We’re re-posting some of our favorite features from 2019. Next up: Joe Nguyen…

In the beginning of his tenure as a Washington state senator, Nguyen said people would often mistake him for an aide when he walked around the Capitol building. That doesn’t happen anymore.

In the beginning of his tenure as a Washington state senator, Nguyen said people often mistook him for an aide when he walked around the Capitol building. That doesn’t happen anymore. Lester Black

In the wings of the Senate chamber, first-year Democratic Senator Joe Nguyen runs up to me looking like he’s got something to say. “My favorite part about this job is yelling NO really loudly at Republicans,” he says, before jogging back to his big leather chair on the floor to yell “NO” really loudly at Republicans.

After shouting down another amendment, Sen. Nguyen runs toward me again. “Normally I wear yoga pants on the floor,” he says, holding his laptop casually with one hand, as if it were a dirty dish he was taking back to the sink. The speaker calls another vote and he runs back onto the floor. “NO!” he shouts, before running back to finish his thought.

“I also have a yoga pants jacket,” Nguyen adds. “You know, a jacket made out of yoga pants material, but I figured I would wear a real one for this interview.”

Rich Smith is The Stranger's former News Editor. He writes about politics, books, and performance. You can read his poems at www.richsmithpoetry.com