Political Candidate | Stephanie Gallardo

A historic win for the

people is possible!

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The era of "forever wars" must end. It's well past time, but not too late, to reprioritize education, a moral immigration system, and to put the wealth of this nation back into the hands of workers.

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Meet

Stephanie

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Born and raised in the city of Seattle, Stephanie Gallardo is a true product of the Pacific Northwest. Her father, the late Dr. Gabriel Gallardo, was a refugee who arrived in the 9th Congressional District in 1976 from Purranque, Chile, following a U.S.-backed governmental coup. Dr. G, as he was affectionately known, spent nearly three decades teaching, learning, and supporting students at the University of Washington. Her mother, Veronica Maria Gallardo, was born and raised in Yakima, WA, and moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington in 1983. After meeting, Gabriel and Veronica quickly married and began raising their three children, Adrian (34), Danny (32), and Stephanie (30). After dedicating several years to raising her children, Veronica returned to her studies and went on to become an award-winning elementary school teacher, Principal, and school district administrator. She currently serves as an Assistant Superintendent at the Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The story of Stephanie's family is equally as important as Stephanie's life journey. She credits her family, especially her mother and father, with instilling in her a deep understanding of the importance of service, family, community, and history. It is Stephanie's grandparents, Atilio, Luisa, Reyes, and Victoria, who forged a path for Gabriel and Veronica to walk upon. It is Gabriel and Veronica, who shined a light on education so that Stephanie could see the path toward collective liberation.

Since graduating from her Master's in Teaching program at Western Washington University in 2016, Stephanie has been working as a History teacher in the Tukwila School District. Working with a student and community population that boasts nearly 80 languages has prepared her well to understand the varying and intersecting needs of communities across the 9th Congressional District. Working as a teacher has proven one critical truth, that young people have the answers. Stephanie is prepared to make space for young people to lead in Congress. In her second year of teaching, Stephanie was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Washington Education Association, and the following year was elected to the Board of Directors of the largest labor union in the country, the National Education Association.

Stephanie currently lives in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle with her husband Jorge, who immigrated to the United States from Mexico more than a decade ago, and is now working towards a Masters degree in Engineering at the University of Washington.

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Top ISsues

My top priorities are informed by my experiences living and working in the 9th Congressional District, as well as the ever changing needs of our communities. These priorities are a beginning point, not an ending point, for the work our office will prioritize.

Educational Justice

As an educator, I have seen first hand the realities our public schools face. Today’s public school system was built upon a colonial foundation. COVID-19 has highlighted these historical realities and exacerbated the disparities that have resulted from the colonial inception of public schooling. To remedy these disparities, our federal government must prioritize the funding of public schools at a level that has never been attempted.

Moral Immigration System

Welcoming immigrants and refugees into our communities with open arms is the cornerstone of an advanced and pluralistic democracy. Prioritizing the physical safety and economic prosperity of immigrants in the 9th congressional district will be at the center of my policy making. Immigrants and refugees deserve respect, resources, and access to opportunity.

Wealth in Workers

Labor unions are the heart of the American workforce. Increasing union membership, expanding the rights of workers, and transitioning the wealth of corporations into the hands of the workers must be a government priority. When workers are empowered to collectivize, the entire labor force advances. Working in a capitalist society requires an organized labor force and fearless advocates in Congress.