Other Candidates
Simmons has three Republican challengers this year: April Ferguson, Ace Haynes, and Janell Hulst. Ferguson, who has run for office and lost twice before, is the former operations chair and data administrator for the Kitsap County Republican Party. She is running on a conservative platform that opposes efforts to balance our state's upside-down tax code and make corporations and the wealthy pay what they owe our communities. Ferguson's plan to fight homelessness and the housing affordability crisis is also lacking. She tries to blame drugs and people with mental illnesses without mentioning the most important issue: housing affordability.
Ace Haynes is a self-described "law and order" candidate who formerly worked with the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority. His platform lacks detail as of mid-July. If elected, he states that he will respect service workers and fund schools, but has no policy details available for either priority. Like other Republicans, he is pushing divisive messages about crime rather than tackling the real problems of the district, including housing affordability, health care, and more. Haynes is currently also under investigation for two felony cases that involve knocking over a fence and pointing a rifle at his neighbor, respectively. His trials are scheduled for the day before the August primary, according to the Kitsap Sun.
Republican Janell Hulst is running on a typical conservative platform. This year, Hulst attended a Kitsap County Public Health meeting to argue against doctors and public health officials trying to protect the community from the latest COVID omicron surge.
LD 23 P1 Other Candidates
Simmons has three Republican challengers this year: April Ferguson, Ace Haynes, and Janell Hulst. Ferguson, who has run for office and lost twice before, is the former operations chair and data administrator for the Kitsap County Republican Party.
There are two Democrats running for Congress in Washington’s 6th District with fairly different platforms and political philosophies: incumbent Derek Kilmer and challenger Rebecca Parson. We recommend Kilmer based on his track record of leadership and because he has earned far more endorsements from elected officials and our Progressive Voters Guide partner organizations. Read the full recommendation below to find the candidate that best fits your values and priorities.