members who
would like to take on a bigger role in advocacy efforts. Offering a venue for a fundraiser is one of the most helpful and cost-effective methods of assisting in government advocacy. Hosting a fundraiser not only helps out our government affairs team, but it is also a wonderful way to directly support a candidate you believe in. If there is a candidate you are in particular support of and would like to host a fundraiser, please reach out to either arobertson@ RHAwa.org or dbannon@RHAwa.org to let us know about your interest.
what is happening and what you can do to help. We will of course be doing our RHA Voter’s Guide once again so look forward to seeing that this summer.
Also, make sure to stay engaged with any communications coming from the government affairs department. Be on a constant lookout for calls to action, legislative updates, and updates to our blog in order to stay up to date with
We thank you for your continued support which has helped bolster our advocacy in this upcoming election and the 2022 Legislative Session.
Lastly, encouraging those around you to get involved with elections. It is an often overlooked but highly effective method in getting candidates elected. Reaching out to friends or family who may be less engaged with elections helps to build a stronger voter base for the candidates you support and is a completely free method of advocacy.
