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T'wina Nobles
Member of the Washington Senate from the 28th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 11, 2021
Preceded by	Steve O'Ban
Personal details
Born	T'wina T. Fields 1981 (age 42–43) Frankfurt, West Germany
Political party	Democratic
Children	4
Education	University of Puget Sound (BA, MEd)
Occupation	Teacher
Signature

T'wina T. Nobles (née Fields, formerly T'wina Franklin, born 1981) is an American politician who is a member the Washington State Senate from the 28th district, elected in 2020.

Early life and education

Nobles was born in a military family in Frankfurt, West Germany. Nobles' mother was a drug user, and the family lived in Monterey, California before settling in the Columbus, Georgia area. Nobles was eventually placed in the foster care system in Phenix City, Alabama and became pregnant when she was 19. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and Master of Education in teaching from the University of Puget Sound.

Career

After earning her master's degree, Nobles worked as a teacher at Stadium High School and Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington. She served as a member of the University Place, Washington School Board and was the president of the Tacoma Urban League.

In March 2020, Nobles announced her candidacy for the 28th district in the Washington State Senate against incumbent Republican Steve O'Ban. Nobles won the Democratic primary and narrowly defeated O'Ban in the November general election. When she assumed office on January 11, 2021, she became the first black legislator elected to the senate since 2010.

Nobles is the vice chair of both Senate Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development and the Senate K-12 Education Committee. She is also a member of the Transportation Committee.

Personal life

Nobles and her husband have four children. Nobles's husband is a non-profit executive director and real estate broker in Tacoma.

Notable legislation

Nobles voted in favor of HB 1589, which is described as supporting Washington's clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future by prohibiting the expansion of natural gas services and other regulations on natural gas companies.

Nobles voted in favor of HB 1054, which is described as establishing requirements for tactics and equipment used by peace officers by adding restrictions on vehicular pursuits, as well as prohibiting law enforcement from using chokeholds, the deployment of tear gas, or unleashed police dogs in the arrest or apprehension of suspects.

References

1. "Candidates" (PDF). King County, Washington. August 2012. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
2. "Helping to Lift Up the Black Leaders of the Future". The News Tribune (Tacoma). 2020-06-21.
3. "Legislative Manual 2021-2022" (PDF). Washington State Legislature.
4. Needles, Allison (November 10, 2020). "Nobles declares victory in WA senate race, becomes first Black member in a decade".
5. ladies1storg (2012-06-26). "Founder T'wina Nobles". Ladies First. Retrieved 2020-11-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
6. "Get to know T'wina Nobles". washingtonea.org. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
7. "About T'wina". T'wina Nobles for State Senate || 28th Legislative District. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
8. "Loggers, Meet T'wina!". www.pugetsound.edu. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
9. "Who takes responsibility for a racist political ad?". www.kuow.org. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
10. "University Place School Board Director T'wina Nobles announces for State Senate". The Suburban Times. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
11. Radio, KNKX Public. "Election 2020: Results, reaction and more from across Washington state". www.knkx.org. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
12. "Washington state to swear in first Black senator in 10 years". AP NEWS. 2021-01-08. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
13. "Biography". Sen. T’wina Nobles. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
14. "About T'wina". T'wina Nobles for State Senate || 28th Legislative District. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
15. "HB 1589 - 2023-24 Supporting Washington's clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future". leg.wa.gov.
16. "Environment & Energy Committee" (PDF). leg.wa.gov.
17. "HB 1054 - 2021-22 Establishing requirements for tactics and equipment used by peace officers". leg.wa.gov.
18. "Public Safety Committee" (PDF). leg.wa.gov.

• Living people
• Democratic Party Washington (state) state senators
• 21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature
• University of Puget Sound alumni
• Politicians from Tacoma, Washington
• Women state legislators in Washington (state)
• 21st-century American women politicians
• 21st-century African-American women politicians
• African-American state legislators in Washington (state)
• 1981 births
• 21st-century African-American politicians
• 20th-century African-American politicians
• 20th-century African-American women politicians
• 20th-century American women politicians