29th Legislative District

In this pivotal election, Vice President Kamala Harris embodies a hopeful vision of unity, freedom, and progress for our country’s future. Harris has worked closely with President Biden to implement a broad and impressive agenda. Before that, she had a strong track record, ranging from leading the nation on recidivism reduction as San Francisco district attorney to fighting for marriage equality as California’s first woman attorney general to her hard-fought progressive victories in the U.S. Senate.

Throughout her public service career, Harris has demonstrated integrity, leadership, and tenacity in fighting for regular Americans. Her 2024 campaign priorities include ensuring American billionaires pay what they owe in taxes while alleviating the burden on middle-class families, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, restoring and protecting reproductive health care across the country, defending civil rights against the authoritarian vision of MAGA Project 2025, making housing, childcare, and education more affordable for all Americans, and more.

Joining Harris as a running mate on the Democratic ticket is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a champion of working families and former high school teacher. Walz’s community leadership experience ranges from serving as a local football coach to representing a primarily Republican district as a Democrat in the U.S. House. Walz’s priorities are firmly rooted in his Midwestern upbringing, union membership, and Army veteran background. He worked to lower the prescription cost of insulin to $35 for many Minnesotans. Walz believes in responsible gun ownership, uplifting rural farmers, and protecting LGBTQ+ kids.

While we can continue to push Kamala Harris’ platform towards even more progressive goals, it is clear that she is the best choice to make history as our next president of the United States.

Democrat Maria Cantwell is running for another term in the U.S. Senate, where she has served the state of Washington since 2001. Before that, she served in the state Legislature and had a successful career in the private sector, leading marketing efforts for a large tech company.

In Congress, Cantwell has been a strong advocate for environmental protections and clean energy. She recently sponsored bills to protect waterways while promoting clean energy and strengthening tribal involvement in matters relating to conservation and land management. This spring, Cantwell partnered with Sen. Patty Murray to secure $28 million in funding to replace lead pipes in Washington and ensure safe drinking water across the state. In this race, she is running on a broad and detailed platform to address Washington’s most pressing issues, including protecting and restoring reproductive health access, increasing funding for K-12 and student loans, and expanding the affordable housing tax credit and other housing solutions.

Dr. Raul Garcia is the Republican challenger for the U.S. Senate seat. After initially announcing a campaign for governor, he is now running to install conservative leadership in one of Washington’s senate seats. Dr. Garcia is a Yakima-based doctor and hospital medical director who previously ran for governor in 2020. He has served in leadership positions across medical institutions, nonprofits, and small businesses. Garcia has received support from some of Washington’s most prominent conservatives.

Cantwell has been a thoughtful and hard-working advocate for the people of Washington. She has earned your vote for another term in the U.S. Senate.

State Sen. Emily Randall is running on a progressive and community-forward platform for retiring Rep. Derek Kilmer’s seat representing the 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House. Since joining the Legislature in 2019, Randall has been one of the most outspoken advocates of reproductive freedom and accessible health care for all. Before serving in elected office, she worked for a number of social justice-focused nonprofits, including Planned Parenthood.

In her first term in Olympia, Randall worked to expand health care access, reform the tax code, and raise the minimum wage for working people with disabilities. This term, she helped achieve major progressive victories through her leadership on bills to expand eligibility for financial aid programs, increase access to HIV treatment, and protect the privacy of patients receiving ultrasounds. Now, Randall is running to be a champion for accessible health care, working people, and a healthy environment. She wants to take measures to address climate change including investing in clean energy and green infrastructure. Randall wants to bring down the cost of American health care by expanding Medicaid, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, and making prescription drugs more affordable. She also has plans to strengthen our democracy, improve the quality of public education, and safeguard reproductive freedom.

Republican state Senator Drew MacEwen is also in this race. First elected to the state Legislature in 2012, MacEwen has been a staunch conservative voice in Olympia, including opposing clean energy initiatives, resources for Washington students, protections for local wildlife, and commonsense gun safety bills. In addition, MacEwen voted against an abortion shield law that protects Washington state health care workers when they provide abortion care to patients from Washington and from out of state. MacEwen's long voting record in Olympia makes it clear that he is far out of step with local voters.

We recommend Emily Randall due to her strong track record of community advocacy and broad support from progressive leaders across the district.

Rep. Marilyn Strickland is running for a third term representing Washington’s Congressional District 10 in the U.S. House. Strickland has a long track record of public service as a mayor and city council member for Tacoma and as the former lead for both Pierce Transit and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. When she was first elected to Congress in 2020, Strickland became the first African American and Korean American representative from Washington.

In office, Strickland has fought for a better quality of life for all Washingtonians. She boasts strong priorities and has fought for a community-focused agenda including holding corporations accountable, lowering the cost of prescription medicine, strengthening voting rights, and investing in infrastructure like broadband, roadways, and parks. In her most recent term, Strickland sponsored legislation to fund grants for women and underrepresented communities in STEM, to address the workforce shortage in senior services and childcare, and to support military firefighters who have been exposed to toxic chemicals in the line of duty. Strickland is also a staunch advocate of reproductive freedom for all, and this past March, she sponsored a bill to provide federal financial assistance for those traveling to access reproductive health care. In this race, she has a strong, detailed, progressive platform that addresses pressing issues in western Washington.

Engineer Don Hewett is the Republican challenging Strickland in this race. His platform is based on complaining about so-called establishment politics and yet, unfortunately, Hewett’s own priorities do not better represent the will of the people. If elected to Congress, he is running on a typically conservative platform that emphasizes cuts to social services. He is not a progressive choice for residents in the 10th Congressional District.

Strickland has earned your vote for another term representing the 10th Congressional District.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is running for governor on his impressive record as an advocate for all Washingtonians. He has served as attorney general since 2012 and has won some of the biggest and most consequential legal cases in Washington's history during that time.

Ferguson has a record of success in litigating against the Trump administration and greedy corporations. When Donald Trump attacked access to contraception, Ferguson took him to court and won. Ferguson has sued the federal government to clean up the Hanford nuclear facility more quickly and has defended the Affordable Care Act from the Trump Administration, helping preserve care for 825,000 Washingtonians. Other wins include protecting statewide water quality from Trump's pro-pollution environmental policies, securing over $1 billion from opioid manufacturers to fund treatment, and fighting back against child detention laws.

All of these wins echo Ferguson's priorities in running for governor: to continue fighting to improve health care access, protect consumers, and strengthen the rights of working families in Washington. If elected, he plans to scale up behavioral health care. Recognizing that currently "our jails are collectively our largest mental health provider," he is committed to a large number of interventions in our communities including prevention, adding more health providers, and more peer service support. He's also committed to breaking up corporate monopolies and reducing the cost of living, establishing Washington as a clean energy hub, and exploring high-speed rail infrastructure.

Republican and former U.S. Representative Dave Reichert is running against Ferguson. Reichert served Washington’s 8th Congressional District in the House for 14 years. During that time, he took some bad votes against climate protections and health care affordability and voted for a national abortion ban, among other anti-abortion votes. He also previously served as the elected King County sheriff, and worked on the prominent Green River Killer case.

While Reichert is adept at sounding more moderate than some of his MAGA colleagues, his policy positions tell the truth, particularly when speaking to friendly crowds of Republicans behind closed doors. Earlier this year, Reichert said that he opposes marriage equality, which Washington voters passed in 2012 and became the law nationwide in 2015. More recently, Reichert finally admitted that he plans to vote for Trump this November and cited his signed MAGA hat as evidence of his Republican credentials. Finally, Reichert questioned humans' impact on climate change, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus. Reichert is clearly out of step with the values of most Washingtonians.

Bob Ferguson is an accomplished progressive who leads with integrity and grit. He is the best choice to be the next governor of Washington.

Democrat Denny Heck is running for a second term as Washington’s lieutenant governor. Heck is a former representative who served the 10th Congressional District from 2013 until 2021. His professional background also includes serving five terms representing Legislative District 17 in the state House, starting small businesses in his community, serving as the chief of staff to Gov. Booth Gardner, and founding one of the nation’s largest statewide public affairs networks.

Heck has fought for a number of Democratic priorities, including rebalancing our upside-down tax code, investing in public infrastructure, reducing health care costs, increasing workforce development and employment opportunities, and making college more affordable. He's running to continue fighting for affordability, health and safety, and opportunity for all Washingtonians.

Heck is running against Republican Dan Matthews, a veteran and former school board member running to deprioritize public schools in favor of private education, cut spending on social services, and roll back laws that hold corporations accountable. He is not a progressive choice and doesn't represent the needs of our communities.

We recommend Denny Heck for another term as the state’s lieutenant governor.

Democrat Steve Hobbs is running for another term as Washington's secretary of state. He first joined the office when he was appointed in 2021 and was retained by voters in 2022. Hobbs, a first-generation Japanese American, previously served as a lieutenant colonel in the Washington Army National Guard and a four-term state senator for the 44th Legislative District.

In office, Hobbs has pursued a progressive set of priorities to ensure Washington’s election integrity, making the state safe from attacks and accessible to all Washington voters. He has worked on strengthening digital security, preventing the spread of misinformation, and promoting voter outreach. Unfortunately, in the last election, he expressed concerns about implementing ranked-choice voting for fear of the fragility of public trust and the accessibility of it to non-English-speaking voters.

In this race, Hobbs’ top two priorities are to ensure our elections remain both secure and accessible for every eligible voter. While he has and will continue to pursue security measures – such as cybersecurity investments and improvement grants, Hobbs also believes it’s his job to restore community trust in him and his office. He has also taken great strides to reach eligible voters from historically disenfranchised communities, including formerly incarcerated voters.

Republican Dale Whitaker, who owns a small tax business, is also in this race. Whitaker serves as the executive director of We Believe We Vote, which claims to educate Christian voters by supporting conservatives with some of the most extreme views in the state, including strong anti-abortion stances, homophobic positions, and a belief that the Christian Bible should be the ultimate guiding text for leaders. In this race, Whitaker’s top priority is election transparency and security. Unfortunately, the greatest threat to our democratic, electoral processes has been incursions from the far-right, of which Whitaker is affiliated. Washington voters deserve a secretary of state who is above divisive, conspiracy-based politics.

Hobbs is the best choice for Washington's secretary of state.

Democratic incumbent Mike Pellicciotti is running for re-election to Washington state treasurer. Pellicciotti was first elected to the position in 2020. Before that, Pellicciotti served as a representative for Legislative District 30 in the state House, an assistant state attorney general, and a deputy prosecuting attorney for King County.

In public office, he has advocated for transparency and public accountability. He has never accepted corporate campaign donations and previously worked to make the Legislature’s records open for public view. As a treasurer, he has prioritized economic security and prosperity for all, especially working families and retirees. In office, he has worked to strengthen budget reserves, increase pension funds, and manage debt costs.

Republican Sharon Hanek is challenging Pellicciotti in this race. Hanek is a certified public accountant and serves as the vice chair of the Pierce County Planning Commission. Hanek has run for office unsuccessfully several times before, including losing by more than 17% statewide in her 2012 run for state Treasurer. Hanek is the founder of My Family My Choice, a far-right group aligned with Moms for Liberty that wants to ban books and promotes conspiracy theories about public schools. We can't afford to give Hanek a statewide platform for her dangerous, far-right agenda.

Pellicciotti has been a reliable Democratic leader in the Washington state treasurer’s office and he has earned your vote for another term.

Incumbent Democrat Pat McCarthy is running for a third term as Washington state auditor. McCarthy made history as the state’s first woman auditor when she took office in 2017. Before that, she served Pierce County in the elected roles of both executive and auditor and was previously a member of the Tacoma School Board, including as board president. She serves in multiple community leadership positions including on the Asian Pacific Cultural Center Advisory Board and with the Pierce County Sexual Assault Center.

In her first two terms, McCarthy has worked hard to bring accountability and transparency to the auditor’s office. She previously launched important investigations into both white-collar crime and unemployment benefit cases and even oversaw the largest fraud case in state history pertaining to misappropriated local housing funds. Looking towards another term, McCarthy wants to prioritize public and private sector integrity, responsible resource use, and advancing the office’s technology infrastructure to serve the public better.

Spokane County Republican Party leader Matt Hawkins is challenging incumbent McCarthy in this race. Hawkins created the We The People interactive calendar, which details events in U.S. history that he deems important. He has run for elected office before including vying for the top Republican Party job in the state last year, as well as the Washington state Senate in 2018. In this race, Hawkins boasts a typically conservative platform which includes continuing to cast doubt on the security of our local elections and worsening the imbalance in our state’s tax code.

McCarthy has earned your vote for another term as Washington's state auditor.

Nick Brown is a former U.S. attorney for Western Washington running to protect the climate, our democracy, and Washingtonians' civil rights. Before his appointment by the Biden Administration in 2021, Brown worked as the general counsel for Gov. Jay Inslee. He also served in the US Army as a judge advocate general (JAG) officer, where he represented soldiers and the Army in legal matters, followed by working as a prosecutor. Brown has also served as chair of the attorney general’s Advisory Subcommittee on Civil Rights.

As the first Black U.S. attorney in the state's history, Brown notes that Washington is experiencing the highest number of hate crimes in 20 years. He wants to use the attorney general's office to implement laws that prosecute domestic terrorists, especially the burgeoning white supremacist movements that have threatened local leaders and committed violent hate crimes.

In our interview with Brown, he identified his top three priorities as strengthening the operations of the office, holding local jurisdictions accountable for upholding the law, and enforcing environmental protections. He emphasized his work with the attorney general's office as a special assistant attorney general and said that he would strive to build a more representative office and ensure they resolve problems with legal standards that led to the office receiving a fine last year. One of Brown's biggest accomplishments as an attorney was helping write Initiative 1639, Safe Schools and Safe Communities, which makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to own a semi-automatic rifle. He later defended the law against the NRA. Building on that success, Brown wants to continue to enforce laws against deadly weapons and defend the state against voter suppression, wage theft, and more. Brown also wants to enforce environmental laws strictly and uphold strong consumer protections by, for example, pursuing the ongoing investigation on monopolistic practices by landlords and rental companies to keep prices inflated.

Republican and Pasco attorney Pete Serrano is running to bring a conservative agenda to the attorney general's office. Serrano is the board president and general counsel of an organization that fights commonsense gun laws and public health mandates, and he was recently elected mayor of Pasco. He states that while he disagrees with these laws he will follow the state Constitution, but the Seattle Times also reported that he intended to remain "actively engaged" with the organization in a Facebook video on the organization's page. If elected he promises to "Make Washington Safe Again" and make the office more transparent. Serrano is not a progressive choice in this race.

Brown is the clear choice in the race to be Washington's next attorney general.

King County Council chair Dave Upthegrove is running for commissioner of public lands to fill the vacancy left by Hilary Franz. Upthegrove previously served in the Legislature for five terms, where he made history as the first openly gay representative from outside of Seattle. He joined the King County Council in 2013, where he has been a strong advocate for climate concerns and environmental protections. 

Upthegrove has an inclusive vision for using the office to improve the quality of life for all Washingtonians. Upthegrove wants to mitigate the damage of wildfire seasons, bring good jobs and services to rural Washington, preserve mature legacy forests, expand recreational opportunities on public lands, and center the idea of environmental justice to guide policy. While he lauds the incumbent Franz for her work on wildfire prevention, Upthegrove wants to be more ambitious when it comes to reforming forestry policies. He believes the department needs a more honest accounting of the carbon impacts of forestry and timber work, which he is well positioned to lead having managed King County's forest carbon program. Upthegrove also wants to use his experience and relationships in the Legislature to help pass laws and increase funding for the department's conservation work.

Former congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler is back on the ballot this election. In 2022, she lost her re-election primary to ultra-conservative Joe Kent and current Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. In Congress, Herrera Beutler voted with Trump more than 80% of the time, though she has received criticism from her party after voting to impeach Donald Trump following the January 6th insurrection. Herrera Beutler has overwhelmingly opposed bills that protect our environment including the 2021 Build Back Better Act and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, both of which contained bold policies to alleviate the climate crisis. She lacks a detailed campaign platform in this race but mentions wildfire mitigation, habitat preservation, and public land use as top issues.

The race for this open seat will determine whether our state will be a leader in fighting climate change, protecting our forests, and preventing forest fires or bow to the demands of big timber companies. Upthegrove's environmental track record in office and endorsements from Washington Conservation Action, the Sierra Club, and other environmental champions make him the clear choice in this race.

Incumbent Chris Reykdal is running for a third term in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Reykdal has been a strong champion for public education as superintendent, during his six years in the Legislature, and in 14 years on local school boards and leadership positions at educational institutions.

The superintendent's office provides resources and guidance on language access, student safety, school district budgeting, and student needs to Washington's 295 public school districts and six state-tribal education compact schools. In office, Reykdal has worked to reduce learning gaps, raise educator salaries, increase free meal access, and expand dual and tribal language learning programs.

In our interview, Reykdal acknowledged that the pandemic and declining birth rates have affected enrollment rates in public schools. Despite this challenge, he was proud that districts have made gains in other areas like retaining teachers of color. He identified the decrease in state funding, relative to inflation, as a fundamental challenge facing public schools. He reiterated his commitment to advocating for the Legislature to increase funding per student and allow districts to fund special education. He also expressed his commitment to keeping schools public, rejecting vouchers, and improving mental health support for students. This year, OSPI offered legislation to increase paraeducator pay to attract and retain these critical classroom supports. Finally, he cited his experience running a large state agency for the last eight years as a key strength compared to his less experienced opponent.

Gig Harbor School Board member David Olson is challenging Reykdal on a reactionary right-wing platform. Like many conservative school board directors, he welcomes conservative, politically motivated censorship that would block access to books and multicultural programming. Olson also wants to employ strict guidelines in our schools that penalize students who are struggling the most. According to The Seattle Times, he told the Washington Republican Party convention "that if every high school graduate opted for the skilled trades instead of pursuing a four-year degree, universities 'could all go bankrupt and that would save America.'" Olson's extremism and conspiracy theories are completely disqualifying for someone looking to lead our state's public education system.

Reykdal has strong support from educators across the state and has earned your vote for re-election.

State senator and attorney Patty Kuderer is running for Washington insurance commissioner. She has served the 48th Legislative District since 2015 when she was appointed to the state House before being appointed to fill the Senate seat vacancy in 2017.

Kuderer has been one of the most active sponsors of progressive bills in the Legislature. This year, she was the primary sponsor of a successful bill to ensure Narcan is available in Washington schools. As a secondary sponsor, she helped to pass a slate of progressive bills, including ensuring that valid ballots are not unduly rejected, limiting the ability to bring firearms to public places like zoos, transit stations, and libraries, and aligning state and federal financial aid programs. Kuderer is now campaigning for insurance commissioner on a progressive platform that includes exploring universal health care, reducing auto insurance costs, expanding cancer screening for firefighters, and improving access to climate change insurance for homeowners and businesses.

Republican state Senator Phil Fortunato is also running for the commissioner position. Fortunato was first elected to serve the 31st Legislative District in Olympia in 2016 as a representative before being immediately appointed to an open Senate seat. Outside public service, his professional background is in erosion control and stormwater management. In the Legislature, Fortunato was the primary sponsor of many far-right bills, including legislation to strip abortion rights for some Washingtonians and to oppose commonsense gun safety policy. If he's elected insurance commissioner, Fortunato wants to remove regulations that keep health care costs lower. He is vehemently opposed to universal health care policies that would allow all Washingtonians, regardless of income status, to access the care and medicine they need.

We recommend Patty Kuderer for Washington insurance commissioner because of her strong background in public service and clear vision for the office.

Rep. Melanie Morgan is running for re-election for the 29th Legislative District, House Position 1. Morgan is an Army veteran who was elected to the Franklin-Pierce School Board in 2015 and worked with Young Life to create a mentorship group for young Black men, focusing on participation in STEM fields. Since taking office in 2019, she has been an advocate for representation and equity in Olympia where she has served as the deputy majority floor leader.

As someone who has experienced homelessness, Morgan has focused her efforts in the Legislature on ensuring Washingtonians stay healthy and housed. She was the primary sponsor of the successful effort to establish a state department of housing that aims to tackle the enormous need for homelessness prevention and increased housing options. She has also worked to secure funding for a new Parkland/Spanaway homeless shelter, rental assistance, and charity care for those who need medical services but are struggling to afford them. In addition, Morgan has focused on supporting bills that provide food assistance to needy families, cap the cost of insulin, and increase public transportation options in Pierce County. She boasts strong endorsements in this race from progressive leaders and community organizations.

We are concerned about recent reports that Morgan "engaged in abusive and bullying conduct" while in office. Leaders of the House Democrats are waiting for the completion of her appeal before taking any action. Pending the outcome of the investigation, at the current time of writing, Morgan is more qualified than her opponent in terms of real strategy and experience with making and passing policies that affect the people of the district.

Democratic challenger Richard Miller is a realtor who is running to expand resources in schools, improve housing affordability, and make communities feel safe. In our interview with Miller, he confirmed that he wanted to run to support everyone in the district, reduce partisanship, and help build a sense of community. Though we agreed with him broadly on some issues, he unfortunately had no concrete policy proposals or solutions to support these positions.

Melanie Morgan is still the best option for Position 1 in the 29th Legislative District.

Rep. Sharlett Mena is running unopposed for re-election on her impressive record from her first term representing the 29th Legislative District. Mena has a strong background in both public service and community organizing. She currently works at the Washington State Department of Ecology advancing environmental justice, protecting clean air and water, and implementing climate action. She co-created Voter Turnup in 2021, an organization led by people of color to spur voter turnout and civic engagement. Notably, she also served on the boards of Progreso, Planned Parenthood, and Fuse Washington, which produces this guide.

In the Legislature, Mena has worked hard to secure rights for all Washingtonians. She was the prime sponsor of the bills to improve the Voting Rights Act, ban hog-tying by law enforcement, and expand existing pay equity protections under Washington’s anti-discrimination laws.

Mena has had an exemplary first term and has earned your vote to continue representing the 29th Legislative District.

Democrat Ryan Mello is running for Pierce County executive. Mello currently chairs the Pierce County Council and previously served on the Tacoma City Council for nine years. Mello is an environmental champion who worked as executive director of the Pierce Conservation District and has served on a number of local committees focused on transportation and the climate. He also made history as Tacoma's first openly gay council member. 

Mello has been an important and effective progressive leader in Pierce County. As a county council member, he has worked to improve housing affordability, fight climate change, and reduce injustice in the criminal legal system. Now, he is campaigning on a vision to address community needs and raise the quality of life for all Pierce residents. If elected, he wants to support family-wage jobs, improve public safety, and invest in public transportation, parks, and public greenspaces. 

Mello is running against conservative Republican Rep. Kelly Chambers, who currently serves the 25th Legislative District in Olympia. First elected to the Legislature in 2018, Chambers has consistently voted the Republican Party line in the Legislature. She supports banning abortion and has consistently voted against women's health protections. She opposed commonsense laws to reduce gun violence in our communities. Finally, she voted against legislation to protect our clean air and water and opposed workers' rights and labor union protections. 

Pierce County deserves a leader who will bring us together and fight for our everyday needs. Ryan Mello is the clear choice for Pierce County Executive.

Pierce County Councilmember Marty Campbell is running for the Pierce County assessor-treasurer position. The seat is being vacated by Mike Lonergan, who cannot run again because of term limits. Campbell, the current vice chair of the county council, previously served on the Tacoma City Council, including as deputy mayor. Before public office, Campbell worked in small business executive leadership. He has also served on a number of community boards, including the county’s Commission Against Domestic Violence and the Agriculture Advisory Committee.

Campbell is running a centrist campaign to bring effective and community-responsive leadership to the office of the assessor-treasurer. He is committed to representing the interests of our diverse county, from veterans to first-time home buyers to working families. Campbell also wants to leverage his former business leadership to enhance the office’s customer service, including providing accessible information, building positive community relationships, and investing in user-friendly services.

Also in this race is Kent Keel, who formerly served on both the University Place City Council and School Board. He believes that success in the assessor-treasurer role is dependent on executive leadership experience and should be nonpartisan. However, the assessor-treasurer shouldn’t be afraid to take action to improve life in Pierce County. Keel lacks any specific policy on this front and has fewer progressive endorsements than Campbell in this race.

Marty Campbell is the best choice for assessor-treasurer because of his experience in elected office and strong local endorsements.

The chief of patrol for the Pierce County sheriff’s office, Patti Jackson, is running to replace retiring Sheriff Ed Troyer. She has served in law enforcement for 35 years and has held multiple leadership positions within the sheriff’s department. She also works with the City-County Opioid Task Force and the National Association on Mental Illness.

Jackson is running an inclusive, non-partisan campaign to bring accountability, responsiveness, and transparency to the office. Some of her ideas include establishing community advisory boards for the department, making budgets and resource allocation plans public, engaging mental health professionals for crisis response, and investing in preventative support for youth rather than early punitive responses. Jackson also wants to work on healing law enforcement’s long legacy of violence against marginalized communities, and she wants to invest in de-escalation training, bias reduction work, and cultural competency curriculums. Her vision for the office goes beyond typical public safety ideas to address how all residents can feel safer in Pierce County.

Also in this race is former Seattle police captain Keith Swank, who is running on a platform centered on his experience putting people behind bars and cracking down on peaceful protests. He offers no policy ideas for the leadership position but is running with a more right-wing vision that fails to realize what keeps our communities safe. Pierce County residents deserve a sheriff who is more focused on safety than punishment.

Patti Jackson is the best choice for Pierce County Sheriff.

Democrat John Linboe is challenging incumbent Republican Amy Cruver for the Pierce County Council, District 3 position. Linboe serves on the South Pierce Fire and Rescue Commission and as the director of Region 7 for the Washington State Fire Commissioners Association. He has also built a long track record in labor leadership, including serving on the executive board of the local machinist and aerospace worker union, as a delegate for the Pierce County Labor Council, and on the state’s Labor Council Economic Development and Transportation Committee.

Linboe is running to build an inclusive and sustainable future for Pierce County. If elected, he wants to bring progress through creating good-wage jobs, addressing the housing crisis, and investing in raising the rural quality of life. Linboe has been endorsed by a number of local groups, including the Pierce County Democrats.

Far-right Republican Amy Cruver is seeking another term on the county council where she has served since 2020. Cruver recently generated controversy when she refused to sit in the county council chambers when a pride flag was displayed. Inexplicably, she finds the flag distracting because it makes her think of "things like gay pornography, drag shows and gender-affirming surgeries" according to the Tacoma News Tribune. Pierce County Council Chair Ryan Mello, the first openly gay member of the council, called her remarks "vile, harmful, inaccurate, distasteful and close-minded." Cruver's bigotry has no place in public office.

John Linboe is the best choice in this race.

Democratic incumbent and former teacher Jani Hitchen is running for another term on the Pierce County Council representing District 6. Prior to running for council in 2020, she taught in public schools across the county, specializing in biology, physical science, and technology. She has also chaired the Tacoma Pierce County Board of Health, served on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force, and been an active union member for the Washington Education Association, among other community leadership roles.

In her first term, Hitchen was a champion for youth, survivors of sexual assault, and Pierce residents struggling with housing affordability. She helped pass legislation to bring in $15 to 20 million in annual funding for new affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, and emergency shelters across the county. She is running for re-election to protect the region’s drinking water, provide affordable childcare options, expand addiction support services, and engage mental health professionals in crisis response.

Republican Loujanna "LJ" Rohrer, a Steilacoom Historical School Board director, is challenging Hitchen in this race. Rohrer has a professional background as a senior legislative assistant in Olympia and as a staff member of the Pierce County Council. She is running on a typically conservative platform that blames the county’s issues on those struggling the most. If elected, Rohrer wants to maintain our upside-down tax code while cutting funding for key public services. Pierce County residents deserve a leader who will prioritize bold community action that will benefit everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Hitchen has earned your vote for re-election to the Pierce County Council from District 6.

Sal Mungia is an awarded and experienced local attorney running for retiring Justice Susan Owens’ Position 2 on the state Supreme Court. Mungia is a partner at a Tacoma- and Seattle-based firm where he works in trial and appellate law primarily focused on injury law and medical malpractice. He has a long history of leadership and service including, among other experiences, as the former president of the Washington State Bar Association, former chair of the Equal Justice Coalition, and a cooperating attorney with the ACLU of Washington.

Mungia’s career has been strongly community-oriented. He has done significant pro bono legal work while working to improve our criminal legal system. Now, he has earned wide and impressive support in his bid for the court including from sitting Supreme Court Justice Yu and Chief Justice González.

Federal Way Municipal Court Judge Dave Larson is also in this race. Before joining the Municipal Court, Larson worked as a trial attorney. Larson is the endorsed candidate by Washington state's MAGA Republican Party, known for its far-right positions and aggressive opposition to abortion access. Progressives are backing Mungia in this race.

We recommend Sal Mungia in this race to bring trusted, just, and community-minded leadership to Washington’s Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Steven González is running unopposed for re-election to Position 8 on the Washington Supreme Court. González was first appointed to the bench in 2012 and was chosen by his peers to serve in the chief justice position in 2021, making him Washington’s first chief justice of color. Before becoming a judge, González’s law career ranged from international business law and terrorism prosecution to civil rights pro bono work. He serves on the board of the Washington Leadership Institute to provide opportunities and support for legal professionals from backgrounds and identities that have previously been excluded from legal spaces.

In his leadership role on the state’s top court, González has sought to make the legal system a place for justice and dignity for all Washingtonians. He worked to make our courts more accessible to non-English speakers. González has received bipartisan support in past races but consistently received support from some of the state’s top progressive leaders. González has been ranked highly by some of the state’s most progressive bar associations including QLaw, Latina/o Bar Association of Washington, Washington Women Lawyers, and more.

We recommend Justice Steven González for another term in Position 8 on Washington's Supreme Court to continue bringing just and experienced judicial leadership to our top court.

Justice Sheryl McCloud is running unopposed for re-election to Position 9 on the Washington Supreme Court. McCloud is a former public defender who has served on Washington’s top court since 2013. She co-chairs the court’s Gender & Justice Commission and serves as the liaison to the state bar's Council on Public Defense. On the bench, Justice McCloud’s top areas of attention include constitutional and individual rights, and she authored the 2017 opinion barring a private business open to the general public from refusing to serve a gay couple. She was the founding member of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association.

In this election, her focus is on protecting constitutional rights. She has been rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by a number of the state’s top bar associations, including the King County Bar Association, QLaw, and the Washington Women Lawyers. These organizations ensure that our justices are treating all Washingtonians fairly and protecting constitutionally outlined civil rights.

Justice McCloud deserves your vote to continue bringing fair and experienced leadership to the state Supreme Court.

Acting Court of Appeals Chief Judge Linda Lee is running unopposed for re-election to her Division 2, District 1, Position 3 seat. Lee has been in the Court of Appeals position since 2014 and spent ten years serving on the Pierce County Superior Court before that. She also worked at a Seattle- and Tacoma-based law firm focused on civil litigation and business transactions.

Judge Lee has spent her tenure on the court building a respected reputation through issuing balanced and impartial decisions. She has earned your vote for another term on the Court of Appeals.

Judge TaTeasha Davis is running for re-election to Judge Position 1 on the Pierce County Superior Court. Davis was first appointed to the court in January 2023, and she previously worked in a financial and family law private practice. In addition, she has experience working as a staff attorney for Pierce County YWCA, a social service organization for survivors of domestic violence.

Throughout her legal career, Davis has demonstrated a keen dedication to the public service. On the superior court, Judge Davis has proven herself to be an effective, reasoned, and respectful judicial leader. A fair day in court is a basic right in our democracy, and Davis is committed to ensuring that every person who comes before her is treated with professionalism and compassion. She has earned strong endorsements from the rest of the Pierce County Superior Court and local appeals judges and has broad bipartisan support in her re-election bid.

Davis faces a challenge from Paul Robson, an administrative law judge of six years and a part of the United States Armed Forces' Judge Advocate General's Corps. He serves as the vice president of the Conflict Resolution Research and Resource Institute. His campaign focuses on representing veterans and military personnel, yet his professional and community experience falls far short of Davis's.

Judge TaTeasha Davis has earned your vote for another term in Pierce County Superior Court, Judge Position 1.

John Cummings is running for Pierce County Superior Court, Judge Position 4. Cummings is a pro tem judge in both the Lakewood Municipal Court and Thurston County District Court. He has spent years in courtroom litigation, in both civil matters and as a former deputy prosecutor for the county. If elected, he would become the first openly gay judge in Pierce County.

Cummings is a progressive judge with wide support in this race, including from eight of the nine Supreme Court justices. He has led his legal career with a strong knowledge of the law and respect for all parties involved in court disputes. His wide-ranging experience in the courtroom – across civil litigation, prosecution, and judicial leadership – provide him an excellent foundation to preside impartially and competently on the county superior court.

Attorney Rebecca Reeder is the other candidate in this race. Reeder has spent decades in family law and civil litigation at her current firm and has experience on the county’s superior court as both a pro tem commissioner as well as an arbitrator. She is widely respected but has garnered more conservative support in this specific race.

Cummings’ progressive support and strong track record have set him apart. Vote John Cummings for Judge Position 4 on the Pierce County Superior Court.

Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Philip Thornton is running for Pierce County Superior Court Judge, Position 10. Thornton joined the court as a commissioner in 2019 and has since earned a reputation among his peers for thoughtful leadership in the role. He has also established his own law office specializing in criminal defense, family law, and personal injury. Thornton has spent his spare time offering pro bono legal aid and counsel to the community through various local organizations.

In his role as a court commissioner, Thornton has already seen many of the cases he would preside over if elected as a court judge. Beyond his commissioner work, he has extensive courtroom experience as a lawyer, having tried hundreds of criminal and civil cases in his three-decades-long legal career. Thornton has earned an incredible number of endorsements from sitting and retired Pierce Superior Court judges. He also has support in this race from three Washington Supreme Court justices, the county Democrats and Republicans, and other local labor and political organizations.

Camille Schaefer, Thornton’s opponent in this race, has a similar background with six years of experience as a court commissioner. Schaefer also has a background in family law and civil matters, and she has donated pro bono hours to the community. She wants to make sure her courtroom would be a place where every resident is empowered, though her campaign has earned comparatively less support from our judicial partners in this race.

We recommend Philip Thornton for Judge Position 10 on the Pierce County Superior Court to continue bringing his reputable leadership to the court as a judge.

Ingrid McLeod is running for ​Pierce County Superior Court, Judge Position 15. McLeod is a Pierce County Superior Court commissioner and a former civil litigator. She also serves on a number of local and state court committees and has deep roots in the Pierce community.

In her role as a court commissioner, McLeod has worked on cases ranging from family law to criminal law while serving Pierce County residents during difficult times. Across community judicial roles, she has safeguarded constitutional rights and due process, decreased the backlog of cases, and strengthened the fairness and efficiency of our courts. Her campaign has earned the support of every current Pierce County Superior Court judge, as well as a number of other respected judges and legal leaders.

Brian Wasankari is a Pierce County deputy prosecutor. He has served in the role for more than twenty years and additionally works in legal assistance for military service members. Despite Wasankari’s career focus in criminal prosecutions in divisions such as drugs, gangs, and sexual assault, he claims to have experience in the wider range of cases that come before a county court superior judge. In this race, he is prioritizing equitable treatment before the law for all Pierce residents. However, though judges are impartial, Wasankari has expressed criticism over policies that allow all of us a second chance to learn from our worst mistakes. He is not the best choice for equal justice in Pierce County.

We recommend Ingrid McLeod for this Pierce County Superior Court position because of her consistent record of fair and impartial leadership.