City of Lake Stevens
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Welcome to the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2025 Primary election! Since 2008, we've compiled information about candidates and ballot measures that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. We will continue to add additional recommendations until voting begins on July 16.
County Council District Races
Depending on the county district you live in, you may have the following races on your ballot.
Snohomish County, District 1
Conservative incumbent Nate Nehring is running for another term on the Snohomish County Council, where he has served since first being elected in 2017.
A staunch and well-connected Republican, Nehring has led the council with right-wing policy ideas. He has supported criminalizing addiction, empowering business interests above community needs, and halting progress on policing reforms to make our communities safer. Conservative leaders across Snohomish County and at the state level, like former gubernatorial candidate Dave Reichert, support Nehring’s bid for another term.
Unfortunately, Nehring is running unopposed in this election. We recommend writing in a progressive candidate of choice for the Snohomish County Council from District 1.
Conservative incumbent Nate Nehring is running for another term on the Snohomish County Council, where he has served since first being elected in 2017.
A staunch and well-connected Republican, Nehring has led the council with right-wing policy ideas. He has supported criminalizing addiction, empowering business interests above community needs, and halting progress on policing reforms to make our communities safer. Conservative leaders across Snohomish County and at the state level, like former gubernatorial candidate Dave Reichert, support Nehring’s bid for another term.
Unfortunately, Nehring is running unopposed in this election. We recommend writing in a progressive candidate of choice for the Snohomish County Council from District 1.
Snohomish County, District 5
Kelli Johnson is challenging Republican incumbent Sam Low for Snohomish County Council from District 5. Johnson is a Democrat with ten years of experience as an Emergency Room nurse.
Johnson's campaign aims to improve housing affordability, expand access to quality health care, and achieve a balanced budget. She supports zoning changes that allow for a variety of affordable homes that also include environmental protections. Throughout her nursing career, Johnson has been a health care advocate, most recently raising awareness of the devastating MAGA cuts to Medicaid on her Instagram.
Although Kelli Johnson's campaign could afford some more detailed policy proposals, we appreciate her health care advocacy and progressive values. We recommend her to replace Sam Low on the Snohomish County Council from District 5.
Last updated: 2025-07-18
Kelli Johnson is challenging Republican incumbent Sam Low for Snohomish County Council from District 5. Johnson is a Democrat with ten years of experience as an Emergency Room nurse.
Johnson's campaign aims to improve housing affordability, expand access to quality health care, and achieve a balanced budget. She supports zoning changes that allow for a variety of affordable homes that also include environmental protections. Throughout her nursing career, Johnson has been a health care advocate, most recently raising awareness of the devastating MAGA cuts to Medicaid on her Instagram.
Although Kelli Johnson's campaign could afford some more detailed policy proposals, we appreciate her health care advocacy and progressive values. We recommend her to replace Sam Low on the Snohomish County Council from District 5.
Last updated: 2025-07-18
Kelli Johnson is challenging Republican incumbent Sam Low for Snohomish County Council from District 5. Johnson is a Democrat with ten years of experience as an Emergency Room nurse.
Johnson's campaign aims to improve housing affordability, expand access to quality health care, and achieve a balanced budget. She supports zoning changes that allow for a variety of affordable homes that also include environmental protections. Throughout her nursing career, Johnson has been a health care advocate, most recently raising awareness of the devastating MAGA cuts to Medicaid on her Instagram.
Although Kelli Johnson's campaign could afford some more detailed policy proposals, we appreciate her health care advocacy and progressive values. We recommend her to replace Sam Low on the Snohomish County Council from District 5.
Last updated: 2025-07-18
Other Candidates
Republican Sam Low is seeking another term on the Snohomish County Council in District 5. Low is also a representative in the state House for Legislative District 39 and has served on both the Snohomish County Council and Lake Stevens City Council. In the Legislature, Low has been a reliable conservative vote, opposing bills to rebalance our tax code so everyone pays their share, protect tenants’ rights, and improve gun safety.
On the council, he has fought to direct public funding away from community needs and into further militarizing law enforcement. In past elections, Low has offered a more moderate right-wing alternative to extremist, MAGA opponents, and for this reason, we have occasionally supported his candidacy in the past as a marginally better choice for Snohomish residents. However, he is far from a progressive candidate and does not represent the leadership our community needs on the county council. In this race, we recommend Democrat Kelli Johnson.
Last updated: 2025-07-18
Republican Sam Low is seeking another term on the Snohomish County Council in District 5. Low is also a representative in the state House for Legislative District 39 and has served on both the Snohomish County Council and Lake Stevens City Council. In the Legislature, Low has been a reliable conservative vote, opposing bills to rebalance our tax code so everyone pays their share, protect tenants’ rights, and improve gun safety.
On the council, he has fought to direct public funding away from community needs and into further militarizing law enforcement. In past elections, Low has offered a more moderate right-wing alternative to extremist, MAGA opponents, and for this reason, we have occasionally supported his candidacy in the past as a marginally better choice for Snohomish residents. However, he is far from a progressive candidate and does not represent the leadership our community needs on the county council. In this race, we recommend Democrat Kelli Johnson.
Last updated: 2025-07-18