WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

WA Rep. Mari Leavitt Named to 2025 CSG Henry Toll Fellowship Class 

August 6, 2025

Prestigious national leadership development program’s newest class includes 48 leaders from 34 states and U.S. territories and all three branches of state government

OLYMPIA—The Council of State Governments (CSG) has named Washington Rep. Mari Leavitt among the 48 public servants from 34 states and U.S. territories selected to the 2025 class of the CSG Henry Toll Fellowship, the nation’s premier leadership development program for state government officials. Representing all three branches of state government, the selected Toll Fellows will gather in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 8-12 for the program’s 38th convening. 

“I’m humbled and deeply honored to represent Washington state as a 2025 Toll Fellow and to join an extraordinary group of leaders from across the country,” said Leavitt. “This program is designed to help us tackle today’s toughest challenges by building skills to work across the aisle, find common ground, and make progress for the people we are fortunate to serve. I look forward to bringing these experiences back to Olympia to better serve my district and our communities.”  

Leavitt represents Washington’s 28th District and serves as House deputy majority whip. Elected in 2018, she co-chairs the Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs, has served as vice chair of the Post-Secondary Education and Workforce Committee, and has also served on committees on Housing, Appropriations, Capital Budget and Rules. A parent, small business owner and former higher education administrator, she earned her Ph.D. in community college leadership. Leavitt has passed legislation supporting homeless youth, housing and behavioral health, public safety, military families, and career and technical education and apprenticeship access. She is also a member of the Washington State Task Force Against Trafficking of Persons and the Substance Use Recovery Services Advisory Committee. 

Across the states, there are more than 1,400 graduates of the Toll Fellowship, including three sitting governors, three sitting lieutenant governors, five sitting secretaries of state, two sitting attorneys general, two sitting state treasurers, two sitting Senate presidents, four sitting state/territorial House speakers, seven sitting state Supreme Court justices and more than 230 current state/territorial legislators. 

“The challenges facing today’s state leaders are daunting and the pace of change is accelerating,” said CSG Executive Director/CEO David Adkins, a former Kansas state senator and 1993 CSG Henry Toll Fellow. “Now, more than ever, our nation needs state leaders who know how to bring people together to get stuff done. The CSG Toll Fellows are among our nation’s best leaders. I hope this program helps empower them to deliver results for the citizens they serve.” 

Every year since 1986, CSG has welcomed a new class of CSG Henry Toll Fellows to its community of state elected and appointed officials for this immersive five-day training. Program sessions equip Toll Fellows to communicate, collaborate and lead more effectively — while fostering lasting, nonpartisan relationships. 

Toll Fellows are selected through a competitive process led by program alumni, with nominations submitted by peers. Those selected participate in “graduate-level” programming that builds on CSG regional leadership development efforts. 

The Fellowship honors Henry Toll, a former Colorado state senator who was the driving force behind CSG’s creation in 1933. For more information on the CSG Henry Toll Fellowship, visit csgovts.info/tolls or email toll@csg.org.