Marilyn Strickland

Marilyn Strickland
Official portrait, 2021
Marilyn Strickland
Born	25 9, 1962
Birthplace	Seoul, South Korea
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Washington's 10th congressional district; 38th Mayor of Tacoma
Education	Clark Atlanta University (MBA)
Spouse(s)	Patrick Erwin
Website	[Campaign website Official site]

Marilyn Strickland (born September 25, 1962) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Washington's 10th congressional district, a seat she has held since January 3, 2021. The district encompasses the state capital of Olympia and much of eastern Tacoma. A member of the Democratic Party, Strickland previously served as the 38th Mayor of Tacoma from 2010 to 2018, becoming the first African-American mayor of that city. Born in Seoul, South Korea, to a Korean mother and an African-American father, she made history upon her swearing-in as the first member of the United States Congress of both Korean and African-American heritage, and the first African-American member of Congress elected from Washington state. She was also one of the first three Korean-American women elected to Congress, beginning her term on the same day as Republicans Young Kim and Michelle Park Steel. Before entering Congress, Strickland served as president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, bringing a background in both public governance and private-sector economic development to her legislative career.

Early Life

Marilyn Strickland was born on September 25, 1962, in Seoul, South Korea. Her mother was Korean, and her father was an African-American serviceman stationed in South Korea. Strickland's biracial heritage would later become a significant aspect of her political identity, as she navigated both African-American and Korean-American communities throughout her career. The family eventually settled in the United States, where Strickland grew up and pursued her education in the Pacific Northwest and the Southern United States.

Strickland's upbringing in a multiracial, multicultural household shaped her perspective on issues of identity, community, and public service. Her background as the child of an interracial couple during a period when such unions were still relatively uncommon in the United States informed her later advocacy for diversity and inclusion in governance and business.

Education

Strickland earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. She later pursued graduate studies at Clark Atlanta University, a historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia, where she received a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Her educational background combined liberal arts training with business expertise, providing a foundation for her subsequent career in municipal government and economic development.

Career

Mayor of Tacoma (2010–2018)

Strickland was elected as the 38th Mayor of Tacoma in 2009, taking office on January 5, 2010. She succeeded Mayor Bill Baarsma and became the first African-American to serve as mayor of Tacoma. During her tenure, Strickland focused on economic development, infrastructure investment, and community engagement. She served two terms as mayor, with her tenure ending on January 2, 2018, when she was succeeded by Victoria Woodards.

As mayor, Strickland oversaw a period of growth and revitalization in Tacoma, working to attract businesses and improve the city's economic prospects. Her time in office was marked by efforts to position Tacoma as an attractive destination for investment while addressing issues affecting the city's diverse population.

Strickland's two terms as mayor gave her significant executive experience in municipal governance, managing a mid-sized city's budget, public safety apparatus, and development priorities. Her leadership in Tacoma established her as a prominent political figure in the South Sound region of Washington state.

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

After leaving the mayor's office in 2018, Strickland became president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest and most influential business organizations in the Pacific Northwest. In this role, she worked to bridge the interests of the business community with broader civic goals. GeekWire described her as the chamber's "uniter in chief," reflecting her approach to finding common ground between business interests and community concerns.

During her time at the chamber, Strickland was involved in debates over Seattle's business climate, including discussions about an employee head tax that was under consideration by the Seattle City Council. Her position at the chamber required her to navigate complex policy discussions involving taxation, housing, homelessness, and economic growth in one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States.

Strickland stepped down from her role at the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce in early 2020 to pursue a seat in the U.S. Congress.

2020 Congressional Campaign

In early 2020, Strickland announced her candidacy for Washington's 10th congressional district, the seat being vacated by Denny Heck, who was running for lieutenant governor. Her entry into the race brought together her experience as a two-term mayor and her background leading the region's largest business organization.

Strickland advanced from Washington's top-two primary in August 2020, securing a spot in the general election. The campaign garnered national attention due to the historic nature of her candidacy. The Associated Press covered her advancement, noting the significance of her potential election.

During the campaign, Strickland received endorsements from a range of organizations and political figures. The Seattle Times editorial board recommended Strickland for the 10th Congressional District seat, citing her experience and qualifications. The News Tribune also weighed in on the race in its editorial coverage.

Strickland won the November 2020 general election and was sworn in on January 3, 2021, succeeding Denny Heck as the representative for the 10th district. Her election made her the first African-American member of Congress from Washington state and the first member of Congress of both Korean and African-American descent.

U.S. House of Representatives (2021–present)

Strickland took office on January 3, 2021, representing a district that includes the state capital of Olympia, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and portions of Tacoma and surrounding communities in Thurston County and Pierce County.

As a member of Congress, Strickland has focused on issues including federal workforce protections, military affairs, economic development, and constituent services for the South Sound region. Her district contains a large number of federal workers and military personnel due to the presence of the state capital and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In October 2025, during a federal government shutdown, Strickland spoke publicly about the impacts on the South Sound, noting that roughly 14,000 federal workers in Thurston and Pierce counties were not receiving paychecks and approximately 35,000 individuals were affected.

Legislative Initiatives

Strickland has authored and co-sponsored legislation on a range of issues. A provision authored by Strickland that would ensure U.S. military bases not be named after Confederate officers received attention in congressional proceedings.

In July 2025, Strickland joined a bipartisan effort led by Representative Young Kim to bolster the nursing workforce. The bill, co-sponsored with Representatives Don Bacon and Sarah McBride, sought to address critical nursing shortages across the country.

In June 2025, Strickland and Representative Lizzie Fletcher reintroduced the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act, legislation designed to assist individuals seeking to travel for abortion care.

Strickland has also been involved in advocacy for the shellfish industry, joining a group of U.S. lawmakers in asking the federal government to provide financial support to the nation's struggling shellfish sector, an industry of particular importance to Washington state's coastal communities.

Constituent Services and District Funding

In March 2025, Strickland announced over $8 million in federal funding for South Sound projects at a town hall event in Yelm, held at the Yelm Community Center. The funding was directed toward local infrastructure and community projects in her district.

Immigration and Civil Liberties

In January 2026, Strickland publicly criticized the Trump administration's approach to law enforcement and immigration actions, specifically regarding ICE operations. She expressed concern about the administration's enforcement tactics and their impact on communities in her district and across the country.

Personal Life

Marilyn Strickland is married to Patrick Erwin. The couple resides in the South Sound region of Washington state. Strickland has been affiliated with the Daniel Rose Center, a leadership development organization.

Strickland's identity as a biracial woman of Korean and African-American heritage has been a notable aspect of her public life. She has spoken about her experiences growing up as the child of a Korean mother and an African-American father, and the ways in which her multicultural background has informed her approach to governance and community building.

Recognition

Strickland's election to Congress in 2020 was recognized as a milestone in American political representation. She became the first African-American member of Congress elected from Washington state, a distinction that was covered by national media outlets including NBC News and the Associated Press.

Her simultaneous entry into Congress with Young Kim and Michelle Park Steel marked the first time Korean-American women served in the U.S. Congress, an achievement noted in coverage of the 2020 election cycle.

In December 2025, Roll Call featured Strickland in its "In the Spotlight" series, highlighting her legislative work including her provision regarding the naming of military bases.

The Seattle Times endorsed Strickland during her 2020 congressional campaign, recommending her to voters in the 10th district. Her candidacy and career have also been documented by organizations including BlackPast, which maintains a biographical entry on her as part of its encyclopedia of African-American history.

Legacy

Strickland's career in public service represents a series of historic firsts in Washington state and national politics. As the first African-American mayor of Tacoma and the first African-American member of Congress from Washington, she broke barriers in a state that, despite its reputation for progressive politics, had not previously elected a Black representative to the U.S. House.

Her dual identity as both Korean American and African American has made her a symbol of the increasing diversity of the U.S. Congress. Alongside Young Kim and Michelle Park Steel, Strickland's entry into Congress in January 2021 represented a significant expansion of Korean-American representation in the federal legislature, building on the legacy of Jay Kim, who had served as the first Korean-American member of Congress in the 1990s.

Strickland's career trajectory — from mayor of a mid-sized Pacific Northwest city, to leader of the region's largest business organization, to member of Congress — reflects a model of public service that bridges municipal governance, private-sector leadership, and federal legislation. Her work in Congress on issues ranging from military base naming to shellfish industry support to reproductive health access demonstrates a legislative portfolio shaped by both the specific needs of her South Sound district and broader national policy concerns.

Her registration as a candidate with the Federal Election Commission for Washington's 10th congressional district is maintained in federal election records.