From 2001 to 2012, Harris-Talley was the program manager of Cardea Services, a Seattle-based non-profit.
Seattle City Council
She served for 51 days as a member of the Seattle City Council in 2017, following the appointment of Tim Burgess as mayor. She was appointed on October 6, 2017, and was succeeded by Teresa Mosqueda following the certification of election results on November 28.[4][5] While in office, she co-sponsored and later voted for one of the first versions of the Seattle head tax, a bill that was rejected by the full council.[6][7]
After leaving the city council, Harris-Talley was appointed to the Progressive Revenue Task Force, which was tasked with creating a new progressive tax similar to the Head Tax that she voted for.[7] Later, she became the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington.[8]
In the August 2020 primary election, Harris-Talley was in first with 51.18% of the vote, with Chukundi Salisbury coming in second with 23.07%.[10]
In the general election, Harris-Talley won in a landslide against Salisbury, 65.52% to 33.17%.[11]
Tenure
She was the first out, Black, queer femme to serve in the Washington State Legislature.[12]
While in office, she sponsored and helped pass legislation focused on police reform and reproductive access with doulas.[13][14]
In 2022, Harris-Talley announced she would not seek reelection, citing a toxic work place in the legislature and the process surrounding the vote on HB 2037, which would modify the standard for use of force by police officers.[14]
Activism
In 2016, Harris-Talley worked with No New Youth Jail, a youth-led abolitionist movement, and on a campaign to “Block the Bunker”, opposing the proposed North Seattle Police Precinct.[12]
Personal life
Harris-Talley identifies as queer.[15] She and her husband, Jason, have two children.[16]
