Marilyn Strickland
DemocratU.S. Representative, WA-10| Age | 63 (b. 1962-09-25) |
| Gender | Female |
| In office since | 2021-01-03 (~5 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | Black/African American and Korean (Asian); first African American and first Korean American woman elected to Congress from the Pacific Northwest |
| Religion | Protestant (Christian) |
| Education | Mount Tahoma High School (Tacoma); B.A. in Business, University of Washington; M.B.A., Clark Atlanta University |
| Prior occupation | Business and civic executive: clerical worker at Northern Life Insurance; online business manager at Starbucks; broadband initiative coordinator for City of Tacoma (Click! Network); President of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Seoul, South Korea (foreign-born) |
| Marital status | Married — Patrick Erwin |
| Residence | Washington's 10th district (Pierce/Thurston Counties), Washington |
Pending research: languages · children · notable relatives · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2020 (U.S. House); first elected to public office in 2007 to Tacoma City Council, seated 2008 |
| Previous offices | Tacoma City Council member (2008-2009) · Mayor of Tacoma, Washington (2010-2018) |
| Committees | House Committee on Armed Services (Subcommittee on Military Personnel; Subcommittee on Readiness) · House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; Subcommittee on Highways and Transit) |
| Caucuses | Congressional Black Caucus (Secretary) · New Democrat Coalition (Whip) · Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (Executive Board Member) · Congressional Korea Caucus (Co-Chair) · Congressional Equality Caucus · Black Maternal Health Caucus · Reproductive Freedom Caucus · Congressional Rare Disease Caucus · Democratic Women's Caucus |
| Leadership | Whip, New Democrat Coalition · Secretary, Congressional Black Caucus · Chair, New Democrat Coalition National Security Taskforce · Co-Chair, Congressional Caucus on Black Innovation · Co-Chair, Congressional Korea Caucus · 38th Mayor of Tacoma (2010-2018) |
| Ideology | Generally described as a moderate/centrist Democrat; member and Whip of the centrist New Democrat Coalition; voted in line with President Biden's position the vast majority of the time in the 117th Congress. |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed + (2023) · estimate
| Washington State Teachers Retirement System Defined Benefit Plan (spouse) | other · $500,001–$1,000,000 · 2023 |
| Key Bank accounts | other · $250,001–$500,000 · 2023 |
| Banner Bank Account (spouse) | other · $100,001–$250,000 · 2023 |
| Tacoma Employees Retirement System Defined Benefit Plan | other · $100,001–$250,000 · 2023 |
| Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce 401(k) Plan (AF Target Date 2025 R6) | fund · $50,001–$100,000 · 2023 |
| Cetera Brokerage Account - American Investment Company of America Fund Class A (AIVSX) | fund · $50,001–$100,000 · 2023 |
| New York Life Whole Life Insurance | other · $50,001–$100,000 · 2023 |
| Lincoln Financial Group Variable Annuities (multiple) | other · $60,004–$200,000 · 2023 |
| Edward Jones Brokerage & IRA accounts (Bridge Builder, Vanguard, iShares funds/ETFs) | fund · $50,000–$600,000 · 2023 |
| TIAA State Board Retirement Plan (T-C Lifecycle 2025-Inst) | fund · $30,002–$100,000 · 2023 |
| GESA Credit Union (spouse) | other · $15,001–$50,000 · 2023 |
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — Tacoma Board of Ethics finding: acceptance of frequent-flyer miles for official Asia trip
In 2010, Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland accepted frequent-flyer miles from local (Lakewood) businessman Ron Chow to pay for airfare on an official city trip to Asia. At the time Tacoma's ethics code barred city officials from receiving gifts of $50 or more connected to official business. On May 20, 2011, the Tacoma Board of Ethics found she had violated the code. The Board recommended the deputy mayor admonish her and that future travel-gift offers go to the City Council for approval. Strickland said she accepted the findings, did not plan to appeal, and reimbursed the businessman (an initial $1,000 plus the balance of the airfare's value). She remained in office and was later re-elected.