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 remains firm in his campaign. John Wilson is not fit to be King County Executive.

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 late June, 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. While he has a campaign website, it appears to be down as of mid-May, making his platform unknown. We will continue to monitor this race for updates.

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 supported his candidacy 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.

Incumbent Commissioner Ken Bell is running for another term in District 2 on the Bellingham Port Commission. Formerly a Whatcom County planning commissioner and Whatcom County charter review commissioner, Bell joined the port commission in 2017. He also served as the president of a soil decontamination company outside of office.

Bell is a more conservative voice on the commission and works with the Whatcom Republicans. He has previously been politically affiliated with consultants from a fossil fuel shipping terminal that community members, progressive leaders, and the Lummi Tribe successfully opposed. Bell’s track record on the port commission includes uncompassionate sweeps of homeless encampments on port property as well as supporting private interests and marine trade at the cost of community needs. He is not a progressive choice

Kaylin Bosley is also challenging Bell for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2. Bosley is a local comedian who is actively engaged in the queer community of Bellingham. Unfortunately, Bosley's candidate website is still down as of late June. Her voter guide entry highlights her experience in operating under a tight budget and her desire to ensure the port's long-term prosperity. While we appreciate Kaylin Bosley's enthusiasm, we would have liked to see more specific policy proposals from her.

Former Gig Harbor city council member Tim Payne is also running for the Port of Tacoma, representing District 1. Payne was on the council for 12 years, according to his Twitter account.

Payne's campaign is prioritizing the expansion of job opportunities, supporting businesses, modernizing the port, and regional collaboration. Unfortunately, he does not suggest any specific strategies or policies he would advocate for if elected. Additionally, Payne's previous association with the conservative group, Opportunity for Washington, indicates a rightward lean in his priorities.

Former Republican state lawmaker JT Wilcox is running for the Port of Tacoma Commission, District 4 seat. Wilcox stepped down from his Legislative District 2 seat earlier this year, where he had served since 2010 as a ranking conservative. Professionally, he’s worked for a lumber company, in self-employed consulting, and as the director of operations for Wilcox Farms.

Wilcox is a staunch conservative who previously organized a ballot measure to eliminate Washington’s sexual health education, opposed legislation that keeps our community safe by instituting commonsense gun safety measures and environmental protections, and has been a consistent obstacle to rebalancing our tax code. In his bid for the port commission, Wilcox is demonstrating a similar set of values, including suggesting that Tacoma voters put him in power because his family’s farm business is a local employer. He brings a business lens to port leadership, but we know that our community thrives when leaders view this commission as an opportunity to strengthen workers’ rights, environmental protections, and community investment. Wilcox is not a progressive choice for the Port of Tacoma.

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 healthcare 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. Gina 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 a detailed policy proposal, making it unclear what she would implement if elected to office.

Clayton Barnes is running for Kirkland City Council, Position 3. As of late June, 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.

There are two other candidates 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 raised skepticism for and voted against the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan, which included future plans for anticipated 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 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.
 

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

Brandon Finley is a flight attendant running for Woodinville City Council, Position 7. While Finley is backed by the misnamed 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.

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.