Sage Leaders Endorsements

Natasha Hill is running for Legislative District 3, Position 1 to fill Rep. Marcus Riccelli's seat. Hill is a civil rights advocate who has worked with Spokane Community Against Racism (SCAR) and serves as the editor of Black Lens, a relaunched monthly newspaper focused on Spokane’s Black community and local justice issues. Much of her advocacy work is based on her experience growing up low-income on Spokane’s North Side area, where she witnessed the need for all communities to access the basics like affordable health care, good wages, stable housing, and high-quality educational opportunities. Recently, Hill was involved in a potential case against the city of Spokane on behalf of SCAR to protect free speech and the right to peaceful protest. 

In this race, Hill wants to bring grassroots, personal, and legal advocacy to the state House to represent and uplift all Spokane residents. If elected, she would prioritize fighting the fentanyl crisis, creating well-paying jobs, and protecting public schools. 

Hill's opponent is Republican Tony Kiepe, an insurance sales agent. Kiepe has unsuccessfully run for Spokane City Council three times, and in his 2019 campaign, he explicitly ran as a non-progressive option. In this race, he is running with typical conservative priorities including promoting book bans and censoring multicultural curriculums in our schools, opposing the widespread community call for police accountability, and criticizing affordable health care policy.

Natasha Hill is the best choice for House Position 1 representing the 3rd Legislative District.

Democrat Miguel Valencia is running for retiring Republican Sen. Mike Padden’s seat. Valencia is a current law student at the Seattle University School of Law. He also works as a paralegal for both a Spokane law firm and the Washington Army National Guard. Previously, he worked for Spokane County as a judicial assistant.

Valencia’s platform centers on strengthening electoral democracy while securing the basics – including good wages, housing, health care, and education – for all Washingtonians. If elected, he wants to fund universal daycare and pre-K, support unions, and eliminate special interests from politics so that only community needs are at the forefront of decision-making. The rest of Valencia’s detailed and thoughtful campaign priorities range from eliminating the “Pink Tax” (where basic necessities marketed to women cost more than counterparts), protecting the wages and workers’ rights of truckers, investing in free and affordable higher education, and supporting our unions.

Valencia is challenging real estate professional and Republican Rep. Leonard Christian. He first joined the Legislature in 2022 after defeating fellow Republican and incumbent Rob Chase, who is now running for the other seat in this district. Christian also served in the state House in 2014 when he was appointed to fill the remainder of Larry Crouse’s term. In the past year, Christian has voted along party lines to the detriment of community needs. He recently took bad votes to oppose greater access to reproductive health care, human rights and dignity in our state’s private prisons, and funds to cover basic needs for Washington students. In this race, Christian is casting blame on Seattle progressivism and the Democratic party for all issues facing the district while providing no solutions of his own. Residents deserve a leader who will dig into the real issues we face like affording the basics of rent, groceries, medicine, and childcare, rather than descending to empty partisan scapegoating.

Valencia is the progressive choice for state Senate from the 4th Legislative District.

Maria Beltran is running for the newly formed 14th Legislative District's Senate seat. A community organizer since the age of 19, she has worked in the office of U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier and campaigned for state Rep. Debra Entenman. Beltran is the youngest board chair to serve for the nonprofit group OneAmerica, which organizes immigrant and refugee leaders for civic engagement, political advocacy, and more. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, Beltran is running to improve the lives of all in the district.

In our interview, Beltran stated that affordability in all its aspects is one of the biggest problems she's aiming to tackle. She wants to lower the cost of housing by diversifying the housing market with more housing types, prioritizing faster construction, adding more transitional housing, and providing more direct assistance to people who have become unsheltered. Beltran wants to see more effort made to reduce gang and gun violence by providing after-school programs, support for the formerly incarcerated, and programs that serve victims of domestic violence. Her pragmatic and forward-leaning platform has earned her the endorsement of many legislators, local elected officials, labor unions, and community advocates.

Beltran is running against incumbent Sen. Curtis King, who has served the 14th Legislative District since 2007 and is currently the ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee. Unfortunately, King has spent his tenure in the Legislative voting against priorities that make our communities safer and healthier. He opposed commonsense gun safety laws that require background checks and firearm safety programs for buyers. King also defended oil companies and opposed efforts to make big companies pay for their pollution.

Beltran is the clear choice for state Senate from District 14.

Democrat Chelsea Dimas is running for the newly redistricted 14th Legislative District, Position 1. If elected, she states that she would be the first openly Queer, Indigenous, Latinx woman in the Legislature. Dimas has spent her life working as an activist for the rights of farmworkers and immigrants. She wants to bring these experiences to Olympia to strengthen protections for working people and make progress on the housing crisis.

Dimas wants to establish housing as a human right and pass a range of bills to bring costs down and increase accessibility. Tenant protections, downpayment assistance, and prioritizing affordable housing are also at the top of her list for addressing the housing crisis. Dimas knows working families need a boost in the form of livable wages, safe working conditions, and good benefits, which she wants to secure for all residents regardless of immigration status. If elected, Dimas wants to bring in more resources for public health issues like substance abuse and for environmental protections. Her work in the labor community and her strong progressive platform have earned Dimas a huge slate of diverse endorsements, from many labor unions to environmental groups.

Also in this race is former Grandview mayor Gloria Mendoza who is running to pull Olympia further to the right. She served on the Grandview City Council for three years and as mayor for five until losing her re-election bid in 2023. Mendoza owns several businesses, including founding a vocational training business for agriculture workers. On her website, she offers vague Republican talking points but has not released a detailed campaign plan or specific policy positions as of mid-October.

With her experience and commitment to the people of Washington, Dimas is the best choice in this race.

Democrat Ana Ruiz Kennedy is running for Position 2 in the newly formed 14th Legislative District. Kennedy wants to be a "moderating voice" who can bridge political divides to get things done for the residents of the district. Kennedy has served in many community leadership roles, including on the Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs and on the board of organizations like Progreso and Latino Community Fund. She works as a business liaison at Craft3, a non-profit community development financial organization. 

Kennedy's voters' pamphlet statement shares that she wants to create living wage jobs, support local businesses, tackle fentanyl issues, and strengthen our health care access and services. If elected, Kennedy would also work across the aisle to make bold progress on housing access, so that everyone in the district can find good, permanent housing at any income level. Her platform has earned her the endorsement of the county Democrats, many labor unions, and more. 

Republican Deb Manjarrez is also in this race, though her candidate website is not working as of late October. Manjarrez started her own accounting business, was president of the Wapato Chamber of Commerce for 10 years, and is a past chair of the Yakima County Republican Central Committee. Her campaign pillars are cutting public funding and representing the interests of the agricultural industry. Manjarrez's activism experience makes it clear that she would follow the Republican-party line in Olympia if elected.

We recommend Ana Ruiz Kennedy for Legislative District 14, House Position 2.

Democrat Adrian Cortes is running for the state Senate seat representing Legislative District 18. He previously joined the Battle Ground Planning Commission and later was elected to Battle Ground City Council, serving as mayor in 2020 and 2021. He has also worked as a special education teacher in the Camas School District for almost a decade.

Cortes believes the right path forward for the district is through supporting students, working families, and community needs. One of his top priorities, if elected, is affordable housing. He's aiming to advocate for a variety of policies that will help people stay in their homes and build homes faster, including developing multifamily housing, enacting rent stabilization, making changes to permitting, and funding homelessness prevention. As a teacher, Cortes believes in providing equitable services for students with disabilities, protecting free and reduced lunch, securing more education funding, and supporting the library system.

Brad Benton is also running for the 18th District Senate seat. The son of former Trump administration official Don Benton and a Republican himself, the candidate's positions are unsurprisingly regressive. He wants to exclude light rail from an I-5 Bridge proposal project and states that he's "disgusted" that age-appropriate sex education is taught in schools. He has not had elected experience in a community role since high school.

Cortes would bring to the Legislature a passion to work with local leaders across the political spectrum to solve the state's biggest challenges. Cortes is the best choice in this race.

Democrat Shellie Willis is challenging incumbent Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen for House Position 2 in the 25th Legislative District. Willis has previously run for public office and currently works at a local workforce development nonprofit as the senior director of collective impact. She is also an Army veteran who is very involved in supporting servicewomen, women veterans, and military spouses, including as the chair of the Women Veterans Advisory Committee for the state. Finally, Willis serves on the board of the Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce.

Willis has demonstrated a long track record of civic leadership and her previous campaign envisioned prosperous and safe neighborhoods for all. She is running on an inclusive platform to address living affordability, invest in infrastructure, support veterans’ affairs, build true community safety, and more. Willis has earned an impressive number of endorsements in this race including from many of our partner organizations, as well as local Democratic groups and progressive elected leaders.

Willis is challenging Republican Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen, who is running for a third term. A former Puyallup City Council member, Jacobsen has taken far-right positions in public office including opposing both marriage equality and reproductive health care as well as advocating for a concept she refers to as 'biblical citizenship.” In Olympia last year, she voted against a bill to protect private consumer data and opposed an abortion shield law that protects Washington state health care workers when they provide abortion care to patients from Washington and from out of state.

Residents in Legislative District 25 deserve a representative in the Legislature who will bring us together to make progress on housing affordability, quality health care, and good wages. Willis is the best choice in this race.

Sen. Yasmin Trudeau is seeking another term representing the 27th Legislative District in the state Senate. She first joined the Senate when the Pierce County Council unanimously selected her to fill Sen. Jeannie Darneille’s seat in 2021. She has since been retained by voters and distinguished herself as a progressive voice. Outside of the Senate, she works as the Race Equity Unit manager for the Washington State Office of the Attorney General.

In Olympia, Trudeau has made ambitious strides toward progress. Recently, she was the primary sponsor of a bill to reduce police violence by prohibiting the practice of hog-tying in the wake of the killing of Manuel Ellis by three Tacoma police officers. Trudeau was also a primary sponsor of bills to cover lactation consulting under Medicaid and offer voluntary professional licensing for providers, to increase middle housing options, to establish both Eid al-Fitr and Hannukah as state holidays, and to strengthen jury diversity so our criminal legal system functions more fairly. Her priorities have long centered on building safe and sustainable communities, including through investments in environmental protections, behavioral health services, accessible housing, food security, and more.

Republican Carole Sue Braaten is challenging Trudeau this year. In 2012, she ran for a state House seat representing Legislative District 25 but did not make it past the primary. In this race, her voters pamphlet entry is filled with deeply transphobic misinformation as well as an emphasis on expanding militarized policing and disaster planning. Her vision of the challenges facing the district is divisive and fear-based, and she offers no real solutions for the most pressing issues.

Yasmin Trudeau is the best choice in this race for the Legislative District 27 senate seat.

Rep. Sharlett Mena is running unopposed for re-election on her impressive record from her first term representing the 29th Legislative District. Mena has a strong background in both public service and community organizing. She currently works at the Washington State Department of Ecology advancing environmental justice, protecting clean air and water, and implementing climate action. She co-created Voter Turnup in 2021, an organization led by people of color to spur voter turnout and civic engagement. Notably, she also served on the boards of Progreso, Planned Parenthood, and Fuse Washington, which produces this guide.

In the Legislature, Mena has worked hard to secure rights for all Washingtonians. She was the prime sponsor of the bills to improve the Voting Rights Act, ban hog-tying by law enforcement, and expand existing pay equity protections under Washington’s anti-discrimination laws.

Mena has had an exemplary first term and has earned your vote to continue representing the 29th Legislative District.

Rep. Jamila Taylor is running for re-election to the 30th Legislative District, House Position 1 seat. First elected in 2020, Taylor is an attorney who advocates for crime victims and has an extensive record of volunteer service. She previously served as the statewide advocacy counsel for the Northwest Justice Project, where she managed a network of legal aid attorneys, and she has additionally worked on youth intervention programs and other violence reduction efforts. Taylor is a former elected chair of the state Black Members Caucus, where she advocated for racial equity for all Washingtonians. She chairs the Developmental Advocacy Caucus and is the First Vice Chair of the Members of Color Caucus.

In Taylor's second term, she sponsored several important bills, including creating an investigation unit for missing Indigenous women, developing opportunities for climate-ready workforce programs, and providing free school meals for hungry students. She's also secured millions of dollars locally for youth violence prevention programs, funding therapeutic court interventions for drug-related crimes, supporting small business development, adding transit-oriented housing near the Redondo Heights light rail station, and much more.

Republican Melissa Hamilton is challenging Taylor from the right. Hamilton has worked in several positions in law enforcement, including as a records specialist and administrative assistant. Hamilton's agenda, including references to "classroom agendas outside of academics," echoes the state's larger conservative movement to ban books and prevent historically accurate discussions about race in schools. Hamilton's far-right values are clearly out of step with the voters of the 30th District.

Taylor has been a stalwart advocate for progress for all. We recommend re-electing Jamila Taylor for House Position 1 in the 30th Legislative District.

Incumbent Rep. Emily Alvarado is running for a second term representing the 34th Legislative District. Alvarado is an attorney who works for Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit focused on equity. She has also been a leader at a number of progressive organizations, including as the director of Seattle’s Office of Housing, an organizer with Planned Parenthood, and a board member of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.

Alvarado had an impressive first term in Olympia. As a primary sponsor, she helped pass legislation to increase access to food assistance programs across the state. Alvarado was also a secondary sponsor of a successful bill to make it easier for low-income students to receive the Washington College Grant. Alvarado's top priority if re-elected is housing, and she's already sponsored a bill to provide rent stability so Washingtonians can stay housed. She'll also focus on universal health care, expanded childcare assistance for working families, and stronger investments in education.

Republican radio host/podcaster and veteran Kimberly Cloud is challenging Alvarado. Despite having no platform in this race, Cloud states that she would implement “serious changes” if elected. Her voter pamphlet states “All Lives Matter” and stokes fears about public safety without mentioning a single policy solution. We need leaders who can bring people together to implement real solutions to raise our quality of life. Cloud is not a progressive choice.

Alvarado has earned your vote for a second term in Olympia.

Rep. Julia Reed is running unopposed for re-election for Legislative District 36, House Position 1 where she has served for the past two years. Reed currently works in policy consulting and has served in a number of different government roles, including with the State Department’s Special Envoy for Middle East Peace during the Obama administration. She has also served the community as a YMCA Social Impact Center board member, the former chair of the 36th Legislative District Democrats, and previously served on the board of Fuse Washington, the organization that produces this guide.

Reed is a true progressive with bold ideas for bringing resources, opportunity, and prosperity to Washington communities. This year, she was the primary sponsor of a progressive bill to increase housing availability near transit hubs. She helped to pass a slate of community-oriented bills as a secondary sponsor, including legislation to require zero-emission school buses, to prevent gun violence through better regulation of firearm dealers, and to strengthen protection for abortion care providers who face harassment.

Julia Reed has been an important vote in the state House to move Washington forward on key community issues. She deserves your vote for another term in Position 1 representing the 36th Legislative District.

Progressive Rep. Julio Cortes is seeking a second term in Legislative District 38, Position 1. Outside of the Legislature, Cortes manages communications and marketing for the City of Everett. He is a strong community leader who currently serves on the Everett Arena Public Facilities District board and previously worked with Cocoon House to support families and children experiencing housing insecurity.

Rep. Cortes has led with a thoughtful understanding of the root causes of community issues and a commitment to addressing them compassionately and effectively. This session, he helped to pass a number of critical bills as a secondary sponsor, including legislation to provide 100% clean energy school buses, expand the wage discrimination protections in the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, and streamline access to early learning and childcare programs for low-income and working Washington families. Now, Cortes is campaigning to invest in workforce development and small businesses, expand affordable housing, provide wraparound services to Washingtonians struggling the most, and address our upside-down tax code so everyone pays their share.

Democratic challenger Annie Fitzgerald is a disability activist and private investigator. She is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and has grown up with disabilities which she says shaped her life. As of mid-October, the policies section of her campaign website was empty, but Fitzgerald states that she holds progressive political views and wants to bring about change if elected.

We recommend Julio Cortes for another term in Legislative District 38, Position 1.

Democrat Shaun Scott is running for this seat with a very progressive platform that supports working people. Scott is currently the policy lead at the Statewide Poverty Action Network and has also worked as a former campaign staffer for U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal and as a Washington state field director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign.

Scott's policies are centered around the need for a collective response to Washington's biggest challenges. His platform features extensive information on reenvisioning public safety, strengthening civil liberties, improving the social safety net, and more. A few standout policy ideas include establishing a statewide guaranteed basic income, implementing statewide rent control, closing loopholes for corporations, and enacting social housing. His proposals also include pursuing zoning reform to make housing more affordable and expanding climate workforce development programs.

Democrat Andrea Suarez is the founder of We Heart Seattle, a problematic right-leaning group that has dehumanized people experiencing homelessness without offering real solutions. There's an entire website dedicated to the harm that the nonprofit has done, claiming that with all their $1.5 million in charitable donations, Suarez's group has invaded people's privacy by posting their photos on social media without consent, destroyed homes and belongings, and provided no long-term solutions. Former We Heart Seattle president Kevin Dahlgren, who used the nonprofit to post videos of homeless people and encampments to criticize progressive local leaders, was indicted on charges ranging from identity theft to stealing property. Suarez is indeed not a licensed social worker or case manager. When asked about licensing by KIRO News, Suarez replied, "I don’t know, did Jesus Christ have a license?”

If elected, Suarez states that she wants law enforcement officers to receive more training, protect reproductive rights, and promote affordability. Suarez's right-leaning values on some important issues would be a significant step backward for the progressive 43rd Legislative District.

Scott's progressive agenda has received a broad slate of strong endorsements, from Rep. Frank Chopp to many progressive advocacy organizations. Shaun Scott is the best choice for state House from the 43rd Legislative District.

Incumbent Rep. Brandy Donaghy is running unopposed for a second term representing Position 1 in the 44th District. She was appointed to the House by the Snohomish County Council in late 2021 when former representative John Lovick moved to the Senate and she was retained by voters in 2022. She is a Navy veteran and community organizer who has been involved in emergency preparedness training.

In her first term, Donaghy sponsored legislation to address safe staffing levels for health care workers in order to improve health and safety for patients and practitioners alike. This year, she has sponsored legislation to reduce the record-high number of recent driving deaths by reinvesting speeding ticket fines from traffic cameras into better traffic safety measures. With speeding being the second most common risk factor in fatal crashes in our state, Donaghy hopes to save lives on the road. She was also the prime sponsor for a bill that applies a consistent set of resources and training for paraeducators across school districts, giving educators the skills and confidence to more effectively teach their students.

Donaghy has earned your vote for another term in the House representing Legislative District 44.

Rep. Darya Farivar is running for re-election for Legislative District 46, Position 2. She has worked as the public policy director with Disability Rights Washington, an organization that provides free services to people with disabilities and protects their rights statewide. Farivar has also served as co-chair of the Seattle Women's Commission, policy chair of the State Special Education Advisory Council, and a board member of Peyvand, which supports Iranian students at UW.

As the youngest member of the Legislature and the first Iranian American woman to ever serve, Farivar has focused on fulfilling her campaign promises to make progress on affordable housing, criminal justice reform, and a higher, equitable standard of living. This year she introduced and championed three bills signed into law, including one that clarifies that task forces and advisory groups working on issues from underrepresented communities should have at least three people from that community on the panel. Farivar also passed a bill that protects the survivors of childhood sexual abuse by extending the statute of limitations on reporting the abuser, and another for antitrust protections that put heavier fines on big corporations who break the law. She also sponsored many bills that aim to increase housing availability, like one to increase "middle housing" in single-family neighborhoods, and other bills to protect voting rights.

Challenging Farivar is Republican Simone Barron. She is the founder and director of Restaurant Workers of America, an "astroturf" group that promotes the interests of the restaurant lobby. Barron speaks proudly about testifying against raising the minimum wage for the restaurant industry at the federal, state, and local levels. She is also a Fox Business News contributor. In this race, Barron lists public safety, supporting small businesses by stripping workers' rights, and reducing the cost of living as priorities, though she doesn't give specifics past this.

Barron would likely be a barrier to economic progress for working families, while Farivar has a demonstrated track record for helping Washingtonians of all walks of life secure their civil rights, housing, and more. Farivar is by far the best choice for state House from the 46th Legislative District.

Rep. Vandana Slatter is running for re-election to Legislative District 48, House Position 1. Prior to running for the Legislature, Slatter was Bellevue's first Indian-American city council member. She has served on the boards of several organizations and nonprofits, including the Children's Institute for Learning Differences, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Global Social Business Partners, and the Cancer Center at Overlake Hospital Foundation.

Slatter's bills this past session focused on supporting students and working people. She sponsored a bill to remove eligibility barriers for low-income high school students to access the Washington College Grant and another bill to improve access to public service loan forgiveness for people who work in fields like education, health care, and more. Other successful bills she sponsored include funding zero-emission school buses, improving public access to professional counseling services, and enhancing food assistance programs for people in need.

Slatter faces a challenge from Republican Lynn Trinh, who has served on Redmond’s Arts and Cultural Commission and is the founder of the Seattle Chapter of Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs. Unfortunately, Trinh also serves as a board member for King County Moms for Liberty, a branch of the far-right national group that promotes book bans and efforts to eliminate historically accurate, racially diverse curricula in schools. The policies listed on her campaign site are mostly devoid of any concrete or detailed policies to take to Olympia.

Rep. Vandana Slatter is the clear choice for state House representing the 48th Legislative District.

Rep. Monica Stonier is running for re-election to House Position 2 from the 49th Legislative District. She became the first person of color to serve the district when she assumed office in 2017. Outside of the Legislature, Stonier works in Evergreen Public Schools as an instructional coach.

Stonier's primary focus has been to improve the lives of children and families. She has worked to expand financial education training in public schools, brought Dolly Parton's Imagination Libraries to Washington schools, and helped make childcare more affordable. This year, Stonier was the prime sponsor for a successful bill that will prevent book bans in schools if initiated by people who don't have a student in the district or if the sole reason is that the book's subjects are LGBTQ+ or people of color. She was also the prime sponsor of a bill this year that will ban child marriages, which were still legal in Washington, bringing the legal age of marriage up to 18. If re-elected, Stonier wants to continue to ease the process of passing education funding, advocate for gig worker benefits, and introduce legislation to help families afford fertility treatment services, amongst many more progressive goals.

Republican Russell Barber, an Air Force veteran and software engineer, is challenging Stonier in this race. Barber is running on a thin platform that echoes a typically conservative agenda. He wants to funnel more money into law enforcement, but we know our community is safest when we make bold investments in services and care instead of more militarized policing. Barber also states he would seek to construct a third bridge or tunnel and increase education opportunities. Unfortunately, he does not outline how he plans to pay for all of these proposals while cutting taxes for the wealthy.

Stonier has been a progressive champion in the Legislature and has earned another term representing Legislative District 49.

Wil Fuentes is running for Clark County Council, Position 3. The seat is vacant after the retirement of Karen Bowerman, the former county council chair who racked up many absences from council meetings in the last year. Fuentes currently works in economic opportunity program management for a local nonprofit focused on strengthening local small businesses. He has a long track record of community leadership including on the Clark County Low-Income Housing Committee and City of Vancouver’s Comprehensive Climate Community Working Group.

Fuentes offers a departure from the conservative, out-of-touch majority on the council. If elected, he wants to make optimistic and collaborative progress on issues like housing affordability, homelessness, and environmental sustainability. Fuentes would be an effective advocate for making Clark County a safe and sustainable community with opportunities for all.

Construction company owner and pastor Chuck Keplar is running a more conservative campaign in this race. Like other Republican candidates in this election, Keplar wants to cut public service funding while lowering taxes for corporations and the wealthy. Despite a platform to eliminate community investments, he does support using public revenue to keep armed security officers in our schools. However, we know that our students are safest when we pass commonsense gun violence prevention rather than bringing more arms into our schools.

We strongly recommend Wil Fuentes for Clark County Council, Position 3 to bring thoughtful, community-focused leadership to the council.

Educator and community leader Davida Haygood is challenging incumbent Paul Herrera for Pierce County Council, District 2. Haygood believes her optimistic vision for the county stems from her own story of going from housing insecurity to becoming an associate professor. She founded the Two-Way Racial Healing Project and works with the Puyallup School District to make local curriculums more inclusive. Haygood is also involved in a number of educator groups, including the Washington Education Association.

Haygood has three central campaign pillars: expanding resources for youth, increasing affordable housing, and improving environmental justice. She believes that working across these issues will raise the quality of life for all Pierce County residents. If elected, Haygood wants to invest in sustainable and affordable housing, create civic engagement opportunities for youth, and ensure our local ecosystems are healthy and clean for generations to come.

Republican Paul Herrera is seeking a second term in this race. Outside of the council, Herrera has worked in law enforcement, including as a Puyallup Tribe police sergeant, and is currently involved with the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Recently, Herrera joined his conservative colleagues on the council in refusing to sign a proclamation of support for the county’s LGBTQ+ community. Herrera claimed it was within his rights as a citizen to “be outspoken against” other people’s “lifestyle[s]” and “religion.” Pierce County residents deserve a council member who supports and welcomes all residents, not one who criticizes and divides us based on who we love.

Haygood is the clear choice for Pierce County Council representing District 2.

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. Before joining the Municipal Court, Larson worked as a trial attorney. Larson is the endorsed candidate by Washington state's MAGA Republican Party, known for its far-right positions and aggressive opposition to abortion access. 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.

Alexis Mercedes Rinck would bring a strong mix of professional and lived experience to the Seattle City Council in Position 8. She currently works for the University of Washington as the assistant director for policy, planning, and state operations. She also previously served on the board of Fuse Washington, which produces this guide. Rinck worked her way through college, becoming a community organizer against the Trump Administration and raising money for Planned Parenthood door-to-door.

Rinck is running for city council with a bold, optimistic vision for uplifting our diverse community. Her family members experienced incarceration, substance use disorder, and homelessness during her childhood, profoundly shaping her outlook and advocacy for our social safety net. Some of Rinck's top priorities include addressing the housing crisis, mitigating the effects of climate change on our city, investing in pathways to higher education, and increasing community safety, including through policing alternatives and gun violence prevention. Rinck is a strong advocate of clean energy, electrification infrastructure, and transit investments, among other green improvements to the city. In this race, she has outshined her opponent with broad community endorsements from unions, local Democrats, and progressive elected leaders in Seattle.

Incumbent council member Tanya Woo is running for a full term. Woo was first appointed to the council this January to fill Teresa Mosqueda’s vacant seat after losing her race against Tammy Morales last year. In her first year on the council, Woo has been a vocal advocate for rolling back numerous hard-fought progressive victories. She opposed a plan to build more affordable housing in Rainier Valley and joined an effort to withhold funding for equitable development. Like last year, her campaign is funded by large corporate donors that want to reduce the minimum wage and avoid paying what they owe in taxes. She has previously faced criticism for failing to vote, including in the critical 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. Woo's conservative-leaning positions and perspectives are not a good fit to solve Seattle's current challenges and are currently overrepresented on the city council. Rinck would add progressive balance to a council that is relatively conservative and oriented towards business interests.

We recommend Alexis Mercedes Rinck for Seattle City Council, Position 8 because of her strong support from our partner organizations and her progressive vision for the city.