Former state Rep. Kristine Reeves announced her bid for Congress Monday morning.

Reeves, a Federal Way Democrat, is running to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, who has represented the Olympia region in Washington’s 10th Congressional District since 2013. Heck announced last month he is retiring from Congress at the end of his term this year.

In an announcement video, Reeves said she has witnessed too many families struggle as “critical progressive priorities continue to fall victim to special interest in gridlock in Washington D.C.”

Now is the time for that to change, she said.

Her announcement of her congressional run comes three weeks after her resignation from the Legislature as a state representative.

As one who grew up in the foster care system and experienced homelessness, Reeves said she knows what it feels like when it seems “the deck is stacked against you.”

But, she said, the choice to throw her hat in the Congress ring comes from experiencing the power of communities coming together and taking care of each other.

As a full-time working mom with two kids, she plans to continue taking on “politics as usual” to invest in education and to fight for an economy that works for all.

“I’m proud to have helped accomplish important progress priorities here in this Washington,” she said, noting her work with paid family leave, apprenticeship programs, support for aging seniors, climate change and universal health care.

“But there’s so much more to do,” she said. “That’s why I’m asking you to send this working mom to Washington D.C. to fight for working families.”