Pro-Choice Washington Endorsements

Democrat Lisa Callan is running for re-election to Position 2 representing the 5th Legislative District, where she has served for the past three years. Before that, she served as both an elected member and president of the Issaquah School Board and worked in the private sector as an engineer and project manager.

Callan has worked hard for positive change in Washington, including improving economic security for working families and investing in our youth and public education. This year, she was named an Advocate for Affordable Housing by Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County for her work to expand housing options for all. Callan introduced two bills to protect students’ mental health as well as legislation to promote safety from surgical smoke for both health care workers and patients. In this race, she has earned broad community endorsements due to her consistent leadership and progressive values.

Republican Chad Magendanz is running once again for the Legislature, this time challenging Callan. He is a former Microsoft program manager who previously served as the president of the Issaquah School Board and in the state House from 2013 to 2017. Magendanz stepped down to run for state Senate in 2016, losing to Sen. Mark Mullet, and then ran again for state House in 2018 and lost to Rep. Bill Ramos.

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 have reduced traffic gridlock on the I-405 corridor. Magendanz is running to cut corporate oversight laws that protect workers, consumers, and the environment. Magendanz was proud of his "A" rating from the National Rifle Association during his last campaign, which raises questions about his willingness to keep our communities safe from gun violence.

Rep. Callan is the clear choice in this race and deserves to be re-elected to Position 2 in the 5th Legislative District.

Adison Richards is a lawyer running for the 26th Legislative District, Position 1. Richards previously worked for the Northwest Justice Project, which provides free legal assistance for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, among others. Richards also volunteers extensively in the community, including the Downtown Waterfront Alliance, Harbor History Museum, Tacoma Pro-Bono, and Bremerton NAACP. He wants to bring a vision of opportunity for all to Olympia to ensure that everyone in the district, no matter what they do for work or where they live, has the tools they need to succeed.

He believes public safety should include designated first responders with mental health training as well as more robust social services to address the underlying causes of crime, including the lack of affordable housing and job opportunities. He wants to support local shellfish farming, technical schools and apprenticeships, as well as expand rural broadband and fix local transportation issues, like the Fox Island bridge.

His opponent, Spencer Hutchins, served on the Gig Harbor City Council from 2017 to 2019 and is the co-owner of a real estate company. Hutchins wants to repeal the clean fuel standard, which will improve air quality by reducing dirty transportation emissions, as well as the capital gains tax, which will make the extraordinarily wealthy in our state finally pay their share. He also wants to repeal the long-term care law, which would help the majority of residents in Washington who will eventually need caregiving for daily needs, especially seniors and vulnerable populations.

Hutchins' reactionary agenda is endorsed by a slate of conservatives and Republicans, who are pouring money into this race. Notably, the Republican is also endorsed by representatives like Reps. Jesse Young and Jan Angel, two of the state's most anti-choice legislators who have repeatedly attempted advocated for restricting Washingtonians' freedom to choose if and when to have children.

Richards is by far the best choice for Position 1 from the 26th Legislative District.

Nursing home administrator Matt Macklin is running for the 26th Legislative District, Position 2 to build healthier communities and advocate for workers.

He notes that the fragile and underfunded systems of healthcare and housing buckled under the strain of the pandemic. He believes the Legislature can do more to retain skilled workers, including more fair reimbursement for mid-level providers. He also believes that investment into broadband internet and green energy would help grow the economy in the right direction. Macklin wants to see training centers for trade jobs, including health trades but also electricians, teachers, and more.

His opponent is Republican incumbent Michelle Caldier, who has stood in opposition of progressive policies more often in recent years. In 2022, she opposed legislation to expand access to reproductive health care and opposed commonsense gun safety legislation, including prohibiting the sale of high capacity gun magazines. In past years, she voted against prohibiting discrimination based on immigration status or citizenship and she opposed automatic voter registration, which makes it easier for eligible citizens to vote.

Macklin is the best choice in this race.

Jamila Taylor is running for re-election to the 30th Legislative District, House Position 1. 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 was elected chair of the state Black Members Caucus this year, where she advocates for racial equity for all Washingtonians.

In her first term, Taylor sponsored successful bills to restrict the open carry of guns in public places like school board meetings, establish the state's first statewide digital equity plan, and create a system to locate missing Indigenous people. She was the prime sponsor of legislation that will expand scholarships for community and technical college students. She also supported increasing housing options near transit to alleviate the state's housing crisis. If re-elected, Taylor wants to work on crime and violence prevention, affordable housing access, and health care.

Taylor's opponent Casey Jones states that he is a Federal Way police commander with 23 years in law enforcement who, unsurprisingly, wants to increase prosecution. Unfortunately, law and order is the only campaign agenda point on his website. Aside from a desire to reduce police accountability measures passed recently in the Legislature, Jones offers no further vision for the district. This doesn’t speak to an interest in the majority of work that a legislator needs to do to keep their communities healthy and whole, including protecting our water and air, supporting great schools, addressing the housing crisis, and more.

The 30th District doesn't need more abrasive and divisive rhetoric. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, the district needs someone who can bring together communities and write legislation that works for everyone. Taylor's standout first term has shown that she is a progressive and capable legislator, and she has earned your vote in the 30th Legislative District.