Mari Watanabe

​I am Mari Watanabe, a third-generation Japanese American Democrat raised in the Pacific Northwest, proud to call House District 34 my home for almost twenty years. My journey has been shaped by resilience and service, values instilled by my parents, Matsue and Samuel Watanabe, who endured forced internment during World War II under Executive Order 9066. Stripped of everything, they rebuilt their lives with strength and pride, inspiring my siblings and I to pursue education, community, and a deep sense of purpose. Growing up, I grappled with balancing my Japanese heritage while navigating predominantly white schools. In college, I fully embraced my identity, founding a Kendo club and an Asian students’ council at Washington State University. Studying abroad in Japan further connected me to my heritage and clarified the injustices my parents had quietly endured. Their resilience fuels my promise to protect all communities from discrimination—regardless of race, gender, creed, ability, religion, and sexual orientation. After college, I launched a corporate career, eventually moving to Oregon. While I found success, I longed for something deeper: a chance to serve my community. This…