Melissa Demyan
Melissa Demyan (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Washington House of Representatives to represent District 45-Position 2. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Demyan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Melissa Demyan was born in Moorpark, California. She earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College, Dublin in 2013. Her career experience includes working as an organizer. She has been affiliated with the International Association of Machinists.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Washington House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Washington House of Representatives District 45-Position 2
Incumbent Larry Springer defeated Melissa Demyan in the general election for Washington House of Representatives District 45-Position 2 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Larry Springer (D) | 55.6 | 38,347 |
 | Melissa Demyan (D)  | 42.3 | 29,191 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.1 | 1,478 | ||
| Total votes: 69,016 | |||
| = 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 45-Position 2
Incumbent Larry Springer and Melissa Demyan advanced from the primary for Washington House of Representatives District 45-Position 2 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Larry Springer (D) | 49.3 | 16,904 |
| ✔ | | Melissa Demyan (D) | 47.9 | 16,405 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.8 | 968 | ||
| Total votes: 34,277 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Demyan received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Demyan's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Melissa Demyan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Demyan's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I was adopted into a working-class family and fortunate to grow up with parents who demonstrated the importance of community, education, and service to others. The key values instilled in me stem from a deep commitment to justice, fairness, and solidarity. My parents taught me the importance of standing up for what is right, advocating for those without a voice, and fighting against systemic inequalities. Through my experiences as a union organizer, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of collective action and the necessity of empowering marginalized communities to create positive change.
I am running for office because I believe in the power of public service to enact positive change and improve the lives of all Washingtonians. My decision to run stems from a deep-rooted commitment to social and economic justice, driven by my experiences as a union organizer, advocate for marginalized communities, and dedicated activist.- Healthcare Access and Quality: Ensuring that every resident has access to affordable, high-quality healthcare is a top priority. I will work to expand Medicaid and support the implementation of a public option to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage. Additionally, I will advocate for policies that improve patient care and outcomes, including safe staffing ratios for nurses, to ensure that healthcare providers have the resources and support they need to deliver excellent care. Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, and their well-being directly impacts patient care. I will fight for better working conditions, fair wages, and the professional development of our nursing workforce.
- Affordable Housing: Addressing the housing crisis is crucial for the well-being of our community. I will push for increased funding for affordable housing initiatives, support rent control measures, and work to expand access to housing assistance programs. By focusing on equitable housing policies, we can reduce homelessness and ensure that all residents have a stable, safe place to call home. Affordable housing is foundational to a healthy society, as stable living conditions significantly impact health outcomes and overall quality of life.
- Education: Investing in education is critical for the long-term success of our community. I will prioritize equitable funding and resources for schools, advocate for smaller class sizes, and support culturally responsive curricula to meet the diverse needs of our students. Education must be inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of background. I will also support initiatives that provide affordable childcare and early childhood education, recognizing the importance of these services for working families and the development of young children.
Advocate for expanding access to affordable healthcare, including mental health services, for marginalized communities. This involves supporting initiatives like Medicaid expansion and community health programs.
Throughout my career as a union organizer and activist, I have worked tirelessly to amplify the voices of marginalized individuals and advocate for equitable treatment and opportunities. I have actively participated in movements for racial justice, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ rights, including attending solidarity rallies and advocating for inclusive policies in the workplace.
If elected to this position, I will leverage my platform to champion policies that promote racial, economic, gender, and social justice. This includes advocating for criminal justice reform, equitable access to education and healthcare, affordable housing solutions, and protections for workers' rights. I will prioritize centering the voices and experiences of marginalized communities in policymaking and work collaboratively with stakeholders to address systemic inequities.
To secure a better future, we need a movement for clean energy policies, affordable housing, and a balanced tax code. Corporations must pay their share so we can fund childcare, public education, and healthcare for everyone.
After graduating from Trinity College Dublin, I immersed myself in community organizing and the labor movement. Since 2021, I've organized local workers with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, focusing on workers' rights and collective strength.
Adopted into a working-class family, I was fortunate to grow up with parents who valued community, education, and service. They instilled in me a deep commitment to justice, fairness, and solidarity. As a union organizer, I’ve witnessed the power of collective action and the necessity of empowering marginalized communities.
King County Democrats
Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO
Seattle Building Trades
Planned Parenthood
National Women’s Political Caucus
King County Federation of Democratic Women
Win With Women
Washington Education Association
Transit Riders Union
IAM District 751
IAM District 160
IAM Local 289
WA State Machinists Council
LiUNA 242
Ironworkers 86
Alliance for Retired Americans
American Muslim Advancement Council
Democrats for Diversity & Inclusion
WA Progressive Caucus
Senator Karen Keiser (LD33), President Pro-Tem of WA State Senate
Lindsey Yocum, Lake WA School Board Member
Pam Stuart, Sammamish City Council
Karen Howe, Sammamish City Council
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.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Washington House of Representatives District 45-Position 2 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 7, 2024
