1st Legislative District

John Wilson, the current King County Assessor, is running for King County Executive. During his campaign, Wilson stated that he would fight for "safe and thriving communities," citing his experience as King County Assessor.

In 2025, Wilson was accused of stalking and harassment by a former domestic partner. This was an alarming and serious allegation, which led to the current King County Council calling for Wilson's resignation. He continues to deny the allegations and has rejected calls for him to resign as Assessor. John Wilson is not fit to be King County Executive. Wilson withdrew from this race in mid-July but will still appear on the ballot.

Amiya Ingram is also running for King County Executive. Ingram has worn many hats professionally, from serving as a government military researcher to founding her own athleisure brand. While Ingram's campaign includes some progressive ideas, it also features other proposals that lean more moderate or conservative. She is a proponent of establishing more housing shelters that offer wrap-around services to address the housing crisis and help those struggling with addiction.

Rebecca Williamson is also running for King County Executive. Williamson's campaign website is linked to The Militant, which is a weekly socialist newsletter. As of early July, they do not have a detailed campaign website available, and their platform is unknown.

Bill Hirt is running for King County Executive. Hirt has run for various offices around Washington state, primarily to criticize light rail. Bill Hirt is not a serious candidate for King County Executive.

Don L. Rivers is the final candidate running for King County Executive. Rivers is prioritizing homelessness, safety, and small business support. He proposes some progressive solutions, such as housing-first programming and investments in affordable housing. His approach to public safety also includes public health measures and points to international models of community policing. Don L. Rivers is running a progressive campaign, however, there are other candidates in this race with more experience in public service.

Republican Sam Low is seeking another term on the Snohomish County Council in District 5. Low is also a representative in the state House for Legislative District 39 and has served on both the Snohomish County Council and Lake Stevens City Council. In the Legislature, Low has been a reliable conservative vote, opposing bills to rebalance our tax code so everyone pays their share, protect tenants’ rights, and improve gun safety.

On the council, he has fought to direct public funding away from community needs and into further militarizing law enforcement. In past elections, Low has offered a more moderate right-wing alternative to extremist, MAGA opponents, and for this reason, we have occasionally supported his candidacy in the past as a marginally better choice for Snohomish residents. However, he is far from a progressive candidate and does not represent the leadership our community needs on the county council. In this race, we recommend Democrat Kelli Johnson.

Public defender and incumbent Joe Marshall is running for another term in Position 2 on the Kenmore City Council. Marshall was first elected to the council in 2017 and works as an attorney with the Snohomish County Public Defender Association. He has a long history of public interest legal work and worked with the King County Public Defenders during his time in law school. He also serves on the Cascadia College Foundation board.

Marshall's campaign goals include protecting the environment, affordable housing, and community spaces and engagement. He is an ardent supporter of a public pool as well as a recreation court or playground on the City Hall grounds. Additionally, he is an advocate for clean air and salmon habitat protections to preserve the environment. While he showed support for some affordable housing initiatives, we would have liked to see his proposals be more specific in this issue area.

In 2022, Marshall voted against a new law that would limit move-in fees and security deposits while also allowing tenants to pay in installments. Proponents of the measure noted its support for lower-income tenants to prepare for rent increases. Marshall was one of two council members to vote against the tenant protections after he unsuccessfully attempted to "exempt landlords with fewer than four housing units."

Marshall is an advocate for Kenmore’s Climate Action Plan, as well as for strong public infrastructure and green space. He has supported building affordable housing in denser neighborhoods and near public spaces like parks. While we appreciate Joe Marshall's progressive accomplishments during his tenure, we believe this election presents an opportunity for new leadership in Kenmore.

Three other candidates are running for this open seat on the Kirkland City Council: Catie Malik, Gina Madeya, and Clayton Barnes.

Malik has a wide range of professional experiences, including working in financial and health care administration and management. She was also an active volunteer for the Kiran Anjali project, providing funding for educational opportunities, self-defense training, and mental health resources for at-risk girls in India.

Malik previously ran for Kirkland City Council in 2023 and received the endorsement of the King County Republican Party. At the time, our partners at The Urbanist said, "Malik’s main plank on her website is to raise fears about Permanent Supportive Housing at the former La Quinta Inn." Additionally, Malik said in 2023 that she would support ordinances to criminalize homelessness.

Malik takes a more conservative approach to solving the issues outlined in her campaign. For example, she heavily emphasizes the need to improve streets for car-dependent families and seniors, but only briefly mentions making improvements to biking and public transit. In the conversation around affordable housing, she is cautiously supportive of housing density options so long as those plans "preserve single-family neighborhoods." Malik's policy positions and public statements make it clear she is not a progressive choice for Kirkland.

Gina Madeya is also running for Kirkland City Council, Position 3. Madeya serves on the Kirkland Planning Commission and is the Federal Political Coordinator to Senator Maria Cantwell. Madeya, a current real estate agent, is also a member of the LGBTQ Real Estate Alliance.

Madeya's campaign has a range of priorities, including responsible urban planning and public safety. While her platform shows support for representation and inclusivity, it lacks detailed policy proposals, making it unclear what she would implement if elected to office.

Clayton Barnes is running for Kirkland City Council, Position 3. As of mid July, Barnes does not have a detailed campaign website available and their platform is unknown. Barnes is endorsed by the 48th District GOP, which indicates a more conservative platform.

Two other candidates are running for Kirkland City Council, Position 7: Susan Kuehl Pederson and incumbent Jon Pascal.

Pascal is a former transportation commissioner and Kirkland planning commissioner who has worked on the city's Transportation Master Plan and other infrastructure improvements. In his current campaign, Pascal said he would continue advocating for "streamlining the approval process for affordable housing projects." However, Pascal undermined and eventually voted against the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan, which mapped out plans for potential housing development.

Susan "Sue" Kuehl Pederson previously ran as a Republican for Commissioner of Public Lands in 2020 and 2024, losing both times. She also ran unsuccessfully in 2016 as an "Independent GOP" candidate for the state Senate in Southwest Washington. In her last campaign, she received numerous nominations from county GOP groups across the state. In a debate in 2020 against Hilary Franz, Kuehl Pederson said she's "cautious about saying climate change is human-caused." Pederson does not have a campaign website published yet for this election. However, it is reasonable to assume that she would continue to champion Republican positions if elected.

We recommend Kurt Dresner for Kirkland City Council, Position 7, because of his proven track record as a progressive leader in the local community.

Bryce Owings is running for Lynnwood City Council, Position 3. Owings is a lifelong Lynnwood resident and works as a union carpenter, helping build the Lynwood Light Rail. As someone who experienced both addiction and homelessness, Owings is running his campaign with compassion and empathy.

Owings' campaign is prioritizing affordability, public safety, and economic development. According to his campaign Facebook, he plans to bring down the cost of housing through zoning and permitting reforms. Owings also wants to prioritize on home ownership over rentals. While he does not offer specific solutions to the issue, Owings brings his own lived experience with homelessness and addiction treatment. Additionally, he wants to improve access to addiction and mental health resources and recruit more deputies. Finally, Owings wants to ensure that Lynnwood attracts new businesses and promotes workforce development.

We would like to see Bryce Owings' campaign consider more progressive solutions, particularly to include policing alternatives and specific solutions to the homelessness crisis.

Rachel Best-Campbell is running for re-election for Woodinville City Council, Position 3. She previously ran a more moderate platform that included expanding public green spaces, reducing traffic congestion, and opposing the Woodinville transfer station. Since joining the council in 2019, she has not been a strong progressive voice and has been particularly disappointing in her approach to climate action.

Of greater concern is that Best-Campbell is endorsed by Democratic Woodinville, a local PAC created by Jeff Lyon. The PAC's mission is "to influence the outcome of City of Woodinville elections, ballot measures, and other local government activities." While the PAC positions itself as an advocate for affordable housing and sustainable neighborhoods, it publicly opposes strategies that would support those goals. On their website, they express disdain for developers who "fail to address our community's needs while creating urban sprawl." Yet, they oppose dense housing developments downtown that would help avoid urban sprawl. Rachel Best-Campbell and the entire Democratic Woodinville slate would be an obstacle to progress for the city.

Troy Anderson is also running for Woodinville City Council, Position 3. Anderson is a member of the Woodinville Chamber of Commerce and was the Board Chair for two years. He is also on the Planning Commission supporting the 2044 strategic plan.

Anderson is prioritizing economic development and affordable housing in his campaign. He is particularly invested in attracting businesses to enhance the wine and tourism industries in Woodinville. He also hopes to expand cultural and artistic experiences for residents. Anderson is a proponent of increasing the housing supply through zoning reform and non-profit partnerships.

Troy Anderson is running a thoughtful campaign but has not earned the same level of endorsements as Wise and Elbaum in this race.

Luke Bakun is the final candidate running for Woodinville City Council, Position 3. As of late June, Bakun's website does not have a detailed campaign available, and their platform is unknown.

Three other candidates are running for Woodinville City Council, Position 5.

Tanner Mills is a Continuous Improvement Engineer in the aerospace industry. At one point earlier in the campaign, Mills was endorsed by the deceptive "Democratic Woodinville" group, however, it appears they have withdrawn their endorsement as of late June. It is unclear why.

Mills' campaign is prioritizing affordable housing, transportation, neighborhoods, and representation. While he is supportive of some progressive solutions, such as transit-oriented housing and greener transit, Mills consistently paints the current council as having untrustworthy motives that prioritize profits over the community. He suggests that certain housing projects prioritized profit over function and "flashy projects with unclear benefits." It is unclear what he is referring to. Mills is not a progressive choice in this race.

Bobby Amiri is also running for Woodinville City Council, Position 5. According to his campaign website, Amiri has lived in Woodinville for over thirty-five years and "helped thousands of families navigate complex situations," but did not elaborate further.

Amiri is running a conservative campaign for local businesses, strengthening the police force, and promoting affordable housing. His policy proposals are somewhat vague, saying he will advocate for policies that "support local businesses" and "promote public safety," but he does not provide further details. If elected, Bobby Amiri would not be the progressive voice that Woodinville needs.

Susan Milke is the final candidate running for Woodinville City Council, Position 5. As of late June, Milke does not have a detailed campaign website available, and their platform is unknown. She is another candidate endorsed by the Democratic Woodinville PAC.

Brandon Finley is a flight attendant running for Woodinville City Council, Position 7. While Finley is backed by the misleading Democratic Woodinville, he lacks a detailed campaign strategy, and his platform remains unknown. In his voters' pamphlet entry, Finley said "affordable housing, traffic congestion, and overcrowded schools" are challenges brought on by progress. His unclear positions on housing raise questions about his commitment to increasing density to reduce housing costs and make Woodinville more accessible to all.

Jaren Hanson is running for Woodinville City Council, Position 7. He is a former police officer, which he says gives him "a hands-on understanding of public safety and infrastructure preservation." As of late June, Hanson lacks a detailed campaign website, but he stated that he is running to protect Woodinville from rampant traffic and overcrowding, which would only further increase the cost of living in Woodinville's already expensive neighborhoods.

Conservative candidate Brian Travis has run for this Northshore School Board, District 1 seat in both 2017 and 2021. In past campaigns, Travis has expressed strongly anti-union, homophobic, and antiquated views, including opposing support for queer and trans students. He opposes multi-cultural and inclusive programming, preferring instead a colorblind, less inclusive approach. Northshore students, parents, and staff deserve school board leaders who are in touch with the real challenges facing the school district, rather than getting caught up with MAGA distractions that seek to sow division.

JoAnn Tolentino is a far-right candidate running for Northshore School Board Director, District 4. In a since-deleted Facebook post, Tolentino admitted she attended the January 6th Insurrection, referring to it as an exercise of her freedom of speech. Not surprisingly, she is recommended as the "best choice" in this race by the King County GOP. JoAnn Tolentino is an extremist and is out of touch with the needs of the Northshore School District.

Sehaj Dhalimwal is also challenging incumbent Sandy Hayes for the Northshore School Board. She is a product of the Northshore School District and is running to bring her perspective as a young leader and recent graduate. She recognizes the need to continue funding mental health services, extracurriculars, and school programs as essential services to benefit both students and teachers. Dhalmiwal also brings public service experience in many fields to this role.

We appreciate Sehaj Dhalimwal's vision, passion, and progressive values. However, we would like to see more specific solutions or policies she would implement if elected. We recommend re-electing Sandy Hayes due to her progressive work on the board and her endorsements.

Lynda Schram is running for Northshore School Board Director, District 5. Originally from New York, Schram studied physics in school and obtained a teaching certificate. She is running a conservative campaign, saying, "Our kids aren't losers - we are failing them." She consistently echoes conservative anti-trans talking points that are meant to divide us. Lynda Schram's dangerous rhetoric is not representative of the Northshore School District.