16th Legislative District

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

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.

Ann Marie Danimus is running for U.S. Representative in the 5th Congressional District to develop a more equitable economy for working families. As a double-transplant recipient who has had to navigate the mires of the U.S. health care system, Danimus wants to see improvements at the national level from a representative who will support rural communities. She is an executive board member of the Spokane County Democrats as well as a precinct committee officer. She has served in numerous community organizations, including as founder of Stubborn Girl Fund 4 Arts and Education as well as Raise the Roof.

Compared to Hill, more of Danimus' focus is on small businesses and rural jobs. She wants to regionalize sustainable farming, create federal grants for localized meat production, and reduce greenhouse gases in transport. She also supports single-payer health care and wants to draft bills to reduce veteran suicide. In our questionnaire from Danimus, she also highlighted the need for federal tax reform and her desire to expand the U.S. House so elected officials could better represent and advocate for their districts.

Danimus has pledged to take no money from corporations, corporate PACs, or corporate lobbyists, and is endorsed by one county and one legislative district Democratic group.

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.

Real estate agent Jeff Strickler is challenging incumbent Rep. Mark Klicker for 16th Legislative District, Position 1 in the state House. Strickler previously worked in software consulting and believes that his more recent experience in real estate gives him insight into housing policy for the district.

Strickler is running to make key investments in community needs so that residents in the district can access quality education, health services, and housing. He wants to prioritize community-first economic development to bring more sustainable jobs and financial security to working families. If elected, he would help the district turn to renewable energy that will protect the environment, improve the health of local kids and families, and create good jobs. Strickler also wants to address the affordability crisis by expanding housing options, improving access to health care, and creating more child care that families can afford.

Stricker is running against incumbent Republican Mark Klicker and Sharon Schiller. Klicker favors tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy while opposing investments to help working families in Washington access high-quality education, health care, living-wage jobs, and housing security. He also opposes action to fight climate change despite the devastating impacts of record heat and droughts on local families and agriculture. Outside of the Legislature, Klicker operates a real estate company focused on selling farm and forest land as investment opportunities.

The final candidate in this race is Sharon Schiller, a self-published writer and former nurse. Schiller registered as a candidate with the “Peace and Freedom Party” in this election, and it will be her fourth run for office after three unsuccessful bids for Walla Walla City Council. Schiller identifies as a “left-libertarian” and wants to invest in climate action but also supports militarized police forces in our neighborhoods instead of proven community services and infrastructure to keep our communities safe. She points to her service on the Walla Walla Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee from 2011 to 2013 as her relevant community leadership experience.

Residents in the 16th Legislative District deserve a representative who will bring our communities together and advocate for the resources we need to thrive. Jeff Strickler is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote for Position 1.

Retired small business owner Jan Corn is challenging Republican Rep. Skyler Rude for Position 2 representing the 16th Legislative District. Corn ran a local hair salon for more than 20 years before retiring, and she serves on the board of the Walla Walla Noon Rotary Club. She was previously also a board member for the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce and Community Council and has strong experience in community leadership.

Corn is running on a campaign platform to ensure all residents can meet their basic needs and have the opportunity to thrive. She is focused on helping residents access health care, afford child care, and secure stable housing. Corn believes that her experience and perspective as a small business owner would be an asset in the Legislature.

Republican Rep. Skyler Rude is running for re-election to the seat where he has served since 2015. Previously, Rude worked in the insurance and telecommunications industries. In office, he has ignored the science on COVID-19 policy and tried to cut funding to community services that help working families afford rent, prescription medicine, gas, and groceries, while giving tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy. In the most recent legislative session, Rude voted against legislation to keep Washington communities safe from high-capacity firearms as well as bills to reduce the state’s carbon emissions and create a more sustainable climate.

We recommend Jan Corn for House Position 2 in the 16th Legislative District to bring progressive values to the Legislature.