By Dee Anne Finken, Communications Portfolio Director, LWV of Washington

Building on its century-old commitment to defend democracy and empower voters, the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Washington took another major step this summer to keep pace with growing assaults on our democracy.

The state League hired its first executive director to help guide the nonprofit through an organizational transformation. Since its founding in 1920, when the 19th Amendment extended voting rights to women, most Leagues across the country have been led primarily by volunteers.

The move to restructure also comes as the League — at national, state and local levels — is experiencing record growth.  

In the past two years, the national organization has added 20,000 members, while membership in the state League in the past year and a half has increased by 740 since January 2025↗️, bringing its total to more than 3,200 women and men. 

The growth has included the establishment this summer of a new local League in Grays Harbor County↗️. The League is active now in 20 of Washington’s 39 counties. 

“We are seeing significant membership growth because people are concerned,” state President Karen Crowley said recently. “We are all responding to very real threats against our democracy.”

Amy Peloff, hired for the new top spot effective Aug. 1, echoed that perspective. 

“Democracy is definitely under attack, even in Washington state,” said Peloff, who was the state League’s single full-time employee the past eight years, most recently as administrative director. 

“As a grass-roots operation, we need to find ways to activate every single member in every corner of the state whenever and wherever those threats rear their heads,” she said in addressing a major aim of the new structure.  

In recent months, the Washington organization, in step with the country’s other state Leagues, has become more visible and outspoken. That’s all come in the wake of the national organization’s April 2025 declaration that the United States is experiencing a constitutional crisis, a determination that stems from the Trump administration’s disregard for the authority of the courts and Congress and its attacks on voting rights. 

Both Crowley and Peloff make clear that responses by Leagues across the country are in line with the organization’s unwavering commitment to nonpartisanship. 

They note an individual or an organization can be political and not be partisan.

Being partisan, they explain, involves endorsing or advocating candidates or political parties. No Leagues — at any level — are permitted to take such action. 

They are, however, allowed and encouraged to hold elected officials accountable to the responsibilities of their positions and the laws and needs of the communities they serve.

After extensive, objective study and member consensus, Leagues at all levels routinely take positions or advocate on a range of issues. Among those are protecting voting rights and human and reproductive rights, promoting justice in the courts and corrections systems, expanding and improving education and healthcare, and protecting the environment, energy and natural resources.

The League’s political but nonpartisan acts include participating in No Kings rallies, speaking against the so-called SAVE Act that would limit access to the ballot for millions, and calling for investigations of conditions at detention centers.

State organization is a national leader
The Washington League is not among the largest state leagues by membership count or geographic size but, Peloff said, it has developed a reputation for its robust participation and action. 

Twice in the past two years, she noted, the Washington League has crafted new policy positions that went on to be adopted by the national organization. One identifies local news as foundational to democracy and calls for its support. The other seeks to enhance the lives of immigrants and ensure they have pathways to economic, social and civic integration where they chose to live.

Among the Washington League’s long history of accomplishments: leading major legislation that created the state Public Disclosure Commission. That law requires expenditures disclosures for candidates and lobbyists. The League also championed legislation that mandates the teaching of civics education in high school. In 2026, the League has been a prominent supporter of the so-called Millionaires’ Tax, which will lead to a more equitable state tax system.

Peloff said she will continue to honor the many talents and dedication of the organization’s members, individuals she refers to frequently with adjectives such as “incredibly accomplished” and “brilliant.”  

National-level reorganization pays off for state
President Crowley said the LWVWA’s restructuring also was born from a change in the disbursement of LWV dues. A larger percentage of money collected now goes to state League coffers. “This is going to enable us to invest more resources at the state level,” Crowley said.  

The increased budget will allow for hiring more staff. At present, in addition to Peloff working full-time, the state has a half-time professional, Carolyn Stewart, who directs the LWVWA’s social media and other communications-related projects.  

In October, Crowley said the state intends to hire a half-time development director as well as a part-time program manager to handle the League’s highly acclaimed “The State We’re In: WA” textbook project. So far, the books have been placed in 48 school districts. 

Peloff anticipates involving local leagues more directly in governance. “The state League is very good at statewide initiatives,” she said. “I’d like us to see us operate more as a collective of the local Leagues so we can have even broader impact.”

Peloff said she also looks forward to the League building relationships with other organizations across Washington. Among those she identified are Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and Common Cause. Already the League partners with the Girl Scouts of the USA, the American Association of University Women and the National Council of Jewish Women.

As Peloff moves into a position that makes her updated leadership role, she said members shouldn’t see much difference in the way she interacts with others, whether they are local members, Lobby Team Issue Chairs, or local or state leaders. “My primary philosophy of leadership is collaboration and humility,” she said.

She plans to focus on building partnerships with those individuals, too.  

“The door is always open and people are always welcome.”

She also intends to use her position to raise the profile of the League. “I’d like to make sure the governor’s chief of staff knows my phone number and name. The same should be true for the secretary of state and both U.S. senators.” Her goal is to boost communication with these offices to more effectively advocate for League priority positions, such as protecting our elections systems.

Peloff earned a Ph.D. in Women’s Studies from the University of Washington. She also holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from the College of William and Mary. She continues to be affiliate faculty in the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies department at the University of Washington, a position that has involved teaching and accompanying students to study in Amsterdam, Cuba and India.

Former state president Ann Murphy said Peloff’s extensive knowledge of women’s history was one of the reasons the League hired her in 2018.

“It was that, but also her genuine enthusiasm for the job,” Murphy said. 

In that role, Peloff oversaw daily operations, implemented technology solutions, improved efficiency, streamlined communications and solved seemingly hundreds of last-minute crises, all with good humor and great aplomb.

“She does all of these impressive things, including working with technology,” Murphy added.

Peloff noted that many of the suffragists who founded the League were women of means who did not work outside of the home.

To keep up with the times, Peloff will prioritize making participation in the League easier for those who have family, career and other commitments. 

“We need to adapt League structures to be more accommodating,” she said.