Chukundi Salisbury

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Chukundi Salisbury

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Elizabeth City State University, 1992

Personal

Birthplace

Seattle, Wash.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Sustainability and Environmental Manager

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Chukundi Salisbury (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Washington House of Representatives to represent District 37-Position 2. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Salisbury completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Salisbury was born on September 15, 1970, in Seattle, Washington. He graduated from Elizabeth City State University with a bachelor's degree in 1992. His professional experience includes working as a sustainability and environmental manager. He also has worked as a DJ.

Elections

2020

See also: Washington House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Washington House of Representatives District 37-Position 2

Kirsten Harris-Talley defeated Chukundi Salisbury in the general election for Washington House of Representatives District 37-Position 2 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kirsten Harris-Talley (D)	65.5	50,780
		Chukundi Salisbury (D)	33.2	25,706
		Other/Write-in votes	1.3	1,022

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 77,508
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 37-Position 2

The following candidates ran in the primary for Washington House of Representatives District 37-Position 2 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kirsten Harris-Talley (D)	51.2	26,940
✔		Chukundi Salisbury (D)	23.1	12,141
		Andrea Caupain (D)	11.1	5,845
	Submit photo	Stephen Richter (R)	8.5	4,480
	Submit photo	Robert Redwine (D)	2.5	1,300
	Submit photo	Andy Goeres (D)	2.3	1,230
	Submit photo	Kathy Woodward (Progressive Party)	1.2	618
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	83

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 52,637
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Salisbury's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Chukundi Salisbury completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Salisbury's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Chukundi Salisbury has been a lifelong resident of the 37th district, a passionate environmentalist, a 23-year union member at the City of Seattle, and a consistent community advocate and leader. He has been at the forefront of the fight for racial and environmental justice along with fostering youth development. He founded the Youth Green Corp, which has been touted as a model for the Green New Deal, at the City of Seattle to help create pathways for youth to get good jobs in the environmental sector. He worked with his mother, Harriett Walden, to create Mothers for Police Accountability after his brothers were brutalized by the police. Standing with his mother, he has grown into a leader in the fight for police accountability in the 37th district. In addition, he has founded several nonprofits and small businesses including Urbvote, 100 Black Parents, Seaspot, and Soul Pride - which was created after his brother's death due to HIV and raises awareness for LGBTQ+ issues. He lives in Rainier Beach with his loving wife and two children.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Racial Justice
• Environmental Justice
• Youth Development

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about youth development work which is why I founded the youth green corp and 100 black parents. These programs help youth who are the furthest from economic justice get pathways to good jobs or equal footing with more privileged kids. As a state legislator, I would be excited about the opportunity to expand our education, child care, and youth development programs and really elevate that legislation to the next level.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to mother Rev. Harriett Walden, who founded Mothers for Police Accountability. She is a very diligent hard worker, a woman of immense integrity, and of high values. She is my inspiration a large part of why I have chosen to get involved

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

We need some who can truly represent our diverse communities in the 37th district. We have had a lot of career politicians and policy wonks in office, however, we have continued to see my community displaced and fall behind. We some who can bring true representation and make the impact of these decisions meet the intent.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of where the impact of my policy decision met the intent. Black and Brown folks would no longer have to worry about being gentrified out of their homes, where the climate is stable and safe, and where our youth get the resources they need to succeed and no longer have to fear police brutality.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Hey Ya by Outkast

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

While any experience is beneficial, it can be both a gift and a curse. Having politicians who consistently come from the inside can cause a positive feedback loop, where certain ideas get reinforced. However, when Black and Brown folks are consistently left behind it is clear that we need new ideas. It is better to have people who come from new places, new ideas - not inside the "beltway."

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

The most pressing issue that Washington faces is systematic racism. Well-meaning politicians have come in with the greatest intentions but really failed to deliver on the impact, which has consistently left my community behind.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

The night where my brothers were assaulted by the police in 1990 after the Black Community Festival, played a formative role in my political views. We were told to respect the police so how could the police be protecting us if they go out and brutalize my family. It also set me and mother down the path to creating Mothers for Police Accountability.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2020 Elections

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Washington House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Laurie Jinkins

Majority Leader:Joe Fitzgibbon

Minority Leader:Drew Stokesbary

Representatives

District 1-Position 1

Davina Duerr (D)

District 1-Position 2

Shelley Kloba (D)

District 2-Position 1

Andrew Barkis (R)

District 2-Position 2

Matt Marshall (R)

District 3-Position 1

Natasha Hill (D)

District 3-Position 2

Timm Ormsby (D)

District 4-Position 1

Suzanne Schmidt (R)

District 4-Position 2

Rob Chase (R)

District 5-Position 1

Zach Hall (D)

District 5-Position 2

Lisa Callan (D)

District 6-Position 1

Mike Volz (R)

District 6-Position 2

Jenny Graham (R)

District 7-Position 1

David Engell (R)

District 7-Position 2

Hunter Abell (R)

District 8-Position 1

Stephanie Barnard (R)

District 8-Position 2

April Connors (R)

District 9-Position 1

Mary Dye (R)

District 9-Position 2

Joe Schmick (R)

District 10-Position 1

Clyde Shavers (D)

District 10-Position 2

Dave Paul (D)

District 11-Position 1

David Hackney (D)

District 11-Position 2

Steve Bergquist (D)

District 12-Position 1

Brian Burnett (R)

District 12-Position 2

Mike Steele (R)

District 13-Position 1

Tom Dent (R)

District 13-Position 2

Alex Ybarra (R)

District 14-Position 1

Gloria Mendoza (R)

District 14-Position 2

Deb Manjarrez (R)

District 15-Position 1

Chris Corry (R)

District 15-Position 2

Jeremie Dufault (R)

District 16-Position 1

Mark Klicker (R)

District 16-Position 2

Skyler Rude (R)

District 17-Position 1

Kevin Waters (R)

District 17-Position 2

David Stuebe (R)

District 18-Position 1

Stephanie McClintock (R)

District 18-Position 2

John Ley (R)

District 19-Position 1

Jim Walsh (R)

District 19-Position 2

Joel McEntire (R)

District 20-Position 1

Peter Abbarno (R)

District 20-Position 2

Ed Orcutt (R)

District 21-Position 1

Strom Peterson (D)

District 21-Position 2

Lillian Ortiz-Self (D)

District 22-Position 1

Beth Doglio (D)

District 22-Position 2

Lisa Parshley (D)

District 23-Position 1

Tarra Simmons (D)

District 23-Position 2

Greg Nance (D)

District 24-Position 1

Adam Bernbaum (D)

District 24-Position 2

Steve Tharinger (D)

District 25-Position 1

Michael Keaton (R)

District 25-Position 2

Cyndy Jacobsen (R)

District 26-Position 1

Adison Richards (D)

District 26-Position 2

Michelle Caldier (R)

District 27-Position 1

Laurie Jinkins (D)

District 27-Position 2

Jake Fey (D)

District 28-Position 1

Mari Leavitt (D)

District 28-Position 2

Dan Bronoske (D)

District 29-Position 1

Melanie Morgan (D)

District 29-Position 2

Sharlett Mena (D)

District 30-Position 1

Jamila Taylor (D)

District 30-Position 2

Kristine Reeves (D)

District 31-Position 1

Drew Stokesbary (R)

District 31-Position 2

Josh Penner (R)

District 32-Position 1

Cindy Ryu (D)

District 32-Position 2

Lauren Davis (D)

District 33-Position 1

Edwin Obras (D)

District 33-Position 2

Mia Gregerson (D)

District 34-Position 1

Brianna Thomas (D)

District 34-Position 2

Joe Fitzgibbon (D)

District 35-Position 1

Dan Griffey (R)

District 35-Position 2

Travis Couture (R)

District 36-Position 1

Julia Reed (D)

District 36-Position 2

Liz Berry (D)

District 37-Position 1

Sharon Santos (D)

District 37-Position 2

Chipalo Street (D)

District 38-Position 1

Julio Cortes (D)

District 38-Position 2

Mary Fosse (D)

District 39-Position 1

Sam Low (R)

District 39-Position 2

Carolyn Eslick (R)

District 40-Position 1

Debra Lekanoff (D)

District 40-Position 2

Alex Ramel (D)

District 41-Position 1

Janice Zahn (D)

District 41-Position 2

My-Linh Thai (D)

District 42-Position 1

Alicia Rule (D)

District 42-Position 2

Joe Timmons (D)

District 43-Position 1

Nicole Macri (D)

District 43-Position 2

Shaun Scott (D)

District 44-Position 1

Brandy Donaghy (D)

District 44-Position 2

April Berg (D)

District 45-Position 1

Roger Goodman (D)

District 45-Position 2

Larry Springer (D)

District 46-Position 1

Gerry Pollet (D)

District 46-Position 2

Darya Farivar (D)

District 47-Position 1

Debra Entenman (D)

District 47-Position 2

Chris Stearns (D)

District 48-Position 1

Osman Salahuddin (D)

District 48-Position 2

Amy Walen (D)

District 49-Position 1

Sharon Wylie (D)

District 49-Position 2

Monica Stonier (D)

Democratic Party (59)

Republican Party (39)