Progressive Voters Guide

Progressive champion and current state Rep. Beth Doglio is running for the 10th Congressional District seat vacated by the retirement of Rep. Denny Heck. Prior to running for office, Doglio worked as the Climate Solutions Campaign Director and was the founding executive director of Washington Conservation Voters. While in the Legislature, Doglio advocated for numerous climate and environmental bills, as well as legislation to protect sexual assault survivors and increase funding for affordable housing.

Doglio is running for Congress on a platform of climate justice, supporting working families, and gun safety. In her Fuse interview, she said she wants to work to pass progressive reforms like a Green New Deal and Medicare for All. Overall, Doglio laid out a very progressive policy agenda and has earned the sole endorsement of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Her opponent in this race is former Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, who is running as a moderate Democrat focused on the COVID-19 response and economic rebuilding. Her pandemic response plan focuses on producing medical equipment, helping people get back to work, and massive investments in infrastructure. If elected, Strickland would be the first Black person to represent Washington state in Congress and the first Korean-American woman elected to Congress from any state.

We are concerned with several parts of Strickland's record that skew in favor of corporations over working families. As mayor of Tacoma, Strickland was an obstacle to progressive efforts to improve workers' sick leave and raise the minimum wage. In addition, she pushed for a controversial methanol plant at the Port of Tacoma opposed by environmental advocates that would have contributed to climate change and dangerously increased air pollution in the community. As the head of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Strickland worked last fall to help their PAC spend millions of dollars backing a slate of more conservative, business-friendly candidates. Thankfully, progressives were able to defeat nearly all of their candidates.

Doglio's background in organizing and fighting for solutions to climate change would be a valuable addition to our congressional delegation.

Governor Jay Inslee has been a strong, principled leader on the important challenges facing Washington. Before he was elected as 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.

Inslee has established himself as a national leader on fighting climate change. He has invested more than $170 million into clean energy and energy efficiency projects, implemented the Clean Air Rule, and pushed for legislation that reduces pollution in Washington. In his 2020 bid for the presidency, Inslee brought a focus on climate to the race. Outside of his work on climate, Inslee has signed into law Washington's public option for health care, paid family leave, and the Equal Pay Opportunity Act.

Recently, Inslee has been a national leader in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. His proactive, decisive, science-driven efforts have saved countless Washingtonians from getting sick. Unfortunately, we've seen the flip side recently where states with governors who were slow or failed to act have seen dramatic increases in cases.

Inslee's opponent is Republican Loren Culp, the sole police officer of the town of Republic and one of the farthest right of Inslee's main primary challengers. Culp came to national fame for refusing to enforce the voter-approved Initiative 1639, which placed restrictions on semi-automatic firearm sales. Much of Culp's primary and early general election campaign has centered on opposing public health measures like wearing masks. 

Culp's policy track record is disturbing, especially related to the environment. He recently questioned whether the wildfires that have ravaged the region are climate-related. He's compared gun rights to the Holocaust and likened the governor's stay-home policies to the horrors of Japanese internment during WWII. He faces a lawsuit for failing to investigate a child sex abuse case and for intimidating the victim in a case that was swiftly prosecuted after the county stepped in and took over. 

As the coronavirus crisis continues and the gap in the state budget persists, we need real, experienced leadership at the helm of the state. Inslee is the clear choice for governor.

State Senate Floor Leader Marko Liias was first elected to the Mukilteo City Council in 2005 before being appointed to the state House in 2007 and finally the state Senate in 2014.

In the Legislature, Liias has been a strong progressive advocate for all families. As the Democratic Senate floor leader, Liias has led the fight on LGBTQ+ equality and created a student loan bill of rights. His past legislation includes a ban on the inhumane practice of conversion therapy. This year, Liias sponsored legislation requiring informed consent to perform a pelvic exam and creating a new state financial aid program for undocumented students.

In his interview with Fuse, Liias said he would use the bully pulpit of the office to connect with voters across the state about progressive issues, including fixing our upside-down tax code. In addition, he laid out a strong set of proposals for how to increase police accountability. If elected, Liias would be the first openly gay statewide official in Washington history.

Mike Pellicciotti has served in the Washington state House representing the 30th Legislative District since 2016 and is now running for Treasurer. Pellicciotti has never accepted corporate campaign donations and has led efforts to make the Legislature's records open for public view. He also wrote the Corporate Crime Act, which increases financial penalties for corporate crimes by 100 times.

Pellicciotti is challenging incumbent Republican Duane Davidson. In 2016, incumbent Jim McIntire retired, leaving the seat open. Because of the crowded primary, two Republicans made it through to the general election, giving them control of the treasurer's office for the first time since 1957. Davidson previously served as the Benton County treasurer from 2003 to 2016. In his term, he has been a traditional Republican and has accused the state Legislature of "raiding" the Rainy Day Fund. He has only attended 3 of 18 critical pension meetings since fall 2017.

Pellicciotti has been a solid legislator and is the best choice in the race for Washington State Treasurer.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson's accomplishments during his two terms in office are impressive. From delivering millions of dollars back to consumers who were wronged by fraudulent corporations to 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 the people of Washington. He has sued the Trump administration 80 times as of late September and won all but one completed case. Some of Ferguson's biggest accomplishments from the past few years include safeguarding consumer medical data, protecting statewide water quality from Trump's erosive environmental policies, and fighting back against the Trump administration's child detention laws.

Ferguson faces a challenge from Republican attorney Matt Larkin, who is currently the legal counsel for his family's manufacturing business. Larkin worked in the Bush White House on efforts to direct federal funds to religious charities and is an advocate for a traditional Republican platform. Larkin opposes the vast majority of the lawsuits that Ferguson has filed to hold the Trump administration accountable. 

Ferguson is the clear progressive choice for Attorney General of Washington.

Progressive nurse Ingrid Anderson is challenging Sen. Mark Mullet in the 5th Legislative District. As a nurse, Anderson will bring an important perspective to Olympia as legislators craft a public health and economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If elected, Anderson would also prioritize keeping East King County affordable for working families, strengthening our K-12 education system, and rebuilding the economy in a way that works for everyone, not just special interests. As the mother of a son with asthma, Anderson understands the importance of protecting our clean air and will work to pass strong environmental protections for Washington.

Mullet is a small business owner and business-oriented Democrat who has been an obstacle to progress on many issues during his eight years in Olympia. He has taken thousands of dollars from oil and coal companies and hasn't been willing to vote for critical environmental bills. We need to address climate change and salmon and orca recovery, but Mullet has shown he won't support the solutions we need. In addition, Mullet voted against addressing the gender pay gap, opposed childcare assistance for working families, and even voted to cut teacher pay.

It's time for new leadership for the 5th Legislative District. Anderson has garnered support from a large number of progressive organizations, even earning the endorsement of Governor Inslee. Anderson is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Rep. Bill Ramos is running for re-election for the 5th Legislative District, House Position 1. Prior to serving in the Legislature, Ramos was an Issaquah City Council member as well as a member of the Human Services Commission and the Planning Policy Commission. In his time as a local elected official, Ramos earned a reputation as an environmentalist by fighting for sustainable development and growth policies, as well as by supporting expanded transit options. He built on that reputation in his first term in Olympia by sponsoring a slate of environmental bills this legislative session, including House bills on carbon sequestration and expanding equitable community renewable energy projects. Ramos states that his priorities if re-elected would include transportation improvements to replace aging infrastructure and passing more environmental protections. Facing budget shortfalls in next year's legislative session, Ramos says he will take a people-first approach by expanding health care coverage and promoting funds for worker protections and small businesses.

Running against Ramos is Republican Ken Moninski. Moninski, who runs two aviation-related businesses, is prioritizing reopening the economy, reducing regulations on businesses, opening schools, and otherwise making a "return to normal" in Washington. He states that he will not seek to raise new revenue despite the historic budget shortfall of $6 billion caused by the pandemic.

The 5th District needs a representative who can both handle the threat of the pandemic seriously as well as build policies for the future beyond it. Ramos is by far the best choice in this race.

Incumbent Lisa Callan is running unopposed for re-election to the 5th Legislative District, House Position 2. She serves as the vice-chair on the House Budget and Finance Committee and the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee. As a former Issaquah School Board member, one of Callan's top priorities is equity in education, as well as the completion of State Highway 18 and increasing housing affordability.

After a strong first term in Olympia, Callan has earned your vote for re-election.

Helen Price Johnson is challenging Republican incumbent Ron Muzzall for the state Senate seat in the 10th Legislative District. Price Johnson has held an impressive number of leadership positions in the community, including as a board member of the South Whidbey School District, as the first female board member of the Island County Commissioners, and on the Board of Directors of the Whidbey Community Foundation.

Price Johnson believes housing is a human right and that climate change requires action. She pledges to revise the district's housing regulations and move the state towards increased renewable energy. On healthcare and childhood education, Price Johnson wants to see more investment in mental health and addiction treatment as well as free early childhood education.

Her opponent, Ron Muzzall, replaced Sen. Barbara Bailey when she retired last year. Muzzall, a farm owner and manager, has not offered a strong policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has left hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians out of work and struggling to get by. Rather than investing in communities, Muzzall would make knee-jerk cuts to services at the moment they're needed most.

Price Johnson's extensive track record of civic service, strong community support, and vision for rebuilding our economy make her the clear choice in this race.

Incumbent Democrat Dave Paul is running for re-election this year in the moderate 10th Legislative District. Paul is the current vice-president of Skagit Valley College and has been a longtime advocate for children and public schools. He has been a strong progressive during his term in the Legislature and worked on bills to lower the cost of prescription drugs, as well as advocating for a 100% clean electricity grid by 2025. If re-elected, Paul states that he will continue to prioritize environmental work and re-opening the economy safely.

Paul is running against Bill Bruch. As a chairperson for the Skagit County Republican Party, Bruch is running on a cookie-cutter GOP platform. He states that those who are homeless or suffering from addiction must use "personal responsibility" to find a job, and implies that the role of government when it comes to these issues should be secondary to the private sector. On coronavirus, Bruch believes that Gov. Inslee's stay-home order is "totally unacceptable," ignoring both public health science and that COVID cases have continued to increase in Washington.

Paul has earned strong support from our Progressive Voters Guide partner organizations and is the best choice in this race.

Democrat Daniel Smith is challenging Republican incumbent Sen. Lynda Wilson to represent the 17th Legislative District in the Senate. Smith has been a social worker for more than two decades and currently manages the southwest Washington office for Community Health Plan of Washington, a local non-profit. As a Democrat, he believes in the principles of "family values, community values, [and] making sure everybody has an equal opportunity for success."

If elected, Smith wants to put his career in health care to work by advocating for more social services and better mental health care, as well as more affordable housing and early childhood education. He is running to support "data-driven decisions" when guiding public health and economic legislation. When it comes to managing the threat of coronavirus, Smith is determined to make sure that frontline health care workers have all the supplies they need to stay safe and treat Washingtonians.

Incumbent Sen. Wilson has already established a long track record of conservative votes in her first term alone. Wilson has been on the wrong side of health care access and reproductive rights, and she even said that the science on whether vaccines are safe is "not settled" while her district faced a measles outbreak. Wilson also generated controversy this spring when she told The Columbian that she was storing 100 coronavirus antibody tests in her home.

The 17th Legislative District deserves better representation than Lynda Wilson. Daniel Smith has received the support of many progressive organizations and is the clear choice for state Senate.

Democrat Tanisha Harris is challenging far-right incumbent Rep. Vicki Kraft for House Position 1 representing the 17th Legislative District. Harris spent a decade working for the Evergreen School District and now works as a Court Appointed Special Advocate program specialist with the YWCA Clark County.

Harris's priorities include supporting low-income and workplace housing to tackle the state's homelessness and housing affordability crisis, reducing gun violence, and making additional investments in education. She opposes re-opening Washington schools until the science says it is safe to do so. Harris does not support an income tax but does want to rebalance the state's upside-down tax system so that everyone pays their share.

Her opponent, Republican Rep. Kraft, worked for the virulently anti-worker Freedom Foundation and has one of the most far-right voting records in the House. She spent the early months of the pandemic trying to re-open the state long before public health experts said it was safe and even joined an April rally against Gov. Inslee's state-at-home-order. In this session, Kraft was a leading opponent of comprehensive sex education and broader vaccination of students. She is zealously opposed to abortion and voted against legislation requiring insurance companies to cover all women's health care. In addition, she opposed several LGBTQ+ equality bills and the Washington Voting Rights Act.

Kraft's battle against common-sense public health standards is appalling and especially bad during a pandemic. Harris, on the other hand, has the overwhelming support of labor, reproductive rights organizations, environmental groups, and more, and is by far the best choice in this race.

Puyallup mayor and local small business owner Julie Door is running for state Senate in the 25th Legislative District. Prior to being elected as mayor this year, Door served on the council for seven years, where she supported the purchase of the Van Lierop farm to create a new park, implemented a Safe Routes to Schools initiative, and worked on securing adequate shelter for people experiencing homelessness in inclement weather. She was the community services chair of the Puyallup Kiwanis Club and is a board member of the South Sound 911 Board, among other community involvement.

Door became mayor at the beginning of the year, navigating Puyallup through the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic by swiftly declaring a state of emergency so that the city could access additional resources. If elected, she will build on that public health experience to expand health care access including mental health treatment. Door will also push for living-wage jobs in the district and promote more equity and investment in the classroom.

Door is running against Republican Rep. Chris Gildon. Gildon is one of several Republican legislators who criticized Gov. Inslee's stay-at-home order and supported leaving re-opening decisions up to local governments despite the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the state. This year in the House, Gildon voted against creating a statewide Office of Equity, requiring greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced to zero by 2050, and reducing transportation pollution.

As a lifetime resident of Puyallup with a keen grasp of the issues in the 25th District, Door will represent her constituents well in the Legislature. Door is the best choice in this race.

Puyallup School District teacher Jamie Smith is running for the 25th Legislative District, House Position 1 on a platform of improving life for families and working Washingtonians. Prior to seeking office, Smith spent 17 years as an educator in Puyallup.

If elected, Smith would prioritize securing more stable funding for public schools and increasing transit options to accommodate the more than 50% of workers who live in Pierce but work outside the county. In addition, she supports increasing investments in small businesses, job training in renewable energy positions, and fixing our state's upside-down tax code. Smith has said she supports expanded health care access to promote public health and to save the state money on overall care costs.

Smith is running against Republican Rep. Kelly Chambers, a conservative Republican who voted against establishing the Washington State Office of Equity and opposed comprehensive sexual health education for students. Kelly was endorsed by right-wing extremist and domestic terrorist Rep. Matt Shea in her re-election campaign. Chambers is strongly against balancing our state's upside-down tax code, despite the fact that her constituents with lower incomes pay at up to six times the rate of the wealthiest in the state under the current system. Chambers joined several other Republicans in challenging Gov. Inslee's extension of the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order in early May while the virus was still peaking, despite the recommendations of public health officials.

The people of the 25th Legislative District deserve a representative who cares about their health and economic well-being, not one who puts corporate profits first. Smith is by far the best choice in this race.

Firefighter and veteran Brian Duthie is vying for the 25th Legislative District, House Position 2. The seat is currently held by Rep. Chris Gildon, who is moving on to run for state Senate this year. Duthie has significant community experience including his role as a board member of the Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation.

Duthie is campaigning to strengthen K-12 education by reducing class sizes, adding more special education resources, and making sure teachers are fairly compensated. He believes that the state will only begin economic recovery when the dangerous spread of COVID-19 is also addressed, and he relies on health experts and medical professionals to inform his approach to public health policy. If elected, Duthie will focus on health care affordability and reducing traffic congestion in Pierce County.

Duthie's opponent is Puyallup City Councilmember Cyndy Jacobsen. Jacobsen is running on a very conservative platform including support for defunding Planned Parenthood, opposition to marriage equality despite it being the law since 2012, and cutting investments in our transportation system that would reduce traffic and create thousands of jobs. In addition, she wants the state to re-open before public health experts say it is safe to do so and she has amplified dangerous conspiracy theories about the coronavirus. 

Washingtonians need leaders who will listen to health care professionals and science when creating pandemic policy. Duthie is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote.

T'wina Nobles is challenging Republican Sen. Steve O'Ban for the 28th Legislative District Senate seat. Nobles is the president and CEO of the Tacoma Urban League, an organization that helps underserved communities navigate difficult economic times. She has worked in education for 15 years as an instructor, the University Place School Board Director, and a PTA leader.

If elected, Nobles wants to increase pay for teachers, reduce class sizes, and work to make schools more inclusive and equitable. She knows more needs to be done to ensure families in the 28th are healthy and safe, which she believes includes gun violence prevention, addiction recovery and mental health resources, and better health care access. Nobles is also running to fix our upside-down tax code and fight for better wages and affordable housing for working people.

Incumbent Sen. O'Ban is a far-right conservative who has previously sued the state to prevent Washingtonians from having access to birth control at some pharmacies. Likewise, he has fought against equality for the LGBTQ+ community, including leading the opposition to marriage equality. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, O'Ban pushed to re-open the economy long before public health experts said it was safe to do so. This year, he opposed establishing the Washington State Office of Equity and voted against prohibiting discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status.

Nobles is the clear progressive choice and would make a great state senator. In this tight race to unseat a conservative, Nobles deserves your vote.

Rep. Mari Leavitt is running for re-election for the 28th Legislative District, House Position 1. Leavitt was recently appointed to the State Legislators’ Task Force on Military and Veterans Affairs. She has been a hard-working leader who represents the district well.

This year, Rep. Leavitt supported legislation to combat the climate crisis and passed bipartisan legislation to support military families. She also supported legislation to prohibit race-based hair discrimination. In this race, she is campaigning to strengthen the social safety net for seniors and families, create affordable housing, and support small businesses. If re-elected, Leavitt will continue to advocate for her constituents and pass bipartisan legislation.

Leavitt faces a challenge from Kevin Ballard, a Republican who served on the DuPont City Council. He has repeatedly used his social media presence to call on Gov. Inslee to re-open Washington before public health experts declare it safe to do so. Ballard, who was the co-chair of Ben Carson's 2016 presidential campaign in Pierce County, strongly opposes abortion and supports defunding Planned Parenthood. 

Leavitt is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Dan Bronoske is running for the 28th Legislative District, House Position 2, to succeed retiring Rep. Christine Kilduff. Bronoske has worked as a firefighter in Pierce County and Lakewood for almost two decades. As an active union member, he has experience working in Olympia advocating for policies that protect all workers.

Bronoske launched his campaign with Rep. Kilduff's endorsement. If elected, he will prioritize supporting working families, addressing the opioid epidemic, reducing health care costs, and improving our transportation system. Bronoske's commitment to increased health care access and a progressive pandemic response is informed by his career as a first responder. His campaign boasts support from a number of progressive organizations.

Bronoske is running against Republican Chris Nye. Nye has previously served on the University Place City Council and currently owns a marketing and listing service for real estate owners. He emphasizes the fiscal challenges Washington will be facing in the coming years but does not offer any proactive solutions for solving these challenges. 

Bronoske will bring a strong progressive voice to Olympia. He is the best choice in this race.

Sen. Liz Lovelett is running for re-election in the 40th Legislative District. She was appointed to the state Senate last year and successfully ran to retain the seat previously. Lovelett is a fifth-generation Anacortes resident who previously served on the Anacortes City Council. She has prioritized environmental conservation and played a key role in passing legislation protecting orcas and the Salish Sea.

In the Senate, Lovelett has sponsored legislation requiring schools to incorporate curriculum on local tribal history and establishing regulations for facial-recognition technology. Lovelett is running for re-election on a strong platform that includes prioritizing increased affordable housing and expanded services for our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Lovelett wants to expand the social safety net while not adding to the tax burden of low-middle income families by reforming Washington's upside-down tax code so that everyone pays their share.

Lovelett is running against Republican Charles Carrell. Before running, Carrell served as a Snohomish County sheriff's deputy, later suing the department over a public records request. He does not have a strong campaign presence.

Lovelett is the best choice in this race and has earned your vote.

Rep. Debra Lekanoff is running for re-election to the 40th Legislative District, House Position 1. Lekanoff has spent more than two decades as a public servant in the 40th Legislative District and her community, including her work as the Government Affairs Director for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. She is running on a re-election platform of protecting the Salish Sea for future generations, improving educational opportunities, and sustainably rebuilding the economy.

This year, Lekanoff sponsored legislation to strengthen safety requirements for oil tankers, which is particularly important for protecting the Salish Sea. She also worked to provide protective gear to frontline food producers and farm workers in order to ensure that grocery stores remain stocked and workers remain safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Lekanoff is the only Native woman in the state Legislature and has numerous endorsements from our progressive partner organizations and elected officials.

Lekanoff is running unopposed for re-election. As a staunch advocate for public health and environmental protections, she deserves your vote.

Incumbent Rep. Alex Ramel is running to retain House Position 2 in the 40th Legislative District. Ramel is an environmental organizer who played an important role in the campaign to reject the Cherry Point coal export terminal. He also helped found the “Community Energy Challenge” that has created jobs and helped homeowners and local businesses save money through energy efficiency improvements. As the former President of the Kulshan Community Land Trust, Ramel understands the need to prioritize funding for affordable housing in the Legislature.

Ramel was sworn into the House at the beginning of this year and has already sponsored bills to prohibit race-based hair discrimination, increase incentives for building affordable housing, and establish a scenic bikeways program across the state. He believes that health care is a basic human right and has prioritized the fight for health care access in his campaign. Ramel wants to center Washingtonians in the state's economic recovery approach, focusing on the issues of livable wages and employment opportunities.

Ramel is running against Republican Russ Dzialo, the former treasurer of the Whatcom County Republican Party. Dzialo is opposed to taking action on climate change and has expressed concerns about redirecting police funding to social services.

Ramel will fight the crises Washington now faces with progressive solutions. He is the clear choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Rep. Marcus Riccelli is running for re-election to his seat in the 3rd Legislative District. Prior to joining the Legislature, Riccelli served as U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell's Eastern Washington Director and as former state Senator Lisa Brown's senior policy aide.

During his time in the Legislature, Riccelli has worked on community hunger and food insecurity issues through the Community Eligibility Program (CEP), a federal program that reimburses schools for student meals. This March, he spearheaded the efforts of the Spokane Food Fighters in donating hundreds of meals to those in need. Riccelli also sponsored the Hunger-Free Schools Act, which provides a bridge of federal funding for free breakfast to schools where nearly half of students' families are using public assistance. If re-elected, Riccelli will continue to prioritize working on community hunger, education, environmental protection, and workplace training.

His challenger, Republican Laura Carder, previously ran against Rep. Timm Ormsby in 2016. The Spokane Spokesman-Review notes that in the past Carder expressed support for teaching creationism in schools and said she believed that the discrimination case brought against the Richland florist who refused to sell flowers to a gay couple was "unfair." Though she has no 2020 website nor a detailed campaign platform available, her official voters guide statement doubles-down on her anti-choice, anti-union sentiments.

Riccelli is the clear choice in this race.

Rep. Timm Ormsby is a progressive champion and an active member of the Spokane community. He is the current president of the Spokane Regional Labor Council and a board member of the United Way of Spokane County. In past sessions, Ormsby helped write and pass bills to protect the environment and preserve critical health care services. This year, Ormsby supported some of the state's most vulnerable residents by being the prime sponsor on a bill for permanent affordable housing. He also recently sponsored additional bills on equitable educational outcomes for homeless youth and for community solar projects.

Ormsby is running against former Spokane City Councilmember Bob Apple, who was a Democrat on the council but switched to being a Republican. In a community interview, Apple stated he's running to push back against the idea of a state income tax, regulations on businesses, and additional bureaucracy.

Ormsby is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Rep. Zack Hudgins has become a strong progressive leader in the Legislature. Throughout his tenure, Hudgins has focused on standing up for vulnerable Washingtonians, strengthening election transparency, and making effective investments into our state economy. In particular, Hudgins played a lead role in passing automatic voter registration legislation and increasing the number of ballot drop boxes in 2018. This year, he organized bipartisan support for legislation to restrict the use of facial recognition software. Hudgins is running for re-election on a platform of preventing budget cuts due to the economic downturn, addressing affordable housing and homelessness, and continuing to support stronger privacy laws.

Democratic Rep. Strom Peterson is running for re-election to represent the 21st Legislative District, House Position 1. Prior to joining the Legislature, Peterson served on the Edmonds City Council for six years, where he proved to be a capable leader in Snohomish County. In Olympia, Peterson had a hand in passing several important progressive bills.

In 2018, Peterson was the primary sponsor of the Secure Drug Medicine Back Act, an innovative program to limit the usage of unused and expired prescriptions in Washington communities. In 2017, he was a sponsor of Breakfast Before the Bell, a nutrition program for hungry students. This year, Peterson sponsored legislation to prevent the solitary confinement of incarcerated youth in all but extreme cases. If re-elected, Peterson states that he would continue to prioritize education, the environment, transportation, and more.

Peterson is running against Republican Brian Thompson, who runs a fire protection engineering consultancy. He is running to roll back the recently passed comprehensive sex-ed legislation and Gov. Jay Inslee's emergency coronavirus safety measures, stating that "we are all essential." Despite campaigning for "medical freedom," Thompson is strongly anti-choice.

Peterson has a strong progressive track record. He is the best choice for House Position 1.

Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self is running for re-election to the 21st Legislative District, House Position 2. She is a counselor in the Everett School District, and an active member of the community, focusing on childhood education and strengthening health services through numerous community organizations. Since joining the House in 2009, Rep. Ortiz-Self has emerged as a progressive champion for improving the health and well-being of youth and families across Washington.

This year, Ortiz-Self was the prime sponsor on bills to increase student access to counselors and provide resources for homeless college students. Her bill to fund nonprofits in low-income communities passed this year as well. Rep. Ortiz-Self has been a member of the state’s Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee for more than six years. If re-elected, she wants to continue to fund and improve education, protect the social safety net, and invest in job creation to support economic recovery.

Also in this race is far-right Republican Amy Schaper, who states that she is running to protect our borders, promote free-market solutions, and oppose civil rights like same-sex marriage. Schaper is strongly anti-choice and led a draconian "heartbeat" petition that would "require an ultrasound before an abortion" and includes provisions to "prohibit and criminalize abortion" in some cases.

During this time of economic and health crises, the 21st Legislative District needs a representative who has demonstrated care and knowledge in protecting the district's most vulnerable residents. Ortiz-Self is the clear choice in this race.

Carrie Hesch is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Jesse Young for the 26th Legislative District, House Position 1. Hesch is a Teamster who works at the Washington Corrections Center for Women and serves as a Director on the Key Peninsula Community Service Board.

Hesch is running on a strong platform of health care reform, making the tax code more equitable, and protecting workers, including making sure front-line employees get the personal protection equipment (PPE) that they need. She is also campaigning to reform the criminal justice system to address overcrowding in Washington state prisons. Hesch has outlined detailed policy proposals to accomplish these progressive goals in office.

Young is a staunch conservative who voted against the creation of the Washington Office of Firearm Violence Prevention and opposed making it easier for young people to vote. He is a vocal opponent of the age-appropriate sexual health education bill that passed this year and has devoted time and energy to repealing it. Young says that the fix for a lack of affordable health care is a "focus on job creation" so that workers can be covered through their employers, a stance that makes no sense for unemployed, part-time, and underemployed people, especially during the pandemic. Even worse, he is determined to stand against the Affordable Care Act and gives no details on alternatives at a time when Washingtonians urgently need accessible and affordable health care.

Hesch is the clear choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Joy Stanford is challenging Republican Rep. Michelle Caldier for the 26th Legislative District, House Position 2. Stanford was a substitute teacher who has worked in the district with underserved and elderly populations, helping them gain access to health care. She challenged Caldier for this seat in 2018 and only narrowly lost.

Stanford has previously worked in housing services and the health care industry, and she hopes to use these experiences to address affordable housing and health care access with creative approaches. She is campaigning to keep infrastructure projects on budget and ensuring health care access for all, and will work to fix Washington's upside-down tax code. In response to recent protests for racial justice, Stanford said she supports increasing funding for non-police appropriate crisis responders such as mental health professionals.

Incumbent Michelle Caldier has built a career on opposing progressive policies. She voted against automatic voter registration, which has been proven to strengthen democracy by making it easier for eligible citizens to vote, and opposed legislation to expand access to reproductive health care. This year, she voted against prohibiting race-based hair discrimination and discrimination based on immigration status or citizenship. Caldier also voiced strong opposition to the comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual health education bill this year.

Joy Stanford will bring progressive priorities to Olympia. She is running a strong campaign and deserves your vote.

Rep. Melanie Morgan is running for re-election for the 29th Legislative District, House Position 1. Morgan is an Army veteran who was elected to the Franklin-Pierce School Board in 2015 and worked with Young Life to create a mentorship group for young Black men, focusing on participation in STEM fields. Since 2018, she has been a strong advocate for representation and equity in Olympia where she has served as the deputy majority floor leader.

This year, Morgan was the lead sponsor on legislation to prohibit race-based hair discrimination. In addition, she supported gun safety legislation as well as the bill to establish the Washington State Office of Equity. Morgan has spoken out about the need for racial justice, drawing on her experience on the governor-appointed Equity Task Force, and wants to move forward with an equitable lens, including proposing legislation to make Juneteenth a paid holiday in Washington. Morgan is also campaigning to increase voter engagement, access to affordable housing, and public transportation in her district.

Morgan is facing a challenge from Republican Koshin Mohamed Fidaar, an Army veteran and Executive Director of the Somali Community Services Coalition. He claims the district has a high crime rate but fails to offer thoughtful solutions to address it. Fidaar has also not addressed our state's upside-down tax code, which currently asks working families to pay up to six times more of their income in taxes than the wealthiest.

Morgan is a strong progressive voice in Olympia. She is the clear choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Jamila Taylor is running for the 30th Legislative District, House Position 1 to succeed Rep. Mike Pellicciotti, who is running for state Treasurer. Taylor is an attorney who advocates for crime victims and has an extensive record of volunteer service. She previously served as the statewide advocacy counsel for the Northwest Justice Project where she managed a network of legal aid attorneys and has worked on youth intervention programs and other violence reduction efforts.

Taylor's progressive campaign platform includes increasing access to affordable housing, reducing the cost of prescription drugs, and improving transparency in government. She supports developing legislation to promote police accountability and address racial inequities in the criminal justice system. Taylor believes in protecting the social safety net as a preventative measure to stem cycles of trauma and poverty.

Taylor is running against Independent Republican Martin Moore. Moore is a Federal Way City Council member and the Executive Director of Audiobook Ministries. Despite running as an Independent to promote "people over politics," Moore has a conservative platform. In particular, he has aligned himself with socially conservative former Sen. Mark Miloscia, who lost his race after years of inflammatory comments about abortion and LGBTQ members of the community.

Jamila Taylor will bring progressive, community-driven solutions to the House. She is the best choice in this race.

Rep. Jesse Johnson is running to retain his seat in 30th Legislative District, House Position 2. Johnson previously served as a member of the Federal Way City Council before being appointed to the Legislature in January. He also works as a staffing analyst in workforce planning and development for Highline Public Schools and has sponsored multiple bills to support at-risk youth.

This year, Johnson sponsored legislation to prohibit race-based hair discrimination and supported gun safety legislation as well as a bill to establish a student loan program for undocumented students. He is running a strong re-election campaign promoting equitable access to quality education for every student, affordability for working families and seniors, and improving services to help homeless and housing-unstable individuals. Johnson wants to prioritize safety and public health as he reaches out to small business leaders in his district about re-opening after the coronavirus pandemic. In June, he stated his interest in developing police reform legislation to increase the accountability of law enforcement.

Johnson faces a challenge from Republican Jack Walsh. Walsh owns an ice cream shop in Federal Way and has twice led advisory vote campaigns to prevent retail marijuana shops from expanding to the city. Walsh falsely and insensitively claims that commercial interests are the victims of the housing crisis, and his proposed solution is to criminalize our neighbors experiencing homelessness and divert funding away from addiction recovery and mental health resources.

Johnson is a strong and effective progressive legislator. He deserves your vote.

Rep. Cindy Ryu is running for re-election in the 32nd Legislative District, House Position 1. Formerly the mayor of Shoreline, Ryu was the first Korean American mayor in the country and the first to serve in the state Legislature. In her position in the House, Ryu has prioritized supporting small businesses, affordable housing, environmental protections, and public schools.

Ryu is the Chair of the Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee. In this role, Ryu has supported the development of tiny homes and upzoning in urban areas, as well as proposing a bill to create "housing opportunity zones" near high-quality transit. She has also advocated for reforms to hold law enforcement officers accountable. Unfortunately, Ryu was one of two Democrats who voted against legislation to exempt menstrual products from unnecessary taxation this March. However, Ryu also sponsored legislation prohibiting race-based hair discrimination and requiring the dispossession of forfeited firearms, both of which passed the House.

She is running against Democrat Shirley Sutton. Sutton is a former Lynnwood City Council member backed by the Persist PAC, a group centering the candidacies of Black women for state Legislature. Sutton championed diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts while on the council and received the Snohomish County NAACP Carl Gipson Lifetime Achievement Award last year. Some of her highest campaign priorities include police accountability, incentivizing an environmentally-sustainable economy, and reversing Washington's upside-down tax code.

Ryu stands apart from her progressive opponent because of her legislative experience and support from partner organizations. She is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Rep. Lauren Davis is running for re-election to the 32nd Legislative District, House Position 2. Davis is the founding Executive Director of the Washington Recovery Alliance, which seeks to help families and individuals who are struggling with mental health and addiction issues. She also helped launch the suicide prevention nonprofit Forefront in King County and served on King County's Behavioral Health Advisory Board as well as the Public Policy Committee for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Washington State before assuming office last year.

This year in the House, Davis sponsored legislation to prohibit race-based hair discrimination and to require the state to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. She will consider many strategies to resolve the state's budget crisis including a capital gains tax so that the wealthiest pay their share and program cuts that don't sacrifice state support for the most vulnerable Washingtonians. If re-elected, Davis wants to focus on mental health and addiction recovery, affordable housing, gun violence prevention, and education.

Davis is running against Tamra Smilanich, a non-partisan candidate and realtor. Smilanich is a perennial candidate who previously challenged Rep. Eric Pettigrew as an Independent in 2018, 2016, 2014, and 2012, as well as Sen. Adam Klein in 2010. She does not have a strong campaign presence in this race.

In just her first few years, Davis has emerged as a principled and effective progressive leader in Olympia. She has earned your vote in this race.

Rep. Eileen Cody is running for re-election to the 34th Legislative District, House Position 1. Before running for office, Cody worked at Kaiser Permanente for 40 years and is a registered nurse. She is also a founding member of SEIU 1199 Healthcare NW. In the House, Cody serves as the chair of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee and has led efforts to implement the federal Affordable Care Act in Washington state.

This year, Cody sponsored legislation to increase funding for the coronavirus pandemic response and to require the state to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. She has focused on public health policy and health care reform in office, supporting the 2019 bill to prevent surprise billing for certain treatments. Cody has been a strong advocate for Washingtonians' right to speak to their health care provider about death with dignity and abortion, regardless of the hospital's religious affiliation, following the merger announcement of Virginia Mason Health System and CHI Franciscan earlier this year.

Cody is running unopposed in this race. As a consistent advocate for patients' rights and health care access, she deserves your vote.

Environmental champion Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon is running for re-election to the 34th Legislative District, House Position 2. Fitzgibbon chairs both the House Environment & Energy Committee and the Select Committee on Pension Policy, and he serves as a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

This year, Fitzgibbon pushed for clean fuels legislation that would have reduced greenhouse gas emissions and led to cleaner air. In addition, he supported legislation to reduce plastic bag pollution, reduce gender pay disparities, and improve gun safety laws. Fitzgibbon is running on a platform of defending the environment, reforming our tax code so that the wealthy pay their share, and funding education. He believes that the state has learned valuable lessons about acting early and listening to scientists while navigating the pandemic and that these lessons should also be applied to the threat of climate change.

Fitzgibbon is running unopposed. As a smart and strong voice for environmental protections, he deserves your vote.

Colton Myers is running against incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Griffey for the 35th Legislative District, House Position 1. Myers is a senior health care analyst who is running on a much more progressive platform than Griffey, including closing the gaps in our health care system and bringing more family-wage jobs to the region. If successful, Myers will be the first openly gay House member to represent the 35th District.

Myers has taken the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge and wants to hold corporate polluters accountable and promote environmental justice. He believes that economic recovery will require addressing Washington's upside-down tax code to make sure everyone pays their share and the social safety net is protected. Myers rightly criticized Griffey recently for his votes against LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights, as well as his refusal to affirm that Black Lives Matter.

This year, incumbent Republican Griffey was an opponent of legislation to combat the climate crisis and voted against establishing the Washington State Office of Equity. He has served in the 35th Legislative District since 2015 and has not supported raising the minimum wage or allowing all workers to earn sick leave. Griffey missed a number of key votes this year and spent the rest of the session primarily voting against progressive legislation.

Myers has progressive values and will be a strong advocate for his constituents if elected. He is the clear choice in this race.

Darcy Huffman is challenging Rep. Drew MacEwen for the 35th Legislative District, House Position 2. For 25 years, Huffman has helped people with day-to-day money management and now serves as the Resource and Communication Director at her church in Olympia. She's also vice president-elect for the Southwestern Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and sits on their Affordable Housing Taskforce.

Huffman's platform includes increasing access to affordable housing and health care as well as expanding broadband access in rural areas. Her campaign priorities went from important to "urgent" due to the coronavirus pandemic. Huffman believes that in order to address systemic racism, all legislation must be evaluated with an equity lens. She is community-minded and wants to voice the specific needs and concerns of her many rural constituents.

Huffman is running against the incumbent Republican MacEwen, who stands on the wrong side of a host of progressive issues. MacEwen has opposed increasing the minimum wage, requiring employers to provide sick leave to workers, implementing democracy-expanding automatic voter registration, and prohibiting conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ minors. This year alone, MacEwen voted against prohibiting race-based hair discrimination, establishing the Washington State Office of Equity, and gun safety legislation. As COVID-19 cases rose in Washington state, MacEwen was one of the Republicans who frivolously sued Gov. Inslee over his stay-at-home order.

Darcy Huffman is running a strong campaign as a Democrat with a rural perspective. She is the best choice in this race.

Rep. Noel Frame is running for re-election for the 36th Legislative District, House Position 1. Frame has served the district since 2016 and has put her organizing skills to use as a strong advocate for funding public schools and fixing our state's upside-down tax system. She previously served as the Washington State Director of Progressive Majority, where she worked to recruit and elect progressive candidates from underrepresented communities.

Rep. Frame's re-election platform includes continuing to fight for tax reform, funding our public schools, and creating a more equitable society by removing systemic discrimination and barriers for people of color. Frame has been a strong advocate for juvenile justice reform, supporting Attorney General Bob Ferguson's recent bill to ban solitary confinement as punishment for incarcerated youth. This year, Rep. Frame sponsored legislation to prevent race-based hair discrimination and requiring the state to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Rep. Frame is running unopposed. In the House, she will continue advancing progressive priorities and has earned your vote.

Democrat Liz Berry is running for the 36th Legislative District, House Position 2 to replace Rep. Gael Tarleton, who is running for secretary of state. Berry is the director of the Washington State Association of Justice. She previously served as the president of the National Women's Political Caucus and on the board of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington.

If elected, her priorities include rebuilding our economy so that it works for everyone, affordable childcare, health care reform, and an end to systematic police violence against Black people. Berry has numerous endorsements from progressive partner organizations and elected officials including Rep. Pramila Jayapal.

Berry's experience and strong support from progressive advocates make her the best choice in this race.