City of Kent

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.

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.

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.

Claire Wilson is the President of the Federal Way School Board and previously worked for 25 years at the Puget Sound Educational Service District specializing in early learning. She has devoted her career to education and is running for state Senate in Legislative District 30 to improve opportunities for students across the state. In addition, Wilson is committed to expanding access to quality, affordable health care and streamlining transportation projects that have left South King County stuck in traffic.

Wilson’s opponent is socially conservative Republican Senator Mark Miloscia. Sen. Miloscia is opposed to safe and legal abortion access and 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. Sen. Miloscia voted against LGBTQ protections for school kids during this year’s session and even called those who participated in the Women’s March “unAmerican” and “un-Christian.” However, Miloscia has been a reliable vote on important labor issues and was endorsed by some of our union partners.

We believe Wilson is the best choice in this race.

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.

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.

Democrat Mona Das is challenging Republican Senator Joe Fain for the 47th Legislative District Senate seat. Das is a small business owner who is running to address the housing affordability crisis impacting South King County. Additionally, Das is focused on creating jobs, easing traffic congestion, and fixing our state’s upside-down tax system. Prior to running for the state Senate, Das entered the race for the 8th Congressional District before switching her focus to more local issues.

Das faces a competitive race against Sen. Fain, a moderate conservative who has chosen to stand with the far-right members of his caucus on a broad range of issues. Sen. Fain has served as the Republican Floor Leader since 2013 and played a consequential role in blocking progress on fully funding public education. While Sen. Fain has a poor record on social justice issues, he deserves some credit for sponsoring legislation for paid family sick leave.

In September, a woman accused Fain of raping her on her graduation night in 2007. The woman provided extensive details about the event and confided in friends and colleagues about it over the past 11 years. Fain has denied the allegations. We believe women and we believe these disturbing allegations should seriously concern every voter in the district.

Based on her commitment to progressive values and her vision for Washington, Mona Das 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 Representative Pat Sullivan is the former mayor of Covington and the current House Majority Leader. He has sponsored bills to invest more in our schools, deliver tax credits to small businesses, and strengthen laws against online predators. Rep. Sullivan also played a leadership role in passing a host of progressive legislation this year, including automatic voter registration, net neutrality, and expanding access to women's health care.

Rep. Sullivan is running for re-election to the state House in the 47th Legislative District against Republican Ted Cooke. Cooke is a software tester who supports putting Sound Transit on hold, charter school vouchers, and encouraging more fossil fuel energy production.

Rep. Sullivan is the clear choice in this race.

King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg is running for re-election on a platform of reforming and modernizing King County’s criminal justice system. His office’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program has become a national model for shifting low-level drug offenders and sex workers out of the criminal justice system and into community support services. Satterberg has been an outspoken advocate for outlawing the death penalty in Washington and he recently announced that his office will halt prosecutions for possession of small amounts of drugs.

Satterberg acknowledges the painful history of institutional racism in the King County prosecutor’s office and in the broader criminal justice system. He is actively working to change department policies and to train his staff to reduce the disproportionate impact of the criminal justice system on people of color. He offers thoughtful and detailed analyses of the challenges facing King County and he is willing to experiment with innovative new ways to support the community.

Satterberg is being challenged by progressive public defender Daron Morris. Morris has criticized Satterberg for not moving quickly and boldly enough to reform King County’s criminal justice system. In particular, Morris opposes the new youth jail that is currently under construction. Unfortunately, medical problems forced Morris to suspend his campaign in September.

Satterberg is the best choice for King County Prosecuting Attorney.

First elected in 2000, Supreme Court Justice Susan Justice Owens brings more 40 years of legal experience to Washington's Supreme Court. Prior to serving on the court, Justice Owens served nineteen years as a District Court Judge in Western Clallam County. Justice Owens has been a leader in the judicial community on addressing the impacts of domestic violence on children. Nationally, Justice Owens is a judicial trainer on this topic and participated in the writing of the Northwest Tribal Judges Domestic Violence Manual. Justice Owens is running unopposed for re-election and has earned your support.

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.

Appointed earlier this year by Gov. Jay Inslee to this seat vacated by Judge Ronald Cox, Judge Beth M. Andrus is seeking to retain the Court of Appeals, District 1, Division 1 seat. Prior to entering the judiciary as a King County Superior Court Judge in 2010, Judge Andrus had a 21-year career as a private attorney practicing commercial litigation, intellectual property, construction, and employment law as well as appellate advocacy. In 2016, the King County Chapter of the Washington Women Lawyers Bar Association awarded her their Judge of the Year Award. Judge Andrus is known as an impartial problem solver who has a “tireless work ethic." It is also worth noting that she was nominated for a U.S. District Court appointment by former President Barack Obama, but the U.S. Senate refused to act on the nomination. Judge M. Andrus is unopposed and deserves your vote.

Chief Judge Marlin Appelwick has served on Washington’s Court of Appeals since 1998. Prior to entering the judiciary, Judge Appelwick was a private attorney and served for 16 years in the Legislature, including 12 years as a state representative for the 46th Legislative District. During his final three years in the Legislature, Judge Appelwick also served as the House Democratic Leader.

Since his appointment to the appellate court, Judge Appelwick has been committed to making just decisions, balancing judicial administration, and serving the public. He is committed to ensuring that information about the law is accessible for everyone and cares deeply about educating Washingtonians about their civil rights. He has been recognized by numerous organizations for his judicial expertise and conduct. Judge Marlin Appelwick is running unopposed for re-election and has earned another term.

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 Lizanne Padula is running for the Pierce County District Court Judge Position 3. As a former prosecutor, private litigator, and reserve police officer, Padula has spent her career helping people navigate the court system. Padula aims to improve the criminal justice system by prioritizing the public safety needs of the community and only offering punitive sanctions that serve to rehabilitate offenders. Padula is running on a platform that supports work-release and re-entry programs for convicted individuals.

Padula is opposed by Pierce County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lewis. Lewis has spent more than 15 years serving Pierce County in the prosecuting attorney's office and is highly involved in the community. While Lewis has ample relevant experience, including serving as a pro tem (substitute) judge in Pierce and Kitsap County courts, a public allegation of misconduct has placed doubts on his candidacy.

Padula is the best choice in this race.

Attorney Karl Williams is running for Pierce County District Court Position 6. With more than 30 years of legal experience, Williams is the most qualified candidate in this race. Williams has served as a judge pro tem for the cities of Fife, Puyallup, and Ruston, as well as on the Pierce County District Courts for more than 20 years. Williams is focused on keeping communities safe, ensuring that justice is administered fairly, and making the courts more accessible to underserved populations. He is passionate about serving the greater Pierce County community and volunteers with a number youth organizations including University Place Youth Court and the Pierce County Minority Bar Association. Williams has been rated "Exceptionally Well Qualified" by the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar, Washington Women Lawyers, and the Tacoma Pierce County Minority Bar Associations.

Williams is running a highly competitive race against current Assistant Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor John Sheeran, who has more than 22 years of legal experience. Sheeran is supportive of strengthening the mental health and drug courts in Pierce County. However, Karl Williams is the best choice in this race because of his judicial experience and ties with the community.

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.

Appointed to the court in April of 2017, Judge Matthew York previously served as a county Prosecuting Attorney and a pro tem (substitute) judge for King County's municipal courts. With more than two decades of combined judicial and legal experience behind him, Judge Matthew York received an "Exceptionally Well Qualified Rating" from several major independent bar associations including the King County Bar Association and Q-Law, the LGBTQ bar association. Judge Matthew York is focused on improving access to justice and cares deeply about ensuring that everyday people are equipped with resources they need to navigate the judicial system. Judge Matthew York is running unopposed and has earned another term.

First elected in 2010, Judge Nathaniel B. Green is a U.S. Navy veteran and a former Adjunct Professor at DeVry University who serves on the King County District Court. Judge Green "believes that justice and fairness are not just words to be spoken, but goals to be achieved." He is running unopposed and has earned another term.

Judge Corinna Harn was elected in 1998 to serve on the King County District Court. After 20 years of public service, Judge Harn has become a leader on the district court, having served as a Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge for the West Division over the course of her career. Currently, Judge Harn also serves as a King County Superior Court pro tem (substitute) judge where she hears cases related to the Dependency Pre-Trial calendars at Juvenile Court and the Regional Justice Center. She cares deeply about serving the community, effective judicial administration, and giving each case the attention it rightfully deserves. Judge Corinna Harn is running unopposed and deserves your vote.

Private attorney Virginia Amato is running for this open seat on King County's District Court. With more than 25 years of combined judicial and legal experience in the Pacific Northwest, Amato has earned the rating of "Exceptionally Well Qualified" from four independent bar associations. Her legal experience includes serving as a prosecuting attorney for several jurisdictions in Washington State. Additionally, Amato has served a pro tem (substitute) judge on King County's District Court since 2014. Virginia Amato is unopposed in this race and deserves your support.

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.

First elected in 1990, Judge Mark Chow was the first Asian American elected to a King County District Court seat as well as one of the first Asian Americans to graduate from the University of Washington Law School. Previously, Judge Chow was a King County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and private attorney. Now serving in his sixth term, Judge Chow has been recognized for playing a pivotal role in founding the King County's Mental Health Court and reducing recidivism. He is also a member of the District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association, where he successfully advocated for gender and diversity issues to be incorporated into the Judicial College's curriculum.

Judge Chow is considered an effective leader in the Chinese American community. He has been endorsed by eight members of the state Supreme Court, countless statewide and local judges, community leaders, and individuals. Judge Mark Chow is running unopposed and deserves your vote.

After serving two years on the Seattle Municipal Court Bench, Judge Art Chapman was elected to the King County District Court in 2002. Over the course his tenure, Judge Chapman has presided over the Mental Health Court and served on the court's executive committee. Judge Chapman is supportive of therapeutic courts and prioritizes public safety, equity, and justice. Judge Chapman is running unopposed and deserves your vote.

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.

Judge Anne Harper is running unopposed for reelection to King County's West Electoral District Court, Position 5. Judge Harper is committed to improving programs and services offered by the district court and played a critical role in developing the Regional Mental Health Court. Prior to serving on the bench, she served as a public defender in Snohomish and King counties. Judge Anne Harper is unopposed and has earned your vote.