9th Congressional District
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Welcome to Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2024 Primary 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. You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. Please share this guide with your friends and family!
Federal
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Candidates
A host of candidates are running against Sen. Cantwell this year, though none appear to be competitive.
Dr. Raul Garcia is the leading Republican challenger for the U.S. Senate. 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. Despite his vague platform, he has already received support from some of Washington’s most prominent conservatives.
Paul Lawrence Giesick is running as a Democrat even though he self-identifies as a “Catholic, Libertarian-leaning conservative” and is campaigning on a platform indistinguishable from many right-wing candidates. A Marine veteran, Giesick has worked in aerospace, municipal administration, and production management. His platform emphasizes racist border policies, oil production, and cuts to crucial public services that Americans rely on. Giesick frequently uses religious language in his campaign and even boasts a “pledge a prayer” section.
David Tilton is running a non-partisan challenge to Cantwell. Tilton works for Microsoft as an associate manager and lacks community leadership or public service experience. He is running on a moderate platform to support local economies, invest in public education, ensure affordable health care, increase funding for militarized policing, and cut some public services.
Mel Ram, another Republican challenger for the Senate seat, is running an incoherent, spiritual, conspiracy-based campaign. She blames black mold for our nation’s social unrest and refers to a conspiracy called the “smart lie” as the reason she wants to enact massive education reforms.
Far-right candidate Isaac Holyk has some of the most extreme views in this race. He has stated that he believes the country is Christian in nature and that he does not believe in leading for “the greater good.” Recently, he came out against the Trump verdict, criticizing the fair ruling by a jury of Americans and in doing so undermining our criminal legal system. Like many MAGA Republicans, his platform consists of scapegoating people at the border, blaming Biden for economic insecurity caused by Trump policies, and promoting conspiracy theories about public education curriculums, including calling for a ban on any diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within schools.
Seattle Republican Scott Nazarino works in estate and retirement planning. Nazarino has only a vague campaign platform in this primary. He states that in order to keep our school-age children safe, he wants to bring armed guards to elementary schools – but we know that more guns do not make us safer.
Three additional candidates - Independent Thor Amundson, Independent Chuck Jackson, and "Socialist Workers" candidate Henry Clay Dennison - have minimal, unrelated, or no campaign website or information available as of mid-July. We will continue to monitor this race and update their information if it becomes available.
Perennial conservative challenger, Goodspaceguy, has also filed in this race. He regularly mounts empty, unserious challenges to seats across the state.
A host of candidates are running against Sen. Cantwell this year, though none appear to be competitive.
Dr. Raul Garcia is the leading Republican challenger for the U.S. Senate. 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. Despite his vague platform, he has already received support from some of Washington’s most prominent conservatives.
Paul Lawrence Giesick is running as a Democrat even though he self-identifies as a “Catholic, Libertarian-leaning conservative” and is campaigning on a platform indistinguishable from many right-wing candidates. A Marine veteran, Giesick has worked in aerospace, municipal administration, and production management. His platform emphasizes racist border policies, oil production, and cuts to crucial public services that Americans rely on. Giesick frequently uses religious language in his campaign and even boasts a “pledge a prayer” section.
David Tilton is running a non-partisan challenge to Cantwell. Tilton works for Microsoft as an associate manager and lacks community leadership or public service experience. He is running on a moderate platform to support local economies, invest in public education, ensure affordable health care, increase funding for militarized policing, and cut some public services.
Mel Ram, another Republican challenger for the Senate seat, is running an incoherent, spiritual, conspiracy-based campaign. She blames black mold for our nation’s social unrest and refers to a conspiracy called the “smart lie” as the reason she wants to enact massive education reforms.
Far-right candidate Isaac Holyk has some of the most extreme views in this race. He has stated that he believes the country is Christian in nature and that he does not believe in leading for “the greater good.” Recently, he came out against the Trump verdict, criticizing the fair ruling by a jury of Americans and in doing so undermining our criminal legal system. Like many MAGA Republicans, his platform consists of scapegoating people at the border, blaming Biden for economic insecurity caused by Trump policies, and promoting conspiracy theories about public education curriculums, including calling for a ban on any diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within schools.
Seattle Republican Scott Nazarino works in estate and retirement planning. Nazarino has only a vague campaign platform in this primary. He states that in order to keep our school-age children safe, he wants to bring armed guards to elementary schools – but we know that more guns do not make us safer.
Three additional candidates - Independent Thor Amundson, Independent Chuck Jackson, and "Socialist Workers" candidate Henry Clay Dennison - have minimal, unrelated, or no campaign website or information available as of mid-July. We will continue to monitor this race and update their information if it becomes available.
Perennial conservative challenger, Goodspaceguy, has also filed in this race. He regularly mounts empty, unserious challenges to seats across the state.
9th Congressional District
Rep. Adam Smith is running for his 14th term in the U.S. House representing Congressional District 9. Smith has a long track record of advocacy and government work, including as a former lawyer, City of Seattle prosecutor, and Washington state senator. In Congress, Smith serves on the New Democrat Coalition and the Progressive Caucus.
Smith is an influential voice in Congress and has previously supported some ambitious progressive bills such as the Green New Deal and the Medicare for All Act. This term, he sponsored bills to curtail hedge fund buy-ups of single-family homes, to bring better job opportunities to foreign-trained, skilled medical professionals, and to create more pathways to economic security for Americans without college degrees. Unfortunately, over the course of his tenure in Congress, Smith has been criticized for his more hawkish foreign policy stances – including supporting a larger U.S. role in the growing conflict in the Middle East. His top priorities in this race include, amongst others, reforming our criminal justice system, protecting LGBTQ+ civil rights, strengthening gun violence prevention, and pushing strong multi-industry approaches to addressing climate change.
Smith’s district is the state’s most diverse, with a strong immigrant population and sizable Asian, Latinx, and Black communities. We would like to see Smith continue to support bold, progressive policies in another term in this seat, and believe he is the best choice to do so with his demonstrated commitment to uplifting all residents of Congressional District 9.
Rep. Adam Smith is running for his 14th term in the U.S. House representing Congressional District 9. Smith has a long track record of advocacy and government work, including as a former lawyer, City of Seattle prosecutor, and Washington state senator. In Congress, Smith serves on the New Democrat Coalition and the Progressive Caucus.
Smith is an influential voice in Congress and has previously supported some ambitious progressive bills such as the Green New Deal and the Medicare for All Act. This term, he sponsored bills to curtail hedge fund buy-ups of single-family homes, to bring better job opportunities to foreign-trained, skilled medical professionals, and to create more pathways to economic security for Americans without college degrees. Unfortunately, over the course of his tenure in Congress, Smith has been criticized for his more hawkish foreign policy stances – including supporting a larger U.S. role in the growing conflict in the Middle East. His top priorities in this race include, amongst others, reforming our criminal justice system, protecting LGBTQ+ civil rights, strengthening gun violence prevention, and pushing strong multi-industry approaches to addressing climate change.
Smith’s district is the state’s most diverse, with a strong immigrant population and sizable Asian, Latinx, and Black communities. We would like to see Smith continue to support bold, progressive policies in another term in this seat, and believe he is the best choice to do so with his demonstrated commitment to uplifting all residents of Congressional District 9.
Other Progressive Candidates
Democrat Melissa Chaudhry is running a grassroots challenge to Adam Smith in this race. Chaudhry has a strong background in community service. She has worked on international environmental initiatives as well as local housing and sustainable agriculture projects. Currently, Chaudhry works for a nonprofit that delivers hygiene products, like baby wipes and soap, across Washington to those who need them. As a mother with a husband who is a disabled veteran, Chaudhry grounds her campaign and progressive values in personal experience.
Chaudhry is running on a platform that centers on peace, at the local and global levels. She was motivated to run, in part, by Smith’s refusal to support a ceasefire in the Middle East until February 2024 and his continued support for sending arms to Israel. By contrast, Chaudhry says she is aligned with Rep. Pramila Jayapal and would have supported a ceasefire in mid-October. If elected, she wants to defend civil rights and environmental action. Chaudhry wants to ensure all Americans can afford the basics, like shelter, groceries, gas, prescriptions, quality education, and childcare.
Democrat Melissa Chaudhry is running a grassroots challenge to Adam Smith in this race. Chaudhry has a strong background in community service. She has worked on international environmental initiatives as well as local housing and sustainable agriculture projects. Currently, Chaudhry works for a nonprofit that delivers hygiene products, like baby wipes and soap, across Washington to those who need them. As a mother with a husband who is a disabled veteran, Chaudhry grounds her campaign and progressive values in personal experience.
Chaudhry is running on a platform that centers on peace, at the local and global levels. She was motivated to run, in part, by Smith’s refusal to support a ceasefire in the Middle East until February 2024 and his continued support for sending arms to Israel. By contrast, Chaudhry says she is aligned with Rep. Pramila Jayapal and would have supported a ceasefire in mid-October. If elected, she wants to defend civil rights and environmental action. Chaudhry wants to ensure all Americans can afford the basics, like shelter, groceries, gas, prescriptions, quality education, and childcare.
Other Candidates
Conservative Mark Greene, who identifies as both a populist and semi-isolationist, is running on a reactionary platform that does not address the pressing issues facing residents of Washington’s 9th Congressional District. His platform, though not well organized, reflects far-right views. Greene wants to institute a national abortion ban with only critical health exceptions for the mother, construct Trump’s massive border wall and increase deportation, cut nearly all foreign aid, and abolish the Department of Education.
Paul Martin is another Republican challenger for Smith’s seat. Martin is a tech professional who has worked in telecommunications software engineering and for Boeing’s IT department. He is running in reaction to Smith’s long incumbency on a far-right platform that doesn’t represent the views of Congressional District 9 residents. Martin holds transphobic views, supporting fear-mongering bathroom and sports team policies and implying the misguided idea that gender is a matter of a chromosome binary. If elected, he would provide even more funding for militarized police while expanding our overcrowded prisons by denying people second chances outside of incarceration. Martin is not a progressive choice.
Challenger David Ishii, who is running as a "Bipartisan" candidate, has no campaign website or information available as of early June. We will continue to monitor this race and update Ishii's information if it becomes available.
Conservative Mark Greene, who identifies as both a populist and semi-isolationist, is running on a reactionary platform that does not address the pressing issues facing residents of Washington’s 9th Congressional District. His platform, though not well organized, reflects far-right views. Greene wants to institute a national abortion ban with only critical health exceptions for the mother, construct Trump’s massive border wall and increase deportation, cut nearly all foreign aid, and abolish the Department of Education.
Paul Martin is another Republican challenger for Smith’s seat. Martin is a tech professional who has worked in telecommunications software engineering and for Boeing’s IT department. He is running in reaction to Smith’s long incumbency on a far-right platform that doesn’t represent the views of Congressional District 9 residents. Martin holds transphobic views, supporting fear-mongering bathroom and sports team policies and implying the misguided idea that gender is a matter of a chromosome binary. If elected, he would provide even more funding for militarized police while expanding our overcrowded prisons by denying people second chances outside of incarceration. Martin is not a progressive choice.
Challenger David Ishii, who is running as a "Bipartisan" candidate, has no campaign website or information available as of early June. We will continue to monitor this race and update Ishii's information if it becomes available.
Statewide
Attorney General Bob Ferguson is running for governor on his impressive record of advocating 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 long record of success in litigating against the Trump administration and greedy corporations. When Donald Trump attacked contraception access, 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.
Bob Ferguson is an accomplished progressive who leads with integrity and grit. He is the best choice to be the next governor of Washington.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson is running for governor on his impressive record of advocating 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 long record of success in litigating against the Trump administration and greedy corporations. When Donald Trump attacked contraception access, 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.
Bob Ferguson is an accomplished progressive who leads with integrity and grit. He is the best choice to be the next governor of Washington.
Other Candidates
State Sen. Mark Mullet is a conservative Democrat who would be a step backward for Washington. For example, his votes were part of the reason that rent stabilization failed in the Legislature this year, denying Washingtonians the safety of more stable, affordable housing. Mullet also voted against the progressive capital gains tax, which taxes the ultra-wealthiest Washingtonians to fund education and early learning. Mullet's stances against bills like the wealth tax and the Climate Commitment Act make it clear that he would prioritize the powerful few over working families.
Former U.S. House Representative Dave Reichert is the leading Republican in the crowded gubernatorial race to replace retiring governor Jay Inslee. Reichert served Washington’s 8th Congressional District in the House for 14 years, where 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.
Another Republican in the race for retiring Gov. Inslee’s seat is Semi Bird, a recently ousted Richland School Board member. Bird has served in a number of leadership positions including as a senior advisor to the ambassador of Bangladesh, a former chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Energy, and as the executive director of a consulting firm.
Last August, Bird was recalled from the Richland School Board after his controversial vote to defy Washington’s indoor mask mandate during the height of the pandemic. In this race, he has defined himself as a “constitutional Christian conservative” and made concerning comments about the role of religion in government. Bird is in favor of expanding our overcrowded criminal legal system, further militarizing our police, allowing far-right groups control over public education, and eliminating policies that keep neighbors dealing with substance abuse safer. If elected, he would not represent the values or needs of average Washingtonians.
State Sen. Mark Mullet is a conservative Democrat who would be a step backward for Washington. For example, his votes were part of the reason that rent stabilization failed in the Legislature this year, denying Washingtonians the safety of more stable, affordable housing. Mullet also voted against the progressive capital gains tax, which taxes the ultra-wealthiest Washingtonians to fund education and early learning. Mullet's stances against bills like the wealth tax and the Climate Commitment Act make it clear that he would prioritize the powerful few over working families.
Former U.S. House Representative Dave Reichert is the leading Republican in the crowded gubernatorial race to replace retiring governor Jay Inslee. Reichert served Washington’s 8th Congressional District in the House for 14 years, where 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.
Another Republican in the race for retiring Gov. Inslee’s seat is Semi Bird, a recently ousted Richland School Board member. Bird has served in a number of leadership positions including as a senior advisor to the ambassador of Bangladesh, a former chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Energy, and as the executive director of a consulting firm.
Last August, Bird was recalled from the Richland School Board after his controversial vote to defy Washington’s indoor mask mandate during the height of the pandemic. In this race, he has defined himself as a “constitutional Christian conservative” and made concerning comments about the role of religion in government. Bird is in favor of expanding our overcrowded criminal legal system, further militarizing our police, allowing far-right groups control over public education, and eliminating policies that keep neighbors dealing with substance abuse safer. If elected, he would not represent the values or needs of average Washingtonians.
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.
We recommend Denny Heck for another term as the state’s lieutenant governor.
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.
We recommend Denny Heck for another term as the state’s lieutenant governor.
Other Candidates
Heck faces several opponents this year, none of whom appear to be running competitive campaigns.
Republican Bob Hagglund is an IT professional with data science credentials. Previously, Hagglund joined some of the country's biggest MAGA conservatives in lying about the results of the 2020 elections in an effort to illegally install Trump as president. He has spent most of this campaign criticizing elected Democrats rather than offering his own ideas for improving the office. He has an identical platform to Rep. Mike Kelly, who is running for a state Senate seat. Like Kelly, Hagglund has shared transphobic and misogynistic rhetoric about protecting the so-called “very essence of womanhood.” Hagglund is not a leader and his views do not represent our state’s values.
Navy veteran and retiree Patrick Harman is also in this race. Harman previously ran an unsuccessful bid for Oak Harbor mayor in 2019. Now, he is running in support of typically conservative fiscal policy with more moderate social positions, including supporting reproductive freedom and commonsense gun safety policy. However, he has no detailed campaign information or website as of mid-July.
Republican Dan Matthews is a veteran and former school board member running to deprioritize public schools in favor of private education, cut spending on social services, and limit regulations on businesses and corporations.
Democratic challenger David Griffin has a minimal campaign website that promises to support government transparency, "embrace change" in leadership, and support reproductive rights. He lists no elected or community leadership experience.
Heck faces several opponents this year, none of whom appear to be running competitive campaigns.
Republican Bob Hagglund is an IT professional with data science credentials. Previously, Hagglund joined some of the country's biggest MAGA conservatives in lying about the results of the 2020 elections in an effort to illegally install Trump as president. He has spent most of this campaign criticizing elected Democrats rather than offering his own ideas for improving the office. He has an identical platform to Rep. Mike Kelly, who is running for a state Senate seat. Like Kelly, Hagglund has shared transphobic and misogynistic rhetoric about protecting the so-called “very essence of womanhood.” Hagglund is not a leader and his views do not represent our state’s values.
Navy veteran and retiree Patrick Harman is also in this race. Harman previously ran an unsuccessful bid for Oak Harbor mayor in 2019. Now, he is running in support of typically conservative fiscal policy with more moderate social positions, including supporting reproductive freedom and commonsense gun safety policy. However, he has no detailed campaign information or website as of mid-July.
Republican Dan Matthews is a veteran and former school board member running to deprioritize public schools in favor of private education, cut spending on social services, and limit regulations on businesses and corporations.
Democratic challenger David Griffin has a minimal campaign website that promises to support government transparency, "embrace change" in leadership, and support reproductive rights. He lists no elected or community leadership experience.
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 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.
Hobbs is the best choice for Washington's secretary of state.
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 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.
Hobbs is the best choice for Washington's secretary of state.
Other Candidates
Hobbs is facing a challenge from fellow Democrat Marquez Tiggs, a finance professional and veteran. In a volunteer capacity, Tiggs has been involved in community organizations such as POCAAN Seattle, which delivers social services for people of color. The pillars of his campaign include community empowerment, voter education, election security, and strengthening public trust in the electoral process. Tiggs’ ultimate goal is to build an inclusive, secure democracy where everyone’s voice can be heard and counted. In comparison to Hobbs, Tiggs appears to lack a track record of community leadership and strong endorsements in this race.
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.
Damon Townsend is running without party affiliation – what he calls “No Labels” – in this race. Townsend previously worked as Pierce County’s elections specialist and supervisor before resigning in 2019 after a “disruptive” personnel dispute where he displayed unprofessional conduct. In 2022, he ran to earn the county seat back but was unsuccessful. This election cycle, he has set his sights on the state’s highest elections position, campaigning on a platform to improve confidence in Washington elections, increase office transparency, improve voter privacy, and strengthen contingency planning for election emergencies.
Hobbs is facing a challenge from fellow Democrat Marquez Tiggs, a finance professional and veteran. In a volunteer capacity, Tiggs has been involved in community organizations such as POCAAN Seattle, which delivers social services for people of color. The pillars of his campaign include community empowerment, voter education, election security, and strengthening public trust in the electoral process. Tiggs’ ultimate goal is to build an inclusive, secure democracy where everyone’s voice can be heard and counted. In comparison to Hobbs, Tiggs appears to lack a track record of community leadership and strong endorsements in this race.
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.
Damon Townsend is running without party affiliation – what he calls “No Labels” – in this race. Townsend previously worked as Pierce County’s elections specialist and supervisor before resigning in 2019 after a “disruptive” personnel dispute where he displayed unprofessional conduct. In 2022, he ran to earn the county seat back but was unsuccessful. This election cycle, he has set his sights on the state’s highest elections position, campaigning on a platform to improve confidence in Washington elections, increase office transparency, improve voter privacy, and strengthen contingency planning for election emergencies.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Democrat Manka Dhingra is a state senator and former prosecuting attorney. First elected in 2017, she is currently the deputy majority leader of the Senate and chair of the Law and Justice Committee. Previously, she served as a King County senior deputy prosecuting attorney for 20 years and helped found API Chaya, a community nonprofit fighting gender-based violence.
In Olympia, Dhingra has proven herself as a strong leader who will do the right thing on challenging issues. She has been an effective advocate for addressing gender-based violence. She sponsored bills to establish a task force dedicated to missing and murdered Indigenous women’s cases and to strengthen legal procedures in sexual assault cases, and she successfully passed one to expand protections and services for victims of human trafficking. As a secondary sponsor, she was also critical in helping to pass a slate of progressive bills, including legislation to ensure valid ballots aren’t rejected unfairly and to extend the crisis center resource model to minors.
As Attorney General, Dhingra hopes to keep fighting for Washingtonians. In our interview with Dhingra, she emphasized that her top priority was building on Ferguson's track record of transparency and ensuring that the office collaborates with the governor and legislature. She wants to create strong environmental enforcement that holds polluters accountable, penalizes fraud, and promotes consumer protections.
As for the differences between the candidates, Dhingra and Brown are likely to agree on the vast majority of issues the office handles. The primary differences between the candidates lay in experience and track record.
As a legislator, Dhingra has a track record of leading and passing progressive bills that have made a difference in the lives of Washingtonians. This includes improving worker safety, expanding substance use treatment, and providing mental health crisis support for minors. Her experience as the former chair of the Therapeutic Alternative Unit, where she supervised the Regional Mental Health Court, Veterans Court, and the Community Assessment and Referral for Diversion program, is another example of her legal and lawmaking background working well together. She helped create the 40-hour crisis intervention training for law enforcement, was a trainer at the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and led the Coordinated Crisis Intervention Response meetings where she collaborated with all King County law enforcement officers to find creative solutions and coordinate responses to help individuals with mental illness.
Dhingra's proven track record has earned her an impressive list of endorsements from our progressive partner organizations. She is a good choice for attorney general.
Democrat Manka Dhingra is a state senator and former prosecuting attorney. First elected in 2017, she is currently the deputy majority leader of the Senate and chair of the Law and Justice Committee. Previously, she served as a King County senior deputy prosecuting attorney for 20 years and helped found API Chaya, a community nonprofit fighting gender-based violence.
In Olympia, Dhingra has proven herself as a strong leader who will do the right thing on challenging issues. She has been an effective advocate for addressing gender-based violence. She sponsored bills to establish a task force dedicated to missing and murdered Indigenous women’s cases and to strengthen legal procedures in sexual assault cases, and she successfully passed one to expand protections and services for victims of human trafficking. As a secondary sponsor, she was also critical in helping to pass a slate of progressive bills, including legislation to ensure valid ballots aren’t rejected unfairly and to extend the crisis center resource model to minors.
As Attorney General, Dhingra hopes to keep fighting for Washingtonians. In our interview with Dhingra, she emphasized that her top priority was building on Ferguson's track record of transparency and ensuring that the office collaborates with the governor and legislature. She wants to create strong environmental enforcement that holds polluters accountable, penalizes fraud, and promotes consumer protections.
As for the differences between the candidates, Dhingra and Brown are likely to agree on the vast majority of issues the office handles. The primary differences between the candidates lay in experience and track record.
As a legislator, Dhingra has a track record of leading and passing progressive bills that have made a difference in the lives of Washingtonians. This includes improving worker safety, expanding substance use treatment, and providing mental health crisis support for minors. Her experience as the former chair of the Therapeutic Alternative Unit, where she supervised the Regional Mental Health Court, Veterans Court, and the Community Assessment and Referral for Diversion program, is another example of her legal and lawmaking background working well together. She helped create the 40-hour crisis intervention training for law enforcement, was a trainer at the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and led the Coordinated Crisis Intervention Response meetings where she collaborated with all King County law enforcement officers to find creative solutions and coordinate responses to help individuals with mental illness.
Dhingra's proven track record has earned her an impressive list of endorsements from our progressive partner organizations. She is a good choice for attorney general.
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 environmental enforcement. 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 from that success, Brown wants to continue to enforce laws against deadly weapons and defend the state against voter suppression, wage theft, and more.
We found that differences between the candidates in policy are smaller than overall differences in experience and direction. Like Dhingra, 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.
Many organizations have endorsed both candidates and Brown is a good choice if you want to prioritize his experience running a large office of prosecuting attorneys.
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 environmental enforcement. 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 from that success, Brown wants to continue to enforce laws against deadly weapons and defend the state against voter suppression, wage theft, and more.
We found that differences between the candidates in policy are smaller than overall differences in experience and direction. Like Dhingra, 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.
Many organizations have endorsed both candidates and Brown is a good choice if you want to prioritize his experience running a large office of prosecuting attorneys.
Other Candidates
Republican and Pasco attorney Pete Serrano is running to bring a conservative agenda to the attorney general's office. Serrano, the board president and general counsel of an organization that fights commonsense gun laws and public health mandates, was recently elected as 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.
Republican and Pasco attorney Pete Serrano is running to bring a conservative agenda to the attorney general's office. Serrano, the board president and general counsel of an organization that fights commonsense gun laws and public health mandates, was recently elected as 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Candidates
Patrick DePoe, the tribal relations director for the state’s Department of Natural Resources, is running to become the first Native candidate to win a statewide position. DePoe is a member of the Makah Tribe who grew up on the Neah Bay reservation. In addition to his DNR job, he works with a number of groups at the intersection of environmental sustainability and Indigenous land use, including the Northwest Indian Fish Commission, the Environmental Justice Council, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. DePoe has also served on the Makah Tribal Council, including as vice chairman.
In this race, DePoe is running to manage public lands in a way that maximizes environmental sustainability while balancing building a stronger economy of well-paying jobs. He believes he can build a widespread climate coalition to engage all community stakeholders in efforts towards a green future. DePoe also wants to improve forest health while preventing and fighting increasingly dangerous wildfire seasons. Finally, he is committed to being a representative for rural communities who often serve as the frontline of environmental issues in our state. However, DePoe lacks Upthegrove’s experience in elected office as well as his demonstrated track record of writing and passing environmental legislation.
Also in this crowded race is state Senator Kevin Van De Wege. Van de Wege served five terms in the House before joining the Senate in 2016. Before that, he served as a firefighter and paramedic. His voting record makes it clear he would not be a progressive choice in this race. Van De Wege broke ranks with his party to vote against the critical 2021 Climate Commitment Act, which enables the state’s Department of Ecology to make headway on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and engages an environmental justice approach to make sure no community is left behind in climate mitigation, among other key policies. As a hindrance, rather than a leader, on addressing climate change within his own party, Van De Wege is not the best choice to take the bold action our communities need from the next public lands commissioner.
Firefighter and ecologist Allen Lebovitz is another Democrat in this race who is running to lead the public lands office with core values of sustainability and respect for the land. Lebovitz has worked for the state’s Department of Natural Resources in a number of roles since 2011, including aquation restoration ecologist and most recently wildland fire and forest resilience liaison. His experience spans policy, science, and frontline work to protect our public lands from environmental degradation, wildfires, habitat loss, and climate change.
Lebovitz is running with a progressive, sustainable vision for the office. If elected, he wants to invest in fire-resilient forest management techniques, ensuring public lands benefit all Washingtonians equitably, strengthening rural economies, and valuing healthy forests above time volume. His goals for office revolve around effective crisis management and a strategic, optimistic plan for a sustainable future.
Redmond City Council member Jeralee Anderson is another Democrat in this race. Anderson first joined the city council in 2018, and she also co-founded and serves as president of a globally recognized nonprofit focused on helping to make our transportation systems more sustainable. Her training is as a civil engineer, and her work has been recognized at many levels including as one of President Obama’s White House Transportation Champions of Change.
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 which, both 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.
Also in this race is Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson, a retired environmental and power analyst who has worked for Seattle City Lights and the Grays Harbor Public Utility District. Pederson previously ran for this seat in 2020. Despite the growing climate crisis and the need to build a sustainable Washington future, Pederson’s focus lies in criticizing the Democratic incumbent and prioritizing revenue from the sale of timber from public forests.
Patrick DePoe, the tribal relations director for the state’s Department of Natural Resources, is running to become the first Native candidate to win a statewide position. DePoe is a member of the Makah Tribe who grew up on the Neah Bay reservation. In addition to his DNR job, he works with a number of groups at the intersection of environmental sustainability and Indigenous land use, including the Northwest Indian Fish Commission, the Environmental Justice Council, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. DePoe has also served on the Makah Tribal Council, including as vice chairman.
In this race, DePoe is running to manage public lands in a way that maximizes environmental sustainability while balancing building a stronger economy of well-paying jobs. He believes he can build a widespread climate coalition to engage all community stakeholders in efforts towards a green future. DePoe also wants to improve forest health while preventing and fighting increasingly dangerous wildfire seasons. Finally, he is committed to being a representative for rural communities who often serve as the frontline of environmental issues in our state. However, DePoe lacks Upthegrove’s experience in elected office as well as his demonstrated track record of writing and passing environmental legislation.
Also in this crowded race is state Senator Kevin Van De Wege. Van de Wege served five terms in the House before joining the Senate in 2016. Before that, he served as a firefighter and paramedic. His voting record makes it clear he would not be a progressive choice in this race. Van De Wege broke ranks with his party to vote against the critical 2021 Climate Commitment Act, which enables the state’s Department of Ecology to make headway on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and engages an environmental justice approach to make sure no community is left behind in climate mitigation, among other key policies. As a hindrance, rather than a leader, on addressing climate change within his own party, Van De Wege is not the best choice to take the bold action our communities need from the next public lands commissioner.
Firefighter and ecologist Allen Lebovitz is another Democrat in this race who is running to lead the public lands office with core values of sustainability and respect for the land. Lebovitz has worked for the state’s Department of Natural Resources in a number of roles since 2011, including aquation restoration ecologist and most recently wildland fire and forest resilience liaison. His experience spans policy, science, and frontline work to protect our public lands from environmental degradation, wildfires, habitat loss, and climate change.
Lebovitz is running with a progressive, sustainable vision for the office. If elected, he wants to invest in fire-resilient forest management techniques, ensuring public lands benefit all Washingtonians equitably, strengthening rural economies, and valuing healthy forests above time volume. His goals for office revolve around effective crisis management and a strategic, optimistic plan for a sustainable future.
Redmond City Council member Jeralee Anderson is another Democrat in this race. Anderson first joined the city council in 2018, and she also co-founded and serves as president of a globally recognized nonprofit focused on helping to make our transportation systems more sustainable. Her training is as a civil engineer, and her work has been recognized at many levels including as one of President Obama’s White House Transportation Champions of Change.
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 which, both 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.
Also in this race is Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson, a retired environmental and power analyst who has worked for Seattle City Lights and the Grays Harbor Public Utility District. Pederson previously ran for this seat in 2020. Despite the growing climate crisis and the need to build a sustainable Washington future, Pederson’s focus lies in criticizing the Democratic incumbent and prioritizing revenue from the sale of timber from public forests.
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 or in leadership positions at educational institutions.
The superintendent's office provides resources and guidance on language access, student safety, school district budgeting, and meeting 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 with his less experienced opponents.
Reykdal has strong support from educators across the state and earned your vote for re-election.
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 or in leadership positions at educational institutions.
The superintendent's office provides resources and guidance on language access, student safety, school district budgeting, and meeting 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 with his less experienced opponents.
Reykdal has strong support from educators across the state and earned your vote for re-election.
Local teacher and nonprofit leader Reid Saaris is challenging Chris Reykdal in this race. Saaris is a fourth-generation Washington public educator who has taught at Rainier Beach High School. He founded and spent 12 years as CEO of Equal Opportunity Schools, an organization dedicated to connecting marginalized students with college-level learning opportunities.
Saaris is running for office on an optimistic platform to bridge learning gaps, prioritize the health and wellness of students, and prepare all students for bright futures. If elected, he wants to increase tutoring and instructional resources for schools, invest in mental health supports for students, including community and parent-led services, and support diverse paths to post-high-school success. Saaris would lead with data and evidence-based solutions to address challenges in our public schools.
It's important to note that the public superintendent largely plays an assistance and implementation role for school districts, and can't directly increase funding or change curriculum. During our interview, Saaris reiterated his commitment to public schools and using data to drive decision-making that will close learning gaps and improve outcomes for students. He wants to leverage the office to share proven best practices with districts across the state. While he praises many of Reykdal's actions, he believes the superintendent can play a larger role in pushing the legislature and school districts to distribute resources more equitably. In response to questions about whether he was ready to take on such a large state office, Saaris responded that he had built and managed a large non-profit and that as an educator, he would bring a fresh, collaborative perspective to the office.
Saaris' endorsements include The Seattle Times and many current and former elected office officials.
Local teacher and nonprofit leader Reid Saaris is challenging Chris Reykdal in this race. Saaris is a fourth-generation Washington public educator who has taught at Rainier Beach High School. He founded and spent 12 years as CEO of Equal Opportunity Schools, an organization dedicated to connecting marginalized students with college-level learning opportunities.
Saaris is running for office on an optimistic platform to bridge learning gaps, prioritize the health and wellness of students, and prepare all students for bright futures. If elected, he wants to increase tutoring and instructional resources for schools, invest in mental health supports for students, including community and parent-led services, and support diverse paths to post-high-school success. Saaris would lead with data and evidence-based solutions to address challenges in our public schools.
It's important to note that the public superintendent largely plays an assistance and implementation role for school districts, and can't directly increase funding or change curriculum. During our interview, Saaris reiterated his commitment to public schools and using data to drive decision-making that will close learning gaps and improve outcomes for students. He wants to leverage the office to share proven best practices with districts across the state. While he praises many of Reykdal's actions, he believes the superintendent can play a larger role in pushing the legislature and school districts to distribute resources more equitably. In response to questions about whether he was ready to take on such a large state office, Saaris responded that he had built and managed a large non-profit and that as an educator, he would bring a fresh, collaborative perspective to the office.
Saaris' endorsements include The Seattle Times and many current and former elected office officials.
Other Candidates
Gig Harbor School Board member David Olson is running on a reactionary platform. Olson wants to increase special education budgets, engage parental intervention, and double down on letter grade systems. Like many conservative school board directors, he wants to expand local control of curriculums and schools. Olson wants to employ strict guidelines in our schools that penalize students struggling the most.
Former Vashon School Board member John Patterson Blair is also in this nonpartisan race to challenge Reykdal. Blair previously ran for the state superintendent position in 2016 on a platform centered on individualizing Washington student experiences. As of mid-July, he lacks a campaign website and he previously failed to attend a community campaign event for candidates in this race.
Gig Harbor School Board member David Olson is running on a reactionary platform. Olson wants to increase special education budgets, engage parental intervention, and double down on letter grade systems. Like many conservative school board directors, he wants to expand local control of curriculums and schools. Olson wants to employ strict guidelines in our schools that penalize students struggling the most.
Former Vashon School Board member John Patterson Blair is also in this nonpartisan race to challenge Reykdal. Blair previously ran for the state superintendent position in 2016 on a platform centered on individualizing Washington student experiences. As of mid-July, he lacks a campaign website and he previously failed to attend a community campaign event for candidates in this race.
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.
We recommend Patty Kuderer for Washington Insurance Commissioner because of her strong background in public service and clear vision for the office.
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.
We recommend Patty Kuderer for Washington Insurance Commissioner because of her strong background in public service and clear vision for the office.
Other Candidates
Bill Boyd is the other Democratic candidate in this race. Boyd has worked in insurance for more than three decades and has spent nearly all of his industry experience at his own company, Boyd Insurance Brokerage. He is highly involved in his community as a church leader, youth sports coach, and league treasurer. Boyd is campaigning to expand health care options and take climate change into account in insurance coverage. However, he supports privatizing the workers’ compensation program, which the voters opposed in 2010 because it would undermine benefits for working people and their families.
Republican state Senator Phil Fortunato is also running for insurance commissioner. Fortunato was first elected to represent 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 health care and medicine they need. He is not a progressive choice in this race.
Democrat Chris Chung has no campaign website as of mid-July. His official voters guide statement is very vague and offers Washingtonians no real insight into how he would run the office. Fellow Democrat John Pestinger is a veteran who has worked for five years as a project manager in the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
Insurance professional Jonathan Hendrix is running without a party preference in this race. Hendrix recently finished an eight-year stint with Premera Blue Cross and has previously worked for Aetna and United Dental Care. He believes his experience in the industry will allow him to better prioritize customer service. Unfortunately, he also supports deregulation of the industry. We know that left unregulated in the pursuit of profit, the insurance prices for customers soar while service quality declines. Washingtonians need a strong leader who is unafraid to hold private insurance corporations accountable.
Deer Park mayor Tim Verzal, who is running without a party preference, and Republican Justin Murta have no campaign website or information available as of mid-June. We will continue to monitor this race and update their information if it becomes available.
Bill Boyd is the other Democratic candidate in this race. Boyd has worked in insurance for more than three decades and has spent nearly all of his industry experience at his own company, Boyd Insurance Brokerage. He is highly involved in his community as a church leader, youth sports coach, and league treasurer. Boyd is campaigning to expand health care options and take climate change into account in insurance coverage. However, he supports privatizing the workers’ compensation program, which the voters opposed in 2010 because it would undermine benefits for working people and their families.
Republican state Senator Phil Fortunato is also running for insurance commissioner. Fortunato was first elected to represent 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 health care and medicine they need. He is not a progressive choice in this race.
Democrat Chris Chung has no campaign website as of mid-July. His official voters guide statement is very vague and offers Washingtonians no real insight into how he would run the office. Fellow Democrat John Pestinger is a veteran who has worked for five years as a project manager in the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
Insurance professional Jonathan Hendrix is running without a party preference in this race. Hendrix recently finished an eight-year stint with Premera Blue Cross and has previously worked for Aetna and United Dental Care. He believes his experience in the industry will allow him to better prioritize customer service. Unfortunately, he also supports deregulation of the industry. We know that left unregulated in the pursuit of profit, the insurance prices for customers soar while service quality declines. Washingtonians need a strong leader who is unafraid to hold private insurance corporations accountable.
Deer Park mayor Tim Verzal, who is running without a party preference, and Republican Justin Murta have no campaign website or information available as of mid-June. We will continue to monitor this race and update their information if it becomes available.
Legislative Races
5th Legislative District
Rep. Bill Ramos, who currently represents the 5th Legislative District in the state House, is running for the district’s state Senate seat. The seat opened up with Sen. Mark Mullet’s decision to run for governor. Ramos joined the Legislature in 2019 and served on the Issaquah City Council before that. Outside of elected office, he has worked in transportation consultation.
In the House, Rep. Ramos has been a strong advocate for community safety through police accountability, environmental protections, and public infrastructure upgrades. This year, he sponsored a bill to establish a commission to fight domestic violence. In this campaign, he is running on a progressive platform focused on ensuring all communities have accessible health care, strong public transit, clean air and water, fully funded local schools, and affordable housing.
Ramos is running against former Republican representative and teacher Chad Magendanz. He served in the state House representing the 5th Legislative District from 2013 to 2017, before he narrowly lost a Senate race to Mullet. Magendanz also challenged Lisa Callan for state House in 2022 and similarly lost the race. Now, Magendanz teaches computer science classes in Bellevue.
Magendanz originally planned to run for Superintendent of Public Instruction in this election where, in a campaign interview, he referenced “trans ideology” and “critical race theory,” echoing far-right conspiracy theories about our schools. He has yet to release a detailed platform in this race as of mid-July, but he has a demonstrated conservative track record in his past public service roles. He is not a progressive choice and has been repeatedly rejected by the voters of Legislative District 5.
Ramos is the clear choice for state House in this race.
Rep. Bill Ramos, who currently represents the 5th Legislative District in the state House, is running for the district’s state Senate seat. The seat opened up with Sen. Mark Mullet’s decision to run for governor. Ramos joined the Legislature in 2019 and served on the Issaquah City Council before that. Outside of elected office, he has worked in transportation consultation.
In the House, Rep. Ramos has been a strong advocate for community safety through police accountability, environmental protections, and public infrastructure upgrades. This year, he sponsored a bill to establish a commission to fight domestic violence. In this campaign, he is running on a progressive platform focused on ensuring all communities have accessible health care, strong public transit, clean air and water, fully funded local schools, and affordable housing.
Ramos is running against former Republican representative and teacher Chad Magendanz. He served in the state House representing the 5th Legislative District from 2013 to 2017, before he narrowly lost a Senate race to Mullet. Magendanz also challenged Lisa Callan for state House in 2022 and similarly lost the race. Now, Magendanz teaches computer science classes in Bellevue.
Magendanz originally planned to run for Superintendent of Public Instruction in this election where, in a campaign interview, he referenced “trans ideology” and “critical race theory,” echoing far-right conspiracy theories about our schools. He has yet to release a detailed platform in this race as of mid-July, but he has a demonstrated conservative track record in his past public service roles. He is not a progressive choice and has been repeatedly rejected by the voters of Legislative District 5.
Ramos is the clear choice for state House in this race.
Victoria Hunt is a third-term Issaquah City Council member who is running for Legislative District 5, Position 1 to protect the environment, secure reproductive rights, and modernize our state housing laws.
In our interview, Hunt highlighted her background in urban planning and her Ph.D in ecology as two strengths of her candidacy. She wants to build more infrastructure for electric vehicles, have developers pay impact fees for increased resource use from development, and center more construction around transit. Hunt also saw that when Issaquah residents had access to beds at a Motel 6 for short-term stays to get back on their feet, people were able to bounce back from hard times and homelessness. She supports statewide policies to provide full-time caseworkers, permanent housing, and other resources to help keep people in their homes.
Hunt believes the state must do a better job of working with cities in order to build homes more quickly and reduce the cost of housing. She wants to leverage her experience as a city council member to help the Legislature strengthen relationships and improve communication with local officials to achieve our housing goals.
Hunt has earned the most support from our progressive partner organizations and is the best choice in this race.
Victoria Hunt is a third-term Issaquah City Council member who is running for Legislative District 5, Position 1 to protect the environment, secure reproductive rights, and modernize our state housing laws.
In our interview, Hunt highlighted her background in urban planning and her Ph.D in ecology as two strengths of her candidacy. She wants to build more infrastructure for electric vehicles, have developers pay impact fees for increased resource use from development, and center more construction around transit. Hunt also saw that when Issaquah residents had access to beds at a Motel 6 for short-term stays to get back on their feet, people were able to bounce back from hard times and homelessness. She supports statewide policies to provide full-time caseworkers, permanent housing, and other resources to help keep people in their homes.
Hunt believes the state must do a better job of working with cities in order to build homes more quickly and reduce the cost of housing. She wants to leverage her experience as a city council member to help the Legislature strengthen relationships and improve communication with local officials to achieve our housing goals.
Hunt has earned the most support from our progressive partner organizations and is the best choice in this race.
Kristiana de Leon is a two-term Black Diamond City Council member who is running for Position 1 in the 5th Legislative District to represent rural Democrats. Her top campaign priorities include funding public education, tax fairness, and growth management.
In our interview, de Leon made a strong case for herself as a capable and forward-thinking leader. She wants education and youth mental health care to be fully funded, health care access prioritized, and tribal sovereignty to be respected. De Leon feels more discussion is needed to include smaller cities and counties in big projects like mass transit and climate work. She sees homelessness increasing in places like Black Diamond and states that more affordable housing is the crucial path forward for communities all over Washington.
On public safety, she believes crime prevention is key. For example, she would ensure people have opportunities to thrive by creating more educational and career opportunities, funding mental health care, and expanding therapeutic courts as an alternative to sentencing for drug rehab. We especially appreciated that de Leon wants to join the House as a legislator who believes in making the wealthy pay what they owe our communities.
De Leon is a good choice if you're looking for a progressive with an organizing background who will be a voice for smaller cities and rural areas in the district.
Kristiana de Leon is a two-term Black Diamond City Council member who is running for Position 1 in the 5th Legislative District to represent rural Democrats. Her top campaign priorities include funding public education, tax fairness, and growth management.
In our interview, de Leon made a strong case for herself as a capable and forward-thinking leader. She wants education and youth mental health care to be fully funded, health care access prioritized, and tribal sovereignty to be respected. De Leon feels more discussion is needed to include smaller cities and counties in big projects like mass transit and climate work. She sees homelessness increasing in places like Black Diamond and states that more affordable housing is the crucial path forward for communities all over Washington.
On public safety, she believes crime prevention is key. For example, she would ensure people have opportunities to thrive by creating more educational and career opportunities, funding mental health care, and expanding therapeutic courts as an alternative to sentencing for drug rehab. We especially appreciated that de Leon wants to join the House as a legislator who believes in making the wealthy pay what they owe our communities.
De Leon is a good choice if you're looking for a progressive with an organizing background who will be a voice for smaller cities and rural areas in the district.
Other Candidates
Jason Ritchie is a former business owner and history teacher who has served on the Sammamish City Council as well as the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the governor's Committee on Disability Issues, and the King County Civil Rights Commission, among other roles.
In our interview, Ritchie oriented himself as more of a moderate who wasn't very far left or right. While we appreciate parts of Ritchie's approach, like making more investments into mental health care, we were disappointed by his conflicting stances of supporting the middle class and refusing to make significant tax changes. Our state's tax code is second only to Florida in the entire nation with its regressiveness - that is, people with the lowest income pay the highest percentage of their income compared to the wealthy. Shirking the Legislature's duty to get the wealthy to pay what they owe through a rebalanced tax code isn't progressive. We also felt his answers on improving the lives of Black, brown, and immigrant Washingtonians to be weak.
Former state representative and Republican Mark Hargrove is running for the 5th Legislative District seat. Hargrove served four terms since 2011, but unfortunately, he used his position to curtail Washingtonians' rights and resources, including opposing marriage equality and the Washington Voting Rights Act, voting against raising the minimum wage and paid sick leave for all workers, and sponsoring bills to restrict funding for abortions. He is not a progressive choice.
Landon Halverson is the former vice chair of the King County Republican Party. He's run for office previously, though he withdrew in the race for the Legislature in 2022 against Rep. Bill Ramos, and again in 2023 for the Issaquah City Council. Halverson joins his Republican colleagues in refusing to find a lasting solution for the state's upside-down tax code. He also wants to repeal the state's long-term care act, which will help about 70 percent of Washingtonians afford care when they reach old age or have a disability. He has also expressed bigoted opinions about LGBTQ+ members of the community.
Jason Ritchie is a former business owner and history teacher who has served on the Sammamish City Council as well as the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the governor's Committee on Disability Issues, and the King County Civil Rights Commission, among other roles.
In our interview, Ritchie oriented himself as more of a moderate who wasn't very far left or right. While we appreciate parts of Ritchie's approach, like making more investments into mental health care, we were disappointed by his conflicting stances of supporting the middle class and refusing to make significant tax changes. Our state's tax code is second only to Florida in the entire nation with its regressiveness - that is, people with the lowest income pay the highest percentage of their income compared to the wealthy. Shirking the Legislature's duty to get the wealthy to pay what they owe through a rebalanced tax code isn't progressive. We also felt his answers on improving the lives of Black, brown, and immigrant Washingtonians to be weak.
Former state representative and Republican Mark Hargrove is running for the 5th Legislative District seat. Hargrove served four terms since 2011, but unfortunately, he used his position to curtail Washingtonians' rights and resources, including opposing marriage equality and the Washington Voting Rights Act, voting against raising the minimum wage and paid sick leave for all workers, and sponsoring bills to restrict funding for abortions. He is not a progressive choice.
Landon Halverson is the former vice chair of the King County Republican Party. He's run for office previously, though he withdrew in the race for the Legislature in 2022 against Rep. Bill Ramos, and again in 2023 for the Issaquah City Council. Halverson joins his Republican colleagues in refusing to find a lasting solution for the state's upside-down tax code. He also wants to repeal the state's long-term care act, which will help about 70 percent of Washingtonians afford care when they reach old age or have a disability. He has also expressed bigoted opinions about LGBTQ+ members of the community.
Democratic incumbent Lisa Callan is seeking re-election to Legislative District 5, Position 2, where she has served since 2019. She has also served on the Issaquah School Board, including a stint as president, and for Boeing as an engineer and project manager.
In the Legislature, Rep. Callan has focused on creating economic opportunity and security for all Washingtonians through strong investments in education and strengthening support for working families. As a secondary sponsor, she helped pass a slate of progressive bills including one to bring zero-emission school buses to our students, one establishing a Native American apprenticeship program, one to strengthen the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act by preventing wage discrimination, and one to reduce barriers to early learning and childcare programs for working families. Her top priorities in this race include strengthening our public schools, reducing the cost of living, supporting small businesses, and improving community safety.
Challenging Callan is Republican Patrick Peacock, a senior industrial security specialist at Boeing who has previously worked in military intelligence. He lacks leadership experience outside of his military career, and last year, he unsuccessfully challenged an incumbent director on the Tahoma School Board. He has yet to release a detailed campaign platform beyond high-level conservative principles.
Lisa Callan has earned your vote for another term representing Legislative District 5 in House Position 2.
Democratic incumbent Lisa Callan is seeking re-election to Legislative District 5, Position 2, where she has served since 2019. She has also served on the Issaquah School Board, including a stint as president, and for Boeing as an engineer and project manager.
In the Legislature, Rep. Callan has focused on creating economic opportunity and security for all Washingtonians through strong investments in education and strengthening support for working families. As a secondary sponsor, she helped pass a slate of progressive bills including one to bring zero-emission school buses to our students, one establishing a Native American apprenticeship program, one to strengthen the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act by preventing wage discrimination, and one to reduce barriers to early learning and childcare programs for working families. Her top priorities in this race include strengthening our public schools, reducing the cost of living, supporting small businesses, and improving community safety.
Challenging Callan is Republican Patrick Peacock, a senior industrial security specialist at Boeing who has previously worked in military intelligence. He lacks leadership experience outside of his military career, and last year, he unsuccessfully challenged an incumbent director on the Tahoma School Board. He has yet to release a detailed campaign platform beyond high-level conservative principles.
Lisa Callan has earned your vote for another term representing Legislative District 5 in House Position 2.
11th Legislative District
Democrat Bob Hasegawa is running unopposed for re-election to the state Senate. Hasegawa was first elected to the House in 2005. He is a labor advocate and founding member of several labor boards, including the Asian-Pacific American Labor Alliance AFL-CIO and the Washington State Labor Council.
Hasegawa has been a consistent advocate for establishing a state bank. This past session, he supported progressive bills to include LGBTQ+ history in our schools, to purchase electric school buses across the state, and to legally protect Washingtonians from certain forms of sexual assault such as removing a condom nonconsensually. Now, Hasegawa is running on a platform to reduce the gap between Washington’s most and least economically prosperous, address homelessness while working towards affordable housing for all income levels, secure health care as a human right, and invest in public transit and the small business community.
Vote Bob Hasegawa for another term in the 11th Legislative District’s Senate seat.
Democrat Bob Hasegawa is running unopposed for re-election to the state Senate. Hasegawa was first elected to the House in 2005. He is a labor advocate and founding member of several labor boards, including the Asian-Pacific American Labor Alliance AFL-CIO and the Washington State Labor Council.
Hasegawa has been a consistent advocate for establishing a state bank. This past session, he supported progressive bills to include LGBTQ+ history in our schools, to purchase electric school buses across the state, and to legally protect Washingtonians from certain forms of sexual assault such as removing a condom nonconsensually. Now, Hasegawa is running on a platform to reduce the gap between Washington’s most and least economically prosperous, address homelessness while working towards affordable housing for all income levels, secure health care as a human right, and invest in public transit and the small business community.
Vote Bob Hasegawa for another term in the 11th Legislative District’s Senate seat.
Rep. David Hackney is running unopposed for re-election to House Position 1 in the 11th Legislative District.
Before joining the Legislature, Hackney spent 25 years as a practicing attorney, including at the U.N., and worked at a handful of progressive organizations that focused on environmental protections and workers' rights. In 2019, he was appointed to the Washington State Human Rights Commission by Gov. Inslee.
Hackney has sponsored and supported several bills to protect the sensitive information of currently or formerly incarcerated Washingtonians, created a tax exemption for organizations maintaining affordable housing, and increased access to electricity as a transportation fuel for all Washingtonians. Hackney is running for re-election to continue investing in a clean energy future, tackling the housing crisis, and building safe and economically secure communities.
However, we were disappointed in some of Hackney's votes and positions this term, including siding with Republicans to allow felony charges against some protestors. We hope Hackney revisits some of these stances during his next term in office.
Rep. David Hackney is running unopposed for re-election to House Position 1 in the 11th Legislative District.
Before joining the Legislature, Hackney spent 25 years as a practicing attorney, including at the U.N., and worked at a handful of progressive organizations that focused on environmental protections and workers' rights. In 2019, he was appointed to the Washington State Human Rights Commission by Gov. Inslee.
Hackney has sponsored and supported several bills to protect the sensitive information of currently or formerly incarcerated Washingtonians, created a tax exemption for organizations maintaining affordable housing, and increased access to electricity as a transportation fuel for all Washingtonians. Hackney is running for re-election to continue investing in a clean energy future, tackling the housing crisis, and building safe and economically secure communities.
However, we were disappointed in some of Hackney's votes and positions this term, including siding with Republicans to allow felony charges against some protestors. We hope Hackney revisits some of these stances during his next term in office.
Incumbent Rep. Steve Bergquist is running for re-election to Position 2 in the 11th Legislative District. Bergquist is a former deputy majority floor leader and currently serves as the vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Outside of the Legislature, he teaches high school in the Renton School District and previously owned a small business.
As an educator, one of Bergquist's biggest legislative priorities has been improving outcomes for Washington's students. In past legislative sessions, he has introduced bills to help with shortages in school staffing and provide career advancement opportunities for public school paraeducators. More recently, he introduced a House bill to make big investments for our youth, including nearly $100 million for school supplies, school meals, special education, and more. With these funds, meals in places like Tukwila and Renton will be fully funded for every school. Bergquist was also the prime sponsor this year of a bill aimed at expanding the College Bound Scholarship program, ensuring that students have a strong footing for higher education and a great career. He has also worked hard to make Washington more affordable for everyone by sponsoring bills that will help finance affordable housing developments and support economic recovery for small businesses.
Bergquist is facing a challenge from Libertarian Justin Greywolf. His website is full of stock photography and placeholder text, with no campaign information as of mid-July.
Bergquist is by far the best candidate in this race.
Incumbent Rep. Steve Bergquist is running for re-election to Position 2 in the 11th Legislative District. Bergquist is a former deputy majority floor leader and currently serves as the vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Outside of the Legislature, he teaches high school in the Renton School District and previously owned a small business.
As an educator, one of Bergquist's biggest legislative priorities has been improving outcomes for Washington's students. In past legislative sessions, he has introduced bills to help with shortages in school staffing and provide career advancement opportunities for public school paraeducators. More recently, he introduced a House bill to make big investments for our youth, including nearly $100 million for school supplies, school meals, special education, and more. With these funds, meals in places like Tukwila and Renton will be fully funded for every school. Bergquist was also the prime sponsor this year of a bill aimed at expanding the College Bound Scholarship program, ensuring that students have a strong footing for higher education and a great career. He has also worked hard to make Washington more affordable for everyone by sponsoring bills that will help finance affordable housing developments and support economic recovery for small businesses.
Bergquist is facing a challenge from Libertarian Justin Greywolf. His website is full of stock photography and placeholder text, with no campaign information as of mid-July.
Bergquist is by far the best candidate in this race.
30th Legislative District
Rep. Jamila Taylor is running for re-election to the 30th Legislative District, House Position 1. 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 the 30th Legislative District, Position 1.
Rep. Jamila Taylor is running for re-election to the 30th Legislative District, House Position 1. 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 the 30th Legislative District, Position 1.
Rep. Kristine Reeves is running for re-election to Position 2 in the 30th Legislative District. As a working mom of two who went through the foster care system as a child, Reeves' focus in the Legislature has been improving lives for families and advocating for affordable housing. Reeves also served recently as the interim chair of the Legislative Black Caucus.
This year, Reeves sponsored successful bills to protect consumers in the solar power market and open opportunities for urban agriculture. She has also been a champion for paid family and medical leave, gun safety, linking students with apprenticeships, and making childcare more affordable. If she's re-elected, Reeves wants to continue building on her accomplishments in reducing the cost of education, medical care, and childcare.
While Reeves has been a progressive leader on many issues, she's taken a more cautious approach to others, including voting against taxing polluters and opposing eviction protections in 2019. Thankfully, she voted in favor of several important housing bills since then, including this year's rent stabilization bill.
Republican Quentin Morris is challenging Reeves from the right. He serves as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association representative for Federal Way Public Schools, where he ran a campaign decrying "critical race theory." As of late June, his website is fairly empty. He has no listed policy proposals, stating only that he will foster a district where residents can achieve "health, safety, security, and economic freedom."
Reeves' experience improving the lives of children, families, and working people makes her the best choice for state House from the 30th Legislative District, Position 2.
Rep. Kristine Reeves is running for re-election to Position 2 in the 30th Legislative District. As a working mom of two who went through the foster care system as a child, Reeves' focus in the Legislature has been improving lives for families and advocating for affordable housing. Reeves also served recently as the interim chair of the Legislative Black Caucus.
This year, Reeves sponsored successful bills to protect consumers in the solar power market and open opportunities for urban agriculture. She has also been a champion for paid family and medical leave, gun safety, linking students with apprenticeships, and making childcare more affordable. If she's re-elected, Reeves wants to continue building on her accomplishments in reducing the cost of education, medical care, and childcare.
While Reeves has been a progressive leader on many issues, she's taken a more cautious approach to others, including voting against taxing polluters and opposing eviction protections in 2019. Thankfully, she voted in favor of several important housing bills since then, including this year's rent stabilization bill.
Republican Quentin Morris is challenging Reeves from the right. He serves as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association representative for Federal Way Public Schools, where he ran a campaign decrying "critical race theory." As of late June, his website is fairly empty. He has no listed policy proposals, stating only that he will foster a district where residents can achieve "health, safety, security, and economic freedom."
Reeves' experience improving the lives of children, families, and working people makes her the best choice for state House from the 30th Legislative District, Position 2.
31st Legislative District
Democrat Sara Sutterfield is a member of Friends of the Carbon Canyon and volunteers with the Foothills Historical Society in Buckley.
Her campaign for the 31st Legislative District, Position 1, is focused on four main priorities: advocating for a universal health care system, promoting inclusive and comprehensive education, environmental stewardship, and investing in small-town infrastructure. Specifically on the last point, Sutterfield says that while tourism has played an important role in the local economies of small towns, there needs to be equal investment into reliable transportation and quality public facilities. If elected, she states that she will focus on more funding for education, comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, and criminal legal reform.
Sutterfield is challenging attorney and Republican incumbent Drew Stokesbary, who is running for another term representing Legislative District 31. Stokesbary voted against bills that would have made the wealthy pay what they owe in taxes, protected the privacy of consumer data, and reduced gun violence in Washington. He also voted against 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.
Sutterfield's values are much more progressive than Stokesbary's. While she likely faces an uphill battle on the ballot, Sara Sutterfield is the better choice for state House from the 31st Legislative District in Position 1.
Democrat Sara Sutterfield is a member of Friends of the Carbon Canyon and volunteers with the Foothills Historical Society in Buckley.
Her campaign for the 31st Legislative District, Position 1, is focused on four main priorities: advocating for a universal health care system, promoting inclusive and comprehensive education, environmental stewardship, and investing in small-town infrastructure. Specifically on the last point, Sutterfield says that while tourism has played an important role in the local economies of small towns, there needs to be equal investment into reliable transportation and quality public facilities. If elected, she states that she will focus on more funding for education, comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, and criminal legal reform.
Sutterfield is challenging attorney and Republican incumbent Drew Stokesbary, who is running for another term representing Legislative District 31. Stokesbary voted against bills that would have made the wealthy pay what they owe in taxes, protected the privacy of consumer data, and reduced gun violence in Washington. He also voted against 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.
Sutterfield's values are much more progressive than Stokesbary's. While she likely faces an uphill battle on the ballot, Sara Sutterfield is the better choice for state House from the 31st Legislative District in Position 1.
Democrat Brian Gunn is running for the Legislative District 31, Position 2 seat in the state House. Gunn works in quality assurance for Boeing and serves as a Democratic precinct committee officer.
Gunn’s candidacy is strongly grounded in local issues. If elected, he wants to make infrastructure upgrades such as Highways 164 and 410 maintenance as well as an Enumclaw-Buckley bridge construction. Gunn also wants to improve the district’s water quality and invest in our local schools. In the bigger picture, he supports reproductive freedom and efforts to fix Washington’s upside-down tax code. In this race, Gunn has received the sole endorsement from the Washington State Labor Council.
Gunn is the best choice to represent the 31st Legislative District in Position 2.
Democrat Brian Gunn is running for the Legislative District 31, Position 2 seat in the state House. Gunn works in quality assurance for Boeing and serves as a Democratic precinct committee officer.
Gunn’s candidacy is strongly grounded in local issues. If elected, he wants to make infrastructure upgrades such as Highways 164 and 410 maintenance as well as an Enumclaw-Buckley bridge construction. Gunn also wants to improve the district’s water quality and invest in our local schools. In the bigger picture, he supports reproductive freedom and efforts to fix Washington’s upside-down tax code. In this race, Gunn has received the sole endorsement from the Washington State Labor Council.
Gunn is the best choice to represent the 31st Legislative District in Position 2.
Other Candidates
Republican Brandon Beynon is running to replace retiring incumbent Rep. Eric Robertson in the state House. Beynon is a real estate and construction professional who previously ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2022. Beynon has worked as a precinct committee officer for the Pierce County Republicans.
Beynon has not shared an official campaign platform as of mid-May but he is strongly aligned with Trump’s MAGA agenda. Residents of the 31st Legislative District deserve a leader in Olympia who will prioritize community needs above extremist policies that work to divide us.
Republican Orting mayor Joshua Penner is also running to succeed Robertson. As the mayor of Orting since 2018, Penner has overseen all city administration as the chief executive. He is also the founder of a company dealing with government data.
In this race, he is running a typically conservative platform that does not reflect the community’s most pressing needs. His top priorities include taking us backward on gun violence prevention, pouring funds into militarizing our police far beyond community need, and promoting MAGA-style conspiracies about public education curriculums.
Democrat Bill Thomas has no campaign website available as of early July. Thomas failed to submit any information whatsoever in his voters pamphlet statement. It does not appear that he is running a competitive campaign in this race at the moment.
Republican Brandon Beynon is running to replace retiring incumbent Rep. Eric Robertson in the state House. Beynon is a real estate and construction professional who previously ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2022. Beynon has worked as a precinct committee officer for the Pierce County Republicans.
Beynon has not shared an official campaign platform as of mid-May but he is strongly aligned with Trump’s MAGA agenda. Residents of the 31st Legislative District deserve a leader in Olympia who will prioritize community needs above extremist policies that work to divide us.
Republican Orting mayor Joshua Penner is also running to succeed Robertson. As the mayor of Orting since 2018, Penner has overseen all city administration as the chief executive. He is also the founder of a company dealing with government data.
In this race, he is running a typically conservative platform that does not reflect the community’s most pressing needs. His top priorities include taking us backward on gun violence prevention, pouring funds into militarizing our police far beyond community need, and promoting MAGA-style conspiracies about public education curriculums.
Democrat Bill Thomas has no campaign website available as of early July. Thomas failed to submit any information whatsoever in his voters pamphlet statement. It does not appear that he is running a competitive campaign in this race at the moment.
33rd Legislative District
Democrat Rep. Tina Orwall is seeking re-election to House Position 1 representing the 33rd Legislative District. Orwall first joined the state House in 2009 and she has served as the pro tem speaker in office for multiple terms. Before that, she spent 20 years as a professional in the public mental health systems and held a position in Seattle’s Office for Housing, working to connect people to direct services and resources.
During her tenure in Olympia, Orwall has been a strong advocate for survivors of sexual assault. In particular, she has worked to end Washington’s backlog of rape kits and pass legislation to support sex-trafficking victims. This year, she helped pass three progressive bills as a secondary sponsor: one providing for apprenticeship programs for Native American residents, one to strengthen the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to prevent wage discrimination, and one to pass the Nothing About Us Without Us Act, which bolsters representative democracy in Washington at all levels of government.
Insurance professional George Richter is mounting a Republican challenge to Orwall in this race. He is running on a vague platform that criticizes Democratic leadership while seeking to promote business interests and espouse conservative values.
We recommend Tina Orwall for another term in Legislative District 33, Position 1.
Democrat Rep. Tina Orwall is seeking re-election to House Position 1 representing the 33rd Legislative District. Orwall first joined the state House in 2009 and she has served as the pro tem speaker in office for multiple terms. Before that, she spent 20 years as a professional in the public mental health systems and held a position in Seattle’s Office for Housing, working to connect people to direct services and resources.
During her tenure in Olympia, Orwall has been a strong advocate for survivors of sexual assault. In particular, she has worked to end Washington’s backlog of rape kits and pass legislation to support sex-trafficking victims. This year, she helped pass three progressive bills as a secondary sponsor: one providing for apprenticeship programs for Native American residents, one to strengthen the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to prevent wage discrimination, and one to pass the Nothing About Us Without Us Act, which bolsters representative democracy in Washington at all levels of government.
Insurance professional George Richter is mounting a Republican challenge to Orwall in this race. He is running on a vague platform that criticizes Democratic leadership while seeking to promote business interests and espouse conservative values.
We recommend Tina Orwall for another term in Legislative District 33, Position 1.
Democrat Rep. Mia Su-Ling Gregerson is running for re-election to Legislative District 33, Position 2, to which she was first appointed in 2013. Previously, Gregerson served on the SeaTac City Council, including a stint as mayor from 2008 to 2015, and helped to bring the $15 minimum wage initiative to Seattle in 2014. She currently serves on the Washington State Investment Board.
Gregerson is a reliable progressive with an impressive track record advocating for accessible transit, fair wages, and voting rights. This past session, she was the primary sponsor of an unsuccessful bill to codify abortion rights into the state Constitution. As a secondary sponsor, Gregerson helped pass a slate of community-oriented bills to require and fund zero-emission school buses, to establish an Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance to help refugee settlements and to expand the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to strengthen protections against wage discrimination.
Casey Esmond, who is challenging Gregerson without a party affiliation, has no campaign website or information available as of mid July. We will continue to monitor this race and update Esmond's information if it becomes available.
We recommend Mia Su-Ling Gregerson for another term in Legislative District 33, Position 2.
Democrat Rep. Mia Su-Ling Gregerson is running for re-election to Legislative District 33, Position 2, to which she was first appointed in 2013. Previously, Gregerson served on the SeaTac City Council, including a stint as mayor from 2008 to 2015, and helped to bring the $15 minimum wage initiative to Seattle in 2014. She currently serves on the Washington State Investment Board.
Gregerson is a reliable progressive with an impressive track record advocating for accessible transit, fair wages, and voting rights. This past session, she was the primary sponsor of an unsuccessful bill to codify abortion rights into the state Constitution. As a secondary sponsor, Gregerson helped pass a slate of community-oriented bills to require and fund zero-emission school buses, to establish an Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance to help refugee settlements and to expand the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to strengthen protections against wage discrimination.
Casey Esmond, who is challenging Gregerson without a party affiliation, has no campaign website or information available as of mid July. We will continue to monitor this race and update Esmond's information if it becomes available.
We recommend Mia Su-Ling Gregerson for another term in Legislative District 33, Position 2.
34th 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 sponsored a bill that was recently passed 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.
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 sponsored a bill that was recently passed 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.
Incumbent Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon is running for another term in Legislative District 34, House Position 2. He was first elected to the position in 2010 and has also worked as a legislative staffer and Burien planning commissioner.
In his tenure in the House, Fitzgibbon has been an exceptionally strong environmental advocate, helping Washington fight greenhouse gas emissions, keep air and water clean, reduce pollution, and protect salmon populations. In his most recent term, he was a secondary sponsor on the zero-emission school bus bill to provide sustainable and reliable transportation for Washington students. In addition, Fitzgibbon was a primary sponsor on legislation to help the state meet its climate goals to create a green future for generations to come.
Fitzgibbon is facing a challenge from conservative Jolie Landsdowne, the chair of the 34th Legislative District Republicans. Landsdowne parrots conservative talking points to reduce tax rates for the wealthy and companies, which would make Washington’s tax code even more imbalanced. In this campaign, she has also echoed right-wing desires to teach inaccurate science and history to Washington students.
We recommend Rep. Fitzgibbon for another term in Position 2 representing the 34th Legislative District.
Incumbent Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon is running for another term in Legislative District 34, House Position 2. He was first elected to the position in 2010 and has also worked as a legislative staffer and Burien planning commissioner.
In his tenure in the House, Fitzgibbon has been an exceptionally strong environmental advocate, helping Washington fight greenhouse gas emissions, keep air and water clean, reduce pollution, and protect salmon populations. In his most recent term, he was a secondary sponsor on the zero-emission school bus bill to provide sustainable and reliable transportation for Washington students. In addition, Fitzgibbon was a primary sponsor on legislation to help the state meet its climate goals to create a green future for generations to come.
Fitzgibbon is facing a challenge from conservative Jolie Landsdowne, the chair of the 34th Legislative District Republicans. Landsdowne parrots conservative talking points to reduce tax rates for the wealthy and companies, which would make Washington’s tax code even more imbalanced. In this campaign, she has also echoed right-wing desires to teach inaccurate science and history to Washington students.
We recommend Rep. Fitzgibbon for another term in Position 2 representing the 34th Legislative District.
37th Legislative District
Moderate Democrat and incumbent Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos is seeking another term in Legislative District 37, House Position 1. Tomiko Santos is a former banker with 25 years of experience in the state Legislature. In her long tenure in public office, she has prioritized quality education, civil rights, economic opportunity, and community identity preservation.
In Olympia this past session, Rep. Tomiko Santos was a secondary sponsor on a number of important progressive bills that passed in both houses. Her legislation included bills to bring 100% clean energy school buses to our state, to enable working people to earn professional licenses regardless of immigration documentation status, and to establish an Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance in order to support refugee resettlement. She has yet to release a detailed campaign platform in this race as of early June, but her decades-long record makes her priorities clear.
We recommend Tomiko Santos for another term in Legislative District 37, Position 1.
Moderate Democrat and incumbent Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos is seeking another term in Legislative District 37, House Position 1. Tomiko Santos is a former banker with 25 years of experience in the state Legislature. In her long tenure in public office, she has prioritized quality education, civil rights, economic opportunity, and community identity preservation.
In Olympia this past session, Rep. Tomiko Santos was a secondary sponsor on a number of important progressive bills that passed in both houses. Her legislation included bills to bring 100% clean energy school buses to our state, to enable working people to earn professional licenses regardless of immigration documentation status, and to establish an Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance in order to support refugee resettlement. She has yet to release a detailed campaign platform in this race as of early June, but her decades-long record makes her priorities clear.
We recommend Tomiko Santos for another term in Legislative District 37, Position 1.
Progressive Rep. Chipalo Street is seeking a second term in House Position 2 representing the 37th Legislative District. He is a strong community leader who co-founded a program to bring tech education to underserved Seattle students, served as a board member of the Institute For A Democratic Future, and volunteered as a former public policy impact council member for United Way of King County. Professionally, he works as a principal program manager for Microsoft’s office of the chief technology officer.
This past session, Street helped pass a slate of progressive bills as a secondary sponsor, including legislation to reduce barriers to early learning and childcare for working families, to fund zero-emission school buses, and to permit professional licensing for Washingtonians regardless of immigration documentation status. He has yet to update his campaign priorities in this election cycle but Street's record demonstrates he will continue bringing a community-centric approach to the Legislature if he is re-elected.
Libertarian challenger Matt McCally has no campaign website or information available as of mid July. We will continue to monitor this race and update McCally's information if it becomes available.
Chipalo Street has earned another term in the state House. He deserves your vote for Legislative District 37, Position 2 to continue bringing bold progressive ideas to the Legislature.
Progressive Rep. Chipalo Street is seeking a second term in House Position 2 representing the 37th Legislative District. He is a strong community leader who co-founded a program to bring tech education to underserved Seattle students, served as a board member of the Institute For A Democratic Future, and volunteered as a former public policy impact council member for United Way of King County. Professionally, he works as a principal program manager for Microsoft’s office of the chief technology officer.
This past session, Street helped pass a slate of progressive bills as a secondary sponsor, including legislation to reduce barriers to early learning and childcare for working families, to fund zero-emission school buses, and to permit professional licensing for Washingtonians regardless of immigration documentation status. He has yet to update his campaign priorities in this election cycle but Street's record demonstrates he will continue bringing a community-centric approach to the Legislature if he is re-elected.
Libertarian challenger Matt McCally has no campaign website or information available as of mid July. We will continue to monitor this race and update McCally's information if it becomes available.
Chipalo Street has earned another term in the state House. He deserves your vote for Legislative District 37, Position 2 to continue bringing bold progressive ideas to the Legislature.
41st Legislative District
Sen. Lisa Wellman is running for re-election to the Senate from the 41st Legislative District. Before running for Legislature, Wellman worked as a public school teacher and in the private sector at a technology company.
First elected to the Senate in 2016, Wellman has spent her second term supporting youth, students, and education. This year, she was the primary sponsor of a large number of education bills, including one that passed that ensured no-cost enrollment for courses in high school where students can get college credits. Wellman also recently passed bills to fund special education, student transportation, and rural broadband support. Outside of her education priorities, Wellman has been a champion for reproductive rights and progressive technology policies, including legislation that she has sponsored establishing regulations for facial-recognition technology and mitigating the climate crisis. Wellman has been more reluctant when it comes to improving housing affordability by increasing density. We hope she embraces greater housing density in her next term as an essential tool for reducing the cost of living in the district.
Challenging Wellman is Republican Jaskaran Singh Sarao, who has chaired the Bellevue Human Services Commission. Recently, Sarao has partnered with the far-right media personality Jonathan Choe to harass one of his tenants who was behind on rent. Sarao opposes the Climate Commitment Act, which makes the state's biggest polluters pay their share and funds clean energy projects, ferry electrification, energy efficiency upgrades to universities, and much more.
Wellman is the best choice in the race for state Senate from the 41st District.
Sen. Lisa Wellman is running for re-election to the Senate from the 41st Legislative District. Before running for Legislature, Wellman worked as a public school teacher and in the private sector at a technology company.
First elected to the Senate in 2016, Wellman has spent her second term supporting youth, students, and education. This year, she was the primary sponsor of a large number of education bills, including one that passed that ensured no-cost enrollment for courses in high school where students can get college credits. Wellman also recently passed bills to fund special education, student transportation, and rural broadband support. Outside of her education priorities, Wellman has been a champion for reproductive rights and progressive technology policies, including legislation that she has sponsored establishing regulations for facial-recognition technology and mitigating the climate crisis. Wellman has been more reluctant when it comes to improving housing affordability by increasing density. We hope she embraces greater housing density in her next term as an essential tool for reducing the cost of living in the district.
Challenging Wellman is Republican Jaskaran Singh Sarao, who has chaired the Bellevue Human Services Commission. Recently, Sarao has partnered with the far-right media personality Jonathan Choe to harass one of his tenants who was behind on rent. Sarao opposes the Climate Commitment Act, which makes the state's biggest polluters pay their share and funds clean energy projects, ferry electrification, energy efficiency upgrades to universities, and much more.
Wellman is the best choice in the race for state Senate from the 41st District.
Rep. Tana Senn is running for re-election to the 41st Legislative District in Position 1, where she has served since 2013. As a working mother, Senn has aimed to be a champion for Washington’s families and currently chairs the Human Services, Youth & Early Learning Committee.
Senn has been a strong advocate voice for preventing gun violence, making childcare more affordable, supporting the environment, and expanding mental health services and resources. Locally, she's helped the district fund the Eastside Early Childhood Center at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue, restore habitat at Luther Burbank Park, and improve facilities at Bellevue College. In the Legislature, Senn has voted for legislation to prohibit the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines and a bill to set new state carbon reduction goals. She has also sponsored legislation to establish the Washington State Office of Equity and require the state to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, pointing our state in the right direction to fight climate change.
Though Senn's progressive track record is impressive, we hope that she will become more of a leader in increasing housing density to reduce the cost of living. The 41st District has some of the highest housing prices in the state, which makes it difficult for young people to buy their first house and for seniors to remain in their homes. Last year, Senn was one of the Democratic holdouts on the Missing Middle housing bill, though she ultimately did vote for it after introducing amendments that, for example, reduced the ability to increase housing density near parks.
Rep. Senn has been a strong advocate for her district and is the clear choice in this race.
Rep. Tana Senn is running for re-election to the 41st Legislative District in Position 1, where she has served since 2013. As a working mother, Senn has aimed to be a champion for Washington’s families and currently chairs the Human Services, Youth & Early Learning Committee.
Senn has been a strong advocate voice for preventing gun violence, making childcare more affordable, supporting the environment, and expanding mental health services and resources. Locally, she's helped the district fund the Eastside Early Childhood Center at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue, restore habitat at Luther Burbank Park, and improve facilities at Bellevue College. In the Legislature, Senn has voted for legislation to prohibit the sale of high-capacity firearm magazines and a bill to set new state carbon reduction goals. She has also sponsored legislation to establish the Washington State Office of Equity and require the state to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, pointing our state in the right direction to fight climate change.
Though Senn's progressive track record is impressive, we hope that she will become more of a leader in increasing housing density to reduce the cost of living. The 41st District has some of the highest housing prices in the state, which makes it difficult for young people to buy their first house and for seniors to remain in their homes. Last year, Senn was one of the Democratic holdouts on the Missing Middle housing bill, though she ultimately did vote for it after introducing amendments that, for example, reduced the ability to increase housing density near parks.
Rep. Senn has been a strong advocate for her district and is the clear choice in this race.
Other Candidates
There are two other candidates in this race.
Emily Tadlock is chair of the 41st Legislative District Republicans. Tadlock was featured in the Seattle Times in 2022 for doorbelling homes and questioning voters at the behest of conservative activist Glen Morgan. As they grilled voters about their signatures and immigration status, Tadlock's group drew complaints of voter intimidation and a warning from the Washington Secretary of State.
Perennial candidate Stan Lippman has run unsuccessfully for various offices at least 11 times, including the state Supreme Court, King County Executive, and this year for state representative. While his site doesn't seem to be active for this campaign as of mid-July, some of his previous campaign policies include dark matter from hydrogen and building a "hyperloop" train.
There are two other candidates in this race.
Emily Tadlock is chair of the 41st Legislative District Republicans. Tadlock was featured in the Seattle Times in 2022 for doorbelling homes and questioning voters at the behest of conservative activist Glen Morgan. As they grilled voters about their signatures and immigration status, Tadlock's group drew complaints of voter intimidation and a warning from the Washington Secretary of State.
Perennial candidate Stan Lippman has run unsuccessfully for various offices at least 11 times, including the state Supreme Court, King County Executive, and this year for state representative. While his site doesn't seem to be active for this campaign as of mid-July, some of his previous campaign policies include dark matter from hydrogen and building a "hyperloop" train.
Democratic incumbent Rep. My-Linh Thai is seeking her fourth term representing the 41st Legislative District in the state House. Before joining the Legislature, Thai served as the president of the Bellevue School District and as the vice president of the Washington State School Board Directors Association. She was the first refugee elected to the state House and is now the deputy majority leader.
This year, Thai sponsored an impressive number of bills in the House aimed at improving the lives of Washingtonians. Some of those include reducing plastic pollution, expanding eligibility for the Working Families Tax Credit, and protecting consumer health data. She also led in making the Lunar New Year a state holiday. If re-elected, Thai wants to continue her work protecting the environment and making our communities safer and more affordable.
She faces a challenge from Republican Al Rosenthal, who also ran and lost against Thai in 2022. A retired Boeing engineer, Rosenthal has no elected or community leadership experience. Though his website appears to not have been updated since 2022, his campaign hinges on policies like jailing and forcing people struggling with addiction into compulsory treatment, banning third-trimester abortions even if the mother's life is in danger, and sending anyone who is homeless and has a mental health issue to languish forever in an "isolated facility," essentially incarcerating our neighbors struggling the most.
Thai's outstanding track record in Olympia has earned her another term representing the 41st Legislative District.
Democratic incumbent Rep. My-Linh Thai is seeking her fourth term representing the 41st Legislative District in the state House. Before joining the Legislature, Thai served as the president of the Bellevue School District and as the vice president of the Washington State School Board Directors Association. She was the first refugee elected to the state House and is now the deputy majority leader.
This year, Thai sponsored an impressive number of bills in the House aimed at improving the lives of Washingtonians. Some of those include reducing plastic pollution, expanding eligibility for the Working Families Tax Credit, and protecting consumer health data. She also led in making the Lunar New Year a state holiday. If re-elected, Thai wants to continue her work protecting the environment and making our communities safer and more affordable.
She faces a challenge from Republican Al Rosenthal, who also ran and lost against Thai in 2022. A retired Boeing engineer, Rosenthal has no elected or community leadership experience. Though his website appears to not have been updated since 2022, his campaign hinges on policies like jailing and forcing people struggling with addiction into compulsory treatment, banning third-trimester abortions even if the mother's life is in danger, and sending anyone who is homeless and has a mental health issue to languish forever in an "isolated facility," essentially incarcerating our neighbors struggling the most.
Thai's outstanding track record in Olympia has earned her another term representing the 41st Legislative District.
43rd Legislative District
Rep. Nicole Macri is running unopposed for re-election to the 43rd Legislative District, House Position 1. First elected to the House in 2016, Macri is a strong progressive who has worked as an advocate for those with mental illnesses and people experiencing homelessness. She is currently the deputy director at the Downtown Emergency Service Center, where she has worked since 2002, and has won multiple awards for her civic leadership on affordable housing.
This year, Macri's accomplishments include passing bills to fund zero-emission school buses, prohibit book bans in schools by individuals, and require decarbonization planning for Puget Sound Energy. In previous sessions, she's worked hard to ensure that all Washingtonians have greater access to affordable housing, preserve abortion care access, and cap the cost of insulin at $35.
Macri has 20 years of experience in human services, championing affordable housing, and expanding health care. Her expertise and passion for expanding affordable housing options continue to be an incredible asset in Olympia. Macri deserves your vote to remain in the state House representing the 43rd Legislative District.
Rep. Nicole Macri is running unopposed for re-election to the 43rd Legislative District, House Position 1. First elected to the House in 2016, Macri is a strong progressive who has worked as an advocate for those with mental illnesses and people experiencing homelessness. She is currently the deputy director at the Downtown Emergency Service Center, where she has worked since 2002, and has won multiple awards for her civic leadership on affordable housing.
This year, Macri's accomplishments include passing bills to fund zero-emission school buses, prohibit book bans in schools by individuals, and require decarbonization planning for Puget Sound Energy. In previous sessions, she's worked hard to ensure that all Washingtonians have greater access to affordable housing, preserve abortion care access, and cap the cost of insulin at $35.
Macri has 20 years of experience in human services, championing affordable housing, and expanding health care. Her expertise and passion for expanding affordable housing options continue to be an incredible asset in Olympia. Macri deserves your vote to remain in the state House representing the 43rd Legislative District.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Candidates
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.
Also in the race is Democrat Daniel Carusello, who runs a political commentary blog and identifies himself as a "pragmatic progressive" working to move policy forward collaboratively. He works in experience management, though his website has not listed any community leadership or elected experience.
Carusello's top priorities include increasing funding for infrastructure, education, and the environment. He wants to pass new recycling incentives and bipartisan education policy on digital safety and financial literacy. If elected, he would pursue progressive tax policies that make the wealthiest pay their share. He also wants to take on the affordable housing crisis by easing restrictions and reducing permitting times for developers, though not as ambitiously as his fellow candidate Shaun Scott. He lacks the breadth of endorsements and community support that Scott has earned.
The other candidate in this race is Democrat Stephanie Lloyd-Agnew, who has no candidate website available as of late June. In her official voter's guide statement, she states that she has served as vice president for the Coalition of Labor Union Women for Washington and Missouri, and wants to continue Rep. Chopp's work on housing and behavioral health.
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.
Also in the race is Democrat Daniel Carusello, who runs a political commentary blog and identifies himself as a "pragmatic progressive" working to move policy forward collaboratively. He works in experience management, though his website has not listed any community leadership or elected experience.
Carusello's top priorities include increasing funding for infrastructure, education, and the environment. He wants to pass new recycling incentives and bipartisan education policy on digital safety and financial literacy. If elected, he would pursue progressive tax policies that make the wealthiest pay their share. He also wants to take on the affordable housing crisis by easing restrictions and reducing permitting times for developers, though not as ambitiously as his fellow candidate Shaun Scott. He lacks the breadth of endorsements and community support that Scott has earned.
The other candidate in this race is Democrat Stephanie Lloyd-Agnew, who has no candidate website available as of late June. In her official voter's guide statement, she states that she has served as vice president for the Coalition of Labor Union Women for Washington and Missouri, and wants to continue Rep. Chopp's work on housing and behavioral health.
47th Legislative District
Rep. Debra Entenman is running for re-election to Position 1 in the 47th Legislative District. Before running for office, she served as the district director for U.S. Rep. Adam Smith. Entenman currently serves on the Renton Technical College Board of Trustees and previously served on the boards of Neighborhood House and Kent Youth and Family Services.
As an enthusiastic advocate for education and youth support, Entenman was the prime sponsor this year for a successful bill to establish task forces to assess students' basic needs in postsecondary education. The goal for the task forces would be to use these findings to develop hunger-free campus strategic plans to help students in need access public benefits, emergency services, and more. Entenman has had a consistent record of working to improve police accountability by creating an independent civilian office to investigate law enforcement incidents involving the use of force. In previous years, she also sponsored bills to provide youth with access to attorneys if contacted by law enforcement, limit facial recognition technology, and expand access to assistance for vulnerable families in need.
As part of her commitment to the well-being of all district residents, Entenman's campaign platform focuses again on education, technology, public health, and the economy. She wants to increase food security for students, improve the availability of broadband internet, and make sure consumer data is safe and private. Entenman also wants to reimagine public safety using proven methods like violence reduction programs, housing, and mental health care.
Entenman's opponent, Republican Kyle Lyebyedyev, is the owner of a construction company. This is his third run for office in recent years - he also challenged Rep. Debra Entenman in 2020 and 2022 on "pro-Christianity," pro-guns, and anti-abortion platforms. This year, his platform looks familiar: slashing transit funding, pushing back against police accountability, and prioritizing other conservative ideas.
Entenman has been a stalwart and principled leader during her time in Olympia. Debra Entenman is the best choice in this race and has earned your vote.
Rep. Debra Entenman is running for re-election to Position 1 in the 47th Legislative District. Before running for office, she served as the district director for U.S. Rep. Adam Smith. Entenman currently serves on the Renton Technical College Board of Trustees and previously served on the boards of Neighborhood House and Kent Youth and Family Services.
As an enthusiastic advocate for education and youth support, Entenman was the prime sponsor this year for a successful bill to establish task forces to assess students' basic needs in postsecondary education. The goal for the task forces would be to use these findings to develop hunger-free campus strategic plans to help students in need access public benefits, emergency services, and more. Entenman has had a consistent record of working to improve police accountability by creating an independent civilian office to investigate law enforcement incidents involving the use of force. In previous years, she also sponsored bills to provide youth with access to attorneys if contacted by law enforcement, limit facial recognition technology, and expand access to assistance for vulnerable families in need.
As part of her commitment to the well-being of all district residents, Entenman's campaign platform focuses again on education, technology, public health, and the economy. She wants to increase food security for students, improve the availability of broadband internet, and make sure consumer data is safe and private. Entenman also wants to reimagine public safety using proven methods like violence reduction programs, housing, and mental health care.
Entenman's opponent, Republican Kyle Lyebyedyev, is the owner of a construction company. This is his third run for office in recent years - he also challenged Rep. Debra Entenman in 2020 and 2022 on "pro-Christianity," pro-guns, and anti-abortion platforms. This year, his platform looks familiar: slashing transit funding, pushing back against police accountability, and prioritizing other conservative ideas.
Entenman has been a stalwart and principled leader during her time in Olympia. Debra Entenman is the best choice in this race and has earned your vote.
Rep. Chris Stearns is running for re-election to Position 2 in the 47th Legislative District. Stearns, who already made history as the first Native American elected to the Auburn City Council, serves as one of only two Indigenous lawmakers currently in state government. Stearns served as the previous chair of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, Democratic counsel for the Committee of Natural Resources in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first director of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Stearns ran on the promise that he would support civil rights for all, especially those furthest from full representation in the state. To that end, this session Stearns sponsored and led the Native American Apprenticeship bill, which will allow members of federally recognized tribes to receive financial assistance for state-registered apprenticeship programs and college. He also aimed to fund tribal opioid prevention programs and ensure that members of federally recognized tribes can now be part of the Emergency Worker Program.
Chris Stearns has earned your vote for a second term in Olympia.
Rep. Chris Stearns is running for re-election to Position 2 in the 47th Legislative District. Stearns, who already made history as the first Native American elected to the Auburn City Council, serves as one of only two Indigenous lawmakers currently in state government. Stearns served as the previous chair of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, Democratic counsel for the Committee of Natural Resources in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first director of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Stearns ran on the promise that he would support civil rights for all, especially those furthest from full representation in the state. To that end, this session Stearns sponsored and led the Native American Apprenticeship bill, which will allow members of federally recognized tribes to receive financial assistance for state-registered apprenticeship programs and college. He also aimed to fund tribal opioid prevention programs and ensure that members of federally recognized tribes can now be part of the Emergency Worker Program.
Chris Stearns has earned your vote for a second term in Olympia.
Other Candidates
There are two Republicans challenging Stearns for this seat: Ted Cooke and Brian Lott. Cooke previously sought this position in both 2020 and 2022. His answers to the Auburn Examiner's candidate questionnaire in 2020 reveal a deeply conservative agenda, including wanting to take away our freedom to decide if and when to start a family. He also opposed protecting national parks from being sold to corporate entities, safeguarding the collective bargaining rights of workers, and our safe and reliable vote-by-mail system. This year, Cooke is focused on a deeply regressive platform that includes removing age-appropriate sex education from schools, eliminating the capital gains tax on Washington's extremely wealthy families at the expense of middle- and low-income Washingtonians, and reducing police oversight.
Republican Brian Lott ran unsuccessfully for Auburn City Council in 2023. His campaign policies are a wishlist of conservative priorities across the state, including criminalizing homelessness, exempting taxes for wealthy landlords, and continuing to increase the ever-expanding budget for law enforcement.
There are two Republicans challenging Stearns for this seat: Ted Cooke and Brian Lott. Cooke previously sought this position in both 2020 and 2022. His answers to the Auburn Examiner's candidate questionnaire in 2020 reveal a deeply conservative agenda, including wanting to take away our freedom to decide if and when to start a family. He also opposed protecting national parks from being sold to corporate entities, safeguarding the collective bargaining rights of workers, and our safe and reliable vote-by-mail system. This year, Cooke is focused on a deeply regressive platform that includes removing age-appropriate sex education from schools, eliminating the capital gains tax on Washington's extremely wealthy families at the expense of middle- and low-income Washingtonians, and reducing police oversight.
Republican Brian Lott ran unsuccessfully for Auburn City Council in 2023. His campaign policies are a wishlist of conservative priorities across the state, including criminalizing homelessness, exempting taxes for wealthy landlords, and continuing to increase the ever-expanding budget for law enforcement.
48th 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 year 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, healthcare, 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 from the 48th 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 year 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, healthcare, 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 from the 48th Legislative District.
Rep. Amy Walen is running unopposed for re-election to the 48th Legislative District in House Position 2. Walen served five years on the Kirkland City Council before becoming the mayor from 2014 to 2019 and winning her race for Legislature in 2018.
This year, Walen was the primary sponsor of legislation that will ensure that gun shops fully secure and monitor their stores. In addition, she sponsored a bill to prohibit the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals as well as legislation to protect Washingtonians from predatory loans.
Amy Walen has earned your vote for another term in Position 2 for the 48th Legislative District.
Rep. Amy Walen is running unopposed for re-election to the 48th Legislative District in House Position 2. Walen served five years on the Kirkland City Council before becoming the mayor from 2014 to 2019 and winning her race for Legislature in 2018.
This year, Walen was the primary sponsor of legislation that will ensure that gun shops fully secure and monitor their stores. In addition, she sponsored a bill to prohibit the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals as well as legislation to protect Washingtonians from predatory loans.
Amy Walen has earned your vote for another term in Position 2 for the 48th Legislative District.
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.
We recommend Sal Mungia in this race to bring trusted, just, and community-minded leadership to Washington’s 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.
We recommend Sal Mungia in this race to bring trusted, just, and community-minded leadership to Washington’s Supreme Court.
Other Candidates
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. He has not listed any endorsements as of mid-July but it is clear that progressives are backing Mungia in this race.
Tacoma attorney David Shelvey is also in this race. Shelvey has practiced in the areas of family law, estate planning, and taxes, and most recently worked as a tax preparer at H&R Block. On his resume, he lists many degrees including PhDs supposedly earned in a year or less. He lacks judicial leadership experiences in professional or service capacities, and his campaign website shares somewhat scattered thoughts about various legal precedents. He stated in that interview that he decided to run for the Supreme Court after initially setting his sights on a local judicial seat because he was inspired by one of the court’s recent cases defending the rights of some of Washington’s most marginalized residents.
Tax and finance advisor Todd A. Bloom is also in this race. Bloom previously ran for Congress in 2016 as a Republican. While Bloom has a law degree and is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, his professional experience is in financial planning. He appears to have little direct experience with our state’s criminal legal system and offers only vague statements about service and judicial integrity in his campaign. His website is filled with what appears to be filler content from an unrelated architectural firm as of mid-July.
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. He has not listed any endorsements as of mid-July but it is clear that progressives are backing Mungia in this race.
Tacoma attorney David Shelvey is also in this race. Shelvey has practiced in the areas of family law, estate planning, and taxes, and most recently worked as a tax preparer at H&R Block. On his resume, he lists many degrees including PhDs supposedly earned in a year or less. He lacks judicial leadership experiences in professional or service capacities, and his campaign website shares somewhat scattered thoughts about various legal precedents. He stated in that interview that he decided to run for the Supreme Court after initially setting his sights on a local judicial seat because he was inspired by one of the court’s recent cases defending the rights of some of Washington’s most marginalized residents.
Tax and finance advisor Todd A. Bloom is also in this race. Bloom previously ran for Congress in 2016 as a Republican. While Bloom has a law degree and is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, his professional experience is in financial planning. He appears to have little direct experience with our state’s criminal legal system and offers only vague statements about service and judicial integrity in his campaign. His website is filled with what appears to be filler content from an unrelated architectural firm as of mid-July.