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Election Day November 5, 2024
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Welcome to the Preview Edition of the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2024 November election! The Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. We will continue making edits and adding candidates and ballot measures until voting begins in mid-October.  You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. Please share this guide with your friends and family!

Statewide Ballot Measures

VOTE NO

Vote NO on I-2066 to keep moving forward on clean energy!

Initiative 2066 is one of four initiatives to be put before voters that is sponsored and funded by millionaire Brian Heywood and a cadre of Washington Republicans. This initiative would raise energy bills and costs for families and businesses by rolling back or eliminating modern standards that make homes more energy efficient.

Next to transportation, Washington's buildings are the second highest source of pollution, contributing 25 percent of emissions. To that end, the state Legislature has required that building construction reduce pollution through energy-efficient electrification and other means, including rebates for electric appliances instead of natural gas-fueled ones. Backed by powerful interest groups who want to make more money off of households’ energy use, I-2066 aims to overturn the parts of the state's building code that incentivize clean energy and clean air.

By rolling back some of these laws, I-2066 would force utility companies to continue to invest in costly outdated technology. It would also jeopardize Puget Sound Energy's ability to provide financial assistance to homeowners switching from natural gas to electrification and potentially end neighborhood electrification programs. Finally, it would prevent towns, cities, and counties from making their own decisions that work best for their communities by forcing them to subsidize the use of natural gas in appliances or buildings.

The fossil fuel industry and wealthy conservatives want to stop energy efficiency and clean energy in order to increase their profits, saddling us with higher energy bills. Don’t let them raise our costs while polluting our air -- vote No on I-2066 this year.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Initiative 2066 is one of four initiatives to be put before voters that is sponsored and funded by millionaire Brian Heywood and a cadre of Washington Republicans. This initiative would raise energy bills and costs for families and businesses by rolling back or eliminating modern standards that make homes more energy efficient.

Next to transportation, Washington's buildings are the second highest source of pollution, contributing 25 percent of emissions. To that end, the state Legislature has required that building construction reduce pollution through energy-efficient electrification and other means, including rebates for electric appliances instead of natural gas-fueled ones. Backed by powerful interest groups who want to make more money off of households’ energy use, I-2066 aims to overturn the parts of the state's building code that incentivize clean energy and clean air.

By rolling back some of these laws, I-2066 would force utility companies to continue to invest in costly outdated technology. It would also jeopardize Puget Sound Energy's ability to provide financial assistance to homeowners switching from natural gas to electrification and potentially end neighborhood electrification programs. Finally, it would prevent towns, cities, and counties from making their own decisions that work best for their communities by forcing them to subsidize the use of natural gas in appliances or buildings.

The fossil fuel industry and wealthy conservatives want to stop energy efficiency and clean energy in order to increase their profits, saddling us with higher energy bills. Don’t let them raise our costs while polluting our air -- vote No on I-2066 this year.

Last updated: 2024-10-09
VOTE NO

Vote NO on I-2109 to keep the capital gains tax

Washington Initiative 2109 (I-2109) represents a tax break for Washington’s multi-millionaires and billionaires. If passed, the initiative would repeal Washington's current capital gains excise tax on stock market profits greater than $250,000, thereby eliminating more than $2.2 billion in funding for early learning, child care, K-12 education, and school construction over the next 5 years.

All of Washington's kids, no matter their zip code or how much money their parents earn, should have the same access to care and early learning. In its first year, Washington’s capital gains tax provided funding for early learning and schools to the tune of nearly $900 million, creating a significant positive impact on kids and schools. Further, the education funding saved Washington’s childcare system from collapse, avoiding the pitfalls that other states are facing. Without the public revenue raised by the tax, childcare programs will be cut, schools will stay underresourced, and much-needed repairs and construction of schools will grind to a halt. This will hurt working families who rely on childcare, students trying to learn with outdated textbooks, and rural communities who need overdue upgrades to crumbling school buildings.

Washington's capital gains tax affects just 0.2 percent of the population, only the wealthiest sliver of our state community. With exemptions for home sales, retirement accounts, college funds, farm sales, and more, the remaining 99.8% of us will never pay the capital gains tax. In 2023, fewer than 4,000 extremely rich people paid the tax. Nevertheless, some of our state’s wealthiest people have spent the last two years trying to repeal this tax or get it thrown out in court, and they have failed. Now, they’re trying to convince voters to eliminate it for them so they don’t have to pay.

Leading this effort is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who personally spent $6 million to put this measure on the ballot. He and MAGA Republican party chair Jim Walsh would rather deprive our kids of learning opportunities than pay what they actually owe in taxes. 

Vote no on I-2109.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Washington Initiative 2109 (I-2109) represents a tax break for Washington’s multi-millionaires and billionaires. If passed, the initiative would repeal Washington's current capital gains excise tax on stock market profits greater than $250,000, thereby eliminating more than $2.2 billion in funding for early learning, child care, K-12 education, and school construction over the next 5 years.

All of Washington's kids, no matter their zip code or how much money their parents earn, should have the same access to care and early learning. In its first year, Washington’s capital gains tax provided funding for early learning and schools to the tune of nearly $900 million, creating a significant positive impact on kids and schools. Further, the education funding saved Washington’s childcare system from collapse, avoiding the pitfalls that other states are facing. Without the public revenue raised by the tax, childcare programs will be cut, schools will stay underresourced, and much-needed repairs and construction of schools will grind to a halt. This will hurt working families who rely on childcare, students trying to learn with outdated textbooks, and rural communities who need overdue upgrades to crumbling school buildings.

Washington's capital gains tax affects just 0.2 percent of the population, only the wealthiest sliver of our state community. With exemptions for home sales, retirement accounts, college funds, farm sales, and more, the remaining 99.8% of us will never pay the capital gains tax. In 2023, fewer than 4,000 extremely rich people paid the tax. Nevertheless, some of our state’s wealthiest people have spent the last two years trying to repeal this tax or get it thrown out in court, and they have failed. Now, they’re trying to convince voters to eliminate it for them so they don’t have to pay.

Leading this effort is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who personally spent $6 million to put this measure on the ballot. He and MAGA Republican party chair Jim Walsh would rather deprive our kids of learning opportunities than pay what they actually owe in taxes. 

Vote no on I-2109.

Last updated: 2024-10-09
VOTE NO

Vote NO on I-2117 to keep the CCA in place

The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) makes big polluters pay for the harm they cause to our air, water, and communities and creates a roadmap for reducing emissions over time. I-2117 is a multi-millionaire funded initiative that would eliminate the CCA and ban Washington from ever creating something similar.

Voting no on I-2117 is critical for our environment and communities. Without the funds raised by the CCA, many popular programs would be terminated, threatened, or reduced, including, wildfire resilience,, school-based bike programs, free bus fare for students, updating our ferry system, restoring fish habitat, and increasing the sustainable supply of water. The revenue from the Climate Commitment Act also creates good-paying, local jobs like making homes more energy-efficient and installing heat pumps and solar panels. Ending the CCA would shift the burden of paying for the impacts of pollution away from polluters and onto our families and communities. 

Behind this initiative is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who has personally spent more than $6 million to put this measure on the ballot. He’s partnered with MAGA Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh to roll back the ways our elected leaders have made life better in Washington in recent years with no care about the damage to our communities he leaves in his wake.

I-2117 would mean more toxic air pollution and wildfires, and cause more kids and seniors to suffer from asthma and heart conditions. . The Climate Commitment Act is our state's best shot at creating a healthy future for all of us in Washington. Vote no on I 2117 to keep the CCA in place.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) makes big polluters pay for the harm they cause to our air, water, and communities and creates a roadmap for reducing emissions over time. I-2117 is a multi-millionaire funded initiative that would eliminate the CCA and ban Washington from ever creating something similar.

Voting no on I-2117 is critical for our environment and communities. Without the funds raised by the CCA, many popular programs would be terminated, threatened, or reduced, including, wildfire resilience,, school-based bike programs, free bus fare for students, updating our ferry system, restoring fish habitat, and increasing the sustainable supply of water. The revenue from the Climate Commitment Act also creates good-paying, local jobs like making homes more energy-efficient and installing heat pumps and solar panels. Ending the CCA would shift the burden of paying for the impacts of pollution away from polluters and onto our families and communities. 

Behind this initiative is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who has personally spent more than $6 million to put this measure on the ballot. He’s partnered with MAGA Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh to roll back the ways our elected leaders have made life better in Washington in recent years with no care about the damage to our communities he leaves in his wake.

I-2117 would mean more toxic air pollution and wildfires, and cause more kids and seniors to suffer from asthma and heart conditions. . The Climate Commitment Act is our state's best shot at creating a healthy future for all of us in Washington. Vote no on I 2117 to keep the CCA in place.

Last updated: 2024-10-09
VOTE NO

Vote NO on I-2124 to reject this attempt to take away long-term care insurance

If passed, Washington Initiative 2124 (I-2124) would eliminate long-term care coverage for nearly 4 million of us, costing all of us more. I-2124 will drive more people, mostly women, to leave their jobs to provide unpaid care for loved ones who have disabilities, chronic illnesses, or are aging. 

I-2124 is misleading. Experts say it will cause a "death spiral" and quickly bankrupt Washington's insurance funds. I-2124 only benefits the private insurance industry, which charges women more, routinely jacks up premiums without warning, and denies coverage to those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, cancer, or high blood pressure. Less than 5% of us have private long-term care insurance, and I-2124 will send more people into debt or onto Medicaid as they have no choice but to pay for long-term care costs out of their own pockets.

Leading the effort to sabotage long-term care is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who has personally spent more than $6 million to put 4 initiatives on the ballot, alongside MAGA Republican Party Chair Rep. Jim Walsh. Their continued efforts to repeal any source of funding for public needs like health care is not just deeply cynical but dangerous for the majority of us. 

An estimated 70% of Washingtonians will need long-term care assistance at some point in our lives due to an injury, illness, disability, or aging. This short-sighted, millionaire-backed effort will leave most of us without a choice. Vote no on I-2124 and reject this attempt to eliminate Washington's long-term care insurance program.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

If passed, Washington Initiative 2124 (I-2124) would eliminate long-term care coverage for nearly 4 million of us, costing all of us more. I-2124 will drive more people, mostly women, to leave their jobs to provide unpaid care for loved ones who have disabilities, chronic illnesses, or are aging. 

I-2124 is misleading. Experts say it will cause a "death spiral" and quickly bankrupt Washington's insurance funds. I-2124 only benefits the private insurance industry, which charges women more, routinely jacks up premiums without warning, and denies coverage to those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, cancer, or high blood pressure. Less than 5% of us have private long-term care insurance, and I-2124 will send more people into debt or onto Medicaid as they have no choice but to pay for long-term care costs out of their own pockets.

Leading the effort to sabotage long-term care is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who has personally spent more than $6 million to put 4 initiatives on the ballot, alongside MAGA Republican Party Chair Rep. Jim Walsh. Their continued efforts to repeal any source of funding for public needs like health care is not just deeply cynical but dangerous for the majority of us. 

An estimated 70% of Washingtonians will need long-term care assistance at some point in our lives due to an injury, illness, disability, or aging. This short-sighted, millionaire-backed effort will leave most of us without a choice. Vote no on I-2124 and reject this attempt to eliminate Washington's long-term care insurance program.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Federal

In this pivotal election, Vice President Kamala Harris embodies a hopeful vision of unity, freedom, and progress for our country’s future. Harris made history as the first Black woman and first South Asian woman to serve as vice president and she has worked closely with President Biden to implement a broad and impressive agenda. Before that, she had a strong track record, ranging from leading the nation on recidivism reduction as San Francisco district attorney to fighting for marriage equality as California’s first woman attorney general to her hard-fought progressive victories in the U.S. Senate.

Throughout her public service career, Harris has demonstrated integrity, leadership, and tenacity in fighting for regular Americans. As a California senator, Harris sponsored progressive bills such as the Climate Equity Act of 2020 and the COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act of 2020 to build community safety that doesn’t leave anyone behind. Her 2024 campaign priorities include ensuring American billionaires pay their fair share in taxes while alleviating the burden on middle-class families, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, restoring and protecting reproductive health care across the country, defending civil rights against the authoritarian vision of Project 2025, making housing, child care, and education more affordable for all Americans, and more. In all of her leadership roles, she has never shied away from confronting bullies and she is more than qualified to stand up to Trump’s low blows, misinformation, and hate-based campaign.

Joining Harris as a running mate on the Democratic ticket is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a champion of working families and former high school teacher. Walz’s community leadership experience ranges from serving as a local football coach, representing a primarily Republican district as a Democrat in the U.S. House, and his current term uniting a purple state in Minnesota’s highest executive office. Walz’s priorities are firmly rooted in his Midwestern upbringing, union membership, and Army veteran background; he believes in responsible gun ownership, uplifting rural farmers, and protecting LGBTQ+ kids. He worked to lower the prescription cost of insulin to $35 for many Minnesotans and stood up for reproductive freedom after _Roe _was overturned as the first state to codify abortion rights into state law. His community-minded leadership and track record of bringing people together make him a strong partner for Harris.

While we can continue to push Kamala Harris’ platform towards even more progressive goals, it is clear that she is the best choice to make history as our next president of the United States.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

In this pivotal election, Vice President Kamala Harris embodies a hopeful vision of unity, freedom, and progress for our country’s future. Harris made history as the first Black woman and first South Asian woman to serve as vice president and she has worked closely with President Biden to implement a broad and impressive agenda. Before that, she had a strong track record, ranging from leading the nation on recidivism reduction as San Francisco district attorney to fighting for marriage equality as California’s first woman attorney general to her hard-fought progressive victories in the U.S. Senate.

Throughout her public service career, Harris has demonstrated integrity, leadership, and tenacity in fighting for regular Americans. As a California senator, Harris sponsored progressive bills such as the Climate Equity Act of 2020 and the COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act of 2020 to build community safety that doesn’t leave anyone behind. Her 2024 campaign priorities include ensuring American billionaires pay their fair share in taxes while alleviating the burden on middle-class families, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, restoring and protecting reproductive health care across the country, defending civil rights against the authoritarian vision of Project 2025, making housing, child care, and education more affordable for all Americans, and more. In all of her leadership roles, she has never shied away from confronting bullies and she is more than qualified to stand up to Trump’s low blows, misinformation, and hate-based campaign.

Joining Harris as a running mate on the Democratic ticket is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a champion of working families and former high school teacher. Walz’s community leadership experience ranges from serving as a local football coach, representing a primarily Republican district as a Democrat in the U.S. House, and his current term uniting a purple state in Minnesota’s highest executive office. Walz’s priorities are firmly rooted in his Midwestern upbringing, union membership, and Army veteran background; he believes in responsible gun ownership, uplifting rural farmers, and protecting LGBTQ+ kids. He worked to lower the prescription cost of insulin to $35 for many Minnesotans and stood up for reproductive freedom after _Roe _was overturned as the first state to codify abortion rights into state law. His community-minded leadership and track record of bringing people together make him a strong partner for Harris.

While we can continue to push Kamala Harris’ platform towards even more progressive goals, it is clear that she is the best choice to make history as our next president of the United States.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Other Candidates

Harris is running against former President Donald Trump in this election. Since the last presidential election when the American people rejected Trump’s hateful messages, he has incited a coup to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, been convicted of 34 felony counts of falsified business records, and continued to amplify white nationalist rhetoric. Donald Trump’s explicit goal with another term is to further dismantle our democratic institutions. His leaked Project 2025 would lead to an unprecedented rollback of basic civil rights and freedoms that we all enjoy. In his single term, Trump mishandled the national coronavirus response, separated thousands of immigrant children from their families and locked them in cages, sought to strip millions of Americans of health care, and eliminated climate protections that safeguard our air and water. Despite losing the 2020 election, the effects of his catastrophic presidency are still unfolding, most notably with the Supreme Court he installed overturning our reproductive freedoms. Trump’s running mate Ohio Governor JD Vance previously described Trump as “a total fraud that is exploiting [his base]” but is now running as another dangerously extremist figurehead. We cannot afford the damage and division of another Trump term.

There are a number of third-party candidates in this race. Perennial Green Party candidate Jill Stein is seeking the presidency again in this race. She sought the party nomination after Cornel West left the party to run separately. Her top priorities include climate policy that is even more aggressive on climate change than the Green New Deal, withdrawing American support of Israel and Ukraine, reforming the size and term limits of the Supreme Court, and securing free education from pre-K through college. 

Decorated scholar, author, and professor Cornel West is running as a Justice For All Party candidate. Alongside his running mate Professor Melina Abdullah, West is campaigning against Biden’s strong support for the Israeli military in the ongoing war in Gaza. The rest of his platform is strongly justice-focused, viewing issues Americans face in the full context of their history and attempting to right historical wrongs while building community safety and prosperity.

Libertarian Chase Oliver represents more moderate Libertarian leadership in the face of a rising far-right faction within the party. He is an openly gay candidate and first discovered the Libertarian Party at an Atlanta Pride event. He is running with Mike ter Maat, a George H.W. Bush administration economist and retired “pro-reform” police officer, to decriminalize marijuana, withdraw aid to Ukraine and Israel, streamline citizenship pathways, defend NRA gun ideals, eliminate the Federal Reserve, and more.

Also in this race is Socialism and Liberation Party candidate Claudia De la Cruz running on an anti-capitalist platform. De la Cruz is an educator, working mother, organizer, and theologian from the South Bronx. Her running mate Karina Garcia is a Chicana organizer, working mother, and educator. Together the socialist candidates have a leftist view of what will empower working people and our country, including the nationalization of America’s top 100 largest companies, cutting the U.S. military budget by 90% to fight for a peace agenda, reproductive freedom for all, reparations for Black Americans, and criminalizing corporate lobbying, amongst many other priorities.

Former Baltimore resident Rachele Fruit is running as a pro-Israel, pro-working class candidate with the Socialist Workers Party candidate. Fruit believes that the major parties are too capitalist while other socialist movements do not stand against anti-semitism. The pillar of her campaign is upholding the state of Israel as a refuge for the Jewish diaspora from rising anti-Jewish hatred, and she believes strongly in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s vision, which includes settlement expansion, Palestinian displacement, and the eradication of Hamas. Her single-issue views are on the more extreme side of this debate.

Joseph Kishore, the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party, is running with Trotskyist Jerry White on the party’s ticket in this election. Kishore’s platform is that of his party which seeks to mobilize the global working class against international, late-stage capitalism. It criticizes the United States’ support of Israel’s war in Gaza, warns of the rise of fascism within Trumpism, and advocates for the nationalization of major corporations, amongst other socialist goals.

Nirvana bassist and co-founder Krist Novoselić recently created his own new, Washington-based party called the Cascade Party to serve as a centrist option. Some priorities of the party include protecting family farming, reforming the judicial appointment process to include voters, environmental conservation and protection, and creating a hypercompetitive health care market where hospitals can reference credit scores when evaluating a patient’s ability to pay.

Finally, Independent candidate Shiva Ayyadurai is a known anti-vaccine activist who faced controversy when he claimed to have invented email as we know it when he was a teenager. He lacks a campaign platform in this race but his past Senate run seems to misunderstand progressive priorities adopted by the Democratic party in recent elections.
 

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Harris is running against former President Donald Trump in this election. Since the last presidential election when the American people rejected Trump’s hateful messages, he has incited a coup to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, been convicted of 34 felony counts of falsified business records, and continued to amplify white nationalist rhetoric. Donald Trump’s explicit goal with another term is to further dismantle our democratic institutions. His leaked Project 2025 would lead to an unprecedented rollback of basic civil rights and freedoms that we all enjoy. In his single term, Trump mishandled the national coronavirus response, separated thousands of immigrant children from their families and locked them in cages, sought to strip millions of Americans of health care, and eliminated climate protections that safeguard our air and water. Despite losing the 2020 election, the effects of his catastrophic presidency are still unfolding, most notably with the Supreme Court he installed overturning our reproductive freedoms. Trump’s running mate Ohio Governor JD Vance previously described Trump as “a total fraud that is exploiting [his base]” but is now running as another dangerously extremist figurehead. We cannot afford the damage and division of another Trump term.

There are a number of third-party candidates in this race. Perennial Green Party candidate Jill Stein is seeking the presidency again in this race. She sought the party nomination after Cornel West left the party to run separately. Her top priorities include climate policy that is even more aggressive on climate change than the Green New Deal, withdrawing American support of Israel and Ukraine, reforming the size and term limits of the Supreme Court, and securing free education from pre-K through college. 

Decorated scholar, author, and professor Cornel West is running as a Justice For All Party candidate. Alongside his running mate Professor Melina Abdullah, West is campaigning against Biden’s strong support for the Israeli military in the ongoing war in Gaza. The rest of his platform is strongly justice-focused, viewing issues Americans face in the full context of their history and attempting to right historical wrongs while building community safety and prosperity.

Libertarian Chase Oliver represents more moderate Libertarian leadership in the face of a rising far-right faction within the party. He is an openly gay candidate and first discovered the Libertarian Party at an Atlanta Pride event. He is running with Mike ter Maat, a George H.W. Bush administration economist and retired “pro-reform” police officer, to decriminalize marijuana, withdraw aid to Ukraine and Israel, streamline citizenship pathways, defend NRA gun ideals, eliminate the Federal Reserve, and more.

Also in this race is Socialism and Liberation Party candidate Claudia De la Cruz running on an anti-capitalist platform. De la Cruz is an educator, working mother, organizer, and theologian from the South Bronx. Her running mate Karina Garcia is a Chicana organizer, working mother, and educator. Together the socialist candidates have a leftist view of what will empower working people and our country, including the nationalization of America’s top 100 largest companies, cutting the U.S. military budget by 90% to fight for a peace agenda, reproductive freedom for all, reparations for Black Americans, and criminalizing corporate lobbying, amongst many other priorities.

Former Baltimore resident Rachele Fruit is running as a pro-Israel, pro-working class candidate with the Socialist Workers Party candidate. Fruit believes that the major parties are too capitalist while other socialist movements do not stand against anti-semitism. The pillar of her campaign is upholding the state of Israel as a refuge for the Jewish diaspora from rising anti-Jewish hatred, and she believes strongly in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s vision, which includes settlement expansion, Palestinian displacement, and the eradication of Hamas. Her single-issue views are on the more extreme side of this debate.

Joseph Kishore, the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party, is running with Trotskyist Jerry White on the party’s ticket in this election. Kishore’s platform is that of his party which seeks to mobilize the global working class against international, late-stage capitalism. It criticizes the United States’ support of Israel’s war in Gaza, warns of the rise of fascism within Trumpism, and advocates for the nationalization of major corporations, amongst other socialist goals.

Nirvana bassist and co-founder Krist Novoselić recently created his own new, Washington-based party called the Cascade Party to serve as a centrist option. Some priorities of the party include protecting family farming, reforming the judicial appointment process to include voters, environmental conservation and protection, and creating a hypercompetitive health care market where hospitals can reference credit scores when evaluating a patient’s ability to pay.

Finally, Independent candidate Shiva Ayyadurai is a known anti-vaccine activist who faced controversy when he claimed to have invented email as we know it when he was a teenager. He lacks a campaign platform in this race but his past Senate run seems to misunderstand progressive priorities adopted by the Democratic party in recent elections.
 

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Democrat Maria Cantwell is running for another term in the U.S. Senate, where she has served the state of Washington since 2001. Before that, she served in the state Legislature and had a successful career in the private sector, leading marketing efforts for a large tech company.

In Congress, Cantwell has been a strong advocate for environmental protections and clean energy. She recently sponsored bills to protect waterways while promoting clean energy and strengthening tribal involvement in matters relating to conservation and land management. This spring, Cantwell partnered with Sen. Patty Murray to secure $28 million in funding to replace lead pipes in Washington and ensure safe drinking water across the state. In this race, she is running on a broad and detailed platform to address Washington’s most pressing issues, including protecting and restoring reproductive health access, increasing funding for K-12 and student loans, and expanding the affordable housing tax credit and other housing solutions.

Dr. Raul Garcia is the Republican challenger for the U.S. Senate seat. After initially announcing a campaign for governor, he is now running to install conservative leadership in one of Washington’s senate seats. Dr. Garcia is a Yakima-based doctor and hospital medical director who previously ran for governor in 2020. He has served in leadership positions across medical institutions, nonprofits, and small businesses. Garcia has received support from some of Washington’s most prominent conservatives.

Cantwell has been a thoughtful and hard-working advocate for the people of Washington. She has earned your vote for another term in the U.S. Senate.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Democrat Maria Cantwell is running for another term in the U.S. Senate, where she has served the state of Washington since 2001. Before that, she served in the state Legislature and had a successful career in the private sector, leading marketing efforts for a large tech company.

In Congress, Cantwell has been a strong advocate for environmental protections and clean energy. She recently sponsored bills to protect waterways while promoting clean energy and strengthening tribal involvement in matters relating to conservation and land management. This spring, Cantwell partnered with Sen. Patty Murray to secure $28 million in funding to replace lead pipes in Washington and ensure safe drinking water across the state. In this race, she is running on a broad and detailed platform to address Washington’s most pressing issues, including protecting and restoring reproductive health access, increasing funding for K-12 and student loans, and expanding the affordable housing tax credit and other housing solutions.

Dr. Raul Garcia is the Republican challenger for the U.S. Senate seat. After initially announcing a campaign for governor, he is now running to install conservative leadership in one of Washington’s senate seats. Dr. Garcia is a Yakima-based doctor and hospital medical director who previously ran for governor in 2020. He has served in leadership positions across medical institutions, nonprofits, and small businesses. Garcia has received support from some of Washington’s most prominent conservatives.

Cantwell has been a thoughtful and hard-working advocate for the people of Washington. She has earned your vote for another term in the U.S. Senate.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Congress

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below congressional districts on your ballot.

4th Congressional District

Democrat and business owner Cherissa Boyd has filed an official write-in campaign with the state to offer a more progressive alternative to Republicans Dan Newhouse and Jerrod Sessler. Boyd has a background as a caregiver for people with disabilities and a paraeducator in our carceral system.

Boyd is focused on bringing us together and ensuring the entire community has access to the resources they need to meet their basic needs. She wants to run an optimistic, grassroots campaign to increase health care affordability and access, particularly in the areas of reproductive health services and mental health care. Boyd also wants to build up the resources in our schools so that Central Washington students have the tools to thrive. She lacks a detailed campaign platform in this race but it is clear that her platform is far more progressive than the two Republicans on the ballot.

Last updated: 2024-10-01

Democrat and business owner Cherissa Boyd has filed an official write-in campaign with the state to offer a more progressive alternative to Republicans Dan Newhouse and Jerrod Sessler. Boyd has a background as a caregiver for people with disabilities and a paraeducator in our carceral system.

Boyd is focused on bringing us together and ensuring the entire community has access to the resources they need to meet their basic needs. She wants to run an optimistic, grassroots campaign to increase health care affordability and access, particularly in the areas of reproductive health services and mental health care. Boyd also wants to build up the resources in our schools so that Central Washington students have the tools to thrive. She lacks a detailed campaign platform in this race but it is clear that her platform is far more progressive than the two Republicans on the ballot.

Last updated: 2024-10-01

Republican incumbent Rep. Dan Newhouse is running for re-election to the 4th Congressional District seat. Newhouse previously served as the Washington Director of Agriculture and in the state House before being elected to Congress in 2014. In office, he has been a staunch conservative vote, siding with Trump during his presidency 93 percent of the time. However, he joined only nine fellow Republicans in impeaching Trump following the Jan 6th Capitol insurrection. Since then, he has become a target of Trump-backed challengers seeking to oust him for his lack of MAGA loyalty.

Last year, Newhouse supported legislation to construct Trump’s costly border wall and a single bill that would repeal incentives for climate-friendly practices. He has used his office to promote divisiveness and stoke fears while failing to address the real issues facing average Washingtonians. One of his top priorities is to prevent any level of gun safety reform that would protect our communities and he is endorsed by the NRA. Despite his destructive, ultra-conservative platform, Newhouse has differentiated himself from the MAGA values and authoritative, Project 2025-aligned faction of Trump and his chosen challenger in this race, Jerrod Sessler.

Given the conservative landscape of Washington's 4th Congressional District, it's highly likely that Newhouse or Sessler will win this race. While we disagree with him on the vast majority of issues, Newhouse is a good choice if your top priority is keeping a MAGA conspiracy theorist out of office.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Republican incumbent Rep. Dan Newhouse is running for re-election to the 4th Congressional District seat. Newhouse previously served as the Washington Director of Agriculture and in the state House before being elected to Congress in 2014. In office, he has been a staunch conservative vote, siding with Trump during his presidency 93 percent of the time. However, he joined only nine fellow Republicans in impeaching Trump following the Jan 6th Capitol insurrection. Since then, he has become a target of Trump-backed challengers seeking to oust him for his lack of MAGA loyalty.

Last year, Newhouse supported legislation to construct Trump’s costly border wall and a single bill that would repeal incentives for climate-friendly practices. He has used his office to promote divisiveness and stoke fears while failing to address the real issues facing average Washingtonians. One of his top priorities is to prevent any level of gun safety reform that would protect our communities and he is endorsed by the NRA. Despite his destructive, ultra-conservative platform, Newhouse has differentiated himself from the MAGA values and authoritative, Project 2025-aligned faction of Trump and his chosen challenger in this race, Jerrod Sessler.

Given the conservative landscape of Washington's 4th Congressional District, it's highly likely that Newhouse or Sessler will win this race. While we disagree with him on the vast majority of issues, Newhouse is a good choice if your top priority is keeping a MAGA conspiracy theorist out of office.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Other Candidates

Jerrod Sessler is a Navy veteran, business owner, and former NASCAR driver. He boasts extremely far-right ideologies that promote some of the worst misinformation about immigration, public education, racial justice, and climate change. Sessler supports Trump’s border wall and has made outrageous and racist claims about modern immigration patterns. He doesn't believe that racial oppression occurs at any level and hatefully decries progressive legislation on climate as well as comprehensive sexual health education in our schools. Sessler has earned Trump’s backing in this race, and is running a loyalty campaign to the MAGA movement that has caused irreparable harm to public health, damaged our economy, threatened our democracy, and sowed social division.

Sessler is unfit for office and would be an embarrassment to our state if elected to Congress.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Jerrod Sessler is a Navy veteran, business owner, and former NASCAR driver. He boasts extremely far-right ideologies that promote some of the worst misinformation about immigration, public education, racial justice, and climate change. Sessler supports Trump’s border wall and has made outrageous and racist claims about modern immigration patterns. He doesn't believe that racial oppression occurs at any level and hatefully decries progressive legislation on climate as well as comprehensive sexual health education in our schools. Sessler has earned Trump’s backing in this race, and is running a loyalty campaign to the MAGA movement that has caused irreparable harm to public health, damaged our economy, threatened our democracy, and sowed social division.

Sessler is unfit for office and would be an embarrassment to our state if elected to Congress.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

5th Congressional District

Democrat Carmela Conroy is running for the Congressional District 5 seat in the U.S. House to replace retiring Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Conroy worked as a Spokane County deputy prosecutor before serving as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State. Earlier this year, she finished a term as the chair of the Spokane County Democratic Central Committee.

The top priorities she lists on her website include affordable health care, economic prosperity for all, uplifting working families, and agricultural support. Conroy wants to invest in the local economy and raise the quality of life with clean energy and rural infrastructure. She states that sourcing congressional funding for research and local responses to support family farms, timber, and urban living is essential to support the economic transition to low and no-carbon alternatives.

At the national level, she will also defend reproductive freedom and abortion access if elected. In our questionnaire, Conroy elaborated on many of her positions. She wants to see Congressional action on the authoritarianism that has engulfed far-right politics with a restoration of church-state separation and greater voting access. In this campaign, Conroy has earned endorsements from labor unions, local Democratic organizations, teachers' unions, and several key elected Democrats.

Spokane treasurer Michael Baumgartner is Conroy's Republican opponent in this race. Baumgartner served two terms as a state senator for the 6th Legislative District and previously worked at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad for the State Department. Baumgartner is a very far-right candidate. In his first campaign in 2009, he proposed to ban all abortions and supported the Republican platform to withdraw from the United Nations, privatize Social Security, and eliminate the federal Department of Education. Baumgartner supports right-wing border policies as well as uncompassionate and ineffective responses to our neighbors suffering from mental illness, substance abuse, and/or housing insecurity.

Conroy is the best choice for Washington’s 5th Congressional District.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Democrat Carmela Conroy is running for the Congressional District 5 seat in the U.S. House to replace retiring Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Conroy worked as a Spokane County deputy prosecutor before serving as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State. Earlier this year, she finished a term as the chair of the Spokane County Democratic Central Committee.

The top priorities she lists on her website include affordable health care, economic prosperity for all, uplifting working families, and agricultural support. Conroy wants to invest in the local economy and raise the quality of life with clean energy and rural infrastructure. She states that sourcing congressional funding for research and local responses to support family farms, timber, and urban living is essential to support the economic transition to low and no-carbon alternatives.

At the national level, she will also defend reproductive freedom and abortion access if elected. In our questionnaire, Conroy elaborated on many of her positions. She wants to see Congressional action on the authoritarianism that has engulfed far-right politics with a restoration of church-state separation and greater voting access. In this campaign, Conroy has earned endorsements from labor unions, local Democratic organizations, teachers' unions, and several key elected Democrats.

Spokane treasurer Michael Baumgartner is Conroy's Republican opponent in this race. Baumgartner served two terms as a state senator for the 6th Legislative District and previously worked at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad for the State Department. Baumgartner is a very far-right candidate. In his first campaign in 2009, he proposed to ban all abortions and supported the Republican platform to withdraw from the United Nations, privatize Social Security, and eliminate the federal Department of Education. Baumgartner supports right-wing border policies as well as uncompassionate and ineffective responses to our neighbors suffering from mental illness, substance abuse, and/or housing insecurity.

Conroy is the best choice for Washington’s 5th Congressional District.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Endorsed By: Washington State Labor Council , Washington Education Association, Spokane County Democrats

8th Congressional District

Dr. Kim Schrier is running for a fourth term representing Congressional District 8 in the U.S. House. She was first elected in 2018 when she turned the seat blue for the first time in its history. Schrier is a former pediatrician who previously ran a local practice in Issaquah. In her past three terms in Congress, she has come to represent a pragmatic voice working across party lines to advocate for Washington’s working families and economic prosperity across our state.

In Congress, Rep. Schrier has leveraged her background in medicine as well as her strong community experience to advocate effectively for her constituents. This recent term, she sponsored a slate of health-related legislation, including bills to establish a state public option to make health care more affordable, to protect providers who work in reproductive health care, and to help kids access primary care. She was also a leader in bringing climate solutions to the agricultural industry, providing tax credits to working families, and addressing the baby formula shortage. Her past key votes have aligned with Biden’s more progressive bills including Build Back Better which would have made huge strides in addressing climate change, funding early childhood education, and extending the child tax credit. Schrier’s campaign platform in this race reflects her continued goals to build a healthy, prosperous future for all Washingtonians. Some of her progressive campaign priorities include women’s rights, gun violence prevention, corporate accountability, veteran support, child nutrition, environmental protections, and lowering the cost of living.

Carmen Goers is a Republican challenging Kim Schrier in Washington’s 8th Congressional District. Goers is a veteran and a financial services professional of 25 years who has also served with the Kent Chamber of Commerce. In 2022, Goers ran for the state Legislature in the 47th Legislative District but lost to Chris Stearns. Now, she is running on to bring conservative fiscal policy to Congress. This would mean bigger tax breaks for the wealthiest, prioritizing business profits above considerations like environmental sustainability or fair wages, and cutting public services that allow all Americans, regardless of background, to access the basics and build better futures. Washingtonians in the 8th CD deserve a representative who will place community needs first to make Washington a place where all residents have the opportunity to thrive, and Goers is not that candidate.

Schrier has earned your vote for another term.

Last updated: 2024-09-20

Dr. Kim Schrier is running for a fourth term representing Congressional District 8 in the U.S. House. She was first elected in 2018 when she turned the seat blue for the first time in its history. Schrier is a former pediatrician who previously ran a local practice in Issaquah. In her past three terms in Congress, she has come to represent a pragmatic voice working across party lines to advocate for Washington’s working families and economic prosperity across our state.

In Congress, Rep. Schrier has leveraged her background in medicine as well as her strong community experience to advocate effectively for her constituents. This recent term, she sponsored a slate of health-related legislation, including bills to establish a state public option to make health care more affordable, to protect providers who work in reproductive health care, and to help kids access primary care. She was also a leader in bringing climate solutions to the agricultural industry, providing tax credits to working families, and addressing the baby formula shortage. Her past key votes have aligned with Biden’s more progressive bills including Build Back Better which would have made huge strides in addressing climate change, funding early childhood education, and extending the child tax credit. Schrier’s campaign platform in this race reflects her continued goals to build a healthy, prosperous future for all Washingtonians. Some of her progressive campaign priorities include women’s rights, gun violence prevention, corporate accountability, veteran support, child nutrition, environmental protections, and lowering the cost of living.

Carmen Goers is a Republican challenging Kim Schrier in Washington’s 8th Congressional District. Goers is a veteran and a financial services professional of 25 years who has also served with the Kent Chamber of Commerce. In 2022, Goers ran for the state Legislature in the 47th Legislative District but lost to Chris Stearns. Now, she is running on to bring conservative fiscal policy to Congress. This would mean bigger tax breaks for the wealthiest, prioritizing business profits above considerations like environmental sustainability or fair wages, and cutting public services that allow all Americans, regardless of background, to access the basics and build better futures. Washingtonians in the 8th CD deserve a representative who will place community needs first to make Washington a place where all residents have the opportunity to thrive, and Goers is not that candidate.

Schrier has earned your vote for another term.

Last updated: 2024-09-20

Statewide

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is running for governor on his impressive record as an advocate for all Washingtonians. He has served as attorney general since 2012 and has won some of the biggest and most consequential legal cases in Washington's history during that time.

Ferguson has a record of success in litigating against the Trump administration and greedy corporations. When Donald Trump attacked access to contraception, Ferguson took him to court and won. Ferguson has sued the federal government to clean up the Hanford nuclear facility more quickly and has defended the Affordable Care Act from the Trump Administration, helping preserve care for 825,000 Washingtonians. Other wins include protecting statewide water quality from Trump's pro-pollution environmental policies, securing over $1 billion from opioid manufacturers to fund treatment, and fighting back against child detention laws.

All of these wins echo Ferguson's priorities in running for governor: to continue fighting to improve health care access, protect consumers, and strengthen the rights of working families in Washington. If elected, he plans to scale up behavioral health care. Recognizing that currently "our jails are collectively our largest mental health provider," he is committed to a large number of interventions in our communities including prevention, adding more health providers, and more peer service support. He's also committed to breaking up corporate monopolies and reducing the cost of living, establishing Washington as a clean energy hub, and exploring high-speed rail infrastructure.

Republican and former U.S. Representative Dave Reichert is running against Ferguson. Reichert served Washington’s 8th Congressional District in the House for 14 years. During that time, he took some bad votes against climate protections and health care affordability and voted for a national abortion ban, among other anti-abortion votes. He also previously served as the elected King County Sheriff, and worked on the prominent Green River Killer case.

While Reichert is adept at sounding more moderate than some of his MAGA colleagues, his policy positions tell the truth, particularly when speaking to friendly crowds of Republicans behind closed doors. Earlier this year, Reichert said that he opposes marriage equality, which Washington voters passed in 2012 and became the law nationwide in 2015. More recently, Reichert finally admitted that he plans to vote for Trump this November and cited his signed MAGA hat as evidence of his Republican credentials. Finally, Reichert questioned humans' impact on climate change, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus. Reichert is clearly out of step with the values of most Washingtonians.

Bob Ferguson is an accomplished progressive who leads with integrity and grit. He is the best choice to be the next governor of Washington.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is running for governor on his impressive record as an advocate for all Washingtonians. He has served as attorney general since 2012 and has won some of the biggest and most consequential legal cases in Washington's history during that time.

Ferguson has a record of success in litigating against the Trump administration and greedy corporations. When Donald Trump attacked access to contraception, Ferguson took him to court and won. Ferguson has sued the federal government to clean up the Hanford nuclear facility more quickly and has defended the Affordable Care Act from the Trump Administration, helping preserve care for 825,000 Washingtonians. Other wins include protecting statewide water quality from Trump's pro-pollution environmental policies, securing over $1 billion from opioid manufacturers to fund treatment, and fighting back against child detention laws.

All of these wins echo Ferguson's priorities in running for governor: to continue fighting to improve health care access, protect consumers, and strengthen the rights of working families in Washington. If elected, he plans to scale up behavioral health care. Recognizing that currently "our jails are collectively our largest mental health provider," he is committed to a large number of interventions in our communities including prevention, adding more health providers, and more peer service support. He's also committed to breaking up corporate monopolies and reducing the cost of living, establishing Washington as a clean energy hub, and exploring high-speed rail infrastructure.

Republican and former U.S. Representative Dave Reichert is running against Ferguson. Reichert served Washington’s 8th Congressional District in the House for 14 years. During that time, he took some bad votes against climate protections and health care affordability and voted for a national abortion ban, among other anti-abortion votes. He also previously served as the elected King County Sheriff, and worked on the prominent Green River Killer case.

While Reichert is adept at sounding more moderate than some of his MAGA colleagues, his policy positions tell the truth, particularly when speaking to friendly crowds of Republicans behind closed doors. Earlier this year, Reichert said that he opposes marriage equality, which Washington voters passed in 2012 and became the law nationwide in 2015. More recently, Reichert finally admitted that he plans to vote for Trump this November and cited his signed MAGA hat as evidence of his Republican credentials. Finally, Reichert questioned humans' impact on climate change, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus. Reichert is clearly out of step with the values of most Washingtonians.

Bob Ferguson is an accomplished progressive who leads with integrity and grit. He is the best choice to be the next governor of Washington.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Democrat Denny Heck is running for a second term as Washington’s lieutenant governor. Heck is a former representative who served the 10th Congressional District from 2013 until 2021. His professional background also includes serving five terms representing Legislative District 17 in the state House, starting small businesses in his community, serving as the chief of staff to Gov. Booth Gardner, and founding one of the nation’s largest statewide public affairs networks.

Heck has fought for a number of Democratic priorities, including rebalancing our upside-down tax code, investing in public infrastructure, reducing health care costs, increasing workforce development and employment opportunities, and making college more affordable. He's running to continue fighting for affordability, health and safety, and opportunity for all Washingtonians.

Heck is running against Republican Dan Matthews, a veteran and former school board member running to deprioritize public schools in favor of private education, cut spending on social services, and roll back laws that hold corporations accountable. He is not a progressive choice and doesn't represent the needs of our communities.

We recommend Denny Heck for another term as the state’s lieutenant governor.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Democrat Denny Heck is running for a second term as Washington’s lieutenant governor. Heck is a former representative who served the 10th Congressional District from 2013 until 2021. His professional background also includes serving five terms representing Legislative District 17 in the state House, starting small businesses in his community, serving as the chief of staff to Gov. Booth Gardner, and founding one of the nation’s largest statewide public affairs networks.

Heck has fought for a number of Democratic priorities, including rebalancing our upside-down tax code, investing in public infrastructure, reducing health care costs, increasing workforce development and employment opportunities, and making college more affordable. He's running to continue fighting for affordability, health and safety, and opportunity for all Washingtonians.

Heck is running against Republican Dan Matthews, a veteran and former school board member running to deprioritize public schools in favor of private education, cut spending on social services, and roll back laws that hold corporations accountable. He is not a progressive choice and doesn't represent the needs of our communities.

We recommend Denny Heck for another term as the state’s lieutenant governor.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Democrat Steve Hobbs is running for another term as Washington's secretary of state. He first joined the office when he was appointed in 2021 and was retained by voters in 2022. Hobbs, a first-generation Japanese American, previously served as a lieutenant colonel in the Washington Army National Guard and a four-term state senator for the 44th Legislative District.

In office, Hobbs has pursued a progressive set of priorities to ensure Washington’s election integrity, making the state safe from attacks and accessible to all Washington voters. He has worked on strengthening digital security, preventing the spread of misinformation, and promoting voter outreach. Unfortunately, in the last election, he expressed concerns about implementing ranked-choice voting for fear of the fragility of public trust and the accessibility of it to non-English-speaking voters.

In this race, Hobbs’ top two priorities are to ensure our elections remain both secure and accessible for every eligible voter. While he has and will continue to pursue security measures – such as cybersecurity investments and improvement grants, Hobbs also believes it’s his job to restore community trust in him and his office. He has also taken great strides to reach eligible voters from historically disenfranchised communities, including formerly incarcerated voters.

Republican Dale Whitaker, who owns a small tax business, is also in this race. Whitaker serves as the executive director of We Believe We Vote, which claims to educate Christian voters by supporting conservatives with some of the _most _extreme views in the state, including strong anti-abortion stances, homophobic positions, and a belief that the Christian Bible should be the ultimate guiding text for leaders. In this race, Whitaker’s top priority is election transparency and security. Unfortunately, the greatest threat to our democratic, electoral processes has been incursions from the far-right, of which Whitaker is affiliated. Washington voters deserve a secretary of state who is above divisive, conspiracy-based politics.

Hobbs is the best choice for Washington's secretary of state.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Democrat Steve Hobbs is running for another term as Washington's secretary of state. He first joined the office when he was appointed in 2021 and was retained by voters in 2022. Hobbs, a first-generation Japanese American, previously served as a lieutenant colonel in the Washington Army National Guard and a four-term state senator for the 44th Legislative District.

In office, Hobbs has pursued a progressive set of priorities to ensure Washington’s election integrity, making the state safe from attacks and accessible to all Washington voters. He has worked on strengthening digital security, preventing the spread of misinformation, and promoting voter outreach. Unfortunately, in the last election, he expressed concerns about implementing ranked-choice voting for fear of the fragility of public trust and the accessibility of it to non-English-speaking voters.

In this race, Hobbs’ top two priorities are to ensure our elections remain both secure and accessible for every eligible voter. While he has and will continue to pursue security measures – such as cybersecurity investments and improvement grants, Hobbs also believes it’s his job to restore community trust in him and his office. He has also taken great strides to reach eligible voters from historically disenfranchised communities, including formerly incarcerated voters.

Republican Dale Whitaker, who owns a small tax business, is also in this race. Whitaker serves as the executive director of We Believe We Vote, which claims to educate Christian voters by supporting conservatives with some of the _most _extreme views in the state, including strong anti-abortion stances, homophobic positions, and a belief that the Christian Bible should be the ultimate guiding text for leaders. In this race, Whitaker’s top priority is election transparency and security. Unfortunately, the greatest threat to our democratic, electoral processes has been incursions from the far-right, of which Whitaker is affiliated. Washington voters deserve a secretary of state who is above divisive, conspiracy-based politics.

Hobbs is the best choice for Washington's secretary of state.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Democratic incumbent Mike Pellicciotti is running for re-election to Washington state treasurer. Pellicciotti was first elected to the position in 2020. Before that, Pellicciotti served as a representative for Legislative District 30 in the state House, an assistant state attorney general, and a deputy prosecuting attorney for King County.

In public office, he has advocated for transparency and public accountability. He has never accepted corporate campaign donations and previously worked to make the Legislature’s records open for public view. As a treasurer, he has prioritized economic security and prosperity for all, especially working families and retirees. In office, he has worked to strengthen budget reserves, increase pension funds, and manage debt costs.

Republican Sharon Hanek is challenging Pellicciotti in this race. Hanek is a certified public accountant and serves as the vice chair of the Pierce County Planning Commission. Hanek has run for office unsuccessfully several times before, including losing by more than 17 percent statewide in her 2012 run for state Treasurer. Hanek is the founder of My Family My Choice, a far-right group aligned with Moms for Liberty that wants to ban books and promotes conspiracy theories about public schools. We can't afford to give Hanek a statewide platform for her dangerous, far-right agenda.

Pellicciotti has been a reliable Democratic leader in the Washington state treasurer’s office and he has earned your vote for another term.

Last updated: 2024-09-25

Democratic incumbent Mike Pellicciotti is running for re-election to Washington state treasurer. Pellicciotti was first elected to the position in 2020. Before that, Pellicciotti served as a representative for Legislative District 30 in the state House, an assistant state attorney general, and a deputy prosecuting attorney for King County.

In public office, he has advocated for transparency and public accountability. He has never accepted corporate campaign donations and previously worked to make the Legislature’s records open for public view. As a treasurer, he has prioritized economic security and prosperity for all, especially working families and retirees. In office, he has worked to strengthen budget reserves, increase pension funds, and manage debt costs.

Republican Sharon Hanek is challenging Pellicciotti in this race. Hanek is a certified public accountant and serves as the vice chair of the Pierce County Planning Commission. Hanek has run for office unsuccessfully several times before, including losing by more than 17 percent statewide in her 2012 run for state Treasurer. Hanek is the founder of My Family My Choice, a far-right group aligned with Moms for Liberty that wants to ban books and promotes conspiracy theories about public schools. We can't afford to give Hanek a statewide platform for her dangerous, far-right agenda.

Pellicciotti has been a reliable Democratic leader in the Washington state treasurer’s office and he has earned your vote for another term.

Last updated: 2024-09-25

Incumbent Democrat Pat McCarthy is running for a third term as Washington state auditor. McCarthy made history as the state’s first woman auditor when she took office in 2017. Before that, she served Pierce County in the elected roles of both executive and auditor and was previously a member of the Tacoma School Board, including as board president. She serves in multiple community leadership positions including on the Asian Pacific Cultural Center Advisory Board and with the Pierce County Sexual Assault Center.

In her first two terms, McCarthy has worked hard to bring accountability and transparency to the auditor’s office. She previously launched important investigations into both white-collar crime and unemployment benefit cases and even oversaw the largest fraud case in state history pertaining to misappropriated local housing funds. Looking towards another term, McCarthy wants to prioritize public and private sector integrity, responsible resource use, and advancing the office’s technology infrastructure to serve the public better.

Spokane County Republican Party leader Matt Hawkins is challenging incumbent McCarthy in this race. Hawkins created the We The People interactive calendar, which details events in U.S. history that he deems important. He has run for elected office before including vying for the top Republican Party job in the state last year, as well as the Washington state Senate in 2018. In this race, Hawkins boasts a typically conservative platform which includes continuing to cast doubt on the security of our local elections and worsening the imbalance in our state’s tax code.

McCarthy has earned your vote for another term as Washington's state auditor.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Incumbent Democrat Pat McCarthy is running for a third term as Washington state auditor. McCarthy made history as the state’s first woman auditor when she took office in 2017. Before that, she served Pierce County in the elected roles of both executive and auditor and was previously a member of the Tacoma School Board, including as board president. She serves in multiple community leadership positions including on the Asian Pacific Cultural Center Advisory Board and with the Pierce County Sexual Assault Center.

In her first two terms, McCarthy has worked hard to bring accountability and transparency to the auditor’s office. She previously launched important investigations into both white-collar crime and unemployment benefit cases and even oversaw the largest fraud case in state history pertaining to misappropriated local housing funds. Looking towards another term, McCarthy wants to prioritize public and private sector integrity, responsible resource use, and advancing the office’s technology infrastructure to serve the public better.

Spokane County Republican Party leader Matt Hawkins is challenging incumbent McCarthy in this race. Hawkins created the We The People interactive calendar, which details events in U.S. history that he deems important. He has run for elected office before including vying for the top Republican Party job in the state last year, as well as the Washington state Senate in 2018. In this race, Hawkins boasts a typically conservative platform which includes continuing to cast doubt on the security of our local elections and worsening the imbalance in our state’s tax code.

McCarthy has earned your vote for another term as Washington's state auditor.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Nick Brown is a former U.S. attorney for Western Washington running to protect the climate, our democracy, and Washingtonians' civil rights. Before his appointment by the Biden Administration in 2021, Brown worked as the general counsel for Gov. Jay Inslee. He also served in the US Army as a judge advocate general (JAG) officer, where he represented soldiers and the Army in legal matters, followed by working as a prosecutor. Brown has also served as chair of the attorney general’s Advisory Subcommittee on Civil Rights.

As the first Black U.S. attorney in the state's history, Brown notes that Washington is experiencing the highest number of hate crimes in 20 years. He wants to use the attorney general's office to implement laws that prosecute domestic terrorists, especially the burgeoning white supremacist movements that have threatened local leaders and committed violent hate crimes.

In our interview with Brown, he identified his top three priorities as strengthening the operations of the office, holding local jurisdictions accountable for upholding the law, and enforcing environmental protections. He emphasized his work with the attorney general's office as a special assistant attorney general and said that he would strive to build a more representative office and ensure they resolve problems with legal standards that led to the office receiving a fine last year. One of Brown's biggest accomplishments as an attorney was helping write Initiative 1639, Safe Schools and Safe Communities, which makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to own a semi-automatic rifle. He later defended the law against the NRA. Building on that success, Brown wants to continue to enforce laws against deadly weapons and defend the state against voter suppression, wage theft, and more. Brown also wants to enforce environmental laws strictly and uphold strong consumer protections by, for example, pursuing the ongoing investigation on monopolistic practices by landlords and rental companies to keep prices inflated.

Republican and Pasco attorney Pete Serrano is running to bring a conservative agenda to the attorney general's office. Serrano is the board president and general counsel of an organization that fights commonsense gun laws and public health mandates, and he was recently elected mayor of Pasco. He states that while he disagrees with these laws he will follow the state Constitution, but the Seattle Times also reported that he intended to remain "actively engaged" with the organization in a Facebook video on the organization's page. If elected he promises to "Make Washington Safe Again" and make the office more transparent. Serrano is not a progressive choice in this race.

Brown is the clear choice in the race to be Washington's next attorney general.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Nick Brown is a former U.S. attorney for Western Washington running to protect the climate, our democracy, and Washingtonians' civil rights. Before his appointment by the Biden Administration in 2021, Brown worked as the general counsel for Gov. Jay Inslee. He also served in the US Army as a judge advocate general (JAG) officer, where he represented soldiers and the Army in legal matters, followed by working as a prosecutor. Brown has also served as chair of the attorney general’s Advisory Subcommittee on Civil Rights.

As the first Black U.S. attorney in the state's history, Brown notes that Washington is experiencing the highest number of hate crimes in 20 years. He wants to use the attorney general's office to implement laws that prosecute domestic terrorists, especially the burgeoning white supremacist movements that have threatened local leaders and committed violent hate crimes.

In our interview with Brown, he identified his top three priorities as strengthening the operations of the office, holding local jurisdictions accountable for upholding the law, and enforcing environmental protections. He emphasized his work with the attorney general's office as a special assistant attorney general and said that he would strive to build a more representative office and ensure they resolve problems with legal standards that led to the office receiving a fine last year. One of Brown's biggest accomplishments as an attorney was helping write Initiative 1639, Safe Schools and Safe Communities, which makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to own a semi-automatic rifle. He later defended the law against the NRA. Building on that success, Brown wants to continue to enforce laws against deadly weapons and defend the state against voter suppression, wage theft, and more. Brown also wants to enforce environmental laws strictly and uphold strong consumer protections by, for example, pursuing the ongoing investigation on monopolistic practices by landlords and rental companies to keep prices inflated.

Republican and Pasco attorney Pete Serrano is running to bring a conservative agenda to the attorney general's office. Serrano is the board president and general counsel of an organization that fights commonsense gun laws and public health mandates, and he was recently elected mayor of Pasco. He states that while he disagrees with these laws he will follow the state Constitution, but the Seattle Times also reported that he intended to remain "actively engaged" with the organization in a Facebook video on the organization's page. If elected he promises to "Make Washington Safe Again" and make the office more transparent. Serrano is not a progressive choice in this race.

Brown is the clear choice in the race to be Washington's next attorney general.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

King County Council chair Dave Upthegrove is running for commissioner of public lands to fill the vacancy left by Hilary Franz. Upthegrove previously served in the Legislature for five terms, where he made history as the first openly gay representative from outside of Seattle. He joined the King County Council in 2013, where he has been a strong advocate for climate concerns and environmental protections. 

Upthegrove has an inclusive vision for using the office to improve the quality of life for all Washingtonians. Upthegrove wants to mitigate the damage of wildfire seasons, bring good jobs and services to rural Washington, preserve mature legacy forests, expand recreational opportunities on public lands, and center the idea of environmental justice to guide policy. While he lauds the incumbent Franz for her work on wildfire prevention, Upthegrove wants to be more ambitious when it comes to reforming forestry policies. He believes the department needs a more honest accounting of the carbon impacts of forestry and timber work, which he is well positioned to lead having managed King County's forest carbon program. Upthegrove also wants to use his experience and relationships in the legislature to help pass laws and increase funding for the department's conservation work.

Former congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler is back on the ballot this election. In 2022, she lost her re-election primary to ultra-conservative Joe Kent and current Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez. In Congress, Herrera Beutler voted with Trump more than 80 percent of the time, though she has received criticism from her party after voting to impeach Donald Trump following the January 6th insurrection. Herrera Beutler has overwhelmingly opposed bills that protect our environment including the 2021 Build Back Better Act and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, both of which contained bold policies to alleviate the climate crisis. She lacks a detailed campaign platform in this race but mentions wildfire mitigation, habitat preservation, and public land use as top issues.

The race for this open seat will determine whether our state will be a leader in fighting climate change, protecting our forests, and preventing forest fires or bow to the demands of big timber companies. Upthegrove's environmental track record in office and endorsements from Washington Conservation Action, the Sierra Club, and other environmental champions make him the clear choice in this race.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

King County Council chair Dave Upthegrove is running for commissioner of public lands to fill the vacancy left by Hilary Franz. Upthegrove previously served in the Legislature for five terms, where he made history as the first openly gay representative from outside of Seattle. He joined the King County Council in 2013, where he has been a strong advocate for climate concerns and environmental protections. 

Upthegrove has an inclusive vision for using the office to improve the quality of life for all Washingtonians. Upthegrove wants to mitigate the damage of wildfire seasons, bring good jobs and services to rural Washington, preserve mature legacy forests, expand recreational opportunities on public lands, and center the idea of environmental justice to guide policy. While he lauds the incumbent Franz for her work on wildfire prevention, Upthegrove wants to be more ambitious when it comes to reforming forestry policies. He believes the department needs a more honest accounting of the carbon impacts of forestry and timber work, which he is well positioned to lead having managed King County's forest carbon program. Upthegrove also wants to use his experience and relationships in the legislature to help pass laws and increase funding for the department's conservation work.

Former congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler is back on the ballot this election. In 2022, she lost her re-election primary to ultra-conservative Joe Kent and current Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez. In Congress, Herrera Beutler voted with Trump more than 80 percent of the time, though she has received criticism from her party after voting to impeach Donald Trump following the January 6th insurrection. Herrera Beutler has overwhelmingly opposed bills that protect our environment including the 2021 Build Back Better Act and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, both of which contained bold policies to alleviate the climate crisis. She lacks a detailed campaign platform in this race but mentions wildfire mitigation, habitat preservation, and public land use as top issues.

The race for this open seat will determine whether our state will be a leader in fighting climate change, protecting our forests, and preventing forest fires or bow to the demands of big timber companies. Upthegrove's environmental track record in office and endorsements from Washington Conservation Action, the Sierra Club, and other environmental champions make him the clear choice in this race.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Incumbent Chris Reykdal is running for a third term in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Reykdal has been a strong champion for public education as superintendent, during his six years in the Legislature, and in 14 years on local school boards and leadership positions at educational institutions.

The superintendent's office provides resources and guidance on language access, student safety, school district budgeting, and student needs to Washington's 295 public school districts and 6 state-tribal education compact schools. In office, Reykdal has worked to reduce learning gaps, raise educator salaries, increase free meal access, and expand dual and tribal language learning programs.

In our interview, Reykdal acknowledged that the pandemic and declining birth rates have affected enrollment rates in public schools. Despite this challenge, he was proud that districts have made gains in other areas like retaining teachers of color. He identified the decrease in state funding, relative to inflation, as a fundamental challenge facing public schools. He reiterated his commitment to advocating for the Legislature to increase funding per student and allow districts to fund special education. He also expressed his commitment to keeping schools public, rejecting vouchers, and improving mental health support for students. This year, OSPI offered legislation to increase paraeducator pay to attract and retain these critical classroom supports. Finally, he cited his experience running a large state agency for the last eight years as a key strength compared to his less experienced opponent.

Gig Harbor School Board member David Olson is challenging Reykdal on a reactionary right-wing platform. Like many conservative school board directors, he welcomes conservative, politically motivated censorship that would block access to books and multicultural programming. Olson also wants to employ strict guidelines in our schools that penalize students who are struggling the most. According to The Seattle Times, he told the Washington Republican Party convention "that if every high school graduate opted for the skilled trades instead of pursuing a four-year degree, universities 'could all go bankrupt and that would save America.'" Olson's extremism and conspiracy theories are completely disqualifying for someone looking to lead our state's public education system.

Reykdal has strong support from educators across the state and has earned your vote for re-election.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Incumbent Chris Reykdal is running for a third term in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Reykdal has been a strong champion for public education as superintendent, during his six years in the Legislature, and in 14 years on local school boards and leadership positions at educational institutions.

The superintendent's office provides resources and guidance on language access, student safety, school district budgeting, and student needs to Washington's 295 public school districts and 6 state-tribal education compact schools. In office, Reykdal has worked to reduce learning gaps, raise educator salaries, increase free meal access, and expand dual and tribal language learning programs.

In our interview, Reykdal acknowledged that the pandemic and declining birth rates have affected enrollment rates in public schools. Despite this challenge, he was proud that districts have made gains in other areas like retaining teachers of color. He identified the decrease in state funding, relative to inflation, as a fundamental challenge facing public schools. He reiterated his commitment to advocating for the Legislature to increase funding per student and allow districts to fund special education. He also expressed his commitment to keeping schools public, rejecting vouchers, and improving mental health support for students. This year, OSPI offered legislation to increase paraeducator pay to attract and retain these critical classroom supports. Finally, he cited his experience running a large state agency for the last eight years as a key strength compared to his less experienced opponent.

Gig Harbor School Board member David Olson is challenging Reykdal on a reactionary right-wing platform. Like many conservative school board directors, he welcomes conservative, politically motivated censorship that would block access to books and multicultural programming. Olson also wants to employ strict guidelines in our schools that penalize students who are struggling the most. According to The Seattle Times, he told the Washington Republican Party convention "that if every high school graduate opted for the skilled trades instead of pursuing a four-year degree, universities 'could all go bankrupt and that would save America.'" Olson's extremism and conspiracy theories are completely disqualifying for someone looking to lead our state's public education system.

Reykdal has strong support from educators across the state and has earned your vote for re-election.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

State senator and attorney Patty Kuderer is running for Washington insurance commissioner. She has served the 48th Legislative District since 2015 when she was appointed to the state House before being appointed to fill the Senate seat vacancy in 2017.

Kuderer has been one of the most active sponsors of progressive bills in the Legislature. This year, she was the primary sponsor of a successful bill to ensure NARCAN is available in Washington schools. As a secondary sponsor, she helped to pass a slate of progressive bills, including ensuring that valid ballots are not unduly rejected, limiting the ability to bring firearms to public places like zoos, transit stations, and libraries, and aligning state and federal financial aid programs. Kuderer is now campaigning for insurance commissioner on a progressive platform that includes exploring universal health care, reducing auto insurance costs, expanding cancer screening for firefighters, and improving access to climate change insurance for homeowners and businesses.

Republican state Senator Phil Fortunato is also running for the commissioner position. Fortunato was first elected to serve the 31st Legislative District in Olympia in 2016 as a representative before being immediately appointed to an open Senate seat. Outside public service, his professional background is in erosion control and stormwater management. In the Legislature, Fortunato was the primary sponsor of many far-right bills, including legislation to strip abortion rights for some Washingtonians and to oppose commonsense gun safety policy. If he's elected insurance commissioner, Fortunato wants to remove regulations that keep health care costs lower. He is vehemently opposed to universal health care policies that would allow all Washingtonians, regardless of income status, to access the care and medicine they need.

We recommend Patty Kuderer for Washington insurance commissioner because of her strong background in public service and clear vision for the office.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

State senator and attorney Patty Kuderer is running for Washington insurance commissioner. She has served the 48th Legislative District since 2015 when she was appointed to the state House before being appointed to fill the Senate seat vacancy in 2017.

Kuderer has been one of the most active sponsors of progressive bills in the Legislature. This year, she was the primary sponsor of a successful bill to ensure NARCAN is available in Washington schools. As a secondary sponsor, she helped to pass a slate of progressive bills, including ensuring that valid ballots are not unduly rejected, limiting the ability to bring firearms to public places like zoos, transit stations, and libraries, and aligning state and federal financial aid programs. Kuderer is now campaigning for insurance commissioner on a progressive platform that includes exploring universal health care, reducing auto insurance costs, expanding cancer screening for firefighters, and improving access to climate change insurance for homeowners and businesses.

Republican state Senator Phil Fortunato is also running for the commissioner position. Fortunato was first elected to serve the 31st Legislative District in Olympia in 2016 as a representative before being immediately appointed to an open Senate seat. Outside public service, his professional background is in erosion control and stormwater management. In the Legislature, Fortunato was the primary sponsor of many far-right bills, including legislation to strip abortion rights for some Washingtonians and to oppose commonsense gun safety policy. If he's elected insurance commissioner, Fortunato wants to remove regulations that keep health care costs lower. He is vehemently opposed to universal health care policies that would allow all Washingtonians, regardless of income status, to access the care and medicine they need.

We recommend Patty Kuderer for Washington insurance commissioner because of her strong background in public service and clear vision for the office.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

7th Legislative District

There are no progressive candidates in this race to replace Republican Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, who is leaving the seat to run for Congress in this election. 

Former Twisp mayor Soo Ing-Moody is running a more moderate campaign with some bipartisan support. Ing-Moody served as the mayor of Twisp for 13 years and received praise for her leadership during the 2014 and 2015 wildfires. She also founded the Okanogan Council of Governments where she served as the chair for nine years. Now, she works as the engagement and outreach specialist at the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Ing-Moody has a strong sense of public service and pragmatic leadership. She wants to lean on her experience as mayor to bring the legislative district together to solve the biggest challenges. Unfortunately, like others in her party, she wants to eliminate protections in the private sector that ensure profits do not come before workers' rights or the health of our local environment. 

Republican Andrew Engell is the deputy district director for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and has worked in farming, construction, and real estate. In this campaign, he is using divisive, inflammatory, and conspiracy-based rhetoric to push a far-right agenda that does not represent the needs of district residents. Despite this, he has yet to share any actual detailed policy positions in this race as of August. It is clear Engell cannot bring community solutions to the district if elected.

While it is clear Soo Ing-Moody will not be a progressive champion in office, we believe that she is the best candidate in this race to bring responsive leadership and integrity to House Position 1 in the 7th Legislative District.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

There are no progressive candidates in this race to replace Republican Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, who is leaving the seat to run for Congress in this election. 

Former Twisp mayor Soo Ing-Moody is running a more moderate campaign with some bipartisan support. Ing-Moody served as the mayor of Twisp for 13 years and received praise for her leadership during the 2014 and 2015 wildfires. She also founded the Okanogan Council of Governments where she served as the chair for nine years. Now, she works as the engagement and outreach specialist at the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Ing-Moody has a strong sense of public service and pragmatic leadership. She wants to lean on her experience as mayor to bring the legislative district together to solve the biggest challenges. Unfortunately, like others in her party, she wants to eliminate protections in the private sector that ensure profits do not come before workers' rights or the health of our local environment. 

Republican Andrew Engell is the deputy district director for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and has worked in farming, construction, and real estate. In this campaign, he is using divisive, inflammatory, and conspiracy-based rhetoric to push a far-right agenda that does not represent the needs of district residents. Despite this, he has yet to share any actual detailed policy positions in this race as of August. It is clear Engell cannot bring community solutions to the district if elected.

While it is clear Soo Ing-Moody will not be a progressive champion in office, we believe that she is the best candidate in this race to bring responsive leadership and integrity to House Position 1 in the 7th Legislative District.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Veteran and Springdale Town Council member Paul "Rocky" Dean is vying for the Legislative District 7 House seat left open by Republican Rep. Joel Kretz’s retirement. Dean first joined the council in 2020 and has served on the utility and planning commissions. He credits his time in the Army with his interest in public service.

Dean’s top priorities in this race include supporting veterans, making health care more accessible, providing sufficient funding for public schools, and addressing the unique challenges of Washington’s small towns. His policy priorities include promoting technology and the arts programming in our schools, making telehealth more accessible for veterans and seniors, and expanding the state Department of Commerce’s open grants and loans program. In all of his ideas, he centers equity and accessibility for all Washingtonians.

Dean's opponent is Republican Hunter Abell, a Navy veteran who works at a law firm specializing in civil litigation, residential real estate, and Indian law. He identifies as a constitutionally conservative lawyer and serves as the president of the Washington State Bar Association and occasionally as a Ferry County District Court judge. Abell shared typically conservative ideas in his campaign announcement. He claims to value public safety but wants to further militarize our police while taking us backward on policies that keep our communities safe from gun violence.

Paul “Rocky” Dean is the best choice for state House from District 7 because of his community vision and strong endorsements from our partner organizations.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Veteran and Springdale Town Council member Paul "Rocky" Dean is vying for the Legislative District 7 House seat left open by Republican Rep. Joel Kretz’s retirement. Dean first joined the council in 2020 and has served on the utility and planning commissions. He credits his time in the Army with his interest in public service.

Dean’s top priorities in this race include supporting veterans, making health care more accessible, providing sufficient funding for public schools, and addressing the unique challenges of Washington’s small towns. His policy priorities include promoting technology and the arts programming in our schools, making telehealth more accessible for veterans and seniors, and expanding the state Department of Commerce’s open grants and loans program. In all of his ideas, he centers equity and accessibility for all Washingtonians.

Dean's opponent is Republican Hunter Abell, a Navy veteran who works at a law firm specializing in civil litigation, residential real estate, and Indian law. He identifies as a constitutionally conservative lawyer and serves as the president of the Washington State Bar Association and occasionally as a Ferry County District Court judge. Abell shared typically conservative ideas in his campaign announcement. He claims to value public safety but wants to further militarize our police while taking us backward on policies that keep our communities safe from gun violence.

Paul “Rocky” Dean is the best choice for state House from District 7 because of his community vision and strong endorsements from our partner organizations.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

County Commission

Depending on where you live, you may have the following county races on your ballot.

Chelan County, District 3

There are two Republicans in this race for Chelan County Commission, District 3.

Republican state Senator Brad Hawkins is running for Chelan County Commissioner after the recent redistricting left him out of the 12th Legislative District. Hawkins served on multiple local school boards before he was elected to the state House in 2012 and later the state Senate in 2016. In Olympia, Hawkins has been a staunch conservative voice. This year, he opposed bills to improve background checks for stronger gun violence prevention and voted against expanding access to reproductive health care. He is running to prioritize private sector interests and further militarize our police above community needs.

Flint Hartwig is a Wenatchee-based developer and first-time candidate. Most of his campaign is based around reactionary policies to progress made in the Legislature. Hartwig’s top priority is to cut spending projects in the county even if the projects are fully funded by the state, costing Chelan residents nothing while improving local infrastructure. He does not bring a progressive vision to the county.

Write in a progressive of your choice in this race.

There are two Republicans in this race for Chelan County Commission, District 3.

Republican state Senator Brad Hawkins is running for Chelan County Commissioner after the recent redistricting left him out of the 12th Legislative District. Hawkins served on multiple local school boards before he was elected to the state House in 2012 and later the state Senate in 2016. In Olympia, Hawkins has been a staunch conservative voice. This year, he opposed bills to improve background checks for stronger gun violence prevention and voted against expanding access to reproductive health care. He is running to prioritize private sector interests and further militarize our police above community needs.

Flint Hartwig is a Wenatchee-based developer and first-time candidate. Most of his campaign is based around reactionary policies to progress made in the Legislature. Hartwig’s top priority is to cut spending projects in the county even if the projects are fully funded by the state, costing Chelan residents nothing while improving local infrastructure. He does not bring a progressive vision to the county.

Write in a progressive of your choice in this race.

Spokane County, District 1

Chris Jordan is running unopposed for re-election to the Spokane County Commission representing District 1. Previously, he was a managing attorney in the Spokane division of the state attorney general’s office where he specialized in child safety cases. He also worked with Columbia Legal Services to pass bipartisan legislation to support children and families experiencing housing insecurity. His other community leadership experience includes volunteering with Spokane River Cleanup and West Central Dinner Table.

Jordan has always been a strong advocate for youth. In 2014, he helped pass the Homeless Children Education Act to ensure our students can be safe and reach their full potential. In his first term on the commission, he’s proud of his work to improve transparency and create a new Superior Court Judge position for Spokane. Now, Jordan is running again on a platform to invest in affordable childcare, strengthen the county’s middle class, alleviate traffic congestion in the region, and take action on the climate crisis to safeguard the local environment for generations to come. He has strong progressive endorsements from community organizations, local and state elected officials, and the district Democrats.

Jordan has earned your vote for Spokane County Commission from District 1.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Chris Jordan is running unopposed for re-election to the Spokane County Commission representing District 1. Previously, he was a managing attorney in the Spokane division of the state attorney general’s office where he specialized in child safety cases. He also worked with Columbia Legal Services to pass bipartisan legislation to support children and families experiencing housing insecurity. His other community leadership experience includes volunteering with Spokane River Cleanup and West Central Dinner Table.

Jordan has always been a strong advocate for youth. In 2014, he helped pass the Homeless Children Education Act to ensure our students can be safe and reach their full potential. In his first term on the commission, he’s proud of his work to improve transparency and create a new Superior Court Judge position for Spokane. Now, Jordan is running again on a platform to invest in affordable childcare, strengthen the county’s middle class, alleviate traffic congestion in the region, and take action on the climate crisis to safeguard the local environment for generations to come. He has strong progressive endorsements from community organizations, local and state elected officials, and the district Democrats.

Jordan has earned your vote for Spokane County Commission from District 1.

Last updated: 2024-09-18

Endorsed By: SEIU 775 , Spokane Regional Labor Council

Spokane County, District 3

Republican incumbent Josh Kerns is running unopposed for re-election to the Spokane County Commission, District 3 seat. Kerns is a former senior legislative assistant to conservative Washington Rep. Jeff Holy and he also runs a marketing company. Kerns is more concerned with prioritizing a positive business climate than ensuring Spokane residents have access to affordable housing, health care, groceries, and rent. 

Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice in this race.

Republican incumbent Josh Kerns is running unopposed for re-election to the Spokane County Commission, District 3 seat. Kerns is a former senior legislative assistant to conservative Washington Rep. Jeff Holy and he also runs a marketing company. Kerns is more concerned with prioritizing a positive business climate than ensuring Spokane residents have access to affordable housing, health care, groceries, and rent. 

Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice in this race.

State Supreme Court

Sal Mungia is an awarded and experienced local attorney running for retiring Justice Susan Owens’ Position 2 on the state Supreme Court. Mungia is a partner at a Tacoma- and Seattle-based firm where he works in trial and appellate law primarily focused on injury law and medical malpractice. He has a long history of leadership and service including, among other experiences, as the former president of the Washington State Bar Association, former chair of the Equal Justice Coalition, and a cooperating attorney with the ACLU of Washington.

Mungia’s career has been strongly community-oriented. He has done significant pro bono legal work while working to improve our criminal legal system. Now, he has earned wide and impressive support in his bid for the court including from sitting Supreme Court Justice Yu and Chief Justice González.

Federal Way Municipal Court Judge Dave Larson is also in this race. Larson has spent 16 years as a judge, and 23 years before that as a trial attorney. He claims to have bipartisan support and wants to serve as a “balance” if elected. Yet unfortunately, Larson perpetuates fears of rising crime rates as a reason for his candidacy even though judges are meant to be impartial arbiters and the state’s highest court deals more with large cases that affect all Washingtonians rather than individual instances of nonviolent crime. Progressives are backing Mungia in this race.

We recommend Sal Mungia in this race to bring trusted, just, and community-minded leadership to Washington’s Supreme Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Sal Mungia is an awarded and experienced local attorney running for retiring Justice Susan Owens’ Position 2 on the state Supreme Court. Mungia is a partner at a Tacoma- and Seattle-based firm where he works in trial and appellate law primarily focused on injury law and medical malpractice. He has a long history of leadership and service including, among other experiences, as the former president of the Washington State Bar Association, former chair of the Equal Justice Coalition, and a cooperating attorney with the ACLU of Washington.

Mungia’s career has been strongly community-oriented. He has done significant pro bono legal work while working to improve our criminal legal system. Now, he has earned wide and impressive support in his bid for the court including from sitting Supreme Court Justice Yu and Chief Justice González.

Federal Way Municipal Court Judge Dave Larson is also in this race. Larson has spent 16 years as a judge, and 23 years before that as a trial attorney. He claims to have bipartisan support and wants to serve as a “balance” if elected. Yet unfortunately, Larson perpetuates fears of rising crime rates as a reason for his candidacy even though judges are meant to be impartial arbiters and the state’s highest court deals more with large cases that affect all Washingtonians rather than individual instances of nonviolent crime. Progressives are backing Mungia in this race.

We recommend Sal Mungia in this race to bring trusted, just, and community-minded leadership to Washington’s Supreme Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Chief Justice Steven González is running unopposed for re-election to Position 8 on the Washington Supreme Court. González was first appointed to the bench in 2012 and was chosen by his peers to serve in the chief justice position in 2021, making him Washington’s first chief justice of color. Before becoming a judge, González’s law career ranged from international business law and terrorism prosecution to civil rights pro bono work. He serves on the board of the Washington Leadership Institute to provide opportunities and support for legal professionals from backgrounds and identities that have previously been excluded from legal spaces.

In his leadership role on the state’s top court, González has sought to make the legal system a place for justice and dignity for all Washingtonians. He worked to make our courts more accessible to non-English speakers. González has received bipartisan support in past races but consistently received support from some of the state’s top progressive leaders. González has been ranked highly by some of the state’s most progressive bar associations including QLaw, Latina/o Bar Association of Washington, Washington Women Lawyers, and more.

We recommend Justice Steven González for another term in Position 8 on Washington's Supreme Court to continue bringing just and experienced judicial leadership to our top court.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Chief Justice Steven González is running unopposed for re-election to Position 8 on the Washington Supreme Court. González was first appointed to the bench in 2012 and was chosen by his peers to serve in the chief justice position in 2021, making him Washington’s first chief justice of color. Before becoming a judge, González’s law career ranged from international business law and terrorism prosecution to civil rights pro bono work. He serves on the board of the Washington Leadership Institute to provide opportunities and support for legal professionals from backgrounds and identities that have previously been excluded from legal spaces.

In his leadership role on the state’s top court, González has sought to make the legal system a place for justice and dignity for all Washingtonians. He worked to make our courts more accessible to non-English speakers. González has received bipartisan support in past races but consistently received support from some of the state’s top progressive leaders. González has been ranked highly by some of the state’s most progressive bar associations including QLaw, Latina/o Bar Association of Washington, Washington Women Lawyers, and more.

We recommend Justice Steven González for another term in Position 8 on Washington's Supreme Court to continue bringing just and experienced judicial leadership to our top court.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Justice Sheryl McCloud is running unopposed for re-election to Position 9 on the Washington Supreme Court. McCloud is a former public defender who has served on Washington’s top court since 2013. She co-chairs the court’s Gender & Justice Commission and serves as the liaison to the state bar's Council on Public Defense. On the bench, Justice McCloud’s top areas of attention include constitutional and individual rights, and she authored the 2017 opinion barring a private business open to the general public from refusing to serve a gay couple. She was the founding member of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association.

In this election, her focus is on protecting constitutional rights. She has been rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by a number of the state’s top bar associations, including the King County Bar Association, QLaw, and the Washington Women Lawyers. These organizations ensure that our justices are treating all Washingtonians fairly and protecting constitutionally outlined civil rights.

Justice McCloud deserves your vote to continue bringing fair and experienced leadership to the state Supreme Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Justice Sheryl McCloud is running unopposed for re-election to Position 9 on the Washington Supreme Court. McCloud is a former public defender who has served on Washington’s top court since 2013. She co-chairs the court’s Gender & Justice Commission and serves as the liaison to the state bar's Council on Public Defense. On the bench, Justice McCloud’s top areas of attention include constitutional and individual rights, and she authored the 2017 opinion barring a private business open to the general public from refusing to serve a gay couple. She was the founding member of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association.

In this election, her focus is on protecting constitutional rights. She has been rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by a number of the state’s top bar associations, including the King County Bar Association, QLaw, and the Washington Women Lawyers. These organizations ensure that our justices are treating all Washingtonians fairly and protecting constitutionally outlined civil rights.

Justice McCloud deserves your vote to continue bringing fair and experienced leadership to the state Supreme Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Superior Court

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below court races on your ballot. The Progressive Voters Guide may skip recommendations for unopposed judicial races.

Ferry County Superior Court

Lisa Malpass Childress is running for Judge Position 1 on the superior court serving Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties. Childress works in private practice now and has practiced law locally for more than two decades, including before the superior, appeals, district, and administrative courts. She was the in-house attorney for Eastern Washington’s Adult Protective Services and before law, she worked for Spokane City and County’s Domestic Violence Prosecutor's Unit and Special Assault Unit.

Childress’ legal and criminal experience paired with her court expertise would make her a strong addition to the superior court. She has argued cases from a variety of different sides and can be entrusted with delivering fair and impartial verdicts for all residents across the court’s counties. Childress has impressive support in her campaign including from many sitting judges, local elected leaders, and community members.

N. Smith "Smitty" Hagopian is the other candidate in this race. Hagopian currently serves as the Stevens County chief criminal deputy prosecutor. Before prosecution, he worked in private practice and as a part-time judge pro tem and court commissioner at the superior court level. His campaign appears to be more conservative, with an entire section dedicated to “traditional values” and a message about crime that resonates with typical Republican rhetoric. Additionally, Hagopian lacks the comparative community support as Childress in this race.

We recommend Lisa Malpass Childress to assume Judge Position 1 on the Ferry, Pend Oreille, Stevens Superior Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Lisa Malpass Childress is running for Judge Position 1 on the superior court serving Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties. Childress works in private practice now and has practiced law locally for more than two decades, including before the superior, appeals, district, and administrative courts. She was the in-house attorney for Eastern Washington’s Adult Protective Services and before law, she worked for Spokane City and County’s Domestic Violence Prosecutor's Unit and Special Assault Unit.

Childress’ legal and criminal experience paired with her court expertise would make her a strong addition to the superior court. She has argued cases from a variety of different sides and can be entrusted with delivering fair and impartial verdicts for all residents across the court’s counties. Childress has impressive support in her campaign including from many sitting judges, local elected leaders, and community members.

N. Smith "Smitty" Hagopian is the other candidate in this race. Hagopian currently serves as the Stevens County chief criminal deputy prosecutor. Before prosecution, he worked in private practice and as a part-time judge pro tem and court commissioner at the superior court level. His campaign appears to be more conservative, with an entire section dedicated to “traditional values” and a message about crime that resonates with typical Republican rhetoric. Additionally, Hagopian lacks the comparative community support as Childress in this race.

We recommend Lisa Malpass Childress to assume Judge Position 1 on the Ferry, Pend Oreille, Stevens Superior Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Pend Oreille County Superior Court

Lisa Malpass Childress is running for Judge Position 1 on the superior court serving Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties. Childress works in private practice now and has practiced law locally for more than two decades, including before the superior, appeals, district, and administrative courts. She was the in-house attorney for Eastern Washington’s Adult Protective Services and before law, she worked for Spokane City and County’s Domestic Violence Prosecutor's Unit and Special Assault Unit.

Childress’ legal and criminal experience paired with her court expertise would make her a strong addition to the superior court. She has argued cases from a variety of different sides and can be entrusted with delivering fair and impartial verdicts for all residents across the court’s counties. Childress has impressive support in her campaign including from many sitting judges, local elected leaders, and community members.

N. Smith "Smitty" Hagopian is the other candidate in this race. Hagopian currently serves as the Stevens County chief criminal deputy prosecutor. Before prosecution, he worked in private practice and as a part-time judge pro tem and court commissioner at the superior court level. His campaign appears to be more conservative, with an entire section dedicated to “traditional values” and a message about crime that resonates with typical Republican rhetoric. Additionally, Hagopian lacks the comparative community support as Childress in this race.

We recommend Lisa Malpass Childress to assume Judge Position 1 on the Ferry, Pend Oreille, Stevens Superior Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Lisa Malpass Childress is running for Judge Position 1 on the superior court serving Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties. Childress works in private practice now and has practiced law locally for more than two decades, including before the superior, appeals, district, and administrative courts. She was the in-house attorney for Eastern Washington’s Adult Protective Services and before law, she worked for Spokane City and County’s Domestic Violence Prosecutor's Unit and Special Assault Unit.

Childress’ legal and criminal experience paired with her court expertise would make her a strong addition to the superior court. She has argued cases from a variety of different sides and can be entrusted with delivering fair and impartial verdicts for all residents across the court’s counties. Childress has impressive support in her campaign including from many sitting judges, local elected leaders, and community members.

N. Smith "Smitty" Hagopian is the other candidate in this race. Hagopian currently serves as the Stevens County chief criminal deputy prosecutor. Before prosecution, he worked in private practice and as a part-time judge pro tem and court commissioner at the superior court level. His campaign appears to be more conservative, with an entire section dedicated to “traditional values” and a message about crime that resonates with typical Republican rhetoric. Additionally, Hagopian lacks the comparative community support as Childress in this race.

We recommend Lisa Malpass Childress to assume Judge Position 1 on the Ferry, Pend Oreille, Stevens Superior Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Spokane County Superior Court

Judge Marla Polin is running for re-election to the Spokane Superior Court, Position 8. Polin joined the court in 2022 where she has been a solid leader as the presiding family law judge. Previously, she operated her own statewide law firm where she gained impressive expertise in civil litigation.

Polin is renowned for her impartial judgments and dedication to justice. In her re-election bid, she has earned broad, bipartisan endorsements from various local stakeholders outside of the legal world, including elected officials, law enforcement, and community leaders. Polin has also earned an “Exceptionally Well-Qualified” rating from a number of local, independent bar associations. Her widespread support in this race is indicative of the strong job she has already done on the superior court and what an asset she can be to our community if she stays in the role.

Also in this race is Brandon Casey, a civil attorney and arbitrator. Casey was involved in a local legal clinic and helped instruct legal education programs. While an effective lawyer, some local judicial leaders raised concerns about whether Casey has the appropriate temperament to be a sitting judge who must remain open-minded to a number of different positions and viewpoints.

Judge Marla Polin has earned your vote for another term in Position 8 on the Spokane Superior Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Judge Marla Polin is running for re-election to the Spokane Superior Court, Position 8. Polin joined the court in 2022 where she has been a solid leader as the presiding family law judge. Previously, she operated her own statewide law firm where she gained impressive expertise in civil litigation.

Polin is renowned for her impartial judgments and dedication to justice. In her re-election bid, she has earned broad, bipartisan endorsements from various local stakeholders outside of the legal world, including elected officials, law enforcement, and community leaders. Polin has also earned an “Exceptionally Well-Qualified” rating from a number of local, independent bar associations. Her widespread support in this race is indicative of the strong job she has already done on the superior court and what an asset she can be to our community if she stays in the role.

Also in this race is Brandon Casey, a civil attorney and arbitrator. Casey was involved in a local legal clinic and helped instruct legal education programs. While an effective lawyer, some local judicial leaders raised concerns about whether Casey has the appropriate temperament to be a sitting judge who must remain open-minded to a number of different positions and viewpoints.

Judge Marla Polin has earned your vote for another term in Position 8 on the Spokane Superior Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Incumbent Tim Fennessy is running for another term on the Spokane County Superior Court in Judge Position 11. In this position over the last eight years, Fennessy has demonstrated legal expertise, a commitment to fairness for all, and an ability to listen actively. Earlier this year, his peers elected him presiding judge of the superior court. Before serving on it, Fennessy spent more than three decades in private practice in Spokane.

Fennessy has presided over a range of diverse cases in his tenure on the court where he has built experience in serving Spokane residents competently and compassionately. He has received the highest rating possible from the Washington State Veterans Bar Association and has strong endorsements from other judicial leaders.

Also in this race is Andrew Van Winkle, a senior staff attorney for the Washington State Court of Appeals. Van Winkle also serves as a pro tem commissioner for the Spokane County Superior Court. A few years ago, he created Chelan County’s first alternative court, a drug court focused on healing more than punishment, and he also serves as chairman of the Spokane Behavioral Health Advisory Board. Van Winkle wants to bring his prosecutorial background and Police Guild experience to the superior court to modernize court functions while ensuring impartial accountability and justice for all Pierce residents.

Tim Fennessy deserves your vote for another term in Spokane Superior Court, Judge Position 11.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Incumbent Tim Fennessy is running for another term on the Spokane County Superior Court in Judge Position 11. In this position over the last eight years, Fennessy has demonstrated legal expertise, a commitment to fairness for all, and an ability to listen actively. Earlier this year, his peers elected him presiding judge of the superior court. Before serving on it, Fennessy spent more than three decades in private practice in Spokane.

Fennessy has presided over a range of diverse cases in his tenure on the court where he has built experience in serving Spokane residents competently and compassionately. He has received the highest rating possible from the Washington State Veterans Bar Association and has strong endorsements from other judicial leaders.

Also in this race is Andrew Van Winkle, a senior staff attorney for the Washington State Court of Appeals. Van Winkle also serves as a pro tem commissioner for the Spokane County Superior Court. A few years ago, he created Chelan County’s first alternative court, a drug court focused on healing more than punishment, and he also serves as chairman of the Spokane Behavioral Health Advisory Board. Van Winkle wants to bring his prosecutorial background and Police Guild experience to the superior court to modernize court functions while ensuring impartial accountability and justice for all Pierce residents.

Tim Fennessy deserves your vote for another term in Spokane Superior Court, Judge Position 11.

Last updated: 2024-10-09

Stevens County Superior Court

Lisa Malpass Childress is running for Judge Position 1 on the superior court serving Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties. Childress works in private practice now and has practiced law locally for more than two decades, including before the superior, appeals, district, and administrative courts. She was the in-house attorney for Eastern Washington’s Adult Protective Services and before law, she worked for Spokane City and County’s Domestic Violence Prosecutor's Unit and Special Assault Unit.

Childress’ legal and criminal experience paired with her court expertise would make her a strong addition to the superior court. She has argued cases from a variety of different sides and can be entrusted with delivering fair and impartial verdicts for all residents across the court’s counties. Childress has impressive support in her campaign including from many sitting judges, local elected leaders, and community members.

N. Smith "Smitty" Hagopian is the other candidate in this race. Hagopian currently serves as the Stevens County chief criminal deputy prosecutor. Before prosecution, he worked in private practice and as a part-time judge pro tem and court commissioner at the superior court level. His campaign appears to be more conservative, with an entire section dedicated to “traditional values” and a message about crime that resonates with typical Republican rhetoric. Additionally, Hagopian lacks the comparative community support as Childress in this race.

We recommend Lisa Malpass Childress to assume Judge Position 1 on the Ferry, Pend Oreille, Stevens Superior Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Lisa Malpass Childress is running for Judge Position 1 on the superior court serving Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties. Childress works in private practice now and has practiced law locally for more than two decades, including before the superior, appeals, district, and administrative courts. She was the in-house attorney for Eastern Washington’s Adult Protective Services and before law, she worked for Spokane City and County’s Domestic Violence Prosecutor's Unit and Special Assault Unit.

Childress’ legal and criminal experience paired with her court expertise would make her a strong addition to the superior court. She has argued cases from a variety of different sides and can be entrusted with delivering fair and impartial verdicts for all residents across the court’s counties. Childress has impressive support in her campaign including from many sitting judges, local elected leaders, and community members.

N. Smith "Smitty" Hagopian is the other candidate in this race. Hagopian currently serves as the Stevens County chief criminal deputy prosecutor. Before prosecution, he worked in private practice and as a part-time judge pro tem and court commissioner at the superior court level. His campaign appears to be more conservative, with an entire section dedicated to “traditional values” and a message about crime that resonates with typical Republican rhetoric. Additionally, Hagopian lacks the comparative community support as Childress in this race.

We recommend Lisa Malpass Childress to assume Judge Position 1 on the Ferry, Pend Oreille, Stevens Superior Court.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Auburn School District

VOTE YES

Vote YES to fund our growing school district

The Auburn School District is growing, with more and more students attending our local schools. Auburn’s $532 million Building For Learning Bond would provide critical investments in the district to build, replace, improve, and upgrade learning facilities so that all our students have the environments and resources to thrive.

The bond was placed on ballots by elected Auburn School Board directors, and the priorities it will fund if approved were determined by a citizen’s committee of school district staff, parents, and community members. Currently, the district is relying on 41 portable classrooms to accommodate middle school space needs; our students deserve modern, safe, and high-quality learning environments. If passed, the bond package will provide funding to build another middle school, replace the 57-year-old Cascade Middle School, replace Alpac Elementary School, and fund improvements for 16 other schools and six support buildings. The projected cost for the owner of a median $550,000 home is around $37 a month, at a tax rate of $0.81 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

As enrollment continues to grow in the district, we must invest in critical upgrades for students and now and future generations to come. Vote Yes on Auburn School District’s Construction Bond.

Last updated: 2024-10-01

The Auburn School District is growing, with more and more students attending our local schools. Auburn’s $532 million Building For Learning Bond would provide critical investments in the district to build, replace, improve, and upgrade learning facilities so that all our students have the environments and resources to thrive.

The bond was placed on ballots by elected Auburn School Board directors, and the priorities it will fund if approved were determined by a citizen’s committee of school district staff, parents, and community members. Currently, the district is relying on 41 portable classrooms to accommodate middle school space needs; our students deserve modern, safe, and high-quality learning environments. If passed, the bond package will provide funding to build another middle school, replace the 57-year-old Cascade Middle School, replace Alpac Elementary School, and fund improvements for 16 other schools and six support buildings. The projected cost for the owner of a median $550,000 home is around $37 a month, at a tax rate of $0.81 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

As enrollment continues to grow in the district, we must invest in critical upgrades for students and now and future generations to come. Vote Yes on Auburn School District’s Construction Bond.

Last updated: 2024-10-01

Blaine School District

VOTE YES

Vote YES to provide capital for critical school district funding needs

Like school districts all over the state, Blaine School District relies on locally passed bonds and levies to bridge the gap between state funding and our district needs. Blaine School District Proposition 1 is a $70 million capital bond initiative to fund critical projects across the district including constructing new schools, updating existing ones, and repairing other facilities.

The district’s Facilities Advisory Committee met regularly to determine where the district’s greatest capital needs lay, and the result of those meetings was this bond proposal which was approved by the school board directors earlier this year. The proposition would provide funding for turf, running water, restrooms, and batting cages for Pipeline Fields. It would also finance preliminary designs for a new elementary school in Birch Bay, updates to instructional spaces and the Performing Arts Center at Blaine Middle School, safety upgrades for Point Roberts Primary School playground, the replacement of electrical and mechanical systems across the district, and more. The cost of the bond to the owner of a $500,000 home in 2025 would be $380 a year, which could increase to $555 by 2043 as property values grow. This represents an average $9 increase to the average Blaine tax bill.

Vote Yes on Blaine School District Proposition 1 to continue improving our schools so that all Blaine students can access the highest quality, safest educational foundations.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Like school districts all over the state, Blaine School District relies on locally passed bonds and levies to bridge the gap between state funding and our district needs. Blaine School District Proposition 1 is a $70 million capital bond initiative to fund critical projects across the district including constructing new schools, updating existing ones, and repairing other facilities.

The district’s Facilities Advisory Committee met regularly to determine where the district’s greatest capital needs lay, and the result of those meetings was this bond proposal which was approved by the school board directors earlier this year. The proposition would provide funding for turf, running water, restrooms, and batting cages for Pipeline Fields. It would also finance preliminary designs for a new elementary school in Birch Bay, updates to instructional spaces and the Performing Arts Center at Blaine Middle School, safety upgrades for Point Roberts Primary School playground, the replacement of electrical and mechanical systems across the district, and more. The cost of the bond to the owner of a $500,000 home in 2025 would be $380 a year, which could increase to $555 by 2043 as property values grow. This represents an average $9 increase to the average Blaine tax bill.

Vote Yes on Blaine School District Proposition 1 to continue improving our schools so that all Blaine students can access the highest quality, safest educational foundations.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Issaquah School District

VOTE YES

Vote YES to modernize and update our schools

As our district grows and our school infrastructure ages, it is critical that we continue to maintain safe, well-resourced learning environments for all students.

A local group consisting of district staff, parents, students, alumni, and neighbors developed the 2024 school modernization and construction bond. The proposition focuses on the areas most in need of investment, including student health, high school capacity expansion, infrastructure modernization, and school safety. At a rate of $0.29 per $1,000 in assessed property value, the bond is estimated to cost the owner of a median $1 million home about $24 a month. If passed, some examples of where funding will go include upgrading outdated security cameras on school grounds, repairing and updating heating and air conditioning systems at 26 sites, constructing a new high school to manage overcrowding, updating accessibility features for students with disabilities, and installing lighting on athletic fields for middle schoolers.

Our local schools depend upon voter-approved levies and bonds to maintain operations and meet students' needs. Vote Yes on the 2024 Issaquah School District Bond.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

As our district grows and our school infrastructure ages, it is critical that we continue to maintain safe, well-resourced learning environments for all students.

A local group consisting of district staff, parents, students, alumni, and neighbors developed the 2024 school modernization and construction bond. The proposition focuses on the areas most in need of investment, including student health, high school capacity expansion, infrastructure modernization, and school safety. At a rate of $0.29 per $1,000 in assessed property value, the bond is estimated to cost the owner of a median $1 million home about $24 a month. If passed, some examples of where funding will go include upgrading outdated security cameras on school grounds, repairing and updating heating and air conditioning systems at 26 sites, constructing a new high school to manage overcrowding, updating accessibility features for students with disabilities, and installing lighting on athletic fields for middle schoolers.

Our local schools depend upon voter-approved levies and bonds to maintain operations and meet students' needs. Vote Yes on the 2024 Issaquah School District Bond.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Endorsed By 5th Legislative District Democrats, Issaquah City Council

Kent School District

VOTE YES

Vote YES to renew critical funding for capital and technology improvements

Kent School District relies on our local levies and bonds to fund the best education for our students. The Capital Projects & Technology Levy replaces an existing 2018 levy that will expire in December 2024. If re-approved by voters, the bond will provide funding for 28 safety and repair projects and 14 technology projects.

Our district is seeing the effects of outdated technology, infrastructure, and learning resources in increasing failure rates. It is more imperative than ever to repair and replace resources that have outlived their effective use, leveraging listening sessions with our diverse community to make the most informed decisions for our schools. If passed, the 2024 Levy would cost the homeowner between $0.72 and $0.68 per $1,000 in assessed property value over three years. Notably, this is a 49% reduction from the version of this levy that appeared on April ballots. This funding will go towards projects like school roof replacements, basic software subscriptions, fire alarms, athletic fields, emergency generators, boiler replacements, cybersecurity, and more.

When our students have the resources and environments to succeed, our entire communities are uplifted. Vote Yes on the 2024 Capital Projects & Technology Levy to renew our investment in the safety, health, and technological empowerment of our students.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Kent School District relies on our local levies and bonds to fund the best education for our students. The Capital Projects & Technology Levy replaces an existing 2018 levy that will expire in December 2024. If re-approved by voters, the bond will provide funding for 28 safety and repair projects and 14 technology projects.

Our district is seeing the effects of outdated technology, infrastructure, and learning resources in increasing failure rates. It is more imperative than ever to repair and replace resources that have outlived their effective use, leveraging listening sessions with our diverse community to make the most informed decisions for our schools. If passed, the 2024 Levy would cost the homeowner between $0.72 and $0.68 per $1,000 in assessed property value over three years. Notably, this is a 49% reduction from the version of this levy that appeared on April ballots. This funding will go towards projects like school roof replacements, basic software subscriptions, fire alarms, athletic fields, emergency generators, boiler replacements, cybersecurity, and more.

When our students have the resources and environments to succeed, our entire communities are uplifted. Vote Yes on the 2024 Capital Projects & Technology Levy to renew our investment in the safety, health, and technological empowerment of our students.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Lake Washington School District

VOTE YES

Vote YES to replace and update our aging schools

Lake Washington Public Schools rely on locally approved levies and bonds to give our students the best resources, instruction, and environments for learning. The Lake Washington School District Construction Levy asks voters to approve much-needed funding to replace aging school buildings and ensure all students have safe and modern places in which to get their education.

Earlier this year, the Lake Washington School Board approved a resolution that would fund Phase 2 of the district’s Building Excellence Plan. Now, it is up to voters to join them in approving Lake Washington School District Proposition 1. The levy rate will adjust over the six years it is in place, ranging from $0.35 to $1.32 per thousand dollars of assessed property value. It is expected to generate $112.8 million annually during that time. These funds are intended to rebuild and enlarge Alcott Elementary, Smith Elementary, Kamiakin Middle School, and Evergreen Middle School as well as modernize the community pool and fieldhouse at Juanita High School.

All Lake Washington students deserve equitable access to high-quality classrooms and facilities that can best support their learning. Vote Yes on Lake Washington School District Proposition 1.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Lake Washington Public Schools rely on locally approved levies and bonds to give our students the best resources, instruction, and environments for learning. The Lake Washington School District Construction Levy asks voters to approve much-needed funding to replace aging school buildings and ensure all students have safe and modern places in which to get their education.

Earlier this year, the Lake Washington School Board approved a resolution that would fund Phase 2 of the district’s Building Excellence Plan. Now, it is up to voters to join them in approving Lake Washington School District Proposition 1. The levy rate will adjust over the six years it is in place, ranging from $0.35 to $1.32 per thousand dollars of assessed property value. It is expected to generate $112.8 million annually during that time. These funds are intended to rebuild and enlarge Alcott Elementary, Smith Elementary, Kamiakin Middle School, and Evergreen Middle School as well as modernize the community pool and fieldhouse at Juanita High School.

All Lake Washington students deserve equitable access to high-quality classrooms and facilities that can best support their learning. Vote Yes on Lake Washington School District Proposition 1.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Meridian School District

VOTE YES

Vote YES to fund a new middle school and critical high school repairs

Meridian School District Proposition 1 authorizes a local bond to improve our educational facilities and resources so that all local students have the best chance to succeed at school and build bright futures.

The Meridian School Board passed Resolution 6 earlier this year to authorize bonds that will cover critical capital improvements. If passed, the bond would cover expenses associated with constructing a new Meridian Middle School by Fall 2028 to replace the existing building, which currently requires costly repairs and is not up to safety code. The proposition would also finance updates to Meridian High School including a new generator, auditorium repairs, a new music room, and stadium repairs. These priorities were developed by a Facilities Task Force over the course of a few months to ensure the public revenue is distributed as effectively as possible. The $75 million in general obligation bonds would mature in a maximum of 20 years and cost homeowners between $1.38 and $1.90 per $1,000 in assessed property value over the next seven years.

Vote Yes on Meridian School District Proposition 1 to provide our students with the safe, modern, and resourced learning environments they deserve.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Meridian School District Proposition 1 authorizes a local bond to improve our educational facilities and resources so that all local students have the best chance to succeed at school and build bright futures.

The Meridian School Board passed Resolution 6 earlier this year to authorize bonds that will cover critical capital improvements. If passed, the bond would cover expenses associated with constructing a new Meridian Middle School by Fall 2028 to replace the existing building, which currently requires costly repairs and is not up to safety code. The proposition would also finance updates to Meridian High School including a new generator, auditorium repairs, a new music room, and stadium repairs. These priorities were developed by a Facilities Task Force over the course of a few months to ensure the public revenue is distributed as effectively as possible. The $75 million in general obligation bonds would mature in a maximum of 20 years and cost homeowners between $1.38 and $1.90 per $1,000 in assessed property value over the next seven years.

Vote Yes on Meridian School District Proposition 1 to provide our students with the safe, modern, and resourced learning environments they deserve.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

Sumner-Bonney Lake School District

VOTE YES

Vote YES to combat overcrowding and give our students the resources they need

The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District faces severe overcrowding, with nine out of fourteen schools over capacity and four more at capacity. Sumner-Bonney Lake School District Proposition 1 proposes a $732M bond to improve school infrastructure, make critical security upgrades, and expand student capacity to meet the needs of our growing community.

This bond is intended to relieve consequences associated with our growing student body so that every child has the individual resources and attention they need to thrive. It would also maintain safety, health, and security measures, introduce career, technical, and vocational curricula to prepare our students for diverse futures, invest in year-round, multi-purpose turf fields, and ensure that deteriorating, aging infrastructure cannot languish. At an average rate of $4.63 per $1,000 in assessed property value over the next five years, Proposition 1 is expected to cost the owner of a median $547,000 home an additional $383 a year.

Enrollment is rising in Sumner-Bonney Lake schools. Smart investments in our schools now will save money in the long run and provide the best basis for our students’ success. Vote Yes on Sumner-Bonney Lake School District Proposition 1.

Last updated: 2024-10-08

The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District faces severe overcrowding, with nine out of fourteen schools over capacity and four more at capacity. Sumner-Bonney Lake School District Proposition 1 proposes a $732M bond to improve school infrastructure, make critical security upgrades, and expand student capacity to meet the needs of our growing community.

This bond is intended to relieve consequences associated with our growing student body so that every child has the individual resources and attention they need to thrive. It would also maintain safety, health, and security measures, introduce career, technical, and vocational curricula to prepare our students for diverse futures, invest in year-round, multi-purpose turf fields, and ensure that deteriorating, aging infrastructure cannot languish. At an average rate of $4.63 per $1,000 in assessed property value over the next five years, Proposition 1 is expected to cost the owner of a median $547,000 home an additional $383 a year.

Enrollment is rising in Sumner-Bonney Lake schools. Smart investments in our schools now will save money in the long run and provide the best basis for our students’ success. Vote Yes on Sumner-Bonney Lake School District Proposition 1.

Last updated: 2024-10-08