14th Legislative District
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Welcome to the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2025 Primary election! Since 2008, we've compiled information about candidates and ballot measures that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. We will continue to add additional recommendations until voting begins on July 16.
Port Races
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below races on your ballot.
Port of Bellingham
Carly James is challenging incumbent Ken Bell for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2. James is the co-owner of Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress and owns Gold Ink, an accounting and consulting firm.
While James' platform is limited, her campaign is prioritizing entrepreneurship, protecting the shoreline and marine trades, and expanding public access to parks, trails, and community spaces. As a small business owner, she experienced firsthand the challenges of the port and wants to do more to drive economic growth in the area.
Although we would like to see her campaign include more specific policy proposals, we lean towards voting for Carly James for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2.
Last updated: 2025-07-15
Carly James is challenging incumbent Ken Bell for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2. James is the co-owner of Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress and owns Gold Ink, an accounting and consulting firm.
While James' platform is limited, her campaign is prioritizing entrepreneurship, protecting the shoreline and marine trades, and expanding public access to parks, trails, and community spaces. As a small business owner, she experienced firsthand the challenges of the port and wants to do more to drive economic growth in the area.
Although we would like to see her campaign include more specific policy proposals, we lean towards voting for Carly James for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2.
Last updated: 2025-07-15
Carly James is challenging incumbent Ken Bell for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2. James is the co-owner of Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress and owns Gold Ink, an accounting and consulting firm.
While James' platform is limited, her campaign is prioritizing entrepreneurship, protecting the shoreline and marine trades, and expanding public access to parks, trails, and community spaces. As a small business owner, she experienced firsthand the challenges of the port and wants to do more to drive economic growth in the area.
Although we would like to see her campaign include more specific policy proposals, we lean towards voting for Carly James for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2.
Last updated: 2025-07-15
Other Candidates
Incumbent Commissioner Ken Bell is running for another term in District 2 on the Bellingham Port Commission. Formerly a Whatcom County planning commissioner and Whatcom County charter review commissioner, Bell joined the port commission in 2017. He also served as the president of a soil decontamination company outside of office.
Bell is a more conservative voice on the commission and works with the Whatcom Republicans. He has previously been politically affiliated with consultants from a fossil fuel shipping terminal that community members, progressive leaders, and the Lummi Tribe successfully opposed. Bell’s track record on the port commission includes uncompassionate sweeps of homeless encampments on port property as well as supporting private interests and marine trade at the cost of community needs. He is not a progressive choice
Kaylin Bosley is also challenging Bell for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2. Bosley is a local comedian who is actively engaged in the queer community of Bellingham. Unfortunately, Bosley's candidate website is still down as of late June. Her voter guide entry highlights her experience in operating under a tight budget and her desire to ensure the port's long-term prosperity. While we appreciate Kaylin Bosley's enthusiasm, we would have liked to see more specific policy proposals from her.
Last updated: 2025-06-30
Incumbent Commissioner Ken Bell is running for another term in District 2 on the Bellingham Port Commission. Formerly a Whatcom County planning commissioner and Whatcom County charter review commissioner, Bell joined the port commission in 2017. He also served as the president of a soil decontamination company outside of office.
Bell is a more conservative voice on the commission and works with the Whatcom Republicans. He has previously been politically affiliated with consultants from a fossil fuel shipping terminal that community members, progressive leaders, and the Lummi Tribe successfully opposed. Bell’s track record on the port commission includes uncompassionate sweeps of homeless encampments on port property as well as supporting private interests and marine trade at the cost of community needs. He is not a progressive choice
Kaylin Bosley is also challenging Bell for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2. Bosley is a local comedian who is actively engaged in the queer community of Bellingham. Unfortunately, Bosley's candidate website is still down as of late June. Her voter guide entry highlights her experience in operating under a tight budget and her desire to ensure the port's long-term prosperity. While we appreciate Kaylin Bosley's enthusiasm, we would have liked to see more specific policy proposals from her.
Last updated: 2025-06-30
Port of Tacoma
Two well-qualified candidates are running for the Port of Tacoma from District 1: incumbent John McCarthy and Randy Wilson. The two candidates would bring somewhat different values and experience to the commission. Read the full descriptions below to find the candidate best aligned with your priorities for the Port of Tacoma.
Incumbent Commissioner John McCarthy is running for re-election to the Port of Tacoma Commission in Position 1. McCarthy first became a commissioner in 1983, serving for nine years, before rejoining the commission again in 2018. His background is as a longshore worker and a Pierce County Superior Court and District Court judge. Between his former and recent port commission terms as well as his judicial leadership, McCarthy has spent nearly four decades in public service roles in Pierce County.
McCarthy’s top issues include environmental protections for the Tacoma Tideflats, job creation, and expanding trade. However, he's taken a relatively moderate approach to many of the port's challenges and missed out on some opportunities to champion environmental conservation and advocate for workers. Despite this record, he's earned an impressive slate of endorsements from progressive community leaders and elected officials.
McCarthy is a good choice for voters looking for a steady, experienced hand at the Port of Tacoma.
Last updated: 2025-07-07
Incumbent Commissioner John McCarthy is running for re-election to the Port of Tacoma Commission in Position 1. McCarthy first became a commissioner in 1983, serving for nine years, before rejoining the commission again in 2018. His background is as a longshore worker and a Pierce County Superior Court and District Court judge. Between his former and recent port commission terms as well as his judicial leadership, McCarthy has spent nearly four decades in public service roles in Pierce County.
McCarthy’s top issues include environmental protections for the Tacoma Tideflats, job creation, and expanding trade. However, he's taken a relatively moderate approach to many of the port's challenges and missed out on some opportunities to champion environmental conservation and advocate for workers. Despite this record, he's earned an impressive slate of endorsements from progressive community leaders and elected officials.
McCarthy is a good choice for voters looking for a steady, experienced hand at the Port of Tacoma.
Last updated: 2025-07-07
Endorsed By: Tacoma Firefighters-IAFF Local 31
Incumbent Commissioner John McCarthy is running for re-election to the Port of Tacoma Commission in Position 1. McCarthy first became a commissioner in 1983, serving for nine years, before rejoining the commission again in 2018. His background is as a longshore worker and a Pierce County Superior Court and District Court judge. Between his former and recent port commission terms as well as his judicial leadership, McCarthy has spent nearly four decades in public service roles in Pierce County.
McCarthy’s top issues include environmental protections for the Tacoma Tideflats, job creation, and expanding trade. However, he's taken a relatively moderate approach to many of the port's challenges and missed out on some opportunities to champion environmental conservation and advocate for workers. Despite this record, he's earned an impressive slate of endorsements from progressive community leaders and elected officials.
McCarthy is a good choice for voters looking for a steady, experienced hand at the Port of Tacoma.
Last updated: 2025-07-07
Endorsed By: Tacoma Firefighters-IAFF Local 31
Randy Wilson is running for Port Commissioner in Tacoma, District 1. Wilson is a Democrat who has experience in international business trade, particularly in the Japanese market.
Wilson's campaign is prioritizing a strong workforce, environmental protections, and and community collaboration on the Port. He lays out a 4 year plan focused on promoting growth and sustainability. If elected, Wilson is proposing creating more formalized career pathways from logistics to marine operations to drive the port economy and help transition to low-emission practices. Overall, Wilson put together a thoughtful campaign, with economic development and sustainability at its core.
Although Randy Wilson may not hold as many endorsements as the incumbent, he is a good choice for voters looking for new progressive leadership at the Port of Tacoma.
Last updated: 2025-07-07
Randy Wilson is running for Port Commissioner in Tacoma, District 1. Wilson is a Democrat who has experience in international business trade, particularly in the Japanese market.
Wilson's campaign is prioritizing a strong workforce, environmental protections, and and community collaboration on the Port. He lays out a 4 year plan focused on promoting growth and sustainability. If elected, Wilson is proposing creating more formalized career pathways from logistics to marine operations to drive the port economy and help transition to low-emission practices. Overall, Wilson put together a thoughtful campaign, with economic development and sustainability at its core.
Although Randy Wilson may not hold as many endorsements as the incumbent, he is a good choice for voters looking for new progressive leadership at the Port of Tacoma.
Last updated: 2025-07-07
Randy Wilson is running for Port Commissioner in Tacoma, District 1. Wilson is a Democrat who has experience in international business trade, particularly in the Japanese market.
Wilson's campaign is prioritizing a strong workforce, environmental protections, and and community collaboration on the Port. He lays out a 4 year plan focused on promoting growth and sustainability. If elected, Wilson is proposing creating more formalized career pathways from logistics to marine operations to drive the port economy and help transition to low-emission practices. Overall, Wilson put together a thoughtful campaign, with economic development and sustainability at its core.
Although Randy Wilson may not hold as many endorsements as the incumbent, he is a good choice for voters looking for new progressive leadership at the Port of Tacoma.
Last updated: 2025-07-07
Other Candidates
Former Gig Harbor city council member Tim Payne is also running for the Port of Tacoma, representing District 1. Payne was on the council for 12 years, according to his Twitter account.
Payne's campaign is prioritizing the expansion of job opportunities, supporting businesses, modernizing the port, and regional collaboration. Unfortunately, he does not suggest any specific strategies or policies he would advocate for if elected. Additionally, Payne's previous association with the conservative group, Opportunity for Washington, indicates a rightward lean in his priorities.
Last updated: 2025-07-08
Former Gig Harbor city council member Tim Payne is also running for the Port of Tacoma, representing District 1. Payne was on the council for 12 years, according to his Twitter account.
Payne's campaign is prioritizing the expansion of job opportunities, supporting businesses, modernizing the port, and regional collaboration. Unfortunately, he does not suggest any specific strategies or policies he would advocate for if elected. Additionally, Payne's previous association with the conservative group, Opportunity for Washington, indicates a rightward lean in his priorities.
Last updated: 2025-07-08
Two progressive candidates are running for Port of Tacoma from District 4: Cyrus Donato and Dan Knox. We recommend Donato because of his strong values and policy platform.
Cyrus Donato is running for Tacoma Port Commissioner, District 4. Donato is currently the Puget Sound Inspector for the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). He also serves on the Washington Advisory Committee on Trafficking (WashACT), during which he fought against labor exploitation and human trafficking in the maritime industry.
If elected, Donato will prioritize growing cargo, environmental accountability, and improving public trust through ethical governance. He is a proponent of reducing congestion and pollution in the Port's systems and wants to prioritize the use of clean technology to achieve this goal. He also recognized the Puyallup Tribe's land and wants to build more local partnerships in the decision-making process.
Donato is a vocal advocate for workers' rights in the fishing industry, with a particular focus on protecting immigrants. In 2023, he was part of the team that fought for a crew of Filipino fishermen who were trapped aboard fishing vessels for almost 2 months in Westport. The crew was stranded by their abusive employers who refused to pay them wages and kept them separated from their families. Eventually, the crew was rescued and given temporary visas to assist with the investigation into the crimes of their bosses.
While we would like to see some more detailed policy proposals, Cyrus Donato is clearly a progressive and passionate advocate for workers' rights. He makes a great choice for voters seeking a candidate with advocacy experience.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Cyrus Donato is running for Tacoma Port Commissioner, District 4. Donato is currently the Puget Sound Inspector for the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). He also serves on the Washington Advisory Committee on Trafficking (WashACT), during which he fought against labor exploitation and human trafficking in the maritime industry.
If elected, Donato will prioritize growing cargo, environmental accountability, and improving public trust through ethical governance. He is a proponent of reducing congestion and pollution in the Port's systems and wants to prioritize the use of clean technology to achieve this goal. He also recognized the Puyallup Tribe's land and wants to build more local partnerships in the decision-making process.
Donato is a vocal advocate for workers' rights in the fishing industry, with a particular focus on protecting immigrants. In 2023, he was part of the team that fought for a crew of Filipino fishermen who were trapped aboard fishing vessels for almost 2 months in Westport. The crew was stranded by their abusive employers who refused to pay them wages and kept them separated from their families. Eventually, the crew was rescued and given temporary visas to assist with the investigation into the crimes of their bosses.
While we would like to see some more detailed policy proposals, Cyrus Donato is clearly a progressive and passionate advocate for workers' rights. He makes a great choice for voters seeking a candidate with advocacy experience.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Cyrus Donato is running for Tacoma Port Commissioner, District 4. Donato is currently the Puget Sound Inspector for the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). He also serves on the Washington Advisory Committee on Trafficking (WashACT), during which he fought against labor exploitation and human trafficking in the maritime industry.
If elected, Donato will prioritize growing cargo, environmental accountability, and improving public trust through ethical governance. He is a proponent of reducing congestion and pollution in the Port's systems and wants to prioritize the use of clean technology to achieve this goal. He also recognized the Puyallup Tribe's land and wants to build more local partnerships in the decision-making process.
Donato is a vocal advocate for workers' rights in the fishing industry, with a particular focus on protecting immigrants. In 2023, he was part of the team that fought for a crew of Filipino fishermen who were trapped aboard fishing vessels for almost 2 months in Westport. The crew was stranded by their abusive employers who refused to pay them wages and kept them separated from their families. Eventually, the crew was rescued and given temporary visas to assist with the investigation into the crimes of their bosses.
While we would like to see some more detailed policy proposals, Cyrus Donato is clearly a progressive and passionate advocate for workers' rights. He makes a great choice for voters seeking a candidate with advocacy experience.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Dan Knox is another progressive running for Port Commissioner in Tacoma, District 4. Knox comes from an industrial town that faced the effects of bad environmental industry practices. He has a background in education, working as a Peer Academic Support Specialist and a Student Success Technology Specialist.
Know is centering his campaign around climate protections, labor solidarity, and economic equity. His platform includes creating union jobs and advocating for living wages with good benefits. He proposes strategies for cargo flow efficiency and encourages the use of real-time data tools. Additionally, he acknowledges the Puyallup tribe and their ancestral land, on which the Port sits. Using his background in education, he supports programming that prepares tribal youth for careers through mentorship. He supports government-to-government collaborations when making decisions.
In this race, there are two leading progressives. Dan Knox has earned the support of several progressive leaders and organizations. He makes a great choice for voters seeking a candidate with broad support from community leaders and elected officials.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Dan Knox is another progressive running for Port Commissioner in Tacoma, District 4. Knox comes from an industrial town that faced the effects of bad environmental industry practices. He has a background in education, working as a Peer Academic Support Specialist and a Student Success Technology Specialist.
Know is centering his campaign around climate protections, labor solidarity, and economic equity. His platform includes creating union jobs and advocating for living wages with good benefits. He proposes strategies for cargo flow efficiency and encourages the use of real-time data tools. Additionally, he acknowledges the Puyallup tribe and their ancestral land, on which the Port sits. Using his background in education, he supports programming that prepares tribal youth for careers through mentorship. He supports government-to-government collaborations when making decisions.
In this race, there are two leading progressives. Dan Knox has earned the support of several progressive leaders and organizations. He makes a great choice for voters seeking a candidate with broad support from community leaders and elected officials.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Endorsed By: Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates
Dan Knox is another progressive running for Port Commissioner in Tacoma, District 4. Knox comes from an industrial town that faced the effects of bad environmental industry practices. He has a background in education, working as a Peer Academic Support Specialist and a Student Success Technology Specialist.
Know is centering his campaign around climate protections, labor solidarity, and economic equity. His platform includes creating union jobs and advocating for living wages with good benefits. He proposes strategies for cargo flow efficiency and encourages the use of real-time data tools. Additionally, he acknowledges the Puyallup tribe and their ancestral land, on which the Port sits. Using his background in education, he supports programming that prepares tribal youth for careers through mentorship. He supports government-to-government collaborations when making decisions.
In this race, there are two leading progressives. Dan Knox has earned the support of several progressive leaders and organizations. He makes a great choice for voters seeking a candidate with broad support from community leaders and elected officials.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Endorsed By: Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates
Other Candidates
Former Republican state lawmaker JT Wilcox is running for the Port of Tacoma Commission, District 4 seat. Wilcox stepped down from his Legislative District 2 seat earlier this year, where he had served since 2010 as a ranking conservative. Professionally, he’s worked for a lumber company, in self-employed consulting, and as the director of operations for Wilcox Farms.
Wilcox is a staunch conservative who previously organized a ballot measure to eliminate Washington’s sexual health education, opposed legislation that keeps our community safe by instituting commonsense gun safety measures and environmental protections, and has been a consistent obstacle to rebalancing our tax code. In his bid for the port commission, Wilcox is demonstrating a similar set of values, including suggesting that Tacoma voters put him in power because his family’s farm business is a local employer. He brings a business lens to port leadership, but we know that our community thrives when leaders view this commission as an opportunity to strengthen workers’ rights, environmental protections, and community investment. Wilcox is not a progressive choice for the Port of Tacoma.
Last updated: 2025-07-08
Former Republican state lawmaker JT Wilcox is running for the Port of Tacoma Commission, District 4 seat. Wilcox stepped down from his Legislative District 2 seat earlier this year, where he had served since 2010 as a ranking conservative. Professionally, he’s worked for a lumber company, in self-employed consulting, and as the director of operations for Wilcox Farms.
Wilcox is a staunch conservative who previously organized a ballot measure to eliminate Washington’s sexual health education, opposed legislation that keeps our community safe by instituting commonsense gun safety measures and environmental protections, and has been a consistent obstacle to rebalancing our tax code. In his bid for the port commission, Wilcox is demonstrating a similar set of values, including suggesting that Tacoma voters put him in power because his family’s farm business is a local employer. He brings a business lens to port leadership, but we know that our community thrives when leaders view this commission as an opportunity to strengthen workers’ rights, environmental protections, and community investment. Wilcox is not a progressive choice for the Port of Tacoma.
Last updated: 2025-07-08
Yakima School Board
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below school district races on your ballot.
Pam Shelton was inspired to run after the current board's unsavory decision to lay off educators to save money. Born and raised locally, Shelton worked for years as a bookkeeper and recently served as a substitute teacher in the school district.
Shelton believes that eliminating teachers should be a last resort because of the important role they play in students’ lives. If elected, she wants to protect resources for students and prioritize respect for educators.
We appreciate her vision, passion, and educational experience within the district. We recommend voting for Pam Shelton to make progressive change on the Yakima School Board in Position 1.
Last updated: 2025-07-15
Pam Shelton was inspired to run after the current board's unsavory decision to lay off educators to save money. Born and raised locally, Shelton worked for years as a bookkeeper and recently served as a substitute teacher in the school district.
Shelton believes that eliminating teachers should be a last resort because of the important role they play in students’ lives. If elected, she wants to protect resources for students and prioritize respect for educators.
We appreciate her vision, passion, and educational experience within the district. We recommend voting for Pam Shelton to make progressive change on the Yakima School Board in Position 1.
Last updated: 2025-07-15
Pam Shelton was inspired to run after the current board's unsavory decision to lay off educators to save money. Born and raised locally, Shelton worked for years as a bookkeeper and recently served as a substitute teacher in the school district.
Shelton believes that eliminating teachers should be a last resort because of the important role they play in students’ lives. If elected, she wants to protect resources for students and prioritize respect for educators.
We appreciate her vision, passion, and educational experience within the district. We recommend voting for Pam Shelton to make progressive change on the Yakima School Board in Position 1.
Last updated: 2025-07-15
Other Candidates
Two other candidates are running for Yakima School Board Director, Position 1.
Dr. Esperanza Lemos is the Director of Education at radio station KDNA, broadcast to farmworkers in the lower Yakima Valley, and seeking to uplift the entire Hispanic/ Latino community. Unfortunately, Dr. Lemos' campaign did not include specific policy proposals or solutions she would implement if elected.
Jose Gutierrez does not have a detailed campaign website available as of early July, nor did they submit a statement for the Yakima County voters' pamphlet.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Two other candidates are running for Yakima School Board Director, Position 1.
Dr. Esperanza Lemos is the Director of Education at radio station KDNA, broadcast to farmworkers in the lower Yakima Valley, and seeking to uplift the entire Hispanic/ Latino community. Unfortunately, Dr. Lemos' campaign did not include specific policy proposals or solutions she would implement if elected.
Jose Gutierrez does not have a detailed campaign website available as of early July, nor did they submit a statement for the Yakima County voters' pamphlet.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Jonathan Babcock is running for Yakima School Board Director in Position 2. He has been a teacher in Sunnyside for 22 years and serves as Co-President of the educators’ association. B
Babcock seeks to bring an educator’s perspective to board decisions, ensuring that students and classrooms are the last place cuts are made, not the first. He believes the district must lead by example by scrutinizing central administration and operational spending. His approach prioritizes staffing, preventing personnel cuts, and implementing strategies for retention.
We recommend Jonathan Babcock for Yakima School Board Director, Position 2, because of his strong support from local educators.
Last updated: 2025-07-15
Jonathan Babcock is running for Yakima School Board Director in Position 2. He has been a teacher in Sunnyside for 22 years and serves as Co-President of the educators’ association. B
Babcock seeks to bring an educator’s perspective to board decisions, ensuring that students and classrooms are the last place cuts are made, not the first. He believes the district must lead by example by scrutinizing central administration and operational spending. His approach prioritizes staffing, preventing personnel cuts, and implementing strategies for retention.
We recommend Jonathan Babcock for Yakima School Board Director, Position 2, because of his strong support from local educators.
Last updated: 2025-07-15
Jonathan Babcock is running for Yakima School Board Director in Position 2. He has been a teacher in Sunnyside for 22 years and serves as Co-President of the educators’ association. B
Babcock seeks to bring an educator’s perspective to board decisions, ensuring that students and classrooms are the last place cuts are made, not the first. He believes the district must lead by example by scrutinizing central administration and operational spending. His approach prioritizes staffing, preventing personnel cuts, and implementing strategies for retention.
We recommend Jonathan Babcock for Yakima School Board Director, Position 2, because of his strong support from local educators.
Last updated: 2025-07-15
Other Candidates
Real estate agent Ryan Beckett is running for re-election to the Yakima School Board, where he currently serves as President. He is also Chair of the City of Yakima’s public facilities district, which provides oversight for the Yakima Convention Center, and prior to that spent nine years on the Board of Yakima Valley Tourism. His son attends Yakima public school.
His campaign is endorsed by several past board members as well as the Yakima County Republican Party and the Yakima Association of Realtors. In his re-election campaign, he repeats inflammatory conservative language around diversity and inclusion. In 2024, he also voted in favor of a "Program Reduction in Force," which laid off more than 100 employees throughout the district.
Yakima schools deserve a progressive leader who will uplift and serve our kids, not cut programs and staff members.
Juan Romo is also running for Yakima School Board Director, Position 2. Romo is co-campaigning with Pam Shelton and is running to address inequities in the school district. Although his campaign lacks specific policies or solutions, he opposes cuts to teachers and support staff. We would like to see a more robust plan for accomplishing his goals.
Last updated: 2025-07-14
Real estate agent Ryan Beckett is running for re-election to the Yakima School Board, where he currently serves as President. He is also Chair of the City of Yakima’s public facilities district, which provides oversight for the Yakima Convention Center, and prior to that spent nine years on the Board of Yakima Valley Tourism. His son attends Yakima public school.
His campaign is endorsed by several past board members as well as the Yakima County Republican Party and the Yakima Association of Realtors. In his re-election campaign, he repeats inflammatory conservative language around diversity and inclusion. In 2024, he also voted in favor of a "Program Reduction in Force," which laid off more than 100 employees throughout the district.
Yakima schools deserve a progressive leader who will uplift and serve our kids, not cut programs and staff members.
Juan Romo is also running for Yakima School Board Director, Position 2. Romo is co-campaigning with Pam Shelton and is running to address inequities in the school district. Although his campaign lacks specific policies or solutions, he opposes cuts to teachers and support staff. We would like to see a more robust plan for accomplishing his goals.
Last updated: 2025-07-14