After graduation, she worked as an assistant attorney general in Tacoma, before joining the Washington State Department of Health in Olympia in 1995. She remained at the department until 2008, rising to the post of assistant secretary. In 2008, she joined the Tacoma–Pierce County Health Department as deputy director.[3]
Politics
Jinkins has a long record of involvement in civic, government and political organizations. From 1990 to 1992, she chaired the Tacoma Hate Crimes Task Force[citation needed], later chairing the Tacoma Charter Review Committee and the Tacoma Community College Board of Trustees. In 2009, she led the successful statewide campaign to approve Referendum 71, affirming Washington's domestic partnership law.
When Rep. Dennis Flannigan (D–Tacoma) decided against seeking re-election to the Washington House in 2010, Jinkins announced her candidacy for the seat. Four Democrats and one independent filed for the open seat with a top two primary held on August 17, 2010. Jinkins was the top vote getter in the primary with fellow Democrat Jake Fey, a member of Tacoma City Council, finishing second.[4] In the general election held on November 2, Jinkins defeated Fey 54–46%.
On July 31, 2019, the House Democratic Caucus selected Rep. Jinkins as the new State House of Representatives Speaker-designate. She replaced Interim Speaker John Lovick, who took over upon the end of former speaker Frank Chopp's term. Jinkins is the first female and first LGBTQ speaker in Washington State history.[5]
Personal life
Jinkins is openly gay.[6] She and her wife,[7] Laura Wulf, have one son.[7]
