7th Legislative District

Sen. Patty Murray has been a consistent and strong progressive voice in the U.S. Senate. She's seeking re-election to continue fighting for our basic rights and a better quality of life in Washington and beyond.

Murray was first elected in 1992 and has been a champion for veterans, working families, women, and economic opportunities for all. Before her tenure in the Senate, Murray worked as a preschool teacher, on the Shoreline School Board, and in the Washington state Senate.

During her time in Congress, Sen. Murray has worked hard to keep our communities safe from gun violence, protect abortion access at the federal level so that everyone has reproductive freedom, and expand access to affordable childcare. This year, she voted in support of the Women’s Health Protection Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, and a slate of other progressive bills that invest in working communities so that our country is a place where everyone can thrive. Murray has earned an impressive and diverse coalition of endorsements from local and national organizations, elected leaders, and unions.

Sen. Murray faces Tiffany Smiley, a triage nurse running on a MAGA Republican platform. Smiley has never held public office but she previously worked on Capitol Hill. Her Trump-inspired agenda aims to divide us while she seeks to cut funding from our most essential services and repurpose it for a needless border wall and more militarized police forces. Working Washingtonians need real solutions so that we can access the basics like gas, groceries, rent, and prescription medicine – not MAGA rhetoric and tax breaks for the wealthy.

Sen. Patty Murray is a national leader on many of the most important issues facing our country. She has earned your vote for re-election.

Democrat Doug White is running for U.S. representative for the 4th Congressional District. His platform is focused on protecting the local environment and expanding rural health care. He comes from several generations of Central Washington farmers and has worked with family businesses.

White's focus would be a significant change from incumbent Dan Newhouse's conservative policies. White believes that climate change needs to be mitigated by local energy from solar and wind. He also believes immigrants need a path forward to citizenship, more must be done to secure affordable housing for all, a safety net for seniors and the vulnerable must be provided, and that infrastructure from waterways to broadband internet needs to be modernized and rebuilt. Unlike his opponent, he also supports passing a law to protect reproductive freedom for all Americans.

Incumbent Republican Dan Newhouse was first elected in 2014 and previously served as the Washington director of agriculture and in the state House of Representatives. He is very conservative, and while Trump was in office he voted with the president 93% of the time. While he was one of the few Republicans to support Trump's impeachment in 2021 after the attack on the capitol on January 6th, Newhouse refused to support the pandemic relief package. Newhouse is also strongly opposed to reproductive freedom and has an A+ rating from a national anti-abortion PAC.

White is broadly endorsed by many Democratic organizations, unions, and more. For his willingness to take on the district's and nation's biggest issues, like protecting water and building up communities more equitably, we recommend Doug White for Congress for the 4th District.

Natasha Hill is running for Congress to be a progressive advocate for everyone in the 5th District, not just the wealthy few. She grew up in Spokane utilizing community resources like SNAP and later experienced homelessness and food insecurity while pursuing her law degree. Now Hill wants to ensure that no one should have to struggle through poverty to get an education in America. Hill currently owns her own law practice and has also served as an adjunct law professor and a member of the Spokane County Redistricting Committee.

Hill is running to focus on addressing the disparities between working people, seniors, and families and the extraordinarily wealthy corporations that have dominated politics and the economy for decades. Hill wants to make the child tax credit permanent, expand rural health care options, and raise the minimum wage so that any American can meet their basic needs on forty hours of work a week. She also wants to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and overturn obstacles to the vote for youth and people of color. In our Spokane committee's interview with Hill, she expressed strong support for strengthening unions, codifying the right to abortion, and reimagining education, health care, and the criminal legal system.

Hill is challenging Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who is running for re-election to the office she has held since 2005. With a 95 percent record of voting with Trump during his presidency, McMorris Rodgers is one of the most damaging lawmakers in Washington. She voted yes on Trump's border wall, supported his trillion-dollar corporate tax cut, and was the only representative from Washington to vote for Trump's bill to cut $800 billion from Medicaid. She voted against raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and has refused on multiple occasions to hold town halls to answer to her constituents for her votes. McMorris Rodgers also voted against extending benefits for military veterans exposed to toxic pit burns, questioned the FBI's search for Trump's unsecured and critically classified documents, and stated that she believes the 2020 election had "significant irregularities," despite mountains of evidence to the contrary.

McMorris Rodgers has consistently stood in the way of abortion rights, including attempting to defund Planned Parenthood and its many services to the community. In an early September, she accused Democrats of fearmongering about a national abortion ban; two weeks later her colleague Lindsey Graham introduced one in Congress.

The district needs progressive representation to make meaningful advances in the lives of people here and across the country. For her bold platform in this time of crisis and widening inequity, as well as her broader organizational support, we recommend Natasha Hill for U.S. Representative of the 5th Congressional District.

Dr. Kim Schrier is seeking re-election to her seat in the U.S. House representing Washington’s 8th Congressional District. Prior to serving two terms in Congress, she worked as a pediatrician and ran a local pediatric practice in Issaquah caring for kids and families across the region.

Schrier has consistently brought her professional health expertise and community-driven values to Congress. Unlike her Republican opponent, Schrier would support a federal law protecting reproductive freedom for all Americans. This term, Schrier supported the bipartisan infrastructure bill that will provide essential funding to improve local roads and bridges, as well as $19 million dollars for pedestrian safety projects in the 8th District alone. She also voted for Build Back Better, which would have provided funding for early education, extended the child tax credit, reduced the cost of child care, and combated climate change. If re-elected, Schrier wants to prioritize the everyday needs of working families as well as be a compelling changemaker on public health issues like affordable prescriptions, gun violence prevention, clean air, and access to healthy food.

Schrier faces a challenge from Trump Republican Matt Larkin, one of the most far-right candidates on the ballot in Washington this year. He is also one of the state's most staunchly anti-abortion candidates, calling for federal legislation to ban abortions nationwide, and even opposing certain contraceptives and Plan B options. Larkin is running on a Trump Republican platform that scapegoats our community members struggling the most. Larkin also joins some of the most extreme right-wing candidates in his refusal to acknowledge that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, ignoring the will of the people. 

Schrier has been a standout member of Congress working across party lines to get things done for her district. She has earned your vote for re-election.

Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson is running as an independent to bring a non-partisan voice to the secretary of state's office. Anderson served on the Tacoma City Council before running for county auditor in 2009 and winning re-election three times. As Pierce County auditor, which is a nonpartisan position, she has administered dozens of elections while also overseeing licensing and public record-keeping.

Anderson is running because she believes political parties shouldn't be involved in running elections they are simultaneously trying to win. Her campaign priorities include supporting more local races becoming non-partisan, increasing access to voting and election information, and improving election security. She wants to translate the voters' pamphlet into 10 languages, going beyond what is mandated by the Voting Rights Act. She also wants to conduct risk-limiting audits in all 39 Washington counties and "pre-bunk" rumors to increase confidence in our state's election systems.

During our interview, Anderson expressed support for ranked choice voting because she believes it will allow candidates to break through our two-party political system. This is one of the biggest points of difference between Anderson and Hobbs.

Anderson offers voters an experienced option if they are looking for a nonpartisan administrator to manage our state's elections and support ranked choice voting.

There are two conservative Republicans vying for the Chelan County sheriff position. While neither is a progressive option, Morrison is the better choice. 

Incumbent county sheriff Brian Burnett is running for his fourth term in the position. He is the president of the Washington State Sheriffs’ Association and has spent more than two decades in law enforcement. His campaign platform is vague and oriented toward maintaining the status quo. Last year, Burnett was identified in a photo from an event hosted by a controversial local church where participants (including Burnett) are flashing a hate symbol associated with American neo-Nazis. Though he says he doesn't entirely agree with the notion of a "constitutional" sheriff, Burnett is running like one, and has refused to uphold laws that he doesn't personally agree with, like the state's gun safety and accountability laws.

Mike Morrison – Burnett’s own deputy sheriff – is challenging his supervisor in this race. As president of the Deputy Sheriff's Association Union, Morrison has been involved in filing several unfair labor practice complaints against Burnett’s office. Now, Morrison is running on a platform to bring transparency, accountability, and integrity to the sheriff’s office while ensuring that it is a positive place to work. He has also come out strongly against constitutional sheriffs like Burnett, stating correctly that law enforcement should not be dictated by personal feelings. 

Morrison and Burnett have both been connected to Grace City Church, which is led by a pastor who has come under fire for potential misuse of taxpayer dollars and for suing Gov. Inslee over his COVID safety policies.

In this race with no progressive candidates, a vote for Morrison is the preferred choice over Burnett, who is defying his duty to the community to uphold the law. 

Vicky Dalton is seeking re-election to remain the Spokane County auditor, a role she has served in for more than 20 years. She oversees election integrity and voter protection, recording and vehicle licensing processing, and county financial services.

Since assuming the position in 1999, Dalton has proven her commitment to transparency, integrity, accountability, and efficiency in office. She has exceptional credentials, leading the state on a number of auditing commissions and committees. She also serves the community as a member of the Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners board.

Dalton faces a challenge from MAGA Republican Bob McCaslin. He is a state representative for the 4th Legislative District and is retiring from the Legislature to run for the auditor seat. McCaslin’s campaign platform is full of conservative rhetoric and shares his intention to cut community investments if elected. In 2020, McCaslin joined Trump-aligned extremists casting doubt over the election results. He supported a petition to audit the results in Spokane County, which demonstrated a lack of understanding of the roles and responsibilities of an auditor. While in the Legislature, McCaslin frequently partnered with disgraced former Rep. Matt Shea on legislation.

In a time of rampant right-wing lies about election fraud, we need consistent, proven leaders like Vicky Dalton to protect our elections and uphold voter rights. She has earned your trust and your vote for Spokane County auditor.

Pastor and former Clallam County deputy prosecuting attorney Deb Conklin is running for Spokane County prosecutor. Conklin also formerly chaired the Spokane Office of the Police Ombudsman Commission.

If elected, one of Conklin’s priorities will be to make sure that the prosecuting attorney's office is not overcharging people in our community. She correctly points out that this leads to further crowding in jails and prisons, costs more, and makes our system less just. She wants to restore integrity and transparency to the office after some controversies in its recent history, including questions about current prosecutor Larry Haskell’s potential racial bias.

Her opponent is incumbent Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell, who is running for a third term. Haskell previously served on the Airway Heights City Council and the Cheney School Board. If re-elected, Haskell wants to continue to push his extremist ideologies and use the office to put pressure on the Legislature to increase law enforcement budgets in order to send militarized police forces into our neighborhoods. This year, Haskell’s wife was exposed as having used multiple racial slurs on social media and identified herself as a “proud white nationalist” – beliefs that Haskell minimized and have no place in our communities, especially not in our legal system. Haskell and Spokane City Councilmember Mike Fagan were also spotted at an extremist fundraiser for theocratic secessionists. To make matters worse, multiple legal experts professionals have publicly spoken out against his policies while in office, including the reduction in referrals to therapeutic courts, his lobbying for the removal of the words "racial equity" from criminal legal reform goals, and his resistance to citizen oversight of the criminal legal system. 

In this race with no progressive candidate, we recommend Deb Conklin for Spokane County prosecuting attorney because of her support from our partner organizations and her focus on preventative solutions to community safety.

Two Republicans are running for Spokane County Sheriff to replace the outgoing conservative Ozzie Knezovich, who is retiring after 16 years in office. Though both are Republicans, Wade Nelson is running on a platform of change while his opponent John Nowels represents more of the same right-wing leadership as the last sheriff.

Wade Nelson has worked in the county sheriff’s office for more than 20 years and previously served in the Navy. Nelson sets himself apart from Nowels with his clear vision of change that includes transparency, accountability, and community collaboration. Unfortunately, he is running on a typical Republican platform to focus on “band-aid” policing solutions rather than long-term community safety that invests in prevention and treatment.

John Nowels has worked in the county sheriff’s office for 24 years and was promoted to undersheriff in 2019. He was mentored by Knezovich and wants to continue his approach, which is characterized by harsh treatment of our neighbors experiencing homelessness, a lack of community supports for those of us struggling the most, and high staff turnover and low office morale.

In a race with no ideal options, Wade Nelson is the better choice in this race to bring change to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Justice Mary Yu is running unopposed to continue serving on the state Supreme Court. Yu was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2014, elected by voters to the seat later that year, and re-elected in 2016. Before joining Washington’s highest court, she spent 14 years as a trial court judge in King County Superior Court and earlier as the deputy chief of staff to former King County prosecutor Norm Maleng.

Yu has an unimpeachable reputation and has been rated “exceptionally well qualified” by a number of key bar associations. On the court, she has been a voice for equal justice and upholding the rights of all. Now, she is running with endorsements from all of her fellow justices as well as a number of retired justices from the court.

Justice Yu deserves your vote to continue serving as one of Washington’s state Supreme Court justices.

Justice Barbara Madsen has served on the state Supreme Court for 30 years and is running unopposed for re-election this year. She was only the third woman to serve on the court when she was first elected in 1992. During her time on the court, her fellow justices elected her the 55th chief justice of the court – a position she held for 7 years.

Having spent her career in both prosecution and public defense, Madsen has extensive knowledge of the criminal legal system and a passion for serving her community. Her re-election has been endorsed by each of her fellow justices and a wide range of other judicial leaders and community organizations.

Justice Madsen has served the state with fair and equal justice. She deserves your vote to remain in her seat on Washington’s Supreme Court.

Justice G. Helen Whitener is running unopposed for re-election to Position 6 on Washington’s Supreme Court. Whitener became the first Black woman to serve on the state’s Supreme Court in April 2020 when she was appointed to fill a vacancy by Gov. Inslee. Later that year, she won her election to fill the remainder of the term. Prior to joining the Washington Supreme Court, Whitener served on the Pierce County Superior Court and worked as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney before becoming a judge.

Justice Whitener is both a Trinidadian immigrant and openly gay, and has worked to be a representative voice for justice for all in the state’s highest court. In this race, she has earned the endorsement of each one of her fellow justices as well as some retired justices. Whitener has been rated as "exceptionally well-qualified" by a number of bar associations and has done an exceptional job since joining the court.

Whitener is an important voice on the State Supreme Court and deserves your voice to continue serving as a justice in Position 6.

Spokane County District Court Commissioner Eric Dooyema is running for district court judge. Dooyema has served as commissioner since 2018, and has also served as a judge pro tem in numerous courts, including the Spokane Municipal Court.

Dooyema wants to pivot his experience serving as a member of the bench to have the authority to make policy votes. Some of his priorities include making the courts more accessible with remote access where appropriate and instituting an intensive, supervised therapeutic court for domestic abusers similar to the ones for DUI court. The Spokane County Bar Association has rating Dooyema as well-qualified.

Like his opponent, Dooyema has the endorsement of some judges on the Spokane County Superior Court and District Court. However, he lacks the organizational support of Zappone.

Andrew Biviano is running for Spokane County District Court in Position 6. Biviano is already a pro tem judge for the county’s district court. He has his own private practice specializing in civil rights law and he formerly worked as both an assistant U.S. attorney and in case management before that.

Having personally worked with community members experiencing addiction, housing instability, mental illness, and employment challenges, Biviano is running to bring a progressive vision of safety and justice to Spokane. If elected, he wants to uphold the civil rights and dignity of Spokane residents, while building equitable justice and public trust in the court. Biviano has been rated “exceptionally well-qualified” by the county bar association, has a strong track record of defending working people in court, and has earned the endorsements of key judicial leaders across the state.

Ritzville prosecutor Deanna Crull is the other candidate in this race. She serves as an Airway Heights Court commissioner and a pro tem judge for the county district court. Crull’s campaign priorities are investing in alternatives, reducing recidivism, and building community safety.

We recommend Andrew Biviano for Judge Position 6 on the Spokane District Court because of his proven track record of community leadership.