M. L. King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO Endorsements

Senator Maria Cantwell was first elected in 2000 and continues to represent our state's progressive values in our nation's capital. Sen. Cantwell has been a leader on a wide range of issues including reproductive rights, supporting the Children's Health Insurance Program, defending net neutrality, passing oil spill legislation to protect our water, working on clean energy policies, and many more.

Sen. Cantwell is opposed by Republican Susan Hutchison. Hutchison is a former news anchor and past chair of the state Republican Party. She ran for King County Executive in 2009 and lost by twenty points. Hutchison is well-known for being a party-line Republican and for her fierce defense of President Donald Trump, including calling fellow Republican Ted Cruz a "traitor" for not supporting the president's campaign.

Sen. Cantwell has been a tenacious advocate for the people of Washington state and is the best choice in this race.

Representative Pramila Jayapal has a long history of civic leadership on immigration reform, economic fairness, and civil liberties. She founded OneAmerica (formerly Hate Free Zone) in 2001 and built it into a national model and the largest immigrant rights organization in the state. Rep. Jayapal also played a key role on the Mayoral Advisory Committee that created Seattle’s $15 minimum wage.

In her first term in Congress, Rep. Jayapal has fought the Trump administration at every turn and provided a voice for progressives across the country. She has supported the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the Dream Act that would provide a path to citizenship for young DACA recipients. She has also fought back against the Trump administration's inhumane policy of separating families seeking asylum and she introduced legislation that paves a pathway towards a universal health care system.

Her opponent, Seattle resident Craig Keller, is best known as the founder of an anti-immigrant organization that tried to repeal the City of Burien's sanctuary city ordinance. His organization has been recognized by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group.

Rep. Jayapal is by far the best choice in this race

Dr. Kim Schrier is a pediatrician who was inspired to run for Washington’s 8th Congressional District because of Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. She is committed to building an economy that works for everyone and protecting Social Security and Medicare for all. She also wants to bring her voice to the debates about women’s health care and abortion rights in Congress, where there are currently no women doctors. Dr. Schrier supports letting Americans of any age buy into Medicare on a sliding scale to reduce overhead costs and increase competition for private insurers.

Dr. Schrier is running against Republican Dino Rossi, who previously ran unsuccessful campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate. Rossi has consistently sided with congressional Republicans, including supporting the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy few. He is also strongly anti-choice and does not support commonsense gun safety legislation. While in the state Legislature, he wrote a budget that would have taken away health care from 45,000 low-income kids. Rossi would be another reliable vote for the Republican leaders and powerful special interests in Washington, D.C.

We need new leadership in Congress that puts working families before corporations and the wealthy elites who rig the rules. Dr. Kim Schrier is the best choice for Washington's 8th Congressional District.

Representative Adam Smith has been a reliable vote in Congress on progressive issues from taxation to immigration reform. He represents Washington's first majority-minority district, a community with 30 percent foreign-born residents and large Asian, Hispanic, and African-American communities. Rep. Smith is an advocate for greater equality, supports a path to citizenship for immigrants, reforming the tax code, and Medicare for All. Rep. Smith has used his position on the Armed Services Committee to introduce and support legislation that tempers Trump's belligerent foreign policy moves, including a bill that states the U.S. will not strike a country with nuclear weapons first.

Rep. Smith is running against Democrat Sarah Smith, who is challenging Rep. Smith from the left. She's running on a comprehensive progressive platform including Medicare for All, alleviating student loan debt, supporting a nationwide tenants’ bill of rights, and building 10 million social homes. Sarah Smith is highly critical of Rep. Smith’s votes in favor of the Iraq War and the Patriot Act. However, during her interview with Fuse staff, she failed to produce a robust and detailed plan for how she would implement the sweeping reforms she supports, politically and economically.

Rep. Adam Smith is the best choice in this race because of his experience, in-depth knowledge of public policy, and strong support from a wide range of progressive advocacy organizations.

Democratic Representative Derek Stanford was first elected in 2010 and has emerged as an effective progressive leader in Olympia. Throughout his tenure in the Legislature, Rep. Stanford has been a strong proponent of LGBTQ rights, consumer protections, environmental sustainability, and strengthening access to higher education in Washington state. Most recently, Rep. Stanford sponsored legislation that prohibited state agencies from creating databases based on an individual's religious affiliation to protect Washingtonians' right to privacy.

Stanford is opposed by Republican Josh Colver. His platform includes opposing abortion, defunding Planned Parenthood, letting the free market determine energy policy, and privatizing and phasing out Medicaid and Medicare.

Representative Derek Stanford is the clear choice for the 1st Legislative District House Position 1.

Democratic Representative Shelley Kloba is running for re-election to the 1st Legislative District House Position 2. During her tenure in the Legislature, Rep. Kloba has been a strong advocate for affordable housing and quality education. This year, Rep. Kloba was the primary sponsor of a bill that grew the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council for students from low-income backgrounds. Prior to joining the Legislature, Rep. Kloba served her community as a trustee for the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, as a Kirkland city councilmember, and as the Washington State PTA Legislative Director for two years.

Representative Shelley Kloba is being challenged by Snohomish County Republican Chair Debra Blodgett. Blodgett's campaign is focused on protecting private property, constitutional rights, and funding education.

Representative Shelley Kloba is best choice in this race.

Issaquah City Councilmember and small business owner Bill Ramos is running to fill the House seat vacated by retiring Representative Jay Rodne. Prior to serving on the city council, Ramos served on the Human Services Commission and the Planning Policy Commission. Ramos has earned a reputation as an environmentalist by fighting for sustainable development and growth policies, as well as supporting expanded transit options. Ramos is passionate about uniting the 5th Legislative District behind commonsense solutions that address our state's most pressing challenges like traffic congestion, housing affordability, and homelessness.

Ramos is running against former Republican state Representative Chad Magendanz. In 2016, Magendanz stepped down from the House to launch a failed campaign for state Senate. While in the Legislature, Magendanz maintained a conservative track record, including being the sole East King County legislator of either party to vote against a transportation bill that would've reduced traffic gridlock on the I-405 corridor.

Bill Ramos is the best choice for the 5th Legislative District House Position 1.

Democrat Lisa Callan is running for the 5th Legislative District House Position 2. Callan currently serves on the Issaquah School Board and is a member of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce. She is prioritizing transportation solutions and improving the quality of K-12 education. If elected, Callan would focus on reducing traffic gridlock, implementing sustainable growth policies, and increasing transparency within Olympia.

Callan is challenging incumbent Republican Representative Paul Graves. Rep. Graves does not support fixing Washington's upside-down tax code and has voted against progressive reforms that would address our state's toughest budget problems, as well as against a bill that requires state insurers to cover reproductive health care. Callan is the best choice in this race.

Democratic Rep. Zack Hudgins has been a strong progressive advocate in the Legislature. He chairs the House State Government, Elections, and Information Technology Committee where he oversees election and voting access improvements. Throughout his tenure, Rep. Hudgins has focused on standing up for vulnerable Washingtonians, strengthening election transparency, and making effective investments into our state economy. Outside of the Legislature, Representative Hudgins serves on the Task Force on Cybersecurity for the National Conference on State Legislatures as well as on the board of the Domestic Abuse Women’s Network, an organization that aids survivors of domestic violence. Representative Hudgins is unopposed and has earned another term in office.

Democratic Representative Steve Bergquist is running unopposed for re-election. A former public school teacher, Rep. Bergquist has fought hard to fully fund education and is focused on improving the quality of schools in Washington state. Throughout his tenure, Rep. Bergquist has also been a reliable advocate on social justice, health care, and environmental issues. Recently, he sponsored a bill that will strengthen participation in our democracy by allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote. Rep. Bergquist has earned another term in the Legislature.

Democratic Representative Mike Pellicciotti is running for re-election to the 30th Legislative District House Position 1. Pellicciotti is a former South King County prosecutor who has worked alongside public safety officials to keep our community safe for more than a decade. He is the former chair of the Washington Equal Justice Coalition, which works to ensure that all people are treated equally before the law and that low-income people have access to civil legal aid. This year, Rep. Pellicciotti worked with fellow representative Kristine Reeves on improving schools and creating local jobs.

Rep. Pellicciotti is running against Republican Linda Kochmar, who served as a state representative from 2013 to 2017. During her time in the Legislature, Kochmar voted against raising the minimum wage and against ensuring women earn equal pay for doing the same job as men.

Rep. Pellicciotti is the best choice in this race.

Democratic state Representative Kristine Reeves was first elected in 2016. She is the Director of Economic Development for the Military and Defense sector for Washington state, where she has helped secure millions of dollars for small businesses and local infrastructure. Rep. Reeves is a champion of paid family and medical leave and was appointed this year to the Child Care Collaborative Task Force, where she will explore public-private partnerships that can help make raising a family more affordable. She has also advocated for vital progressive reforms this year, including funds to build a shelter for homeless women and children in Federal Way, as well as common sense gun safety legislation.

Rep. Reeves is running against veteran Mark Greene, a perennial candidate for several positions across the state. A deeply conservative candidate who is determined to fight "the Radical Left" and the "globalist mentality," his platform includes preserving American rights to self-defense and veterans' care.

Reeves is by far the best choice in this race.

Formerly the mayor of Shoreline, Democratic Representative Cindy Ryu was the first Korean American mayor in the country and the first to serve in the state Legislature. She is the Chair of the Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee. In this role, Rep. Ryu has been an advocate for affordable housing, including supporting the development of tiny homes, supporting upzoning in urban areas, and proposing a bill that creates "housing opportunity zones" near high-quality transit. She has also advocated for reforms to hold law enforcement officers accountable.

Rep. Ryu is running against Diodato (Dio) Boucsieguez. Boucsieguez is a member of the College Republicans at the University of Washington who is running on a fiscal responsibility platform, but he has failed to provide details about his policy ideas.

Rep. Ryu is the best choice in this race.

Democratic Senator Karen Keiser is a longtime progressive champion for working families and gender equality. Sen. Keiser has served in the state Senate since 2001 and has fought for consumer protections, affordable health care, and workers’ rights. During this past legislative session, Sen. Keiser worked with fellow Democratic senators to pass the Reproductive Parity Act and the Gender Pay Equity bills.

Sen. Keiser is opposed by Republican Kun Wang, who is running on a simple platform of getting "tough on the homelessness crisis" and promoting a business-friendly agenda. Senator Keiser is the clear choice in this race.

Democratic Representative Tina Orwall is a reliable vote on most progressive issues. In Olympia, she sponsored legislation to prevent truancy issues for students and a bill to help fight human trafficking. Unfortunately, Rep. Orwall has a mixed record on gun safety legislation. She played a lead role in defeating an earlier gun safety bill that would have allowed families and law enforcement to petition a court to temporarily suspend a person’s access to firearms if an individual is threatening harm to themselves or others.

Rep. Orwall is the lead on a suicide prevention taskforce, and has sponsored a bill that would provide suicide prevention training and messaging in firearm literature. She is also spearheading a campaign for funding to process the state's 6,000 to 10,000 rape kit backlog. She is running unopposed and deserves your vote.

Democratic Representative Mia Su-Ling Gregerson has long been a transportation advocate for South King County, where she has fought for light rail infrastructure, safe and complete streets, and transit-oriented development. She wrote two important pieces of legislation to hold corporations accountable. One would have closed a tax loophole for oil companies and invested the money saved into K-12 education, and another held companies accountable for maintaining local jobs if they received a state tax break. This year, Rep. Gregerson was the prime sponsor of the House version of the Washington Voting Rights Act to improve local representation.

Rep. Gregerson is running against Anthony Lamb, who wants to reduce business taxes, supports charter schools, and is campaigning to make Good Friday a state holiday. Rep. Gregerson is the best choice in this race.

Democratic Representative Eileen Cody is the Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee and a leading advocate for reproductive freedom and improving mental health services. She worked to expand access to reproductive health care and supported a bill to end tax loopholes for corporate jets, big banks, and a dirty coal-fired power plant in order to fund basic health care. This year, Rep. Cody supported LGBTQ equality by voting for the conversion therapy ban, as well as a public health initiative that gives $3 million to Seattle and King County's Public Health Department. She is running unopposed and has earned your support.

Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon is a progressive star in the Legislature and a real leader on conservation issues. He supports progressive tax reform, expanding transit, protecting the environment, and making it easier to participate in politics. Rep. Fitzgibbon championed a plan to help fund our schools through a fee on carbon pollution and supported a measure to allow the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife to halt unpermitted construction in Washington waters. He also supported a measure to bring the state's climate pollution reduction strategies in line with climate science. He is running unopposed and deserves your vote.

Democratic Representative Noel Frame has put her organizing skills to use as a strong advocate for funding public schools and fixing our state's regressive tax system. Previously, Rep. Frame served as the Washington State Director of Progressive Majority, where she worked to recruit and elect progressive candidates from underrepresented communities, including young people, women, people of color, and openly gay candidates. Rep. Frame has worked on legislation for sexual assault survivors and is dedicated to improving the lives of people of color, the LGBTQ community, and the disabled community by bringing an equity lens into her work on climate justice, reproductive freedom, and voter access.

She is running against Libertarian Sydney Gillman Wissel, whose platform is vaguely populist. Wissel has little political experience and hasn't advocated for many specifics in her campaign. For example, she says a balanced budget and climate action are necessary but doesn't offer any solutions.

Rep. Frame is an emerging leader in Olympia who has earned your support.

Former port commissioner Gael Tarleton has been a strong advocate for environmental causes such as Governor Jay Inslee's initiative to reduce carbon pollution. She sponsored bills during her first term in the House to strengthen the maritime industry, protect the environment, and improve access to health care. This year, she also supported the gender pay equity bill.

Rep. Tarleton is facing Libertarian Matthew Dubin, an attorney and a member of community organizations like the Washington State Association for Justice and the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington. Much of his campaign is focused on taking the "us vs. them" out of politics and discussing issues of homelessness and addiction.

Rep. Tarleton is the best choice in this race.

Sen. Rebecca Saldaña is running for re-election to the Senate in the 37th Legislative District. Prior to entering public office, Saldaña worked as the Executive Director for Puget Sound Sage, a nonprofit tackling issues such as environmental justice, affordable housing, and workers' rights. Throughout her first term, Sen. Saldaña has stood steadfast in her mission to serve communities of color and the working families of Washington. She was selected to serve as the Majority Whip and pushed for full education funding and for progressive reforms to strengthen our democracy like automatic voting registration. Most notably, Sen. Saldaña sponsored the Washington Voting Rights Act and co-sponsored bills to protect net neutrality.

Sen. Saldaña is being challenged by Republican Beth Broadway, a Hebrew teacher with no elected experience. She is running on a fiscal responsibility platform and does not support reforming our state's regressive tax laws.

For her commitment to progressive values, Sen. Saldaña deserves your vote.

Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos is a moderate Democrat and longtime representative of the 37th Legislative District. As Chair of the House Education Committee, she has been an advocate of opportunity for all kids, including her sponsorship of a bill to close the education opportunity gap that passed this past session. Rep. Santos has also stood with progressives in support of gun safety, funding for education, and other progressive revenue reforms. She supports a capital gains tax on the wealthy to fund schools and she introduced legislation this session that would allow parents to sue if their children are wrongfully killed.

Rep. Tomiko Santos is running unopposed and has earned your vote.

Democratic representative Tana Senn is a former city councilmember from Mercer Island and a reliable progressive advocate in Olympia. She passed legislation this year to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work and sponsored commonsense gun regulation that would allow the Washington State Patrol to destroy confiscated firearms.

Rep. Senn is running against Republican Timothy Cruickshank, a veteran and medical provider who is running on a conservative, anti-tax reform platform. Cruickshank believes that Olympia needs disciplined leadership to address the region's growing homelessness crisis, that "identity politics" are endangering the state, and that progressive tax reform will harm our state's economy.

Rep. Senn is the clear choice in this race.

My-Linh Thai, a pharmacist and the current Bellevue School Board President, is running for Legislative District 41 House Position 2. Since 2013, Thai has been a unifying leader on the Bellevue School Board and has shown unwavering commitment to providing a high-quality education for every Bellevue student. She is running to improve education opportunities for all children as well as to reform public health services.

Thai is opposed by Republican Michael Appleby, a small business owner who unsuccessfully ran for office in 2016. Appleby is running on a cookie-cutter conservative platform that is centered around transportation, education, and fiscal responsibility.

My-Linh Thai’s experience in education, track record of leadership, and bold vision for progress in Olympia make her the best choice in this race.

Senator Jamie Pedersen is running for re-election in the 43rd Legislative District. Throughout his tenure, Pedersen has proven himself to be a champion for reproductive freedom and the LGBTQ community. For the past several years, Sen. Pedersen has worked to protect the relationships between children and their non-biological parents, which culminated in the passage of the Parentage Act of 2018. This act set a nationwide precedent for protecting the rights of same-sex couples and relatives who choose to become parents.

Sen. Pedersen is being challenged by Republican Dan Harder. Harder is a Boeing engineer who is running on a platform of defending Washington's regressive tax structure, curtailing public transportation projects, and enforcing "community standards" to solve the issue of homelessness. Sen. Pedersen has earned another four years in office due to his record of public service and demonstrated commitment to progressive policy solutions.

Democratic Representative Nicole Macri has worked as an advocate for those with a mental illness and people struggling with homelessness. She was formerly the Director of Housing at the Downtown Emergency Service Center and President of the Board of Directors of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. This year she has focused her efforts on affordable housing by introducing a measure to lift the state's ban on rent control.

Rep. Macri is running against Boeing engineer John Peeples, who often testifies in the city using extreme and insulting language. Peeples even compared Seattle's potential 2.25% income tax on single-filers making over $250,000 to sexual assault. Rep. Macri has earned your vote for state House.

Speaker of the House Frank Chopp has established an impressive track record as a strong advocate and effective leader on a wide range of progressive issues. He has played a critical role in helping prevent even more destructive budget cuts to essential investments in health care, housing, and social services during the economic downturn. This past year, Speaker Chopp has focused on creating long-term resources for homelessness and housing and supporting the party's bills on issues like the bump stock ban. In addition, he supported legislation for workers' rights, including increasing the minimum wage and paid sick leave.

Speaker Chopp is running against Republican Claire Torstenbo, who supports the state's regressive tax structure and wants to curb mass transit. Speaker Chopp is the best choice for 43rd Legislative District House Position 2.

Democratic senator Manka Dhingra is running for re-election in the 45th Legislative District. First elected in 2017, Dhingra has been an effective advocate for criminal justice reform and equality for LGBTQ youth. Dhingra played a pivotal role in ensuring that the Legislature closed dangerous loopholes for domestic violence offenders seeking to purchase firearms and fought to improve the quality of K-12 education offered in Washington. Sen. Dhingra has continued to prioritize the concerns of Eastside families by focusing on long-term transit solutions and fixing our state’s upside-down tax system. Looking ahead, Sen. Dhingra plans to improve housing affordability and address the growing homelessness crisis.

Sen. Dhingra is being challenged by Republican Dale Fonk, a business owner who is serving his third term as Chairman of the 45th Legislative District Republicans. Fonk has failed to produce a substantive policy platform, sticking to vague promises of encouraging local business and avoiding reforming the state's regressive tax structure.

For her commitment to Eastside communities and service in the Legislature, voters should re-elect Sen. Manka Dhingra this November.

Democratic Representative Roger Goodman has been one of the most effective leaders in Olympia. He has helped expand early childhood education, fund local high-tech education, and strengthen our economy with investments in family-wage jobs. He sponsored a bill that takes weapons away from convicted domestic abusers and upholds stricter penalties for repeat abusers. Rep. Goodman brings considerable professional experience to his work, including his legal practice, serving in federal and state government positions, and working in the nonprofit world.

Rep. Goodman is opposed by Republican Michael Curtis, a local technology professional. Curtis is running on a technology-centered platform that opposes tax increases and supports "zone lockdowns, intelligent deterrent systems, and low-cost bullet resistant doors and locks" to reduce gun violence in schools. Rep. Goodman is the clear choice in this race.

Democratic Senator David Frockt has established himself as a strong progressive leader in the Legislature. Sen. Frockt is a champion for equality who has fought for bills that help tenants, as well as bills that support higher education, women's health, and better transportation. This year, Sen. Frockt sponsored a bill to raise the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, as well as a bill supporting single-payer health care.

Sen. Frockt faces a challenge from Republican Beth Daranciang, an anti-choice candidate who has been featured in the news protesting Planned Parenthood. Daranciang also defends unlicensed, limited service pregnancy centers that don't have a nurse or doctor present for pregnancy and STI testing procedures. Frockt is the clear choice in this race.

Rep. Gerry Pollet is the Executive Director of Heart of America Northwest, a group devoted to cleaning up the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. In the Legislature, he has been a reliable vote for protecting the environment and has become an education champion through his bills to reduce class sizes and offer free community college. This year, Rep. Pollet sponsored a bill protecting students from for-profit colleges' predatory high-interest loans, as well as another bill aimed at protecting students' financial aid from prepaid debit card fees.

Rep. Pollet is being challenged by Republican Jeff Patton, who is running to support the 2nd Amendment and reduce taxes for big businesses. Rep. Pollet is the best choice in this race.

Representative Javier Valdez was appointed to the 46th Legislative District House Position 2 in 2017 to replace Jessyn Farrell during her bid to become Seattle's next mayor. He serves on the executive board of the Washington Democratic Party and is a former chair of the King County Young Democrats. Rep. Valdez was the prime sponsor on a couple of bills aimed at protecting vulnerable populations, including a bill that defines "willful" abuse of seniors in nurses homes. A son of immigrant farm workers, Rep. Valdez's platform is focused on protecting immigrant communities, fully-funded education, and health care.

Rep. Valdez is running against Republican Jerry Zeiger-Buccola, the managing broker of a real estate business. Zeiger-Buccola wants to limit the role of government, reduce taxes, and believes that "our freedom is threatened by over-taxation and over-regulation." Rep. Valdez is the best choice in this race.

Debra Entenman is the district director for U.S. Representative Adam Smith. She was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to serve on the Renton Technical College Board of Trustees. An advocate for K-12 and higher learning, Entenman's campaign is centered on improving educational opportunities for local students.

Entenman is challenging Republican Representative Mark Hargrove, a socially conservative Republican who barely won his seat in 2012. He infamously compared marriage equality to a Jack in the Box commercial in a speech on the House floor. This legislative session, Rep. Hargrove voted against automatic voter registration, mandatory state insurance coverage for contraception, and a ban on gay conversion therapy on minors.

Entenman is the best choice in this race.

Democratic Senator Patty Kuderer is a former prosecutor and city attorney who has been an effective progressive champion in the state Senate. In her first years in the Legislature, Sen. Kuderer has worked to improve our schools, strengthen gun safety laws, and protect women’s health care access. Kuderer also voted to reduce regressive property taxes and to fix our state’s upside-down tax system.

Kuderer is running for re-election for the 48th District Senate seat against “Democrat” Rodney Tom. Tom is the infamous turncoat Democrat who switched sides in 2012 to give control of the state Senate to Republicans. As the leader of the Senate Republicans, Tom blocked efforts to expand access to women’s health care and pass background checks for all gun purchases. If elected, Tom would send the Legislature back into gridlock and sideline progressive legislation for years to come.

Sen. Patty Kuderer is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Democratic Representative Vandana Slatter was elected to the state House in the 48th Legislative District seat last year after Rep. Patty Kuderer ran for the state Senate. Rep. Slatter was Bellevue's first Indian-American city councilmember. She has served on the boards of several organizations and nonprofits, including the Children's Institute for Learning Differences, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Global Social Business Partners, and the Cancer Center at Overlake Hospital Foundation. In the Legislature, Rep. Slatter has focused on education and equity issues, working on legislation benefiting homeless youth, fully funding schools, and providing health care for all.

Rep. Slatter is running unopposed for this position and deserves your vote.

Supreme Court Justice Steve Gonzalez has earned national recognition for his judicial expertise and work to increase access to the judicial system. Before serving on the Supreme Court, Justice Gonzalez served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and on the King County Superior Court for more than 10 years hearing criminal, juvenile, and family law cases. Justice Gonzalez is devoted to working for the people of Washington and serves as a board member for the Washington Leadership Institute, an organization that supports emerging community leaders from diverse backgrounds. As one of the few multi-lingual justices, he chairs the Interpreter Commission. Justice Gonzalez is rated "Exceptionally Well Qualified" by 10 independent bar associations in Washington state.

Gonzalez is being challenged by Bellevue-based attorney Nathan Choi, who ran unsuccessfully for a judicial seat on the Court of Appeals in 2016. Since then, Choi has faced numerous ethical controversies. In 2017, the King County Bar Association formally reprimanded Choi for violating KCBA's fair campaign practices guidelines by releasing misleading campaign materials and failing to follow state candidate rules. In February of this year, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson formally filed a lawsuit against Nathan Choi in a Thurston County Court. The case is still open.

Justice Steve Gonzalez is the best choice for Supreme Court Justice Position 8.

Washington Supreme Court Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud has been a fierce defender of constitutional rights and has written the decision in several consequential court cases. Prior to serving on the Supreme Court, she worked as an accomplished appellate court attorney for nearly three decades and was a founding member of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association. Her strong judicial track record has earned a rating of "Exceptionally Well Qualified" by 10 independent state bar associations, including Washington Women Lawyers and the newly-minted Veterans Bar Association.

Justice McCloud in running unopposed for Position 9 and deserves your vote.

Attorney Marcus Naylor has more than 26 years of experience serving the community through the King County Department of Public Defense. Having conducted more than one hundred jury trials over eight years as a judge pro tem, Naylor has the breadth of experience and temperament to be a fair and impartial administrator of justice for everyone in the courtroom. Naylor’s passion for the law and for helping others navigate the judicial process extends beyond the courtroom through his volunteer work with the Neighborhood Legal Clinic.

Naylor is running against public defender Joshua Schaer. Schaer is a former two-term Issaquah city councilmember who now works as a judge pro tem for the King County District Court and as an attorney at a private law firm.

Attorney Marcus Naylor is the best choice in this race based on his impressive judicial ratings, community engagement, and the considerable support he has received from the legal community.

Judge Ketu Shah was appointed to the King County District Court, Northeast Division in 2013 and then elected in 2014. Judge Shah brings with him more than 24 years of combined judicial and legal experience. Previously, he served as a prosecutor who helped create the domestic violence unit in Bellevue to hold domestic abusers accountable. Judge Shah values integrity, independence, hard work, and fairness. He presides over the Regional Veterans and Mental Health Courts and oversees the court’s therapeutic response, which helps veterans in their recovery. Judge Ketu Shah is running unopposed and deserves your vote.

Attorney Joe Campagna is running for election to the King County District Court, Shoreline Position 1. Campagna's legal background includes a career in private practice and service as a pro tem (substitute) judge in the district and in the municipal courts of King and Snohomish Counties. Campagna recognizes that district court is the first point of contact for most people, and wants to ensure that the courts are operating efficiently and are accessible. He also volunteers as an attorney at El Centro de La Raza’s free legal clinic. Rated as "Exceptionally Well Qualified" by five of Washington state's independent bar associations, Campagna has earned broad support from progressive elected officials and the judicial community.

Campagna is running against Superior Court Commissioner Les Ponomarchuk, who unsuccessfully ran for a judicial seat in 2008. While Ponomarchuk has served as a lead family court commissioner since 1998, his candidacy lacks substantial support from the legal community. Campagna is the best choice in this race.

Appointed to King County's Southeast Electoral District Court in April 2017, Judge Jason Poydras is running unopposed for re-election to the bench. During his 15-year career of practicing law, Judge Poydras has served as a public defender for the city of Seattle, prosecuting attorney for Pierce County, and an administrative law judge for the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings. Judge Poydras is dedicated to public service, due process, and access to justice. Currently, he sits on the King County District Technology Committee - an entity that works to make the court system more accessible. Judge Jason Poydras has earned your vote.

Attorney Rhonda Laumann is running unopposed for election to King County's Southeast Electoral District Court, Position 6. Her legal and judicial experience includes working as a prosecutor, a pro tem (substitute) judge in district and municipal courts, and as an independent mediator. Laumann has worked with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy for over 12 years educating and mentoring lawyers who want to be advocates. Laumann believes that judges should understand the challenges facing working people and are tasked with the responsibility of communicating the expectations of the justice system to everyone who stands before them. Rhonda Laumann deserves your vote.

Judge Lisa Paglisotti was elected to this position in 2016. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Paglisotti worked 22 years as a King County public defender. She is passionate about serving the community, justice, and connecting offenders with resources and programs that will help them exit the criminal justice system. Judge Lisa Paglisotti is running unopposed for reelection and has earned another term.

Judge Gregg Hirakawa was first elected to the King County District Court West Division, Position 4 in 2016. Prior to entering public service, Judge Hirakawa was a judge pro tem for the King County District Court for two years and worked as a public defense attorney primarily representing clients with mental and physical disabilities. He is dedicated to serving the community and the fair administration of justice. Judge Hirakawa is running unopposed and has earned your support.

Prior to serving as a Seattle Municipal Court, Judge Ed McKenna was an Assistant Seattle City Attorney and served as an administrative court judge. During his tenure on the Seattle Municipal Court, Judge McKenna has presided over the domestic violence court, trial court, and mental health court. He is focused on implementing new programs to increase the general public's trust in the court system. Specifically, Judge Ed McKenna has gone on the record stating that addressing the lack of racial and ethnic jury diversity must remain a priority for the Seattle Municipal Court. Judge Ed McKenna is running unopposed for reelection and deserves your vote.

Attorney Andrea Chin has worked as an Assistant City Attorney for 26 years training new lawyers and arguing criminal and appeals cases. Prior to becoming a public servant for the city of Seattle, Chin worked for several years as an Assistant Director of Admissions at the California Institute of Technology specializing in the development of recruitment programs for women. Chin is focused on maintaining public safety and strengthening Seattle's specialized courts that address mental health issues and serve veterans. She has received a rating of “Exceptionally Well Qualified” from six of seven independent bar associations. Chin is unopposed and deserves your vote this November.

Appointed in January 2017, Judge Adam Eisenberg is running unchallenged for Seattle Municipal Court Judge Position 3. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Eisenberg worked as a court magistrate, criminal prosecutor, and court commissioner. Currently, Judge Eisenberg is an affiliate faculty member at the University of Washington who teaches law and ethics to graduate students. He has earned a rating of “Exceptionally Well Qualified” from the independent King County Bar Association. Judge Eisenberg deserves another term.

Judge Anita Crawford-Willis was appointed in 2017 after serving nearly three decades as a judge of administrative law, public defender, and judge pro tem. She strongly believes that judges should be willing to build bridges with the community and work in collaboration with various stakeholders to uphold public safety and increase access to the justice system. Outside of the courtroom, Judge Crawford-Willis serves on the board of Seattle University Board of Regents and was recently selected as the board chair. She received a rating of “Exceptionally Well Qualified” from six out of seven independent bar associations. Judge Anita Crawford-Willis has earned your vote for Seattle Municipal Court Position 4.