17th Legislative District

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.

Jim Moeller rose to become Speaker Pro Tempore of the state House through his hard work and leadership and will serve as a strong leader in Congress, too. Moeller has developed a stellar reputation for bipartisanship through his work on health care and job creation. He has also been a strong advocate for fully funding schools, ensuring families have a safe place to sleep, and solving our state's mental health crisis.

Moeller faces a tough race against incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler. Herrera Beutler is an extremely conservative Republican who has consistently sided with the Tea Party on issues like health care, environmental protection, immigration reform, and economic fairness. Moeller is the best choice in this race.

The only candidates in this race are conservative Republicans who are out of step with mainstream values on many issues. Nevertheless, Dan Newhouse is the better choice in this race. Newhouse is facing Clint Didier, who is an extreme right-wing Tea Party activist and failed candidate for state Commissioner of Public Lands. While we don't agree with Newhouse on his positions on women's health, the environment, or other important issues, he would bring a level of professionalism and rationality that Didier lacks. Newhouse is 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.

Moderate Democrat and former state Rep. Tim Probst is running for an open seat against Republican Rep. Lynda Wilson. He believes we need to close corporate tax loopholes for out-of-state corporations so that we can finally fund our kids’ schools. He is running to reduce traffic congestion on the I-5 bridge and will work with local firefighters and small businesses to oppose the proposed Vancouver Oil Terminal.

Probst's opponent, Lynda Wilson, is a Tea Party Republican who opposes a higher minimum wage and paid sick leave. Due to his commitment to supporting working people, Probst is the best choice in this race.

Former Navy Officer Sam Kim is running for the open seat vacated by Republican Lynda Wilson. Kim has served 16 years on the board of the Battle Ground School District and is committed to providing a quality education for all students. He supports raising the minimum wage so that workers can support themselves and their families. In the Legislature, Sam will fight to fund our schools, reduce traffic gridlock, and make sure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Kim faces conservative Vicki Kraft, who opposes commonsense economic reforms such as raising the minimum wage and passing paid sick leave. Kraft previously worked for the Freedom Foundation, a very conservative organization that opposes protections for working people. For his education leadership and commitment to funding our schools, Kim deserves your vote.

Democrat Martin Hash is a 3-D animation software developer who is not accepting donations for his campaign. He faces an uphill battle against incumbent Republican Rep. Paul Harris, who opposes closing tax loopholes to fund education.

Though Hash has some interesting philosophies, his belief in a government that works for all people makes him a better choice in this race.

Children's advocate Tanisha Harris is running a strong campaign for the Clark County Council seat formerly held by divisive conservative David Madore before he was defeated in the primary. Harris works with the Clark County YWCA helping guide families and others through the complicated court system. She understands the drastic impacts cuts to services in Clark County have had on families and children due to many years working in Evergreen Schools. She plans on bringing back transparency, integrity, and respect to the office.

Harris faces conservative realtor John Blom in this race. We think it is time for a change in representation in Clark County. For her leadership and longtime service to the community, Harris deserves your vote.

Roman Battan is a small business owner and former banker running an energetic campaign focused on bringing good governance, accountability, and economic development to Clark County.

Battan faces conservative Washougal City Councilwoman Jennifer McDaniel. It's time for a change in leadership in Clark County. Due to his smart business sense and focus on accountability, Battan 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.