Dear Friend,
Check your mailbox – ballots for the 2025 primary election arrive this week! This election features races that will have a big impact on housing affordability, public safety, good public schools, and protecting working Washingtonians from the MAGA regime.
Below is the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2025 primary election – your ticket to highly informed voting based on progressive values. We worked with Washington's leading progressive organizations to research more than 300 candidates and ballot measures across the state.
The deadline to mail in your ballot is August 5, but you should join your neighbors and mail it in today! Then forward this guide to your friends, family, and co-workers — they can find their own locally customized version at ProgressiveVotersGuide.com/Washington.
Thanks for all that you do (especially voting),
Aaron and the entire team at Fuse {% if donations.most_recent_date >= '2025-06-15' or user.recurring_orders.active %}
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Olympia City Council
Olympia City Council, Position #4
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Olympia City Council, Position #6
Two progressive candidates are running for Olympia City Council, Position 6: Robert Vanderpool and Justin Stang. We recommend Vanderpool due to his strong leadership since being appointed to the council. ![]() ![]()
Olympia City Council, Position #7
Two progressive candidates are running for Olympia City Council, Position 7: Paul Berendt and Caleb Gieger. We recommend Berendt due to his extensive experience and track record of advocacy. ![]() ![]() |
Tumwater School Board
Tumwater School Board, Director, District #1
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Tumwater School Board, Director, District #3
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Depending on where you live, you may have the following city races on your ballot.
Clark Gilman
In 2025, Gilman proposed to provide $30,000 in council goal funds to support immigrants and refugee families in Thurston County. The council approved the proposal unanimously, with fellow council member Dani Madrone saying, "Gilman has been engaging with the immigrant community to learn about the needs they have." He recently challenged the latest 2045 Comprehensive Plan, saying the draft chapter "falls short of aligning with the city's climate goals, particularly in terms of how it evaluates transportation-related projects." He highlighted the influence of interest groups on these issues and proposed including a chapter to prioritize projects that reduce urban sprawl or decrease emissions.
We recommend Clark Gilman for re-election to the Olympia City Council, Position 4.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clark4olympia/?no_akid=1
Other Candidates
Wendy Carlson is a lifelong resident of Olympia and continues to live there with her family. Prior to running for office, Carlson worked as a parole officer for the Department of Corrections for 20 years.
Carlson's campaign website highlighted homelessness, public safety, and affordable housing as priorities. While her platform includes some progressive solutions, such as redirecting funds to addiction treatment and supporting housing density, her past comments on addressing homelessness in Olympia were worrisome and don't reflect the city's values. Since her current campaign includes some similar language, we cannot recommend Wendy Carlson as a progressive choice for Olympia City Council, Position 4.
Michael Marstrom is also running to challenge incumbent Clark Gilman for Olympia City Council, Position 4. As of mid July, Marstrom does not have a platform or campaign website available.
Clark Gilman is our choice for Olympia City Council, Position 4, due to his progressive leadership in the city.
Robert Vanderpool
During his short time on the council, Vanderpool co-sponsored a resolution "urging the state and federal governments to create commissions to study reparations for the descendants of enslaved African people." The resolution proposed several actions, including prioritizing efforts in "reparative justice to increase Black homeownership" as part of Olympia's housing strategy. On the resolution, Vanderpool said that the city has a responsibility to address the enduring impacts of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and redlining to ensure equity and universal freedoms.
His current campaign continues to focus on progressive issues, such as raising the minimum wage with phase-in plans for small and medium-sized businesses. Vanderpool aims to build on the progress made in addressing affordable housing through mixed-income units and flexible development. Furthermore, Vanderpool is a proponent of improving transit options throughout Olympia by expanding public transportation and prioritizing infrastructure that facilitates more walking and biking.
Due to his progressive leadership in just a short time on the council, Robert Vanderpool is the best choice in the race for Olympia City Council, Position 6.
Justin Stang
Stang's campaign priorities include supporting small businesses, enhancing public safety, and promoting long-term financial stability. Stang supports initiatives for small businesses, including scholarships and training funding that targets minority-owned and women-owned businesses. He also wants to expand access to emergency shelters and transitional housing options.
While he proposed some progressive solutions, we would like to see Justin Stang's platform developed a bit further. We recommend instead voting to retain Robert Vanderpool for Olympia City Council, Position 6, as he has a more clearly demonstrated track record, both in office and in the community.
Endorsements: https://www.justinstang.com/view-endorsements?no_akid=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stangforcitycouncil?no_akid=1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stangforcitycouncil?no_akid=1
Other Candidates
Simkins worked for the Washington State government for 27 years at various agencies. She is campaigning for compassionate policing and affordable housing strategies. She is advocating for progressive solutions such as de-escalation and "mental health support over military tactics and gear." She is also an advocate for housing first tactics to support those experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, she is a supporter of the arts and hopes to advocate for policies that foster a vibrant arts and music scene in Olympia.
As of mid July, Dana Tan has not published a detailed campaign website, and her platform is unknown. However, in the Thurston County voters' pamphlet, Tan said she will prioritize a clean downtown, practical and compassionate solutions for the unhoused, and expanding housing options.
Paul Berendt
Berendt is prioritizing three main issues in his campaign: addressing homelessness, building more housing, and expanding the park system. He is an advocate for building more public housing and incentivizing builders to produce more affordable housing. Additionally, he aims to provide adequate shelter for those residing in encampments. Finally, he is an advocate for expanding and diversifying the city's park system to ensure that all Olympia residents have access to green spaces and the outdoors.
Berendt is a longtime leader in the Democratic Party with clearly established values. We recommend Paul Berendt for Olympia City Council, Position 7.
Caleb Gieger
In his campaign for city council, Gieger is prioritizing making Olympia a livable, resilient, and just city. He plans to continue the council's work on zoning reform, affordable housing, and tenant protections. He also plans to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure a balanced budget for economic resilience. Gieger proposed expanding crisis response options for those experiencing mental health and addiction issues.
While we appreciate Caleb Gieger's perspective and proposals, we recommend voting for Berendt for Olympia City Council, Position 7 due to his decades of Democratic leadership and experience.
Endorsements: https://www.calebforoly.com/endorse?no_akid=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573549261769?no_akid=1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calebforoly/?no_akid=1
Other Candidates
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below school district races on your ballot.
Julie Watts
On May 27th, Watts was among the parents who spoke against the school board's decision to select a handful of speakers at each board meeting, expressing their concern over potential violations of the Public Meetings Act. On the decision, Watts said, "Overall, I think there is not a lot of trust about how the board will implement the policy given the motivation appears to be to stop hearing from youth, parents, teachers, and community members about their decision on the anti-trans student resolution."
Julie Watts will be an inclusive representative who supports the right of all students to feel safe and included. Watts is the clear choice for Tumwater School Board Director in District 1.
Endorsements: https://www.electjuliewatts.com/?no_akid=1
Other Candidates
More concerning are comments on Overbay's website about the WIAA amendment regarding transgender athletes. She called the amendment, which was pushed by conservative anti-trans activists, "thoughtfully written." In addition, she expressed more concern over the "divisive" rhetoric around the amendment than the inclusion and safety of transgender youth. Overbay is not a progressive choice in this race.
Dean Mings is also running for Tumwater School Board Director, District 1. Mings is an Army veteran and a retired teacher and school counselor. He continues to substitute and work as a counselor throughout Thurston County.
In his campaign statement for the school board, Mings said he is prioritizing a balanced budget and maintaining a smaller student-teacher ratio. Like his opponent, Julie Watts, Mings was also inspired to run after the current board's resolution against trans student athletes. He inferred that the decision was made hastily and that "all students and all points of view should be heard." His campaign website prioritizes balancing the budget, protecting student rights, smaller classroom sizes, and encouraging more volunteer participation in schools.
While we can appreciate Dean Mings comments on the anti-trans student athlete resolution, his campaign is not detailed enough for us to confidently recommend him in this race. We suggest voting for Julie Watts for Tumwater School Board Director, District 1.
Daniel Mies
While Mies does not have a campaign website, he shared his voter's pamphlet statement on Reddit, detailing his plans if elected. He is pledging to stand up for teachers and against policies that exclude students by their gender identity. In the comments section of his post, he expressed his support for teacher raises and the participation of transgender youth in sports. He is also supportive of zero-cost or subsidized professional development opportunities for faculty.
Daniel Mies is a thoughtful advocate who cares deeply about equitable and inclusive education. He is the best choice for Tumwater School Board Director, District 3.
Other Candidates
Ty Kuehl and his conservative anti-trans agenda are not representative of the Tumwater School District. Instead, we recommend voting for Daniel Mies, who is running a compassionate and progressive campaign that puts students' needs first.
Jeff "Cowboy" Curry is also running for Tumwater School Board Director, District 3. According to his voter pamphlet entry, Curry is a district employee and previously ran a food bank for 8 years. If elected, Curry said he will bring transparency, accountability, and courage to the board. He cited student drug use and issues with the Running Start program as his inspirations to run. However, he did not offer any policies or solutions that he intends to implement if elected to the Tumwater School Board.