28th 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.

Rebecca Parson is a progressive activist, small business owner, and former instructor at Johns Hopkins University running for Washington's 6th Congressional District. Parson also challenged Rep. Kilmer in 2020 and came in third in the primary, earning 13.5 percent of the vote. She got her start in activism as a housing organizer and has been a leader with the Tacoma & Pierce County Democratic Socialists of America and Tacoma Indivisible.

Parson is running on an extremely progressive platform that includes a Green New Deal with 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, protecting and expanding Social Security, national rent control, and Medicare for All. Possibly the boldest part of her ambitious platform is her plan to repurpose vacant homes to house people experiencing homelessness. During our interview, she said she wants the federal government to purchase many of the 11 million vacant homes. For those who don't wish to sell, she wants to make it "financially onerous to have an empty home."

When asked about how she plans to make change in our often-gridlocked Congress, Parson pointed to Rep. Cori Bush as an example of someone who is both writing legislation and making change through direct action. If elected, she would organize more direct action and use her platform to draw attention and build support for progressive issues over time.

While we struggle to see a path forward for some of her more bold ideas, she does offer an alternative to voters who are looking for a much more progressive and outspoken alternative to Kilmer.

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.

Rep. Marilyn Strickland is seeking re-election to continue serving Washington’s 10th District in the U.S. House. Strickland previously served as the mayor of Tacoma and on the city’s council before joining Congress in 2021, when she became the first African American and Korean American representative from Washington. She also formerly led both the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Pierce Transit.

In her years serving the public, Strickland has been a champion for working people in Washington and beyond. She has worked to lower the cost of prescription medicine, recover social security and veterans' benefits, and make corporations pay their share. Strickland also advocated for strong investments in public infrastructure like clean water, broadband, roadways, and parks. If re-elected, she will continue to fight for reproductive freedom, accessible health care, stable housing, and voting rights. Strickland has broad support in this race including endorsements from news publications, progressive organizations, community groups, and elected leaders across Washington and the country.

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.

Rep. Mari Leavitt is running for re-election for the 28th Legislative District, House Position 1. Leavitt previously worked as the deputy director of Pierce County Human Services, and has also served as a PTSA board member in University Place, chair of the Pierce County Ethics Commission, and on the Mel Korum YMCA board of directors, among other community roles.

As a legislator, Leavitt is focused on improving education and advocating for veterans and military families. During her time in Olympia, Leavitt supported legislation to combat the climate crisis and passed bipartisan legislation to support military families, helping veterans qualify for commercial drivers' licenses and guaranteeing in-state residency status for members and their families pursuing higher education. She has also sponsored legislation this year to address lead in drinking water, help juveniles contacted by law enforcement secure legal representation, and support emergency shelters. If re-elected, Leavitt wants to continue her work supporting affordable housing, education, and more.

Leavitt has two challengers from the right this year. Republican Victor Hogan is a retired Army major and a current real estate firm manager and director on the Steilacoom Historical School District Board. Hogan wants to address supply chain issues and encourage competitive marketplace capitalism, the same corporate forces that keep wages low and ship jobs overseas.

Former sheriff's deputy, Marine, and current Pierce College professor Gabe Sachwitz is also running for Position 1. As of mid-July he has few concrete details available about his platform. His official voters' guide statement says that he will address crime and the cost of living, though not how he plans to address them.

Leavitt has been a strong advocate for the district and is the best choice in this race.

Firefighter and incumbent Rep. Dan Bronoske is running for re-election in the 28th Legislative District for House Position 2. Bronoske has worked as a firefighter in Pierce County and Lakewood for almost two decades. As an active union member, he has spent his time in Olympia advocating for policies that protect all workers.

Bronoske delivered on his 2020 campaign promises to support working families, address the opioid epidemic, reduce health care costs, and improve our transportation system. This year, he was the prime sponsor of a bill to protect workers and allow the state to address work-related musculoskeletal injuries. He also sponsored bills to restrict law enforcement's use and acquisition of military equipment and enhance the unemployment system for those struggling during the pandemic.

Bronoske's commitment to increased health care access and a progressive pandemic response is informed by his career as a first responder. If re-elected, he will continue to stand for workers and working families in his district and beyond.

Bronoske faces two challengers from the right. Air Force veteran Susanna Keilman joins many Republicans this year in attempting to paint accountability measures as "anti-policing." Keilman also states that she will work on tax relief by doing a performance evaluation on and auditing every state employee - which adds up to over 65,000 everyday working people, from nurses to teachers to maintenance workers - as a means to slash the budget. A faster and more effective solution would be to balance our state's upside-down tax code and have the wealthy finally pay their share, which Republicans have so far almost unanimously refused to do in the Legislature.

Republican and former Army captain Chris Nye served on the University Place City Council between 2011 and 2019 and is the owner of a real estate marketing service. He has almost no concrete policy details on his site, instead focusing on conservative rhetoric of "law and order" to elevate him into office.

Legislators have a responsibility to build up our communities to be a safe place for all of us - that includes ensuring affordable housing, great education, and making sure that health care is available for all. Yet under the guise of "safety," many conservatives this year are running on thin agendas that don't nearly cover the many needs of communities in their district.

Rep. Bronoske has proven that he is willing to help communities better access everyday needs and keep our neighborhoods safe with proven policy solutions. Bronoske is the best choice in this race.

Lakewood City Council member Linda Farmer is running for Pierce County auditor. Outside city council work, Farmer is the chief communications officer for the state’s Department of Enterprise Services and previously worked for the county library system. She is an active community leader serving on the South Sound Housing Affordability Partners board and Washington’s Sex Offender Policy board.

Farmer is running to make sure the auditor’s office operates as efficiently and transparently as possible. She wants to expand voter access through increased drop box availability, multi-language services, and civic engagement education. Farmer also wants to modernize the office so that records and license services can be as quick and efficient as possible for residents.

Also in this race is Deryl McCarty, the former deputy county auditor. He is a conservative who the county Republican Party backs in this nonpartisan race. McCarty’s platform is influenced by MAGA conspiracies of election fraud and dangerously stokes mistrust in our democratic institutions.

The final candidate in this race is Damon Townsend. He is the president of the Rapids Park Association and has worked in elections administration in the county for the last 8 years. On July 29, the Tacoma News Tribune reported that Townsend resigned from the Pierce County auditor's office in 2019 "after being put on notice he was to be suspended for conduct unbecoming a county employee."

We recommend Linda Farmer in this race because of her experience in public service and her support from elected leaders.

Gig Harbor City Council member Robyn Denson is running for Pierce County Council in District 7. She is campaigning to fill Derek Young’s seat when he leaves the council this year because of term limits. Denson has been an active and effective council member in Gig Harbor. She is also a small business owner who works in real estate, hosts a local radio show, and has served on a number of community boards focusing on schools, parks, and equity.

Denson has worked hard to build equitable economic opportunity in the county. One of her top priorities is addressing the housing crisis, where she plans to draw on her experience as a nonpartisan housing analyst in the state House to implement real solutions. Denson is also running to protect our environment, bring municipal broadband to the region, invest in public transit, and increase access to mental health resources.

Denson is the clear choice for Pierce County Council, District 7 in this crowded race.