OLYMPIA — Washington state’s high-profile state Senate race has drawn the attention of former Vice President Joe Biden.
Biden this week endorsed 45th District Democratic candidate Manka Dhingra.
Dhingra faces Republican Jinyoung Lee Englund in a race this November that likely will determine which party controls the state Senate.
A news release by the Washington Senate Democratic Campaign announcing the endorsement pointed out that both Dhingra, a prosecutor, and Biden have worked on domestic-violence issues.
“I especially appreciate her efforts to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault, protect victims of crime and advocate for improved mental health programs,” Biden, who as a U.S. senator led the effort in 1994 to pass the Violence Against Women Act, said in the statement.