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Welcome to the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2022 primary election! The Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. Please share this guide with your friends and family!
Federal
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.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
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.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
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.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Other Candidates
Sen. Murray faces more than a dozen challengers this year. The most prominent among them is Tiffany Smiley, a triage nurse running on a MAGA Republican platform. Smiley has never held public office but she previously worked on Capitol Hill. Her Trump-inspired platform aims to divide us while she cuts funding from our most essential services and repurposes it for a needless border wall and more militarized police forces. Working Washingtonians need real solutions so that we can access the basics like gas, groceries, rent, and prescription medicine – not MAGA rhetoric and tax breaks for the wealthy.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Sen. Murray faces more than a dozen challengers this year. The most prominent among them is Tiffany Smiley, a triage nurse running on a MAGA Republican platform. Smiley has never held public office but she previously worked on Capitol Hill. Her Trump-inspired platform aims to divide us while she cuts funding from our most essential services and repurposes it for a needless border wall and more militarized police forces. Working Washingtonians need real solutions so that we can access the basics like gas, groceries, rent, and prescription medicine – not MAGA rhetoric and tax breaks for the wealthy.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Congress
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below congressional districts on your ballot.
4th Congressional District
Doug White is the sole Democrat running for U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional District. His platform is focused on protecting the local environment and expanding rural health care. He has worked for multinational businesses and comes from several generations of Central Washington farmers.
White's focus would be a huge change from incumbent Dan Newhouse's conservative policies as well as the proposals of the MAGA Republicans in this race. He believes that climate change needs to be mitigated by local energy from solar and wind. White believes immigrants need a path forward to citizenship and that more must be done to secure affordable housing for all, provide a safety net for seniors and the vulnerable, and that infrastructure from waterways to broadband internet need to be modernized and rebuilt. Unlike most of his opponents, White also supports passing a law to protect reproductive freedom for all Americans.
White is broadly endorsed by many Democratic organizations, unions, and more. For his willingness to take on the district's and nation's biggest issues, like protecting water and building up communities more equitably, we recommend Doug White for Congress for the 4th District.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Doug White is the sole Democrat running for U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional District. His platform is focused on protecting the local environment and expanding rural health care. He has worked for multinational businesses and comes from several generations of Central Washington farmers.
White's focus would be a huge change from incumbent Dan Newhouse's conservative policies as well as the proposals of the MAGA Republicans in this race. He believes that climate change needs to be mitigated by local energy from solar and wind. White believes immigrants need a path forward to citizenship and that more must be done to secure affordable housing for all, provide a safety net for seniors and the vulnerable, and that infrastructure from waterways to broadband internet need to be modernized and rebuilt. Unlike most of his opponents, White also supports passing a law to protect reproductive freedom for all Americans.
White is broadly endorsed by many Democratic organizations, unions, and more. For his willingness to take on the district's and nation's biggest issues, like protecting water and building up communities more equitably, we recommend Doug White for Congress for the 4th District.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Doug White is the sole Democrat running for U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional District. His platform is focused on protecting the local environment and expanding rural health care. He has worked for multinational businesses and comes from several generations of Central Washington farmers.
White's focus would be a huge change from incumbent Dan Newhouse's conservative policies as well as the proposals of the MAGA Republicans in this race. He believes that climate change needs to be mitigated by local energy from solar and wind. White believes immigrants need a path forward to citizenship and that more must be done to secure affordable housing for all, provide a safety net for seniors and the vulnerable, and that infrastructure from waterways to broadband internet need to be modernized and rebuilt. Unlike most of his opponents, White also supports passing a law to protect reproductive freedom for all Americans.
White is broadly endorsed by many Democratic organizations, unions, and more. For his willingness to take on the district's and nation's biggest issues, like protecting water and building up communities more equitably, we recommend Doug White for Congress for the 4th District.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Other Candidates
The are six Republicans in total in this race. Incumbent Republican Dan Newhouse was first elected in 2014 and previously served as the Washington Director of Agriculture and in the state House of Representatives. He is very conservative, and while Trump was in office he voted with the president 93 percent of the time. While he was one of the few Republicans to support Trump's impeachment in 2021 after the attack on the capitol on January 6th, Newhouse refused to support the $3 trillion relief package passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic and voted against Trump's impeachment in 2020.
Rep. Brad Klippert, who has represented the 8th Legislative District since 2008, is running because Newhouse voted to impeach Trump. Klippert has stood against progress and common sense for years, including voting against age-appropriate sexual health education and threatening the health of students and staff in schools by working against public health orders at the height of the pandemic. He is anti-abortion and opposes gun safety regulations.
Loren Culp will be familiar to many voters as the MAGA Republican who ran unsuccessfully against Gov. Inslee in 2020. The former sole police officer of the town of Republic is now endorsed by Trump in the former president's vendetta against Newhouse for supporting his impeachment. Culp's policy track record is unsurprisingly extreme. He's compared gun reform to the Holocaust and likened the governor's stay-at-home policies to the horrors of Japanese internment during WWII. Culp also wants to build Trump's border wall and to dissolve the Department of Education entirely because he doesn't believe students should learn about sexual health or the history of race in America.
Benancio "Benny" Garcio III is running on an anti-choice platform that tries to whip up fear and divide us on the same election lies peddled to overturn our votes.
Jerrod Sessler is a self-described America-First Conservative Christian whose platform is similar or perhaps worse than many of the other Republican candidates - including moving the country towards Christian nationalism, standing against environmental regulations, and embracing anti-choice policies alongside a refusal to teach students how to protect themselves from pregnancy or learn about respectful consent.
Rounding out the Republican candidates is Corey Gibson, yet another "America-First" candidate who wants to eliminate the Department of Education, as well as impeach Biden, take away our freedom to decide whether and when we grow our families by opposing our right to abortion, and force a vote in Congress to remove any discussion of race from schools and the federal government.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
The are six Republicans in total in this race. Incumbent Republican Dan Newhouse was first elected in 2014 and previously served as the Washington Director of Agriculture and in the state House of Representatives. He is very conservative, and while Trump was in office he voted with the president 93 percent of the time. While he was one of the few Republicans to support Trump's impeachment in 2021 after the attack on the capitol on January 6th, Newhouse refused to support the $3 trillion relief package passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic and voted against Trump's impeachment in 2020.
Rep. Brad Klippert, who has represented the 8th Legislative District since 2008, is running because Newhouse voted to impeach Trump. Klippert has stood against progress and common sense for years, including voting against age-appropriate sexual health education and threatening the health of students and staff in schools by working against public health orders at the height of the pandemic. He is anti-abortion and opposes gun safety regulations.
Loren Culp will be familiar to many voters as the MAGA Republican who ran unsuccessfully against Gov. Inslee in 2020. The former sole police officer of the town of Republic is now endorsed by Trump in the former president's vendetta against Newhouse for supporting his impeachment. Culp's policy track record is unsurprisingly extreme. He's compared gun reform to the Holocaust and likened the governor's stay-at-home policies to the horrors of Japanese internment during WWII. Culp also wants to build Trump's border wall and to dissolve the Department of Education entirely because he doesn't believe students should learn about sexual health or the history of race in America.
Benancio "Benny" Garcio III is running on an anti-choice platform that tries to whip up fear and divide us on the same election lies peddled to overturn our votes.
Jerrod Sessler is a self-described America-First Conservative Christian whose platform is similar or perhaps worse than many of the other Republican candidates - including moving the country towards Christian nationalism, standing against environmental regulations, and embracing anti-choice policies alongside a refusal to teach students how to protect themselves from pregnancy or learn about respectful consent.
Rounding out the Republican candidates is Corey Gibson, yet another "America-First" candidate who wants to eliminate the Department of Education, as well as impeach Biden, take away our freedom to decide whether and when we grow our families by opposing our right to abortion, and force a vote in Congress to remove any discussion of race from schools and the federal government.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
8th Congressional District
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.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
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.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
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.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Other Candidates
This race has attracted a slate of Republicans who are all running to win the support of the conservative base in the primary.
Republican King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn is challenging Schrier for the seat his mother once held. Over the last 17 years, Dunn has been a consistent obstacle to progress on the council. This May, Dunn cast the sole “no” vote on a resolution expressing the council's opposition to overturning Roe v. Wade and support for abortion rights. During the height of the pandemic, Dunn voted against hazard pay for essential workers and opposed protections for renters who were on the verge of losing their homes.
Republican Jesse Jensen is running to challenge Rep. Schrier for a second time. He is an Army veteran and works at a national real estate software corporation. Jensen’s divisive campaign priorities include tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy, dehumanizing border policies, and inaccurate school curriculums that erase some of us from the history books. Jensen wants to cut the community investments that help keep working families afloat and improve the quality of life for us all.
Also in this race is former Pierce County Deputy Prosecutor Matt Larkin. Like Jensen, Larkin is running on a MAGA Republican platform to erase Washington’s diverse communities from our students’ history books, increase the militarization and reach of police forces into our neighborhoods, and scapegoat those struggling the most in our communities instead of supporting policies that help us meet our basic needs and have the chance to succeed.
At this critical moment for reproductive freedom, our economy, and our country, these extreme Republicans would drag our district backward instead of bringing us together to find common solutions.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
This race has attracted a slate of Republicans who are all running to win the support of the conservative base in the primary.
Republican King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn is challenging Schrier for the seat his mother once held. Over the last 17 years, Dunn has been a consistent obstacle to progress on the council. This May, Dunn cast the sole “no” vote on a resolution expressing the council's opposition to overturning Roe v. Wade and support for abortion rights. During the height of the pandemic, Dunn voted against hazard pay for essential workers and opposed protections for renters who were on the verge of losing their homes.
Republican Jesse Jensen is running to challenge Rep. Schrier for a second time. He is an Army veteran and works at a national real estate software corporation. Jensen’s divisive campaign priorities include tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy, dehumanizing border policies, and inaccurate school curriculums that erase some of us from the history books. Jensen wants to cut the community investments that help keep working families afloat and improve the quality of life for us all.
Also in this race is former Pierce County Deputy Prosecutor Matt Larkin. Like Jensen, Larkin is running on a MAGA Republican platform to erase Washington’s diverse communities from our students’ history books, increase the militarization and reach of police forces into our neighborhoods, and scapegoat those struggling the most in our communities instead of supporting policies that help us meet our basic needs and have the chance to succeed.
At this critical moment for reproductive freedom, our economy, and our country, these extreme Republicans would drag our district backward instead of bringing us together to find common solutions.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Statewide
There are two good candidates running for secretary of state who would bring different priorities and professional experience to the job: Steve Hobbs and Julie Anderson. Both are committed to increasing voter participation. Hobbs has earned the support of more elected officials and Progressive Voters Guide partner organizations.
Democrat Steve Hobbs is running to retain his position as secretary of state for the remainder of the two-year term. He is a first-generation Japanese American and 30-year member of the military, serving tours in Kosovo and Iraq before becoming a lieutenant colonel in the Washington Army National Guard.
Hobbs was appointed as secretary of state in November of last year after Kim Wyman resigned to join the Biden administration. Prior to his appointment, he served four terms in the Washington state Senate representing the 44th Legislative District. His voting record was consistently progressive on social issues and more conservative on taxes, environmental issues, and workers' rights.
During his first eight months in office, Hobbs has been laser-focused on protecting our electoral systems from attacks. He has used his background in national security to partner closely with the Department of Homeland Security to stop digital threats to our voting systems, both foreign and domestic. Hobbs also understands the challenge misinformation poses to the integrity of our elections. He has been working to set up a division within his office specifically to combat misinformation and wants to work closely with social media companies to ensure they take down dangerous conspiracy theories.
As many things re-open from the pandemic, Hobbs is committed to restarting his office's voter outreach program. He is very enthusiastic about a trusted messenger program he's launching to utilize community leaders to talk about the importance of voting. He also wants to improve outreach to reduce the racial disparities in rejected ballots because of signature mismatches.
The only issue of concern with Hobbs is his personal opposition to ranked choice voting. During our interview, he shared that he's concerned about implementing a complicated new voting system at a moment of low trust in our elections. He is particularly concerned that voters like his mother, who speaks English as a second language, will have a difficult time learning and participating in the new system.
Hobbs made a compelling case that the secretary of state must adapt to the new and complex challenges of running modern elections. Hobbs is a good choice if you're looking for someone with national security experience to safeguard and rebuild trust in our electoral system.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Democrat Steve Hobbs is running to retain his position as secretary of state for the remainder of the two-year term. He is a first-generation Japanese American and 30-year member of the military, serving tours in Kosovo and Iraq before becoming a lieutenant colonel in the Washington Army National Guard.
Hobbs was appointed as secretary of state in November of last year after Kim Wyman resigned to join the Biden administration. Prior to his appointment, he served four terms in the Washington state Senate representing the 44th Legislative District. His voting record was consistently progressive on social issues and more conservative on taxes, environmental issues, and workers' rights.
During his first eight months in office, Hobbs has been laser-focused on protecting our electoral systems from attacks. He has used his background in national security to partner closely with the Department of Homeland Security to stop digital threats to our voting systems, both foreign and domestic. Hobbs also understands the challenge misinformation poses to the integrity of our elections. He has been working to set up a division within his office specifically to combat misinformation and wants to work closely with social media companies to ensure they take down dangerous conspiracy theories.
As many things re-open from the pandemic, Hobbs is committed to restarting his office's voter outreach program. He is very enthusiastic about a trusted messenger program he's launching to utilize community leaders to talk about the importance of voting. He also wants to improve outreach to reduce the racial disparities in rejected ballots because of signature mismatches.
The only issue of concern with Hobbs is his personal opposition to ranked choice voting. During our interview, he shared that he's concerned about implementing a complicated new voting system at a moment of low trust in our elections. He is particularly concerned that voters like his mother, who speaks English as a second language, will have a difficult time learning and participating in the new system.
Hobbs made a compelling case that the secretary of state must adapt to the new and complex challenges of running modern elections. Hobbs is a good choice if you're looking for someone with national security experience to safeguard and rebuild trust in our electoral system.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Democrat Steve Hobbs is running to retain his position as secretary of state for the remainder of the two-year term. He is a first-generation Japanese American and 30-year member of the military, serving tours in Kosovo and Iraq before becoming a lieutenant colonel in the Washington Army National Guard.
Hobbs was appointed as secretary of state in November of last year after Kim Wyman resigned to join the Biden administration. Prior to his appointment, he served four terms in the Washington state Senate representing the 44th Legislative District. His voting record was consistently progressive on social issues and more conservative on taxes, environmental issues, and workers' rights.
During his first eight months in office, Hobbs has been laser-focused on protecting our electoral systems from attacks. He has used his background in national security to partner closely with the Department of Homeland Security to stop digital threats to our voting systems, both foreign and domestic. Hobbs also understands the challenge misinformation poses to the integrity of our elections. He has been working to set up a division within his office specifically to combat misinformation and wants to work closely with social media companies to ensure they take down dangerous conspiracy theories.
As many things re-open from the pandemic, Hobbs is committed to restarting his office's voter outreach program. He is very enthusiastic about a trusted messenger program he's launching to utilize community leaders to talk about the importance of voting. He also wants to improve outreach to reduce the racial disparities in rejected ballots because of signature mismatches.
The only issue of concern with Hobbs is his personal opposition to ranked choice voting. During our interview, he shared that he's concerned about implementing a complicated new voting system at a moment of low trust in our elections. He is particularly concerned that voters like his mother, who speaks English as a second language, will have a difficult time learning and participating in the new system.
Hobbs made a compelling case that the secretary of state must adapt to the new and complex challenges of running modern elections. Hobbs is a good choice if you're looking for someone with national security experience to safeguard and rebuild trust in our electoral system.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
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.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
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.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Endorsed By: Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility
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.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Endorsed By: Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility
Other Candidates
Hobbs and Anderson face a handful of other candidates that includes some of the most extreme people on the ballot in Washington this year.
Former Republican state legislator Republican Mark Miloscia is running for office again after losing his race for state auditor in 2016. Until recently, Miloscia was the executive director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington, where he advocated for hardline policies against marriage equality and reproductive freedom. Miloscia's public statements have become unhinged in recent years, including describing Democrats, the news media, and public colleges as minions of Satan. He has also promoted election conspiracies that seek to overturn the will of the people.
Republican Keith Wagoner is running for secretary of state because he believes the state needs balance in parties among the statewide elected officials. Wagoner does not appear to be running a robust campaign.
Former Berniecrat Tamborine Borrelli is now running for office under the "American First (R)" party label. She has fully embraced the most dangerous conspiracy theories about the 2020 election that seek to overturn the will of the people.
Bob Hagglund leads the 39th District Republicans and is running to eliminate mail-in voting and require picture ID to vote. Democrat Marques Tiggs and "Union" party member Kurtis Engle do not appear to be running competitive campaigns.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Hobbs and Anderson face a handful of other candidates that includes some of the most extreme people on the ballot in Washington this year.
Former Republican state legislator Republican Mark Miloscia is running for office again after losing his race for state auditor in 2016. Until recently, Miloscia was the executive director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington, where he advocated for hardline policies against marriage equality and reproductive freedom. Miloscia's public statements have become unhinged in recent years, including describing Democrats, the news media, and public colleges as minions of Satan. He has also promoted election conspiracies that seek to overturn the will of the people.
Republican Keith Wagoner is running for secretary of state because he believes the state needs balance in parties among the statewide elected officials. Wagoner does not appear to be running a robust campaign.
Former Berniecrat Tamborine Borrelli is now running for office under the "American First (R)" party label. She has fully embraced the most dangerous conspiracy theories about the 2020 election that seek to overturn the will of the people.
Bob Hagglund leads the 39th District Republicans and is running to eliminate mail-in voting and require picture ID to vote. Democrat Marques Tiggs and "Union" party member Kurtis Engle do not appear to be running competitive campaigns.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Legislative Races
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below legislative races on your ballot.
7th Legislative District
Republican Sen. Shelly Short is running to remain in the state Senate representing the 7th Legislative District. She is the Republican floor leader and has served in the Senate since winning the 2017 special election to replace Brian Dansel.
This session, Short opposed a bill to prohibit the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines and voted against legislation to require access to an attorney for juveniles being detained or questioned by law enforcement. Though she ranks the environment as a top priority, she also voted against bills this session to establish an environmental justice council and to require the state to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Short hasn't shared a detailed campaign platform as of mid-July.
Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice in this race.
Republican Sen. Shelly Short is running to remain in the state Senate representing the 7th Legislative District. She is the Republican floor leader and has served in the Senate since winning the 2017 special election to replace Brian Dansel.
This session, Short opposed a bill to prohibit the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines and voted against legislation to require access to an attorney for juveniles being detained or questioned by law enforcement. Though she ranks the environment as a top priority, she also voted against bills this session to establish an environmental justice council and to require the state to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Short hasn't shared a detailed campaign platform as of mid-July.
Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice in this race.
There are no progressive choices in this race for state House in the 7th Legislative District.
Incumbent Republican Jacquelin Maycumber has been a staunch conservative in the Legislature since first being appointed in 2017. This session, she voted against commonsense legislation to keep our communities safe from gun violence, including bills to prohibit the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines and to prohibit open carry in some election and school settings. If re-elected, Maycumber wants to cut funding from essential community services that help all Washingtonians access the basics like stable housing, health care, and prescriptions, and instead she would funnel more dollars to militarizing and expanding police forces.
Also in this race is Lonny Ray Williams, an Army veteran and the editor of a conservative online publication. Williams is running on a reactionary platform to oppose legislation to keep our communities safe from gun violence and to fund community services that give us all a chance to succeed. He wants to erase some of our communities from the history books and teach our kids incomplete and inaccurate curriculums that only serve to divide us.
Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice for the Legislature.
There are no progressive choices in this race for state House in the 7th Legislative District.
Incumbent Republican Jacquelin Maycumber has been a staunch conservative in the Legislature since first being appointed in 2017. This session, she voted against commonsense legislation to keep our communities safe from gun violence, including bills to prohibit the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines and to prohibit open carry in some election and school settings. If re-elected, Maycumber wants to cut funding from essential community services that help all Washingtonians access the basics like stable housing, health care, and prescriptions, and instead she would funnel more dollars to militarizing and expanding police forces.
Also in this race is Lonny Ray Williams, an Army veteran and the editor of a conservative online publication. Williams is running on a reactionary platform to oppose legislation to keep our communities safe from gun violence and to fund community services that give us all a chance to succeed. He wants to erase some of our communities from the history books and teach our kids incomplete and inaccurate curriculums that only serve to divide us.
Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice for the Legislature.
Conservative incumbent Rep. Kretz is running for re-election to House Position 2 in the 7th Legislative District. Previously, Kretz has worked with the Okanogan Farm Bureau and the National Rifle Association.
Earlier this year when coronavirus cases were on the rise, Kretz and a handful of his Republican colleagues falsely implied that masks were more detrimental to students’ lives than COVID-19. Despite the urgent need to keep our communities safe from gun violence, he recently made a flippant and insensitive defense of assault rifles.
Residents of Kretz’s district deserve a representative who is more in touch with the needs of Washington families. Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice for this race.
Conservative incumbent Rep. Kretz is running for re-election to House Position 2 in the 7th Legislative District. Previously, Kretz has worked with the Okanogan Farm Bureau and the National Rifle Association.
Earlier this year when coronavirus cases were on the rise, Kretz and a handful of his Republican colleagues falsely implied that masks were more detrimental to students’ lives than COVID-19. Despite the urgent need to keep our communities safe from gun violence, he recently made a flippant and insensitive defense of assault rifles.
Residents of Kretz’s district deserve a representative who is more in touch with the needs of Washington families. Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice for this race.
13th Legislative District
Republican incumbent Sen. Judith Warnick is running unopposed for re-election to represent the 13th Legislative District in the state Senate. She has served in the Legislature since 2007 and has been a state senator for seven of those years.
Sen. Warnick is a staunch conservative voice in the Legislature and recently voted against gun safety legislation, climate action, and criminal justice reform. Last year, she was part of a GOP contingent that opposed Gov. Inslee’s vaccine mandate for government workers and accused public health guidelines of being politically motivated. She is running to prioritize a conservative agenda that doesn’t best serve the community needs of the 13th Legislative District.
Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice in this race.
Republican incumbent Sen. Judith Warnick is running unopposed for re-election to represent the 13th Legislative District in the state Senate. She has served in the Legislature since 2007 and has been a state senator for seven of those years.
Sen. Warnick is a staunch conservative voice in the Legislature and recently voted against gun safety legislation, climate action, and criminal justice reform. Last year, she was part of a GOP contingent that opposed Gov. Inslee’s vaccine mandate for government workers and accused public health guidelines of being politically motivated. She is running to prioritize a conservative agenda that doesn’t best serve the community needs of the 13th Legislative District.
Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice in this race.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Dent is running for a fifth term in the House representing the 13th Legislative District in Position 1. His opponent, Ron Fode, dropped out earlier this year, leaving him running unopposed in this race.
Last year, he echoed far-right conspiracies and questioned the scientific basis of Washington’s pandemic response. One of Dent’s biggest campaign priorities is blocking all progress on gun safety legislation. In March, he vocally opposed a bill to limit gun owners from practicing open-carry and possession in election facilities and some government proceedings.
Write in a progressive candidate of your choice for the 13th Legislative District 13, Position 1.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Dent is running for a fifth term in the House representing the 13th Legislative District in Position 1. His opponent, Ron Fode, dropped out earlier this year, leaving him running unopposed in this race.
Last year, he echoed far-right conspiracies and questioned the scientific basis of Washington’s pandemic response. One of Dent’s biggest campaign priorities is blocking all progress on gun safety legislation. In March, he vocally opposed a bill to limit gun owners from practicing open-carry and possession in election facilities and some government proceedings.
Write in a progressive candidate of your choice for the 13th Legislative District 13, Position 1.
Republican Rep. Alex Ybarra is running for re-election to Position 2 in the 13th Legislative District. He joined the Legislature in 2019 after taking over Rep. Matt Manweller’s seat and previously served as the president of the Quincy School Board.
In office, Ybarra has opposed a slate of progressive legislation including state-funded rental assistance legislation, police accountability measures that prohibit chokeholds, and a bill to prohibit the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines. He recently opposed the historic Move Ahead Washington plan that represents a major state investment in public transportation infrastructure and accessibility.
Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice in this race.
Republican Rep. Alex Ybarra is running for re-election to Position 2 in the 13th Legislative District. He joined the Legislature in 2019 after taking over Rep. Matt Manweller’s seat and previously served as the president of the Quincy School Board.
In office, Ybarra has opposed a slate of progressive legislation including state-funded rental assistance legislation, police accountability measures that prohibit chokeholds, and a bill to prohibit the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines. He recently opposed the historic Move Ahead Washington plan that represents a major state investment in public transportation infrastructure and accessibility.
Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice in this race.
There are two good candidates running for secretary of state who would bring different priorities and professional experience to the job: Steve Hobbs and Julie Anderson. Both are committed to increasing voter participation. Hobbs has earned the support of more elected officials and Progressive Voters Guide partner organizations.