City of Spanaway

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.

Rep. Marilyn Strickland is seeking re-election to continue serving Washington’s 10th District in the U.S. House. Strickland previously served as the mayor of Tacoma and on the city’s council before joining Congress in 2021, when she became the first African American and Korean American representative from Washington. She also formerly led both the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Pierce Transit.

In her years serving the public, Strickland has been a champion for working people in Washington and beyond. She has worked to lower the cost of prescription medicine, recover social security and veterans' benefits, and make corporations pay their share. Strickland also advocated for strong investments in public infrastructure like clean water, broadband, roadways, and parks. If re-elected, she will continue to fight for reproductive freedom, accessible health care, stable housing, and voting rights. Strickland has broad support in this race including endorsements from news publications, progressive organizations, community groups, and elected leaders across Washington and the country.

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. Mari Leavitt is running for re-election for the 28th Legislative District, House Position 1. Leavitt previously worked as the deputy director of Pierce County Human Services, and has also served as a PTSA board member in University Place, chair of the Pierce County Ethics Commission, and on the Mel Korum YMCA board of directors, among other community roles.

As a legislator, Leavitt is focused on improving education and advocating for veterans and military families. During her time in Olympia, Leavitt supported legislation to combat the climate crisis and passed bipartisan legislation to support military families, helping veterans qualify for commercial drivers' licenses and guaranteeing in-state residency status for members and their families pursuing higher education. She has also sponsored legislation this year to address lead in drinking water, help juveniles contacted by law enforcement secure legal representation, and support emergency shelters. If re-elected, Leavitt wants to continue her work supporting affordable housing, education, and more.

Leavitt has two challengers from the right this year. Republican Victor Hogan is a retired Army major and a current real estate firm manager and director on the Steilacoom Historical School District Board. Hogan wants to address supply chain issues and encourage competitive marketplace capitalism, the same corporate forces that keep wages low and ship jobs overseas.

Former sheriff's deputy, Marine, and current Pierce College professor Gabe Sachwitz is also running for Position 1. As of mid-July he has few concrete details available about his platform. His official voters' guide statement says that he will address crime and the cost of living, though not how he plans to address them.

Leavitt has been a strong advocate for the district and is the best 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.

Sen. Steve Conway is running for re-election to the 29th Legislative District. He served for 18 years in the state House before moving to the Senate in 2011.

Conway is a longtime advocate for working people, including raising the minimum wage and improving access to union apprenticeships. In recent sessions, he has sponsored legislation to give first responders compensation for PTSD suffered while on the job as well as a wealth tax that would finally require Washington's extremely wealthy individuals to pay their share for the resources we all use.

His opponent is former Republican district leader Terry Harder, a perennial candidate who has run for office eight times since 2008. His many past candidate statements usually discuss scaling back laws that hold corporations accountable and cutting the social services that help everyone in our communities thrive. This year, his agenda includes repealing our schools' age-appropriate comprehensive sexual health education and opposing making the wealthy pay their share in taxes. His site, which only has a list of questions, lacks solutions or strategies for the many issues that senators are expected to tackle in Olympia.

Sen. Steve Conway is the clear 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.

Lakewood City Council member Linda Farmer is running for Pierce County auditor. Outside city council work, Farmer is the chief communications officer for the state’s Department of Enterprise Services and previously worked for the county library system. She is an active community leader serving on the South Sound Housing Affordability Partners board and Washington’s Sex Offender Policy board.

Farmer is running to make sure the auditor’s office operates as efficiently and transparently as possible. She wants to expand voter access through increased drop box availability, multi-language services, and civic engagement education. Farmer also wants to modernize the office so that records and license services can be as quick and efficient as possible for residents.

Also in this race is Deryl McCarty, the former deputy county auditor. He is a conservative who the county Republican Party backs in this nonpartisan race. McCarty’s platform is influenced by MAGA conspiracies of election fraud and dangerously stokes mistrust in our democratic institutions.

The final candidate in this race is Damon Townsend. He is the president of the Rapids Park Association and has worked in elections administration in the county for the last 8 years. On July 29, the Tacoma News Tribune reported that Townsend resigned from the Pierce County auditor's office in 2019 "after being put on notice he was to be suspended for conduct unbecoming a county employee."

We recommend Linda Farmer in this race because of her experience in public service and her support from elected leaders.