Pierce County

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made history when she became the first woman nominated by the Democratic Party for president. As President, she will continue her legacy of advocacy for women, children, and families, which began with working at the Children's Defense Fund to provide education to students with disabilities. She also promises to fight for equal pay, protect our environment, expand background checks to more gun sales, support comprehensive immigration reform, and stand up to Republican attacks on President Barack Obama's landmark health care law.

Her main opponent, Republican Donald Trump, has amassed a troubling track record of actions and positions that are divisive, dishonest, disrespectful to women, and far too uninformed and unstable to lead our nation and be our Commander in Chief. Also in this race is Green Party nominee Jill Stein, a former Lexington, Massachusetts Town Council member, and Gary Johnson, the Libertarian former governor of New Mexico.

Hillary Rodham Clinton deserves your vote.

Since Patty Murray was first elected in 1992, the "Mom in Tennis Shoes" has been an incredible champion for women, working people, veterans, and an economy that works for everyone. The fourth-ranking Democrat in the Senate, she has earned the respect of Democrats and Republicans alike by forging agreements on the budget, education, women's health, and other critical issues, all while continuing to fight for working people across our state.

Her opponent is former Washington State Republican Party Chair Chris Vance. Vance, a partisan operative who championed George W. Bush for president, has led a lackluster campaign and does not bring new ideas to the table. Murray's leadership, experience, and progressive values make her the clear choice in this race.

Derek Kilmer is a moderate Democrat who is a reliable supporter of creating jobs and improving infrastructure. He has been a leader on small business development and protecting Puget Sound during his first two terms in Congress. A former state Senator, he worked as a business consultant and economic development official before he was elected.

Kilmer faces Republican Todd Bloom, who is not running an effective campaign. Kilmer deserves your vote.

Tony Ventrella is a popular former sports broadcast journalist and progressive Democrat who is prioritizing getting money out of politics by overturning Citizens United. He supports building an economy that works for everyone, ensuring women have the freedom to make their own private medical decisions, and expanding access to health care.

Ventrella is challenging longtime incumbent Dave Reichert. While in Congress, Reichert voted for the government shutdown that cost taxpayers $24 billion, voted to defund Planned Parenthood, and has joined with the far right members of his party to waste time voting again and again to overturn Obamacare. Ventrella would be a welcome change for the 8th District.

Rep. Denny Heck has had a long career in both the private and public sectors, most notably as a state Representative, state House majority leader, chief of staff to former Gov. Booth Gardner, and TVW co-founder. As a member of Congress, he has fought to make college more affordable and worked to lower health care costs, ensure veterans get the benefits they deserve, and create middle class jobs.

Heck is being challenged by perennial Republican candidate Jim Postma, a climate change doubter who wants to build more nuclear plants and drill for oil on government lands. Heck’s track record, experience, and values make him the best choice in this race.

Governor Jay Inslee has been a strong, principled leader on the important challenges facing Washington, including tackling transportation problems, increasing the minimum wage, and fighting global warming. He has also worked to fund schools by closing unjust tax loopholes and fought to close the gender pay gap. Before he was elected Governor in 2012, Inslee represented both sides of the Cascades in Congress, opposed the Iraq war, and worked to increase accountability and oversight for Wall Street banks.

In contrast, Republican Bill Bryant opposes the Washington Voting Rights Act, is opposed to many public transportation projects, and is an obstacle to closing unjust tax loopholes. While Inslee has his work cut out for him in his second term, we believe his strong moral compass and vision for improving our state makes him the best choice in this race.

State Senator Cyrus Habib has been an effective champion for public education, transit solutions, and gun safety. Habib authored a successful jobs bill to connect entrepreneurs with additional funding options, and has been named one of 12 legislators to watch in the country by Governing Magazine.

His opponent, Republican Marty McClendon, is a far-right conservative who advocates for Tea Party proposals such as eliminating the IRS, shutting down the Affordable Care Act, and pursuing energy exploration without regard to the environment. Due to his leadership and accomplishments, Habib deserves your vote.

Tina Podlodowski is running for Secretary of State to increase voter participation and turnout as the state’s chief elections officer. Podlodowski has spent her life fighting for equality and driving forward progress. She understands just how important voting and an equitable election system are to a functioning and flourishing democracy. She is a former Microsoft executive who also served on the Seattle City Council and has a strong track record of non-profit leadership.

Podlodowski is challenging incumbent Republican Kim Wyman for failing to improve declining voter participation. Wyman has opposed the Washington Voting Rights Act and has refused to support common-sense measures to increase voter participation such as Election Day voter registration and pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds. Podlodowski deserves your vote.

Elected in 2003, Benton County Treasurer Duane Davidson is the better of two conservative candidates vying to replace outgoing State Treasurer Jim McIntire. Davidson is currently serving his second term as the President of the Washington State Association of County Treasurers and has been endorsed by both Republican and Democratic treasurers as well as most major newspapers from around the state. While we disagree about how to reform our state's upside-down tax code, Davidson brings years of experience with government finance, managing staff, smart investments of taxpayer dollars, and a commitment to transparency and accountability.

In contrast, banker Michael Waite has no experience overseeing government finances. We have concerns that he would use the office as a platform for anti-tax activism and insert himself into legislative debates outside the scope of the Treasurer’s office. Waite does support safe and legal abortion access and has earned the endorsement of Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii as well as NARAL Pro-Choice Washington.

We recommend Davidson as the best of two conservative options.

Current Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has run the operations of Pierce County government for eight years, managing 3,000 employees and a $900 million budget. Prior to that, she served as the Pierce County Auditor, where she was honored as the 2005 Washington State Auditor of the Year. McCarthy is running to bring back integrity to the Auditor's office after a criminal indictment derailed Troy Kelley's term, and promises to improve efficiency and transparency in our state government.

Her opponent is socially-conservative Republican Senator Mark Miloscia. Unfortunately, Miloscia is opposed to safe and legal abortion access and to marriage equality. He supports allowing employers to deny coverage for birth control and co-sponsored a bill that could ban many forms of birth control. We're concerned that if elected, Miloscia could use his office to launch politically-fueled investigations of Planned Parenthood and other women's health groups that receive public funds to provide health care to women.

Miloscia has been good on labor issues and was endorsed by some of our labor partners, including SEIU 925, SEIU 775, and the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, as well as a dual endorsement from the Washington Federation of State Employees. However, McCarthy's support is broader and she deserves your vote due to her accomplished record, experience, and trusted values.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson's accomplishments in four years are impressive. From delivering millions of dollars back to consumers who were wronged by fraudulent corporations and his ongoing battle with the federal government to clean up the Hanford nuclear waste site to successfully fighting two Tim Eyman initiatives, Ferguson has been a strong and effective advocate for people in Washington.

Ferguson faces Libertarian Josh Trumbull, who is not running a viable campaign and is not qualified for this office. Ferguson deserves your vote.

Erin Jones is a teacher of foreign languages and African American studies who has won multiple awards for her innovative work to make learning more accessible for students of color. Jones most recently worked at Tacoma Public Schools as a literacy coach and previously served as Assistant Superintendent of Student Achievement for the state of Washington, where she worked on policy and instruction practices to make schools a place where all students can learn. Jones' three kids attended Washington public schools.

There are some concerns about the support Jones has received from prominent right-wing Republicans and conservative interest groups. In addition, The Stranger and Equal Rights Washington have raised important concerns about some of Jones' statements and positions on LGBTQ issues and associations with conservative groups opposed to LGBTQ equality. We take those concerns very seriously. After a careful review and a long discussion with her, it’s clear she has changed those positions. Although she had some learning to do on LGTBQ equality, we believe her heart is in the right place.

While Jones has earned dual endorsements from several of our Progressive Voters Guide partners, we lean toward Reykdal in this race.

As the state Insurance Commissioner, Mike Kreidler has brought a range of experience to the position and defended the interests of Washington residents against big insurance companies. Kreidler cut insurance rates, required that contraceptives be included in prescription drug coverage for women, and helped increase the transparency of the health insurance market. If re-elected, Kreidler will work on expanding health care access, limiting insurance company exploitation, and eliminating credit scoring as a determinant of insurance rates.

Kreidler faces Republican Richard Schrock, who is not running a credible campaign. Kreidler deserves your vote.

Marilyn Rasmussen is a farmer and timber industry advocate who served three terms in the state House and four terms in the state Senate, ending her last term in 2009. The moderate Democrat is a strong supporter of education, small businesses, and transportation infrastructure improvements.

She faces incumbent Republican Senator Randi Becker, who opposed health care reform while receiving large amounts of money from health insurance companies, and is unwilling to fully fund education and basic health care. Rasmussen deserves your vote.

Amy Pivetta Hoffman is a strong candidate who is running for the seat vacated by Republican Rep. Graham Hunt after he resigned for falsifying military records. Pivetta Hoffman is an accomplished attorney and small business owner who has served on the Bethel School Board and as the President of the Frederickson Land Use Advisory Council. She is uniquely positioned to help guide our state through some of its challenges with education funding, and will bring her business mindset to the state budget.

Pivetta Hoffman faces Rep. Andrew Barkis, who is a very conservative legislator beholden to the most extreme members of his party, not the people of Pierce County. Pivetta Hoffman has earned your vote.

Derek Maynes is a disabled Iraq War veteran running to bring integrity and leadership back to this seat. He was endorsed by our partners at NARAL Pro-Choice Washington.

Maynes faces an uphill battle against far-right conservative J.T. Wilcox, who supported fellow Republican Rep. Jay Rodne after he made bigoted and Islamophobic remarks. Maynes deserves your vote.

Karl Mecklenburg is an Air Force veteran and bank recruiter who is running for the open seat vacated by Sen. Bruce Dammeier. He is prioritizing fully funding education and addressing homelessness as his top issues.

Mecklenburg faces an uphill battle against conservative Rep. Hans Zeiger, who has taken a few good votes but opposed raising the minimum wage and closing tax loopholes to fund education. Mecklenburg's commitment to funding schools makes him the best choice in this race.

Jamie Smith is a teacher at Puyallup High School who is running a solid campaign for state representative. She supports fully funding education, a living wage for all hard workers, and ensuring health care is accessible to all.

Her opponent, incumbent Republican Melanie Stambaugh, made a statement in support of defunding Planned Parenthood on the House floor and voted against raising the minimum wage. Due to our schools' dire need and the solutions she offers, Smith deserves your vote.

Michelle Chatterton is an emergency management coordinator and a member of the City of Puyallup's Parks, Recreation, and Senior Advisory Board running for the open seat vacated by Rep. Hans Zeiger. She is running an energetic campaign to ensure our schools are fully funded and to address traffic issues, college affordability, and the growing youth homelessness problem in Puyallup.

Chatterton faces Joyce McDonald, a conservative who serves on the Pierce County Council and has led efforts to ban voter-approved marijuana sales in Pierce County. Previously, McDonald challenged and lost to Congressman Denny Heck. Chatterton is a rising star and deserves your vote.

Former Rep. Larry Seaquist is a moderate Democrat who previously chaired the Higher Education Committee. During his years in the House, he passed significant reforms through bipartisan compromises, including preventing some cuts to higher education, sponsoring Apple Health Care for Kids, and reducing property taxes for low-income seniors.

He faces incumbent Republican Jesse Young, who voted against funding improvements for the Bremerton Ferry Terminal and important repairs to six ferries that serve the 26th District. Due to his solutions oriented representation, Seaquist deserves your vote.

Retired small business owner and former teacher Randy Spitzer is running against recently elected Republican Rep. Michelle Caldier. Spitzer is an independent Democrat who is running to ease the tax burden on middle class families, fully fund education, and protect our environment.

In her first term, Caldier has opposed closing tax loopholes to fund schools and was sued by her previous opponent for false ads during her campaign, though she deserves credit for some good labor votes. For representation with integrity, Spitzer is a good choice in this race.

Sen. Jeannie Darneille has been a strong advocate for the 27th legislative district in her 12 years in the House and four years in the Senate, particularly for families who are struggling to make ends meet. She is a champion of women, people with disabilities, health care access, and expanded economic opportunities for all.

Darneille faces conservative Gregory Taylor, who does not support access to living wages for all working people. Due to her longtime dedication to the district, Darneille deserves your vote.

Rep. Laurie Jinkins is a public health professional and the first openly lesbian women to serve in the state Legislature. She has been a progressive champion and leading voice on the need to close unnecessary tax loopholes, fully fund our schools, and protect liberty and equality for all. Jinkins is unopposed and has earned your vote.

Rep. Jake Fey is a former Tacoma City Councilman who is an environmental champion. As the vice-chair of the House Transportation Committee, Fey has been a strong supporter of transit, as well as clean air and a sustainable future for all of us. Fey also serves on the House Education Committee and is committed to fully funding our schools. He is running unopposed and deserves your vote.

Marisa Peloquin is a U.S. Army Colonel who served as a jumpmaster and company commander in the 82nd Airborne Division. She also serves as a local PTA President working to improve our kids’ schools. She has seen firsthand what works in the classroom and what our kids need to succeed. Peloquin will bring her experience to Olympia advocating for military families and providing a quality education for every student.

Her opponent, state Sen. Steve O'Ban, led the highly partisan Republican attacks on the Governor this year, which the Tacoma News Tribune criticized for wasting taxpayer time and money. Previously, O'Ban sued the state to prevent Washington women from accessing birth control at some pharmacies. He has also been a strong opponent of equality for the LGBT community. Peloquin's values and commitment to public service make her a better choice in this race.

Mari Leavitt is the deputy director of Pierce County Connections and a former president of University Place PTA. Through her community leadership, she has gained a vast amount of experience supporting veterans, enhancing early childhood learning, and promoting workforce development to help struggling families land on their feet. Leavitt believes we need to close corporate tax loopholes so out-of-state corporations finally pay what they owe. She'll work in Olympia to give our schools the funding they need and improve graduation rates so our young people can excel after high school. She is running to close outdated tax loopholes, prioritize mental health care and veterans services, and support equal pay for women, foster care services, and homelessness solutions.

Leavitt faces incumbent Rep. Dick Muri, who voted against raising the minimum wage and equal pay for women. Leavitt deserves your vote.

Rep. Christine Kilduff is a former University Place School Board member who serves as Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. She is a strong and effective advocate for improving economic opportunities in the district, strengthening our schools, and improving access to health care. She has also been a great advocate for veterans and military families during her time in the Legislature. This past session, she sponsored legislation to increase community outreach programs to veterans in rural and remote areas, ensuring they can access health care, education, and employment services.

Kilduff is opposed by the very conservative candidate Paul Wagemann, who has run for this seat unsuccessfully every year since 2010. Wagemann supports outlawing abortion even in cases of rape and incest and has questioned whether or not schools need more funding. Due to her service to the community and support for public schools, Kilduff deserves your vote.

Rep. David Sawyer is an up and coming progressive legislator who wants to do more work to solve childhood homelessness, fix our upside down tax code, and ensure everyone has opportunities to succeed.

Sawyer faces conservative Rick Thomas, who does not share Sawyer's dedicated approach to our state's most pressing problems. Due to his strong support from the community, Sawyer deserves your vote.

Rep. Steve Kirby has represented the 29th District for six terms and previously served four terms on the Tacoma City Council. He currently serves as the Chair of the powerful Business and Financial Services Committee. Kirby' has a long track record of public service and positive votes to ensure all workers have the opportunity to succeed.

Kirby faces Republican Jessica Garcia, who was a leading activist supporting charter schools during the 2016 legislative session. Due to his many years of dedication and service to his community, Kirby deserves your vote.

Drew Stokesbary is a relatively moderate Republican running against Libertarian John Frostad. While he has voted against the minimum wage and equal pay for women, we credit Stokesbary for being an early #NeverTrump advocate and for voting for the transportation package. He was also endorsed by some of our labor partners.

Due to lack of a better option, Stokesbary would be a better choice than Frostad in this race.

Lane Walthers is an Independent Democrat and a firefighter/EMT Captain who has served in the Sumner Fire Department for 30 years. Walthers is running to ensure fiscal responsibility while supporting working families, and to make sure our veterans have the services they deserve and our schools aren't overcrowded.

Walthers faces Republican Philip Fortunato, a very conservative climate denier who promotes Tim Eyman's bad ideas on his campaign website. Due to his leadership and service to the community, Walthers is the best choice for the seat vacated by Rep. Chris Hurst.

Rick Talbert is a moderate Democrat who has conducted Pierce County performance audits since 2003. He has served on the Pierce County Council since 2010 and has been a member of the Pierce Transit Board of Directors and the Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health. He also served as the president of the Small Business Incubator as well as the East Tacoma Home and Industry Council.

Talbert is facing Republican Sen. Bruce Dammeier for the open Pierce County Executive office. Dammeier has been a member of the Senate Republican leadership in Olympia that has blocked efforts to raise the minimum wage, ensure equal pay for women, and close tax loopholes to fund schools. Since taking power in 2012, Dammeier and the other state Senate Republicans have been highly partisan and caused record gridlock in Olympia.

Talbert is the best choice in this race because of his experience with local issues and track record of working across party lines to get things done.

Carolyn Edmonds is a small business owner with a track record of community leadership who has served in the state Legislature and in local government. She was recently elected to the Pierce County Charter Review Commission. In addition, her career includes real estate and small business development. Edmonds is running to ensure the council can work together on the important issues it faces, including public safety, transportation, the environment and the economy.

Edmonds faces combative Republican Pam Roach, who is most well known for being barred from her caucus in the state Legislature after verbally abusing her staff. This past year, Roach was criticized in the media for verbally abusing victims of sex trafficking. Roach wants to draw paychecks from both the county and the state. Edmonds is the clear choice in this race.

Dennis Townsend is a former telecom industry worker and former Bethel School Board member who is running to protect Spanaway Lake, promote healthy communities, and keep our streets safe. He faces an uphill battle against conservative incumbent Jim McCune, an ineffective council member who has consistently undermined efforts to protect Pierce County’s natural resources, improve its transportation system, and address health care issues. Townsend would bring a solutions-oriented approach to this district and deserves your vote.

Linda Farmer is a current Charter Review Commissioner, former newspaper reporter, and longtime communications and government affairs manager. She has earned respect from the community for her transparency, leadership, and dedication to getting the job done. Farmer is running to bring her many years of experience working with government budgets and to tackle traffic congestion, homelessness, pollution, and access to mental health care.

Farmer faces incumbent Doug Richardson, who won by only a small percentage in 2012 against an ineffective candidate. For her leadership and experience, Farmer deserves your vote.

Justice Mary Yu served 14 years as a trial court judge in King County, where she presided over hundreds of criminal, civil, and family law cases before Governor Jay Inslee appointed her to Washington’s Supreme Court. As the first Asian American, the first Latina, and the first open member of the LGBTQ community to serve on the Supreme Court, Yu brings a community-based approach and respect for every person to her service.

Justice Yu is also highly involved in the Washington state law community. She serves as a Co-Chair for the Leadership Institute of UW, the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, and the Washington State Bar Association.

Yu faces Gonzaga Law Professor David Dewolf, who is best known for his far-right pro-creationism and anti-evolution views. Because of her remarkable record and extensive experience, Justice Mary Yu is the clear choice for this Supreme Court Justice Position 1.

Chief Justice Barbara Madsen has led our state Supreme Court in a fair and impartial manner through a series of high profile cases. First elected in 1992, Madsen was only the third woman to ever serve on our highest court. She has won numerous awards for her service, especially for her work creating opportunities for young female lawyers and judges. Despite Republican efforts to politicize our court over rulings about education funding and several Tim Eyman initiatives, Madsen has maintained a steadfast commitment to upholding equal justice under the law.

Madsen is opposed by Greg Zempel, a Republican prosecutor from Kittitas County. Zempel has said he is running because he disagrees with some recent decisions. Madsen deserves your vote.

Elected in 2010, Justice Charlie Wiggins is highly regarded, bringing his sharp eye for judicial ethics and more than 30 years of law and justice experience to the Supreme Court, where he has written more than 100 court opinions. Justice Wiggins is an active volunteer in his community for Habitat for Humanity and other good causes. He worked to support campaign contribution limits in state judicial elections before he was elected to the court. Wiggins is rated “exceptionally well qualified” by several bar associations.

Justice Wiggins faces Dave Larson, a Federal Way Municipal Court Judge. Larson is not highly rated by bar associations, and as a Federal Way School Board Member he voted to ban the documentary An Inconvenient Truth from classrooms after a parent complained that the film didn't include the perspective of global-warming deniers. Larson is heavily backed by huge expenditures from conservative interests unhappy with Justice Wiggins' decisions. Ignore their misleading attack ads. Justice Charlie Wiggins' experience, qualifications, and commitment to judicial ethics makes him the best choice for Supreme Court Justice Position 6.

Current Pierce County Superior Court Judge Katherine Stolz has been re-elected four times and has been practicing law for nearly four decades. She has served on the Superior Court Criminal Procedures Committee and is a member of the Superior Court Judges' Association. She served her community as an elementary reading tutor in 2003 and 2004 and oversaw the YMCA High School Mock Trial Competition in 2001 and 2005.

Stolz has been endorsed by a number of local judges as well as the Pierce County Democrats. Her opponent, Timothy Ashcraft, is a trial lawyer who has not received the same community support. Stolz is a good choice in this race.

Shelly Speir is a longtime trial lawyer who believes that every person deserves fairness and justice under the law. The former teacher has mostly worked in personal injury law, advocating for clients who are battling insurance companies and other corporations. Speir serves on the Board of Governors for the Washington State Association of Justice and has been rated Exceptionally Well-Qualified or Well-Qualified by six of the major bar associations. She has been endorsed by some of our labor partners.

Her opponent, Dominque Jinhong, is an Industrial Appeals Court Judge and LGBTQ woman of color who founded the free legal Rainbow Clinic. While Jinhong has also received a number of endorsements from progressives, we are concerned that she has only received a bar rating from QLaw. We lean toward Speir in this race.