Kati was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, where she first became politically involved in high school when joining the “Add the Words” movement to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected identities in the state constitution. Kati went on to receive a degree in Political Science and International Relations from Boise State University and studied Mandarin Chinese at Shanghai University. After graduating from Boise State, she re-entered the Idaho political landscape, working on local elections, in the state legislature, and eventually joining the Idaho Young Democrats as Communications Chair.

After the 2020 elections cycle working with the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Kati returned to Idaho to bring a new level of investment back to her home state. She was elected President of the Idaho Young Democrats in December 2020, and founded her own consulting firm which served local and statewide Democrats in Idaho, labor unions, and conservation and reproductive justice groups. Under her leadership, the Idaho Young Democrats launched a field fellowship program, training countless young people in crucial political job skills for a living wage, launched new chapters, negotiated seats for youth in party committees, and brought Idaho its first ever national Democratic meeting in 2022 with YDA Boise.

After moving to Washington State, Kati worked for the Washington House Democrats’ campaign arm, helping to expand the majority in 2022 while coordinating campaigns in more than 10 counties and 20 legislative districts. Kati now works as a Lobbyist for the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28, where she fights for pay, benefits, and workplace conditions for Washington's state workers in every agency and community. She has successfully advocated for the passing of policy that protects victims of domestic violence, increases employee access to unions, and allocates resources to where they are most needed in the state. She is also a part of the team that passed the most significant employee cost of living package in recent history during Washington's employee recruitment and retention crisis.
When she is not advocating for Democrats, rural communities, or the West, Kati sits on the board for the Skagit Women’s Alliance and Network, antiques for vintage Fiestaware, and is a Mariners season ticket holder (mostly for the food). She lives in rural Northwestern Washington near Seattle with her boyfriend and their dog, Daisy.