Getting Elected is the Easy Part: Working and Winning in the State Legislature

The only guidebook of its kind, Getting Elected is the Easy Part helps first-time lawmakers, members of both parties, lobbyists, and other elected officials navigate state legislatures―institutions steeped in tradition, arcane procedures, and unwritten rules. Written for legislative newcomers and others interested in state government, seasoned Washington State Senator Karen Keiser blends documented research with her personal experiences and observations from more than twenty years in the Washington State Legislature. She covers legislative positions, processes, and procedures, diversity-related considerations, allies and constituents, the role of lobbyists, and more. She pays particular attention to the culture adjustment and challenges many newly elected lawmakers face, and offers tips and advice to help them meet their legislative goals and achieve real change.

Broadcast journalist Karen Keiser became the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO’s communications director, then won her first election in 1996. Appointed to the Washington State Senate in 2001, she has been re-elected five times. Currently Senate President Pro Tempore and chair of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee, and past chair of the Health and Long Term Care Committee, she played a major role in achieving paid family and medical leave and implementing the Affordable Care Act.

Elizabeth Shuler is the AFL-CIO President.