In episode 7 of “Facing Race,” we examine how race shapes politics and policy. In Washington, 72% of state lawmakers are white, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The state population makeup is 67.5% white, according to census data. However, just 3% of lawmakers are Latinx, compared to 13% of the population who identify as Hispanic; 2% of lawmakers are Black, compared to 4.4% of the population. While our lawmakers are slowly getting more diverse, national polling shows the divide between Democrats and Republicans is growing deeper and wider. Central Washington University Political Science Professor Todd Schaefer explains how politicians on both sides of the aisle are making the problem worse and what voters can do to turn that trend around.