American Federation of Teachers - WA Endorsements

Incumbent Rep. Davina Duerr is running for re-election to the 1st Legislative District, Position 1. Duerr joined the House in 2019 when she replaced Derek Stanford when he moved to the Senate. Prior to joining the Legislature, she served as deputy city mayor from 2016 to 2019 while on the Bothell City Council, where she still serves in an at-large position. She also chaired the Bothell Landmark Preservation Board for eight years and founded the M.I.L.K. Money campaign at the Northshore Schools Foundation to support students experiencing homelessness.

In the Legislature, Duerr has sponsored an impressive slate of progressive legislation. Most recently, she supported bills to make sure all Washingtonians pay their share in taxes and to reduce gun violence caused by homemade guns. Duerr has worked to increase affordable housing options, invest in public schools, and ensure environmental protection.

Duerr's opponent is Republican John Peeples, who unsuccessfully ran for Seattle City Council in 2019 and state representative in the 43rd Legislative District in 2018. This year, he is running for state representative largely to fight against public health requirements that kept Washingtonians safe during the pandemic. Peeples does not have elected or community leadership experience.

Duerr has been a strong and consistent progressive leader in the House and deserves re-election to Position 1 of the 1st Legislative District.

Rep. Shelley Kloba is seeking re-election to Position 2 representing the 1st Legislative District. Kloba was elected to the Legislature in 2016 and previously served a three-year term on the Kirkland City Council and a four-year term on the Kirkland Parks Board. She has been involved in community projects such as the King County Domestic Violence Initiative and the King County Cities Climate Collaboration, and brings a particular eye for consumer protections and boosting opportunities for working people.

Kloba has championed issues such as data privacy protections, treating gambling addiction as a health issue, and gun safety in the Legislature. She was the prime sponsor of a bill that extended the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council, which increases opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds. She also sponsored successful legislation this year to expand coverage of the paid family and medical leave program, improve public contracting opportunities for women- and minority-owned businesses, and more.

Her challenger this year is Republican and real estate agent Jerry Buccola, who is running to deny Washingtonians the freedom to access safe, legal abortions. He states that we would also repeal the governor's emergency powers and the growth management act, two reactionary and politically-driven ideas with far-reaching consequences beyond this election cycle. As of mid-July, he has no campaign website or other policy priorities to review.

We recommend Rep. Kloba for re-election so she can continue fighting for progressive values at the state level. She deserves your vote in the 1st Legislative District.

Rep. Marcus Riccelli is running for re-election to Position 1 in the 3rd Legislative District. Prior to joining the House in 2013, Riccelli worked as a senior policy aide to Washington State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown. Outside of the Legislature, he also works as the project manager for the Community Health Association of Spokane and as an advisory board member for the Northside YMCA.

In Olympia, Riccelli has sponsored key progressive legislation such as bills this session to ensure that all Washingtonians pay their share of taxes and to create more affordable housing options. Recently, he worked to pass the historic Move Ahead Washington transportation package that will benefit transit infrastructure, working families, and the environment.

Early in the pandemic, Riccelli spearheaded the efforts of the Spokane Food Fighters in donating hundreds of meals to those in need. In the Legislature, 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.

Challenging Riccelli is Republican Scotty Nicol, a musician and former assistant to Spokane mayor Nadine Woodward. Nicol is running on a vague, bullet point agenda that includes standard conservative talking points from the Legislature. His promise to create a pro-business environment echoes current Republican legislators' efforts to remove environmental regulations and refuse workers a fair return on their work. Similarly, his blanket promise of lowering taxes doesn't address the state's regressive tax code - specifically, that the wealthy have evaded paying their share into quality schools, roads, healthcare, and other resources we all use.

At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, we can't afford another Republican candidate who caters to businesses and refuses to address the needs of working people. Rep. Riccelli has worked hard during his time in the Legislature to advocate for community-centered legislation and progressive values. Riccelli has earned your vote for state House.

Incumbent Democrat Rep. Timm Ormsby is running for re-election to Position 2 in Legislative District 3. He was first elected to the seat in 2003 and has worked on a wide range of progressive issues during his tenure in office. Outside of the Legislature, Ormsby is the president of the Spokane Regional Labor Council and has worked for a number of labor organizations previously.

In the House, Ormsby's policy goals include taking action on climate change that supports job growth and sustainable community development. Recently, he supported legislation to keep our communities safe from high-capacity firearms, as well as a bill to ensure cities and counties include affordable housing in their growth plans.

Ormsby is running against Republican Natalie Poulson, a special education teacher who was one of a handful of Finch Elementary School teachers and administrators who refused to wear masks in class last year. Poulson is a MAGA Republican who would promote misinformation in our schools, support militarized police forces in our communities, and offer tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy while working families continue to struggle to pay rent, afford medicine, and put food on the table.

Also in this race is Patrick Spurlock, a first-time candidate running with no party preference. Spurlock does not have a campaign platform as of mid-June but claims to value unity above greed and tyranny.

Rep. Ormsby has been a strong progressive leader and he deserves your vote for re-election to Legislative District 3, House Position 2.

Rep. Bill Ramos is running for re-election in Legislative District 5, Position 1 to continue bringing people-first leadership to the district. He first joined the Legislature in 2019 after previously serving on the Issaquah City Council and working as a transportation consultant.

Ramos is running to continue working to make our communities safer by strengthening police accountability measures, investing in public infrastructure, and protecting our local ecosystems. He is also prioritizing economic security and living affordability for the district by expanding housing options and addressing our state’s upside-down tax code.

Ramos has already made progress on these issues in Olympia. He sponsored a bill to provide law enforcement compliance audits this past session. In addition, he voted for the historic Move Ahead Washington package that will invest in increased transit access alongside much-needed upgrades to our transportation infrastructure.

Ramos faces a challenge this year from Kenneth Moninski. He has spent his career in the aviation industry, running communications and media businesses. In 2020, he ran unsuccessfully for this same position on a shallow and typically conservative platform with an endorsement from the NRA. In this election, Moninski's platform focuses on opposing efforts to strengthen police accountability in our state while cutting the funding needed to deliver quality schools, affordable health care, and good-paying jobs that ensure all of our families can thrive.​

Bill Ramos is the clear choice for House Position 1 in Legislative District 5.

Democrat Lisa Callan is running for re-election to Position 2 representing Legislative District 5 where she has served for the past three years. Before that, she was an elected member of the Issaquah School Board and worked in the private sector as both 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 and legislation to promote safety from surgical smoke for both health care workers and patients. In this race, she has earned strong 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've reduced traffic gridlock on the I-405 corridor. Magendanz is running to cut corporate oversight laws that protect workers, consumers, and the environment. Magendanz is 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.

Democratic Rep. Dave Paul is running for re-election to the 10th Legislative District, Position 2. The incumbent first joined the Legislature in 2019 after working for Skagit Valley College for more than a decade.

Paul has been an advocate for working families and improving our transportation system in office. He was a co-sponsor of last year’s Working Families Tax Credit that puts cash directly into the hands of working Washingtonians. This session, he supported the Move Ahead Washington package to improve public transportation infrastructure and access. Looking forward, Paul wants to invest in giving Washington’s youth the educational and mental health resources they need to succeed.

Republican Karen Lesetmoe is challenging Paul for state house. She is a real estate broker and Navy veteran. Lesetmoe does not have a detailed agenda but she pits her campaign against the state's economic recovery programs to keep working families afloat. Lesetmoe has echoed Republican talking points about crime while ignoring the investments our communities need to be safe.

Paul has been one of the most thoughtful leaders in Olympia during his first two terms, reaching across the aisle to get things done for the district. We enthusiastically recommend Paul to continue representing the 10th Legislative District with strong community-centered leadership in the House.

Progressive incumbent Rep. David Hackney is running for a second term representing the 11th Legislative District in Position 1. Before joining the Legislature, Hackney spent 25 years as a practicing attorney, including at the U.N., and worked at a handful of progressive organizations with focuses on environmental protections and workers' rights. In 2019, he was appointed to the Washington State Human Rights Commission by Gov. Inslee.

This past session, three of Hackney's bills were signed into law, protecting the sensitive information of currently or formerly incarcerated Washingtonians, creating a tax exemption for organizations maintaining affordable housing, and increasing access to electricity as a transportation fuel for all Washingtonians. Hackney is running for re-election to continue investing in a clean energy future, tackle the housing crisis, and build safe and economically secure communities.

His challenger this year is Republican precinct committee officer Stephanie Peters, who is running under the extreme Election Integrity Party mantle. Her main priority is to question election security, echoing the messages of MAGA Republicans who are trying to overturn the will of the people in the last presidential election. As of mid-July, Peter has no campaign website to detail her priorities, choosing to instead link to the local Republican legislative district site.

Rep. Hackney is by far the best choice in this race for his experience and his effective first session as a legislator.

Incumbent Rep. Steve Bergquist is running for re-election to Position 2 in the 11th Legislative District. Bergquist is a former deputy majority floor leader and currently serves as the vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Outside of the Legislature, he teaches high school in the Renton school district and previously owned a small business.

Bergquist's legislative priority is making community investments to continue economic recovery, particularly for students, working families, and small businesses. This year, Bergquist introduced bills to help with shortages in school staffing, allow young people to pre-register to vote, and provide career advancement opportunities for public school paraeducators. As a union member, Bergquist has been a consistent advocate for creating living-wage jobs in the 11th Legislative District.

Bergquist faces a challenge from Republican Jeanette Burrage. She served on the Des Moines City Council from 2012 to 2015 and as a state representative in 1981. Burrage has run for multiple other positions throughout the years, including failed campaigns for Legislature in the 33rd District in 2014 and for Highline School Board in 2019.

Unfortunately, she wants to bring a slate of regressive policies to Olympia. While only a bare-bones website and no detailed policy agenda available as of mid-July, Burrage's primary concern based on her official voter's guide statement seems to be denying kids a modern education. Every child, no matter their zip code, background, or color, deserves to see themselves and their experiences in history. Writing out race in every part of the school agenda doesn't help children, it simply erases many of them and denies them the chance to learn about the cultures and experiences of different people.

Rep. Bergquist's work to improve the lives of students, working people, and families in the district make him by far the best choice in this race.

John Zingale is a first-time candidate running for the 18th Legislative District, Position 1 to bring a progressive voice to the seat vacated by Rep. Brandon Vick. Zingale is a middle school social studies teacher in the public school system. He has earned state and local awards as an educator who focuses on civic engagement and he serves on educational boards.

Zingale’s campaign priorities are based on the everyday conversations he has with students and families in the district. He is running to bring municipal broadband to the region, invest in our schools to prepare all our kids to succeed, and help local businesses thrive. Zingale also believes we need to build more affordable housing options, create more living-wage jobs, and break the cycle of generational poverty by addressing the high cost of living with community services.

Stephanie McClintock, a member of the Battleground School Board and chair of the Clark County Republican Party, is also vying for the 18th Legislative District seat. McClintock is running on a typically conservative platform to cut public funding that helps improve schools, transit, parks, and community services while spending more further militarizing and expanding police forces. McClintock is also campaigning on divisive rhetoric about school curriculums and wants to erase some of our communities from the history books.

Zingale is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote to bring progressive leadership to House Position 1 representing the 18th Legislative District.

Democratic Rep. Strom Peterson is running for re-election to represent the 21st Legislative District in 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 and thoughtful leader.

In Olympia, Peterson has had a hand in passing several important progressive bills. This year, Peterson sponsored legislation to limit the sale of ghost guns and restrict guns in certain public locations like school board meetings. He also sponsored the wealth tax, which would finally make Washington's extremely wealthy pay their share for the resources that we all use, and he supported the middle housing bill to expand housing around transit.

In previous years, Peterson was a sponsor of Breakfast Before the Bell, which provides meals for hungry students. In 2018, he 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.

Peterson faces a challenge from Republican Amy Schaper. She filed to run for this office close to the election deadline, and as of mid-July her website is inoperable and her candidate Facebook page is mostly empty. She does have a graphic from 2021 that states that she opposes reproductive freedom and comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual health education.

Peterson is the clear choice for Legislature in this race.

Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self is running for re-election to the 21st Legislative District, House Position 2. She is a mental health counselor in the Everett School District, and an active member of the community, focusing on childhood education and strengthening health services.

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. She is co-chair of the state’s Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee and serves on the National Council of State Legislators' Education Committee as well.

This year, she was the prime sponsor of the bill to prevent the state from contracting with private prisons, and also supported the successful bill to reduce the sale of large-capacity gun magazines. Previously, Ortiz-Self was the prime sponsor of bills to increase student access to counselors and provide resources for homeless college students. If re-elected, she wants to continue strongly funding education, increase resources for mental wellness, and pass more evidence-based gun violence prevention legislation.

Ortiz-Self has two opponents this year: Republicans Petra Bigea and Jenifer Short. Bigea unsuccessfully challenged Ortiz-Self in 2018. She is running on a vague MAGA platform to rescue capitalism and restore constitutional rights. Like many Republicans this year, she is trying to turn us against schools and teachers by injecting politics into the classroom and seeking to deny students an honest and accurate education. Short has an inoperable website and no campaign materials readily available as of mid-July.

The district needs a serious representative who will protect the health and opportunities of everyone. Rep. Ortiz-Self has earned your vote in this race.

Maria Siguenza is running for office to center the needs of marginalized people and communities in state decision-making. After starting in a call center for the Health Care Authority, she moved up to a position as an agency director in the governor's cabinet. Aside from directing the State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, she also serves on the Poverty Reduction Work Group and the Social-Emotional Learning Advisory Committee.

As a first-generation American from a working family led by a single mother, Siguenza wants to represent those in the district who are living paycheck-to-paycheck. When addressing the climate crisis, she wants to center low-wage workers and communities of color that stand to be the most affected. In our interview with her, she stated that her top three priorities would be helping small businesses, supporting education, and a holistic approach to homelessness. She would support her district mate Rep. Bateman's middle housing bill, which would expand housing options near transit. Siguenza would also work to expand apprenticeship and employment programs.

Rep. Jessica Bateman is running for re-election to the state House after a standout first term of supporting housing solutions and Washington families. Before her election to the House in 2020, Bateman served on the Olympia City Council, on the city's planning commission, and as deputy mayor. This year Bateman was the prime sponsor of the 'middle housing' bill, which sought to improve affordability by expanding housing options near transit. She was also a sponsor for accountability on ghost guns and prohibiting open carry in government buildings where city councils and school boards meet.

Bateman has two opponents this year - one Democrat and one Republican. Democrat Kevin Young also ran for this position in 2020. He has no website and very few policy details available for this year as of mid-July, but in his previous campaign, he supported universal health care and encouraged community oversight of the police. Republican Kate Plager is running on a vaguely conservative platform that lacks detail. She states that she will reduce "wasteful" spending and continue to provide the same level of services, without evidence of what is wasteful or would be cut. Like other Republicans this cycle, she references being a law and order candidate in a fear-driven attempt to garner votes without a foundation of what she would improve for the community.

Bateman's housing affordability bill was one of the most important pieces of legislation debated during the 2022 session. While it came up a few votes short, her leadership - particularly as a new legislator - was very impressive and filled a much-needed gap on this critical issue. We're excited to see what she can accomplish in her second term in the state House. Jessica Bateman has earned your vote.

Rep. Tarra Simmons is running for re-election to the 23rd Legislative District. Simmons is the founding director of Civil Survival, a nonprofit organization that helps formerly incarcerated people reintegrate and become advocates for their community. She also made history when she became the first formerly-incarcerated person to graduate law school and be admitted to the Washington State Bar Association.

Simmons' 2020 campaign focused on criminal justice and legal reform, as well as fighting for more robust support for working people. In just her first two years in office, she has delivered in a big way. Her first piece of legislation in 2021 was automatic voter registration for formerly incarcerated people. In the 2022 session, Simmons sponsored legislation limiting ghost guns, supported creating a system to find missing Indigenous people, voted to make the wealthy pay their share into our communities, and supported housing near transportation. If re-elected, she wants to continue building off her success in expanding access to free and reduced-cost health care, restoring civil rights, and funding education.

Simmons has been a strong advocate for restoring civil rights, health care access, and the district's youth. She is the clear choice for the 23rd District.

Rep. Drew Hansen is running for re-election to House Position 2, where he has represented the 23rd Legislative District since 2011. As a trial lawyer and former law professor, Hansen's focus on education and civil rights has greatly improved the lives of residents in his district for the past decade.

Hansen helped expand the Olympic College engineering program for shipyard workers and sponsored legislation to protect marine jobs. Hansen has also supported fully funding the State Need Grant for low-income college students, as well as providing free and reduced college tuition for families earning less than $50,000 a year. Finally, one of Hansen's hallmark accomplishments in Olympia was passing a major gun safety law to prevent illegal gun purchases.

Challenging Hansen from the right is Paige Jarquin. She ran for Central Kitsap School Director in 2021, though she submitted no bio to the official voters' guide and lost in the primary. As of mid-July 2022, her campaign platform for state House is very thin. Like many other Republicans this year, Jarquin's priorities don't mesh with the fact that many in the community are struggling to make rent and put food on the table. She takes a vague stance on education, saying that what's taught in the classroom "isn't good" without offering any concrete policies or vision of her own.

Hansen has been a reliable progressive vote in the House who has led on several important issues for the district and the state. Vote for Drew Hansen in the 23rd Legislative District.

Rep. Mike Chapman is a moderate Democrat running for re-election to the 24th Legislative District, House Position 1. First elected in 2016, Chapman has fought for economic policies that create jobs in rural communities and protect the environment. In previous sessions, he was a co-sponsor of a major environmental bill to reduce state greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 and focused on quality K-12 education. This year, he sponsored legislation to expand early childhood development programs and affordable child care.

Chapman's opponent, Sue Forde, has been involved in the Republican Party for years, serving as the elected chair of the Clallam County Republican Party since 2019. Though she says that if elected she will better serve families, she is adamant about maintaining the state's upside-down tax code, which benefits the wealthiest Washingtonians at the expense of middle- and low-income families. Like many other Republicans running this year, her emphasis on law enforcement as the solution for community needs and removing medically-accurate sexual health education for students point to a regressive agenda that would drag our state backward.

Veteran Matthew Rainwater is seemingly even more conservative than Forde. His campaign is focused on smear language - railing against Black Lives Matter and Antifa - without many details on what priorities he believes the Legislature should enact. Like Forde, he supports the regressive status quo of our tax code that keeps the wealthiest from paying their share for the services we all need and use, like transportation, education, and more.

While we have been disappointed in some of Chapman's stances, including his previous inaction on police accountability, he far outmatches his conservative opponents in providing a forward-looking vision for the district. Vote Mike Chapman for Legislature.

Rep. Steve Tharinger is running for re-election to the 24th Legislative District in House Position 2. Since 2010, Tharinger has been a progressive leader for the district, passionate about providing affordable health care options to all Washingtonians and unwavering in his advocacy for innovative policies that protect the environment.

This year, Tharinger sponsored bills to keep our communities safe by restricting ghost guns and banning guns in certain locations like school board meetings. He also passed legislation to expand the paid family and medical leave program and increase youth access to behavioral health care.

Tharinger has two opponents this year. Republican Brian Pruiett is making a second attempt to unseat Rep. Tharinger. Much of his platform rants about the governor and Democrats using an endless stream of Republican talking points. Notably, he opposes increasing funding for public schools to ensure our kids have everything they need to succeed.

Like many Republicans running this year, Pruiett is trying to divide and scare us about crime instead of providing our communities the care, security, and support we need. Rather than supporting proven strategies to reduce gun violence and address homelessness, Pruiett wants us to believe that the solution is more guns and putting even more people in jail.

The other challenger in this race is Darren Corcoran, a retired military member and a self-described moderate Democrat. He does not note any community leadership or political experience but is running on some solid values, including protecting the right to abortion and strengthening gun safety laws.

Our communities are safe when everyone, no matter what they look like or what zip code they're in, has opportunities for affordable health care, a great education, and fair wages. Pouring in more guns and adding more militarized police is not the solution, and Pruiett's fear-driven agenda would deepen mistrust.

Steve Tharinger's experience and ability to pass solid health and environmental protections make him the best choice in this race.

Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins is running for re-election to the 27th Legislative District, Position 1. She has been a passionate and effective champion for progressive values, particularly in her fight for women, equity, and closing tax loopholes. She now serves as the first woman and LBGTQ+ Speaker of the House in Washington.

Jinkins consistently advocates for the wealthy to pay their share and fund the resources that our communities need to thrive. Recently, she has pledged to protect the right to abortion in Washington state since Roe v. Wade has been overturned by the conservative Supreme Court majority. In previous sessions, Jinkins sponsored bills to improve education funding and secure resources for a new health clinic in Hilltop that serves low-income patients.

Jinkins has two challengers this year: Todd Briske and Jalonnie Givens-Jackson. Web developer and Republican Briske does not appear to have community or political leadership experience. He states that he supports the ideas of the Forward Party, including ranked-choice voting, "human-centered capitalism," and tolerance. He also states that he wants to create jobs, increase nuclear power, and institute a guaranteed basic income.

Republican Givens-Jackson describes himself as a MAGA enthusiast and liberal gang member turned conservative activist. His policy points are mostly slogans: Authorize Policing, Accountability in Government, and Family Structure is Everything.

Speaker Jinkins is an integral part of progressive advocacy in the state and has worked hard to improve life for all in the district and the state. She has earned your vote for state House once again this year.

Rep. Jake Fey is running for re-election to House Position 2 in the 27th Legislative District. He is a reliable progressive who has championed youth, environmental, and education issues in Olympia. As the son of German immigrants who helped raise his younger siblings at age 13 after his father passed away, Fey is very committed to ensuring future generations of Washingtonians have the support they need to succeed.

Fey is a transportation advocate who has used his position leading the House Transportation Committee to improve mobility for all. This year, he worked with his Senate colleague Marko Liias to pass the greenest transportation package in Washington's history. He also sponsored bills recently to require the state to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and led the legislative response to address the transportation budget shortfall.

Beyond transportation and the environment, Fey also sponsored bills this year to increase student access to mental health resources and establish community oversight boards to increase transparency around law enforcement's interactions with the public.

As many things re-open from the pandemic in a time of transition, our state needs legislators like Fey who have the experience and progressive values needed to lead us forward. Fey is the clear choice in this race.

Firefighter and incumbent Rep. Dan Bronoske is running for re-election in the 28th Legislative District for House Position 2. Bronoske has worked as a firefighter in Pierce County and Lakewood for almost two decades. As an active union member, he has spent his time in Olympia advocating for policies that protect all workers.

Bronoske delivered on his 2020 campaign promises to support working families, address the opioid epidemic, reduce health care costs, and improve our transportation system. This year, he was the prime sponsor of a bill to protect workers and allow the state to address work-related musculoskeletal injuries. He also sponsored bills to restrict law enforcement's use and acquisition of military equipment and enhance the unemployment system for those struggling during the pandemic.

Bronoske's commitment to increased health care access and a progressive pandemic response is informed by his career as a first responder. If re-elected, he will continue to stand for workers and working families in his district and beyond.

Bronoske faces two challengers from the right. Air Force veteran Susanna Keilman joins many Republicans this year in attempting to paint accountability measures as "anti-policing." Keilman also states that she will work on tax relief by doing a performance evaluation on and auditing every state employee - which adds up to over 65,000 everyday working people, from nurses to teachers to maintenance workers - as a means to slash the budget. A faster and more effective solution would be to balance our state's upside-down tax code and have the wealthy finally pay their share, which Republicans have so far almost unanimously refused to do in the Legislature.

Republican and former Army captain Chris Nye served on the University Place City Council between 2011 and 2019 and is the owner of a real estate marketing service. He has almost no concrete policy details on his site, instead focusing on conservative rhetoric of "law and order" to elevate him into office.

Legislators have a responsibility to build up our communities to be a safe place for all of us - that includes ensuring affordable housing, great education, and making sure that health care is available for all. Yet under the guise of "safety," many conservatives this year are running on thin agendas that don't nearly cover the many needs of communities in their district.

Rep. Bronoske has proven that he is willing to help communities better access everyday needs and keep our neighborhoods safe with proven policy solutions. Bronoske is the best choice in this race.

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 an advocate for representation and equity in Olympia where she has served as the deputy majority floor leader.

In previous legislative sessions, Morgan was the lead sponsor of legislation prohibiting race-based hair discrimination, preventing gun violence, and establishing the Washington State Office of Equity. More recently, Morgan helped ensure that $200 million was invested in the community for violence prevention programs, legal aid, and reentry support, especially for communities hurt by the war on drugs. Morgan has secured funding for a new Parkland/Spanaway homeless shelter, rental assistance, and charity care for those who need medical services but are struggling to afford them. As someone who has personally experienced homelessness, she was an important sponsor of this year's middle housing bill, which would have increased housing options around transit if passed.

Morgan has worked hard to support the needs of her constituents. She has earned your vote in the 29th Legislative District.

Sharlett Mena is running for the open 29th Legislative District, House Position 2 seat. Though she lost after a formidable run in the 2020 election to the current representative, Steve Kirby, his retirement after 21 years in the Legislature brings a new opportunity for her impressive campaign.

Mena has a deep background in both public service and community organizing. She currently serves as Special Assistant to the Director of the Washington State Department of Ecology and has also worked in the governor's office. She co-created Voter Turnup in 2021, an organization led by people of color to spur voter turnout and civic engagement. Notably, she also serves on the boards of Progreso, Planned Parenthood, and Fuse Washington, which produces this guide.

Mena wants to take bold action to combat the climate crisis equitably, reduce homelessness, invest in transportation, and increase affordable housing. She sees reforming our upside-down tax code to finally make the wealthy pay their share as a key to our state's future.

Running against Mena is Democratic precinct committee officer Melissa Knott, who unfortunately does not currently have campaign details available as of mid-July. She has experience in education as a literacy specialist and states that she will fight to put community needs over big business and stand up for working people.

Also in this race is nurse practitioner David Figuracion. He does not have elected or community leadership experience and is running on a standard conservative agenda - stoking fears of lawlessness, repealing age-appropriate sexual health education, and opposing making the wealthy finally pay their share with legislation like the wealth tax. He does not appear to have earned any significant endorsements as of mid-July.

Sharlett Mena has strong progressive credentials and is ready to hit the ground running in Olympia. She is the best choice in the 29th Legislative District.

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 has three Republican opponents this year. 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. 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 education, addressing the housing crisis, and more.

Republican Janis Clark is a perennial candidate who has run for many offices over the years, including Tacoma City Council, legislative representative, and mayor of Tacoma. She was removed from the Pierce County Charter Commission in 2005 after a court record of a military court-martial conviction was discovered. Though she has a bare-bones agenda available on her site, noting that she will support military families and pour more money into policing, Clark's failed 2020 run for the 30th Legislative District showed that she would support a very conservative agenda if elected.

Finally, Iraq veteran Paul McDaniel characterizes poverty and people struggling in the community as "moral decay." He promises to combat this by pouring more community resources into law enforcement, rather than connecting people with the health, job, and housing resources they need to thrive.

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

Democrat Rep. Cindy Ryu is running for re-election to the 32nd Legislative District, Position 1. Ryu won this seat for the first time in 2011 when she became the first Korean American to join the state Legislature. Before that, Ryu also made history as the first Korean American woman mayor in the country when she served the City of Shoreline.

Ryu has been an advocate for public education, transportation, small business owners, and the environment in the Legislature. Recently, she sponsored a slate of progressive bills including legislation to prohibit guns at school board meetings, city council meetings, and election offices. In the last few weeks, Ryu reaffirmed her support for reproductive freedom for all Washingtonians.

Ryu faces a challenge this year from Lori Theis, the former director of Alliance for the Advancement of Canine Welfare. Theis is one of several extreme conservatives this year running as a member of the "Election Integrity Party." Her main reason for running is to question election security, echoing the messages of MAGA Republicans who tried to overturn the will of the people last presidential election. As of mid-July, her website is not accessible.

Ryu is by far the best choice in this race.

Rep. Lauren Davis is seeking re-election to Position 2 representing the 32nd Legislative District. She joined the Legislature in 2019 and additionally leads the Washington Recovery Alliance, a nonprofit that helps those experiencing addiction and mental health issues. In her free time, Davis also serves on the Public Policy Committee for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Washington State.

In the Legislature, Davis has voted with other progressives on important bills like prohibiting the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines and setting new carbon neutrality goals for the state. Recently, she sponsored legislation to connect people who are experiencing mental health crises with treatment and resources rather than criminalization. Davis’ top priorities include affordable housing, gun violence prevention, addiction recovery, and quality education from K-12 to public universities. 

Davis's challenger is Republican Anthony Hubbard. He does not have an available campaign website or priorities listed as of mid-July and has no professional, elected, or community leadership experience in his official voter's guide statement. Though he's running as a Republican, his language is a near copy-paste duplicate of the extreme Election Integrity Party candidates this year. Their priority is to question election security alongside the MAGA Republicans who tried to overturn the will of the people last presidential election.

Rep. Davis is by far the best choice in this race.

Incumbent Rep. Tina Orwall is running unopposed for re-election to the 33rd Legislative District, Position 1. Before joining the Legislature in 2009, Rep. Orwall worked for the City of Seattle’s Office of Housing and in the public mental health system.

Rep. Orwall has been a consistent Democratic voice since assuming office. One of her top priorities is public safety, and she is proud of legislation from this session that strengthens police accountability, introduces a new behavioral health hotline, focuses resources on missing Indigenous women, and improves community gun safety. If re-elected, Rep. Orwall will continue prioritizing funding economic recovery from the pandemic for working families and small businesses, directing resources to mental and behavioral health issues, and addressing the high cost of living.

Orwall has earned your vote.

Rep. Mia Su-Ling Gregerson is running unopposed for re-election to Legislative District 33, Position 2. The former Sea-Tac mayor and city council member has served in the House since 2013 where she has prioritized improving public infrastructure and social services, particularly in the area of transportation. Rep. Gregerson is proud of serving as the vice chair of both the House Members of Color Caucus and House Appropriations Committee.

Gregerson has been a champion in Olympia for equity, voting rights, and housing affordability. This session, she succeeded in passing the Digital Equity Act, a bill to address the digital resource divide between students so that all of Washington’s kids have a chance to prosper. If re-elected, Gregerson wants to bring access to reliable broadband to all Washingtonians, increase affordable housing options, and work to combat the climate crisis.

Gregerson has earned your vote for state House.

Environmental advocate Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon is running for re-election to Legislative District 34, Position 2. Fitzgibbon worked as a legislative staffer and served on the Burien Planning Commission before joining the Legislature in 2010.

Fitzgibbon’s top focus is the environment, and he is running for re-election to build on his impressive track record of success. Fitzgibbon played a leading role passing clean fuels legislation that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lead to cleaner air. In addition, he supported legislation to cut plastic bag pollution, reduce gender pay disparities, and improve gun safety laws.

This session, he also passed bills to streamline the permitting process for salmon recovery projects, increase the construction of affordable housing, and expand coverage of paid family and medical leave. His other priorities in office include addressing mass incarceration and inequities in our criminal justice system, expanding voting rights, and investing in public transportation.

Software engineer and Republican Andrew Pilloud is running to roll back progressive victories in Olympia. He does not have elected experience but volunteers with a robotics program. Pilloud's policy details are not comprehensive. He mentions mental health and addiction as the drivers of homelessness without addressing the cause that local housing experts have pointed to for years: the lack of affordable housing options. Pilloud also makes vague statements about criminals and a confusing statement about abortion that implies that he does not fully support the freedom of Washingtonians to decide for ourselves whether and when we have children.

Rep. Fitzgibbon has been one of the most effective progressive legislators in Olympia and has earned your support for another term.

Former American diplomat Sandra Kaiser is running for the 35th Legislative District 35, Position 2 seat as a Democrat. Kaiser served the Department of State for almost 30 years with many presidential administrations, leading public affairs and directing U.S. embassy operations. In Washington, she has worked for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Evergreen State College, and she currently works for serves as the vice president of the Capitol Land Trust board.

Kaiser is running to improve economic security for working families, invest in social services and public infrastructure, and improve our kids' classrooms. She wants to leverage her past government and communications experience with her hometown knowledge to build economic, social, and environmental sustainability in the 35th Legislative District.

There are three Republicans in this race: Patti Case, Travis Couture, and Tiffany Sevruk. Patti Case has spent the last 25 years doing public affairs work for a logging company that has faced criticism for its environmental practices. Like her fellow MAGA Republicans, she has criticized Inslee’s science-based, mask mandate which has helped us fight the spread of COVID-19 and keep our communities safer. Case is running to weaken police accountability measures while continuing to put militarized police forces into our communities. She joins other far-right candidates by opposing curriculums that teach our children both the good and bad of our country’s history so they are prepared for the future and better understand the cultures and experiences of others.

Navy veteran Travis Couture works for a manufacturing corporation that focuses on aerospace, arms, and defense, and he previously ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Legislature. In this race, he sets himself apart with an endorsement from Rep. Jesse Young, one of the most extreme MAGA Republicans in the Legislature. Though Couture claims to prioritize public safety, he opposes policies to keep our communities safe from gun violence and efforts to hold police accountable for their actions. If elected, he would cut funding for community investments that help all Washingtonians access quality schools, housing security, and affordable health care.

Tiffany Sevruk, the final candidate in this race, was elected to the board of directors for North Thurston Public Schools last year on a conservative platform. Outside of the school board, she works at a financial services firm and serves as the president of the Thurston County Women's Republican Club. Sevruk is running for the state House on a vague platform to weaken renters’ rights and cut funding for the services and resources that our communities rely on.

We recommend Sandra Kaiser in this crowded race for Position 2 in the 35th Legislative District. She is the clear choice to bring thoughtful leadership and progressive values to the House.

Democrat Liz Berry is running unopposed for re-election to the 36th Legislative District in House Position 2. Berry is the former director of the Washington State Association of Justice, which advocates for the legal rights of patients, consumers, and injured workers. She also previously served as the president of the National Women's Political Caucus and on the board of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington.

Berry had a prolific first session as a legislator on many progressive priorities this year. She sponsored successful community safety initiatives to restrict untraceable ghost guns and to prohibit carrying guns in certain settings like school board meetings, which is especially notable for Berry as the former legislative director to Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Berry also sponsored the creation of an alert system for missing Indigenous people. If that weren't enough, she worked to flip the state's regressive tax code with a wealth tax and supported important legislation to expand housing options near transit.

Berry has had a successful first term and deserves your vote.

Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos is running for re-election to Legislative District 37, Position 1. Santos formerly worked in banking, politics, and nonprofit management before joining the Legislature in 1998. She is a moderate Democrat and the longest-serving representative of color in Washington’s history.

Though she took a disappointing stance against comprehensive sex education in 2020, Santos has been an advocate for economic justice, civil rights, and environmental action. This year, she took important votes to advance gun safety, set new environmental goals, and create a more equitable criminal justice system. If re-elected, Santos wants to invest in education, health care, and housing so that all Washingtonians have an equal opportunity to thrive.

Her opponent is Republican John Dickinson, who does not appear to have significant elected or community leadership experience. His platform is somewhat confusing, but two of his main goals are to "legalize cannabis" and restore the Comet Lodge graveyard. If elected, Dickinson promises to only serve one term.

Rep. Tomiko Santos is the best choice in this race.

Julio Cortes is a progressive first-time candidate running to fill the open Position 1 due to Rep. Emily Wicks’ retirement. Cortes works for the City of Everett doing communications and marketing work. He is a leader in the community, serving on the board of the Everett Arena Public Facilities District and previously working with Cocoon House to support families and children experiencing housing insecurity.

Cortes has a strong community-focused platform in this race. If elected, he wants to make the district safer and more resilient so that everyone can have a roof over their head, food on the table, and the opportunity to succeed. Cortes specifically wants to invest in small businesses, create more sustainable, living-wage jobs, and ensure that corporations and the wealthy pay their share. He believes that a key to addressing the housing crisis is investing in comprehensive wrap-around services for those experiencing homelessness in our communities. Cortes’ campaign has earned the endorsements of community organizations and local progressive leaders like Rep. Wicks herself.

We recommend Julio Cortes for House Position 1 because of his widespread community support in this race and his progressive vision for the 38th Legislative District.

Everett City Councilmember Mary Fosse is running for the 38th Legislative District, Position 2 to replace Democrat Mike Sells, who is retiring. Fosse was elected to the city council in 2021 where she has continued her advocacy for Everett’s underserved Delta neighborhood. Outside of elected office, she owns a local nursery that teaches plant workshops and she previously chaired the Delta Neighborhood Association.

During her first year on the council, Fosse championed an effort to secure more than $5 million dollars for a cleanup of the Delta neighborhood to ensure that all Everett residents have access to a clean, healthy place to live, work, and care for their families. She has also been an advocate for workers’ rights and climate action in office.

Fosse's deep roots in the district give her a unique view into the needs of the people she's running to serve. If elected to the Legislature, Fosse’s top priority will be to support working families that are getting priced out because of the increasing cost of child care, housing, and health care.

Residents in the 38th Legislative District deserve a representative who will help all Washingtonians access the resources they need to live happy and healthy lives. Mary Fosse is the clear choice for Position 2.

Rep. Debra Lekanoff is running unopposed for re-election to Legislative District 40, Position 1. Lekanoff is currently the only Native American woman in the Washington Legislature. She formerly worked for the Swinomish Tribe as the governmental affairs director and now serves as vice chair of the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee.

Lekanoff is running to keep fighting to protect our ecosystems for future generations while advocating for investments in public infrastructure and economic recovery. This session, she was the prime sponsor of historic legislation that created the country’s first alert system for missing Indigenous women. Lekanoff also supported the historic Move Ahead Washington transportation bill that will make public transit in Washington more accessible and environmentally friendly.

She is a strong progressive who will prioritize the environment, tribal representation, and community economic security. Lekanoff deserves re-election so she can continue building a future where all Washingtonians can prosper.

Rep. Alex Ramel is running for re-election to Position 2 in Legislative District 40. Ramel has been a strong progressive leader in the Legislature. The incumbent and environmental organizer previously served on the board of the Whatcom chapter Washington Conservation Voters and now works as a climate policy advisor for an environmental nonprofit.

Ramel’s top legislative priorities include fighting climate change, making housing more affordable, preventing gun violence, investing in community-first economic recovery, and making sure all Washingtonians can afford the health care they need. One of his environmental accomplishments this session was helping to pass the Move Ahead Washington transportation package that will invest in accessible and climate-friendly transit infrastructure like electric vehicle charging stations and zero-emissions ferry technology.

Beyond the transportation package, Ramel prioritized keeping our communities safe by restricting ghost guns, banning carrying guns in places like school board meetings, and creating an alert system for missing Indigenous people. He also sponsored important policies that we hope will move forward in the years to come, including a wealth tax on extraordinarily high earners and expanding housing options near transit.

Ramel faces a challenge from Trevor Smith, a moderate Democratic and the political director of a labor union whose workers install and manage natural gas infrastructure. Unfortunately, Smith's challenge represents a push by conservative corporations and fossil fuel interests to stop Ramel from fighting carbon pollution by promoting alternatives to natural gas like electrification. So far, corporate and conservative PACs and people have spent $150,000 backing Smith's campaign to oust Ramel.

Ramel has been a champion for fighting climate change and protecting our clean air and water. We hope the Legislature follows his lead and continues to fund training for workers to pivot to cleaner sources of fuel. But with a conservative Supreme Court hobbling the EPA's ability to regulate pollution, this is no time to stop climate action. 

Ramel has been an outstanding advocate for progressive causes and is the clear choice to continue serving the 40th Legislative District.

Rep. Tana Senn is running for re-election to the 41st Legislative District in Position 1, where she has served since 2013. As a working mother, Senn has aimed to be a champion for Washington’s families and currently chairs the Children, Youth & Families Committee.

Senn has been a strong voice for preventing gun violence, making child care more affordable, working towards pay equity, and expanding mental health services and resources. This session, she voted for legislation to prohibit the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines and a bill to set new state carbon reduction goals. She has also sponsored legislation to establish the Washington State Office of Equity and require the state to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, pointing our state in the right direction to fight climate change. One of the few disappointments in Senn's progressive track record was her opposition to the missing middle housing bill this year that would have improved affordability by allowing more dense housing options near transit. If re-elected, Senn will continue to prioritize public education investments, environmental protections, and keeping our communities safe from gun violence.

Senn faces a challenge from Republican Mike Nykreim, who is technically running under the Election Integrity Party. His main priority for running is to question election security, echoing the conspiracy theories of the extremists who tried to overturn the will of the people last presidential election. As of mid-July, Nykreim's website is not accessible.

Rep. Senn has been a strong advocate for her district and is the clear choice in this race.

Democratic incumbent Rep. My-Linh Thai is seeking her third term representing the 41st Legislative District in the state House. Before joining the Legislature, Thai served as the president of the Bellevue School District and as the vice president of the Washington State School Board Directors Association. She was the first refugee elected to the state House and is now the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus.

In office, Thai has been a staunch advocate for investments in public education to ensure all Washington kids have access to equitable resources and the chance to thrive. She also recently sponsored progressive bills such as the Working Families Tax Credit, a bill requiring the translation of prescription medicine so that all communities can receive accurate health information, and legislation to remove barriers for civil cases involving police violence. She is now running for re-election to keep fighting for students and educational resources, social equity, environmental protections, and community health.

Two Republicans are challenging Rep. Thai for this seat, Al Rosenthal and Elle Nguyen. Rosenthal is a retired Boeing engineer who now owns retail property and a commercial office. Instead of investing in addiction treatment and stable housing so we can all be safe, healthy, and secure, Rosenthal wants to divide us with fear and cast blame on our neighbors who are struggling the most.

Elle Nguyen, who calls herself a “real estate tycoon,” is a conservative candidate running to bring far-right policy to the Legislature. Nguyen ran for Mercer Island School Board unsuccessfully in 2021 when she attributed her loss to having contracted COVID-19. Nguyen joins other MAGA Republicans who oppose accurate, quality education that celebrates our country’s diversity; instead, she wants to write some of our communities out of the history books. If elected, she would oppose progressive policies that invest in our communities so that we can all access health, safety, and security in our lives.

Rep. Thai is the clear choice in this race. An unwavering community advocate, she deserves to be re-elected to the 41st Legislative District, Position 2.

Incumbent Alicia Rule is running for re-election to the 42nd Legislative District in House Position 1. Rule owns a therapy practice and previously served on the Blaine City Council and as president of the Blaine Downtown Development Association.

Rule brought her expertise in counseling to the Legislature in her first term by focusing on health care and youth services. Some of the bills she sponsored include increasing access to outdoor education, encouraging young people to participate in fishing and shellfishing, and ensuring that services like counseling are available to public employees. Rule also stepped up quickly to support her community by passing legislation to provide relief for farmers, ranchers, and communities affected by flooding in northwest Washington.

She is running for re-election to continue working to increase shelter options, create more living-wage jobs in Whatcom County, and keep our communities safe. In addition, Rule is passionate about preserving the environment of Whatcom County and has pursued local conservation efforts both as a volunteer and a city council member.

Rule faces two Republicans in this race. Her first opponent, Republican Kamal Bhachu, ran for Whatcom County Council last year and lost to Democrat Barry Buchanan. Bhachu's 2021 platform was on the thin side, stating that he would solve mental health and addiction issues in the community by bringing D.A.R.E. programs back to school, and he did not present detailed policy on his promises to address affordable housing and living-wage jobs. This year's platform is similarly undetailed. Bhachu's campaign site says education is an area of great concern. Unfortunately, he neglects to offer any policy proposals to address this. Like most Republicans this year, he states that he wants to unbind law enforcement from recent legislation set to make officers accountable to the community.

Tawsha Dykstra Thompson has served as a police officer for almost 25 years in Bellingham and is running to bring a conservative and regressive agenda to Olympia that emphasizes the role of law enforcement in the district. Thompson wants to criminalize homelessness, characterizing law enforcement as the "brakes" on mental health or addiction issues despite the fact that arrests don't address the root causes of these issues and often deepen them - to the cost of individuals and the community. She opposes balancing our state's upside-down tax code by making billionaires pay their share of the resources we all use.

Republican politicians keep stoking fears and promising that communities will be safer by jailing more and more people. We need leadership that aims to address the many places where our country lags behind - in education, health, food security, housing, and more.

Rep. Alicia Rule has embodied the ethos of fully supporting the community and has earned your vote in the 42nd District.

Rep. Nicole Macri is running unopposed for re-election to the 43rd Legislative District, House Position 1. Rep. Macri is a strong progressive who has worked as an advocate for those with mental illnesses and people struggling with homelessness. She is currently the deputy director at the Downtown Emergency Service Center and president of the board of directors of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.

This session, she sponsored a wide slate of progressive legislation, including successful bills to restrict ghost guns and establish a statewide alert system for missing Indigenous women. She also sponsored two bills to help working people - a wealth tax to flip the state's regressive tax code, and a bill to increase "missing middle" housing options near transit, like duplexes and triplexes. In previous sessions, Macri supported legislation to require the state to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and to establish the Washington State Office of Equity

Macri has 20 years of experience in human services, championing affordable housing, and expanding health care. Her expertise and passion for expanding affordable housing options continues to be an incredible asset in Olympia. Macri deserves your vote for state House from the 43rd Legislative District.

Rep. Frank Chopp is running unopposed for Position 2 in the 43rd Legislative District. Chopp is the former Speaker of the House, where he led on increasing the minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, marriage equality, and more. Since his election in 2020, Chopp has supported a wide slate of progressive bills, including making childcare more affordable through the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, enacting the Clean Fuels Standard, increasing funding for supportive housing and rental assistance, and creating an alert system for missing Indigenous people.

Chopp has earned your vote for another term in the House.

Incumbent Rep. Brandy Donaghy is running to build on her strong first term and continue to serve the 44th District. She was appointed to the House by the Snohomish County Council in late 2021 when former representative John Lovick moved to the senate.

A Navy veteran and community organizer who has been involved in emergency preparedness training, Donaghy has focused her first term on expanding emergency workers' ability to protect the community. Donaghy sponsored legislation to address safe staffing levels for health care workers, which aimed to improve health and safety for both patients and practitioners. She also supported legislation to allow EMTs to provide vaccines and testing outside of an emergency in response to a public health agency's request.

Donaghy faces a challenge from former Republican Rep. Mark Harmsworth. He served two terms in the state House before losing to Democrat Jared Mead in the 2018 election. While he was a representative, Harmsworth pushed a very conservative agenda that aimed to reduce access to health care and the freedom to vote. He voted against the Reproductive Parity Act, which required that all insurance plans in Washington that cover maternity care also cover the full range of reproductive health services, and also voted against the Washington Voting Rights Act. He also wasted taxpayer money on a politically-driven investigation into Sound Transit. If elected this year, expect Harmsworth to continue fighting against public transportation and the right for everyone to for equal treatment, whether at the doctor's office or the ballot box.

Voters rejected Harmsworth's regressive agenda in 2018 and should do so again in 2022. Donaghy will fight for our shared values and has earned your vote.

Rep. April Berg is running for re-election to the 44th Legislative District, House Position 2. She is a former small business owner, director at the Everett School District, and a planning commissioner for the City of Mill Creek.

Berg's progressive accomplishments in the Legislature include working to reduce the cost of living for families, providing COVID relief, and modernizing the transit systems that get us to school, work, and play. As an advocate for youth, Berg has sponsored legislation to eliminate the lunch co-pay for hungry students and make menstrual products free in public school bathrooms.

Berg prioritized community safety this year by sponsoring bills to ban ghost guns. In addition, she took action to protect residents and elected officials by restricting guns in certain locations where harassment is likely to occur, including school board meetings and near ballot drop boxes. Her impressive record of accomplishments includes needed transportation and infrastructure upgrades. She also supported the landmark transportation bill that will have a big impact on Snohomish County. The bill not only funds free rides for kids on public transit but also will fund projects like the Snohomish Teen Center and the Mill Creek Library rehabilitation.

Berg's opponent in this race is Republican Ryne Rohla, an economist in the state attorney general's office. While some of his policy positions should be commended, including offering training for workers for a green economy, his platform largely skews very conservative. Notably, he opposes balancing our upside-down tax code by making the wealthy pay their share to our communities. His proposal to arrest people for being homeless if they refuse shelter, or "go to prison until you change your mind," as he puts it, is as ineffective as it is heartless when there is nowhere near enough shelters or low-income housing available.

During these challenging times, we need leaders who offer thoughtful solutions based on evidence, not more divisive political rhetoric. Berg is the clear choice in this race for state House.

Rep. Roger Goodman is seeking re-election to Legislative District 45, Position 1 where he has been a reliable Democratic voice since first joining in 2007. Outside of the Legislature, Goodman is an attorney at a private practice and previously served on the board of Hopelink, a local organization that works to end poverty.

This past session, Goodman was a sponsor on key legislation to keep schools and government spaces safe from gun violence, direct resources towards missing Indigenous women cases, and invest in middle housing. He believes strengthening police accountability and providing support so all Washingtonians can meet their basic needs are what make our communities safer. If re-elected, Goodman would focus on protecting reproductive freedom in our state, improving mental health resources, and creating more affordable housing options.

Republican salon owner Cherese Bourgoin is challenging Rep. Goodman this year. Bourgoin currently serves as the vice president of Kirkland’s Chamber of Commerce board and ran unsuccessfully for Kirkland City Council last year. If elected, she would oppose community investments that improve our schools, oppose making health care more affordable, and would not create solutions to the housing crisis. Instead, Bourgoin wants to give tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy while putting more money towards expanding and militarizing police forces.

Rep. Goodman is the best choice in this race for House Position 1 in the 45th Legislative District. He deserves your vote to keep bringing effective leadership to Olympia.