City of Kent

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

Dr. Kim Schrier is seeking re-election to her seat in the U.S. House representing Washington’s 8th Congressional District. Before 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.

Elected in 2018 as the first Democrat to hold the seat, Schrier has consistently brought her community values and professional health expertise to Congress. Unlike her Republican opponents, 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 provide funding for early education, extend the child tax credit, reduce the cost of child care, and combat 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 fresh groceries.

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.

Stephanie Gallardo is a progressive teacher and first-generation Chilean American challenging Rep. Smith this year. She lived on the University of Washington campus until she was 10 years old while her parents were finishing their education. She has taught history in the Tukwila School District and was elected to serve on the Washington Education Association board.

Gallardo's lived experience has shaped her platform and campaign for office. She supports Rep. Jamaal Bowman's Green New Deal for Public Schools Act, which would invest billions in green retrofits for school buildings, hire hundreds of thousands of new educators, and improve accessibility on campuses. She would also back Sen. Cory Booker's legislation to provide comprehensive and medically accurate sexual health education for all students.

Foreign policy is Gallardo's other top priority. During our interview, she stated that her family's escape from Chile as political refugees showed the danger of our country's "expansionist foreign policy." If elected, she would add her name to Rep. Jayapal's bill to prohibit the U.S. from aiding Saudi Arabia in their war with Yemen. She also wants to redirect some of the historically large defense budget that Smith writes to invest in education and fighting climate change. On community safety, Gallardo expressed support for revoking immunity for gun manufacturers, banning assault weapons, and prohibiting the military from transferring powerful equipment to law enforcement.

Gallardo's platform and experience offer a clear contrast for voters looking for a progressive alternative, particularly on foreign policy, to Rep. Smith.

Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson is running as a nonpartisan candidate to bring an independent 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 as a nonpartisan candidate 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 nonpartisan, 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.

While Hobbs spoke more about using cybersecurity to protect our elections, Anderson leaned on her professional expertise to describe ways to expand our democracy. She believes, for example, that the state should redouble its efforts to reach voters with disabilities. By using a secure, expert-vetted electronic ballot similar to those used for overseas military voters, Anderson sees a path forward to reach those who don't always have access to vote.

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. She supports grants for local jurisdictions that are interested in trying ranked choice voting so that it's not unduly expensive for local governments, and so that auditors can learn more about how to manage and implement it.

Anderson offers voters an experienced option if they are looking for an independent to administer our state's elections.

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.

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.

Sen. Claire Wilson was elected to the Senate in 2018 and serves as the assistant majority whip. Prior to her election, she spent 25 years as an administrator of early childhood education at the Puget Sound Educational Services District and has served in many community leadership roles, including on the PTA, Citizens for Federal Way Schools, and the Building Better Futures Board, among others.

This year, Wilson sponsored bills to invest in transportation, including ferry upgrades and free rides for kids on transit, as well as the successful gun safety measure of limiting high-capacity magazines. She also sponsored the wealth tax, an effort to make Washington's extraordinarily wealthy residents finally pay their share of the resources we all use. As an expert in education and youth, Wilson also sponsored a bill that will expand accessible and affordable childcare and early education programs.

Wilson faces two challengers from the right: Linda Kochmar and Mark Christie. Former state representative and Federal Way Council President Linda Kochmar's bullet point agenda provides little detail on what she plans to do if elected, but she has opposed making the wealthy pay what their owe our communities and her legislative record received a "D" grade from Pro-Choice Washington. Kochmar is one of the more conservative members of the Federal Way City Council, going so far as to oppose hazard pay for grocery workers at the height of the pandemic.

Christie also ran for this seat in 2020. His MAGA agenda and website disparage some of the core components of strong communities, such as free and accessible education and healthcare for everyone. His "solution" for the district is to make cities Republican strongholds.

Wilson has been a solid legislator and a mover of progressive policies in the Senate, especially for kids and families. She deserves your vote in the 30th 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.

Rev. Dr. Carey Anderson is running for state Senate in the 30th Legislative District to leverage his long history of community building for the benefit of all the district's residents. Anderson has served on several community organizations, including Democrats for Diversity and Inclusion, Washington Equity Now Alliance, and King County Regional Homelessness Authority. His leadership role as pastor in the historically Black First African Methodist Episcopal Church offers a different perspective than most elected officials in Olympia.

Anderson is unique among many candidates this year in that a large part of his work has been direct-to-community service through his church. He describes the $31 million housing project, with nearly 200 units of affordable housing, free produce and grocery drives, and vaccination sites as some of the direct impacts he's contributed as a church leader. First A.M.E. owns several hundred units of affordable housing across at least 13 buildings as of 2019, and Anderson wants to see the state lead on more housing, including units with wraparound services for those with additional behavioral health needs. In contrast to his opponent Reeves, Anderson backed zoning changes that would allow for more types of homes to be built as well as potentially lifting the statewide ban on rent control.

On social and economic issues, Anderson wants to see more economic investment in communities of color. Specifically, he noted that he's working with the Washington State Cannabis Alliance of African Americans to expand Black cannabis businesses. He also supports efforts like the wealth tax, which would create more equity for middle- and lower-income Washingtonians by finally making the extraordinarily wealthy pay their share. On the environment, Anderson supports a cap on statewide greenhouse gas emissions among other measures and he recently reaffirmed his support for abortion.

Anderson is a good choice if you're looking for a candidate who is deeply rooted in and experienced in advocating for the community.

Incumbent Sen. Karen Keiser is running unopposed for re-election to the state Senate in the 33rd Legislative District. She serves as the president pro tempore of the state Senate and as the chair of the Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs Committee. Before joining the Legislature in 1995, she spent 25 years working for the Washington State Labor Council.

In Olympia, Sen. Keiser is committed to improving the affordability of prescription drugs, strengthening workplace safety and security, and expanding accessible housing for all. This year, she was one of the sponsors of a bill to address our state's upside-down tax code. Keiser also recently voted in favor of a bill to prohibit guns in certain government and voting spaces as well as legislation to set new environmental protection goals for the state.

If re-elected, Sen. Keiser wants to work on getting Washingtonians access to high-quality public education, economic security for families and small businesses, and affordable health care. Keiser has earned your vote for state Senate.

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.

Claudia Kauffman is a former state senator running in the 47th Legislative District. She previously held this seat from 2007 through 2011.

Kauffman is running again to uplift the need for early learning, affordable housing, climate action, and more. She currently serves as the Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe where she oversees the tribe's legislative agenda on a local, state, and federal level. A member of the Nez Perce Tribe, Kauffman would be one of very few Indigenous lawmakers, including incumbent Rep. Lekanoff and potentially candidate Chris Stearns.

In our interview, she pointed out how the district's history of swinging between red and blue is an open opportunity for someone with her experience to win the seat. She wants to see the Housing Trust Fund increased and would help teachers earn higher pay alongside opening more slots for early learning. Removing salmon culverts and cleaning up superfund sites on the Duwamish River were high on her environmental agenda. Kauffman also wants to see more transit-oriented housing. On public safety, she believes that there should be more communication between police and the community.

Kauffman's most notable endorsements come from a wide roster of elected Democrats in the House and Senate.

Rep. Debra Entenman is running for re-election to Position 1 in the 47th Legislative District. Before running for office, she served as the District Director for U.S. Rep. Adam Smith. Entenman currently serves on the Renton Technical College Board of Trustees and previously served on the boards of Neighborhood House and Kent Youth and Family Services.

Entenman has had a consistent record of working to improve the lives of her constituents throughout her time in Olympia. This year, she was the prime sponsor of a bill to increase police accountability by creating an independent civilian office to investigate law enforcement incidents involving the use of force. In previous years she sponsored bills to provide youth with access to attorneys if contacted by law enforcement, limit facial recognition technology, and expand access to assistance for vulnerable and needy families.

As part of her commitment to the well-being of all in the district, Entenman's campaign platform focuses on education, technology, public health, and the economy. She wants to increase food security for students, improve the availability of broadband internet, and make sure consumer data is safe and private. Entenman also wants to reimagine public safety using proven methods like violence reduction programs, housing, and mental health care.

Entenman faces a challenge from two far-right Republicans this year. Private security guard Jessie Ramsey is running on a MAGA Republican platform that includes expanding privatized police forces, returning to failed "broken windows" policing, and arming school staff.

The other Republican in the race, Kyle Lyebyedyev, states that he will be "pro-Christianity," pro-guns, and anti-abortion. He challenged Entenman in 2020 on a platform that made false accusations about immigrants and refused to balance the state's upside-down code. Since 2020, his platform has remained staunchly conservative - against environmental protections, against public transit, and notably silent on making the wealthy pay their share for the resources we all use.

Entenman has been a stalwart and principled leader during her time in Olympia. As the district navigates pandemic recovery and building healthy, safe communities, it needs a serious legislator to tackle these issues. Rep. Entenman is the best choice in this race.

Auburn City Council member Chris Stearns is running for Position 2 in the 47th Legislative District to lead on protecting the environment, expanding economic opportunity, and protecting the civil rights of all who live in the district. He has a comprehensive record of leadership, including serving as a previous chair of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, Democratic counsel for the Committee of Natural Resources in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first director of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of Energy. He is the first Native American elected to Auburn City Council, and if elected would be one of only two Indigenous lawmakers in Olympia, along with Rep. Debra Lekanoff.

Although he doesn't have a full list of policy proposals available on his website, Stearns states that he wants to advance workforce development, protect civil and women’s rights, and safeguard forests, salmon, and natural resources if elected.