Equal Rights Washington Endorsements

Derek Stanford is running unopposed for re-election for the 1st Legislative District Senate seat. He served nearly 10 years as a state representative before earning an appointment to the state Senate to replace Guy Palumbo in 2019. Stanford runs an analytics and statistical consulting business outside of the Senate.

During his time in the Senate, Stanford has focused on education, mental health funding, and improvements in the district. This year, he was the prime sponsor of two successful bills to fund more paraeducators in Washington schools and crack down on predatory loans from out-of-state banks. Locally, Stanford has helped secure funding for important projects like supportive housing in Kenmore and infrastructure at UW Bothell, on top of $28 million for youth behavioral health and $140 million for emergency housing and rental assistance statewide.

Stanford has earned another term in the Senate representing the 1st District.

Rep. Marcus Riccelli is running unopposed to replace retiring Sen. Andy Billig in the 3rd Legislative District, state Senate seat. Riccelli has served this district in the state House since 2013, where he has distinguished himself as a progressive advocate for helping meet residents' basic needs, rebalancing our tax code, and finding creative policy solutions that benefit all Washingtonians. Outside of the Legislature, he works as a community relations manager for the Community Health Association of Spokane.

Riccelli has consistently sponsored progressive legislation to fight for a better Washington for all. This past session, he helped to pass bills to streamline voter address changes, protect abortion and reproductive health care providers from harassment, and make it easier for working families who are eligible for food assistance to access early learning and childcare programs. He was also the primary sponsor of legislation to reduce the costs of health care and prescription medicine so that all residents can access the care they need, not simply the care they can afford. In this race, he is campaigning on a progressive platform emphasizing housing solutions, workforce development, reproductive freedom, affordable health care, and public education investments.

Riccelli has earned your vote to represent the 3rd Legislative District in the 3rd Legislative District.

Ben Stuckart served on the Spokane City Council from 2012 until 2019, including a stint as council president. He now works as the executive director of the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium, developing affordable housing options to increase homeownership across Spokane. Previously, he led the Communities In Schools of Spokane County as the executive director.

In this race, Stuckart is drawing on his community leadership experience to be an effective problem solver in the Legislature. He names the district’s lack of mental health resources, affordable rent, and substance abuse support treatment as some of the biggest issues he would aim to tackle. Stuckart points to his ability to work with diverse stakeholders and across the aisle to get things done.

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.

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.

Democrat and Army veteran Michaela Kelso is challenging Republican Jenny Graham for the Legislative District 6, Position 2 seat. Kelso has served as the state committee chair for the 7th Legislative District Democrats and previously ran for the Legislature in 2022 on a community-centric platform.

Kelso has long been a staunch advocate for progressive reforms to raise the quality of life for all Washingtonians, including through affordable medicine and health care, a balanced tax code where everyone pays their share, and strong public education opportunities. Kelso also supports affordable housing and services to support our neighbors dealing with substance abuse and addiction.

Kelso is challenging far-right Republican and incumbent Rep. Jenny Graham, who is running for her fourth term. Outside of public office, Graham is a professional cosmetologist and esthetician, who has worked across multiple industries. Rep. Graham is an extremist who has spread QAnon-related conspiracies including claiming that Democrats are “possessed by demons” and promoting dangerous lies about vaccines. She is a vocal proponent of the death penalty. In office, Graham 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. She also opposed bills to require that Washington’s prisons respect human rights and dignity, to provide assistance programs to keep working families going, and to fund basic student needs across the state.

Michaela Kelso is the best choice for Legislative District 6, Position 2.

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

Dean’s top priorities in this race include veteran support, accessible health care, sufficient funding for public schools, and addressing the unique challenges faced by Washington’s small towns. He stands out in this crowded race for his thoughtful, moderate views.

Dean is the best choice for state House from District 7.

Physician Pam Kohlmeier is challenging Joe Schmick in this race. Kohlmeier earned degrees from both medical school and law school. She has worked in emergency medical care and also taught in Eastern Washington’s Masters in Public Health program. Additionally, Kohlmeier has held numerous community leadership positions including on the board of both Spokane’s National Alliance on Mental Illness chapter and a nonprofit that focuses on interrupting the cycle of abuse in families.

In this race, Kohlmeier’s top priority is to improve our healthcare system. Specifically, she wants to ensure that Washington’s rural communities can access the care they need. Kohlmeier recently lost a child to suicide, and feels strongly that our mental health services and care must be widespread and accessible to all.

She is the best choice in this race.

Island County Commissioner Janet St. Clair is challenging Republican incumbent Ron Muzzal for the Legislative District 10 Senate seat. St. Clair has served as a county commissioner since 2018 and has spent her three-decade-long career in social work, including as a director of large social service organizations. She is also a proud volunteer foster parent.

On the Island County Commission, St. Clair has been a strong advocate for affordability and environmental protections so that county residents of all income levels can build sustainable futures. She is running on a pragmatic Democratic platform in this race while continuing to value bipartisanship, affordability, and community service. St. Clair’s top priorities include reducing corporate price gouging, advocating for reproductive freedom, ensuring prescription drugs and health care are affordable, protecting air, water, and local ecosystems, and supporting veterans. St. Clair also wants to bridge first responder and law enforcement resources to address the fentanyl crisis with compassion.

Ron Muzzall, the Republican incumbent, is running for another term in the state Senate. He was first elected in 2019 and works in the agriculture industry as a farm owner and manager. In his first year in office, Muzzall failed to provide strong leadership during the coronavirus pandemic and the following economic downturn. Last year, he 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. In the 2024 legislative session, he voted against key bills to protect consumer data privacy and opposed bills that would reduce gun violence through stronger background checks.

Democrat Denny Sandberg has no campaign website and little information available as of mid July. We will continue to monitor this race and update Sandberg's information if it becomes available.

We recommend Janet St. Clair for the state Senate position representing the 10th Legislative District to continue leading with community needs at the state level.

Democratic Rep. Dave Paul is running for re-election in the 10th Legislative District for Position 2. He joined the Legislature in 2019 after working for Skagit Valley College for more than a decade. As a member of the Transportation and Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committees, Paul has worked hard to improve Washingtonians' career opportunities and connectivity to work, play, and school around the state.

This year, Paul led efforts to cap the cost of life-saving inhalers and epinephrine injectors at $35 a month and to implement the 988 behavioral health crisis and suicide prevention system. Locally, Paul helped secure funding for the Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue's new station as well as outreach and services for rural youth mental health in Island County.

Paul has been one of the most thoughtful leaders in Olympia during his first two terms, reaching across the aisle to get things done for the district. We enthusiastically recommend Paul to continue representing the 10th Legislative District with strong community-centered leadership in the House.

Former Snoqualmie City Council member and Democrat Jim Mayhew is running for departing Republican Brad Hawkins’ 12th Legislative District Senate seat. Republicans have held the seat Hawkins is vacating for more than half of a century. Mayhew’s professional background is in the corporate world, where he spent most of his career as an accountant at a large consulting firm before serving as the CFO of a locally based company.

On the city council, Mayhew established himself as a pragmatic, moderate voice for community needs. He prioritized public transit, community services, and affordability in Snoqualmie. He is particularly proud of his work partnering with the private sector to increase the number of affordable housing units in a major development and sponsoring legislation to create the Community Center Expansion in Snoqualmie.

Now, Mayhew is running to bring Democratic leadership and representation to the purple district, which is currently led exclusively by Republicans. His priorities in this race include investing in education and housing, protecting abortion rights and reproductive freedom in our state, and uplifting our economy in the areas of workforce development, clean energy markets, and local supply chains. Mayhew also wants to carefully manage public resources and services in order to ensure all Washingtonians can meet basic needs, including addiction recovery treatment, affordable housing and emergency shelter, and mental health support.

Mayhew's opponent is Republican Rep. Keith Goehner, who has served in House Position 1 for the district since 2018. Goehner has led with typically conservative priorities such as cutting investments in community services and infrastructure, eliminating police accountability measures, and prioritizing business interests. His voting record in office includes recent opposition to bills that would protect consumers’ private data, create greater access to reproductive health care, and protect crucial services for youth who are either experiencing homelessness or are in the foster system. He is not a progressive choice, and will not advocate for community needs if he is elected to the state Senate.

Mayhew is the best choice for state Senate from the 12th Legislative District.

Democrat Kari Isaacson is running for the state Senate seat representing the 16th Legislative District. Isaacson is the chair of the Walla Walla County Democrats. She has a law degree and has served in executive leadership including as vice president of the UnitedHealth Group and as the CEO of large foundations.

Isaacson is running a practical, progressive campaign to raise the standard of living in the 16th Legislative District for all residents. She wants to support intergenerational wealth building for the working class so that hard work leads to economic opportunity. Isaacson believes that the foundation of a strong community includes access to affordable childcare, education, health care, and substance abuse treatment. If elected, she also wants to improve economic growth and public safety.

Isaacson is challenging Sen. Perry Dozier, who has pursued a conservative agenda in his first term in office. He voted against bills that create antitrust protections, expand access to childcare and early learning, and fund county hospitals. Dozier, who works as a wheat farmer, has also voted against many climate protection bills. He joined only six other Republicans to vote against a bill that would expand housing and food assistance to homeless and foster care youth.

Isaacson is the best choice for state Senate representing the 16th Legislative District

Marla Keethler is running in the newly redistricted 17th Legislative District for state Senate. Keethler is a broadcast journalist and currently serves as the two-term mayor of White Salmon, where she's prioritized infrastructure efforts like replacing the aging Hood River Bridge and restarting the Jewett repaving project.

Her website states that Keethler will emphasize finding common-ground solutions to childcare, housing, infrastructure, and public safety. In local interviews, Keethler has said she wants to build partnerships in the region that could help bring in more education providers and expand the resources available to local schools. She's proud of the work she's done locally to expand the city's housing code to allow more affordable types of homes and bring more opportunities for affordable housing, and she wants to continue that work in the Legislature. Keethler emphasizes that her nonpartisan background as mayor could help serve as a bridge to improve collaboration in lawmaking.

Keethler is challenging Republican Sen. Paul Harris. He has occasionally broken with his party on important issues, including sponsoring bills that would raise the age for buying tobacco products to 21 and opposing some of this year's dangerous ballot measures. However, his record is disappointing on other priorities, including opposing bills to protect access to abortion care. In addition, he voted against allowing survivors of domestic violence to seek help virtually during the pandemic. More recently, Harris voted against capping excessive rent increases, establishing a behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention system, and expanding basic assistance like laundry and reduced-price meals for foster and homeless youth.

Marla Keethler would be more responsive to the needs of the district. She is the clear choice for state Senate representing the 17th Legislative District.

Democrat Terri Niles is running for House Position 1 in the newly redistricted 17th Legislative District. Niles is the past vice president of the Oregon Nurses Association and has worked for 20 years as an ICU nurse. She has served as a Clark County charter review commissioner and president of the Clark County Democratic Women, among other leadership roles.

If elected, Niles wants to find common ground on issues that affect everyone in the district. She wants to focus on access to health and reproductive care, expand affordable housing, and reduce the cost of higher education while offering access to apprenticeships, giving the next generation the runway they need to succeed. She supports crisis intervention care that improves and supplements the city's current response to behavioral health calls.

As a longtime health care worker who wants to expand opportunities for good jobs, accessible care, and a strong education system to everyone in the district, Terri Niles is the best choice for state House from the 17th Legislative District.

Union member and Democrat Deken Letinich is challenging Republican incumbent Stephanie McClintock for Legislative District 18, Position 1.​​ Letinich is an assistant political and legislative director for the Washington and Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers. 

Letinich is running to raise the quality of life in Southwest Washington by tackling safety and affordability. He wants to address the cost of living while making childcare and housing more affordable. If elected, Letinich would also improve community safety by investing in road improvement and clean water protections while defending reproductive freedom. In this race, he has been endorsed by key progressive organizations and unions.

Incumbent McClintock is a former member of the Battleground School Board and former chair of the Clark County Republican Party. Despite her role on the school board, McClintock has spent her first term in the Legislature fighting against inclusive and practical policies in Washington schools. Specifically, she voted against bills to prevent discrimination in public schools. She is a pro-business conservative who also voted against protecting worker health care in labor disputes, the right for workers to refrain from attending political or religious meetings held by their employers, and collective bargaining for state employees.

Letinich is the best choice in this race.

Democrat John Zingale has worked as a teacher for more than a decade in the district, earning him state and local awards as an educator who focuses on civic engagement. He's running for the 18th Legislative District's House Position 2 to provide opportunities for working-class families to thrive through strong workplace protections, health care access, and more.

As an education professional, Zingale understands the immense benefits a strong school system can have for youth, families, and communities. If elected, he wants to invest in more robust career training and rebalance funding for public schools so that they rely less on property taxes. Zingale also wants to create incentives for sustainable building and reasonable zoning regulation changes to create a better life for those in the 18th District. He sees universal healthcare as a key public good -- one that keeps everyone healthy, productive, and able to avoid the threat of medical debt.

Zingale ran a solid race as a first-time candidate in 2022, and he has returned with a strong platform that has earned him the support of many progressive advocates. John Zingale is the clear choice for state House from the 18th Legislative District.

The race for the 19th Legislative District's Position 2 seat features two conservatives and one Democrat who has released little campaign information.

Democrat Terry Carlson is a member, organizer, and recording secretary for the International Association Machinists/Woodworkers Union W536, as well as vice president of the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council. His website lacks detail but is still much more progressive than that of his fellow candidates. If elected, he wants to strengthen corporate accountability, fortify workers’ rights, and pave the way for working-class jobs in energy, natural resources, and small business sectors. Carlson also believes in reproductive freedom, high-quality public education, and a healthy working democracy. He has earned strong labor endorsements in this race.

While we hope Carlson makes a stronger case for his election on the November ballot, he is still likely the best choice in this race.

Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self is running for re-election to the 21st Legislative District, House Position 2. She has served families and children throughout her career as the regional coordinator for the Illinois State Board of Education and former director and founder of the Comunidad Unida Project, a center for Latino families and youth. Ortiz-Self also serves as chair of the Washington State Latino Democratic Caucus and secretary of the executive committee of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

Since joining the House in 2015, Ortiz-Self has put her expertise to work improving the lives of students and workers in her district and beyond. This year she was the primary sponsor for successful bills to help workers who've filed wage complaints and to provide dual and tribal language education. Ortiz-Self also sponsored bills to enhance the College Bound Scholarship program, provide free school meals for all students, remove barriers to hiring paraeducators, and more.

Over the years Ortiz-Self has spearheaded many efforts to secure more resources for students, prevent gun violence, and lead in the House. She is the best choice in the race for Position 2.

Rep. Jessica Bateman is running to represent the 22nd Legislative District in the state Senate. A star legislator in her four years serving in the state House, she hopes to continue leading the state on housing affordability, reproductive justice, climate, and more. Before serving in the House, Bateman was an Olympia City Council member for five years, including serving as deputy mayor for two years, and an Olympia Planning Commissioner. She currently works as a policy advisor for community health centers in Washington.

One of Bateman's biggest contributions has been her tenacity in making housing more affordable and accessible for all. In 2022, Bateman was the prime sponsor of the "middle housing" bill, which sought to expand housing options near transit and require cities to allow more homes to be built. Middle housing, or housing options between large-scale housing complexes and single-family homes, is one crucial element Washington families need to reduce costs. As cities build more duplexes, triplexes, cottage clusters, townhomes, and other medium-sized options, Washington can finally begin to meet its housing deficit, lower rents, increase homeownership, and more.

Bateman has also successfully sponsored other progressive priorities, including bills to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristone, simplify the decarbonization of buildings, grow the behavioral health workforce through in-state licensing, and create incentives to convert commercial buildings into housing.

Jessica Bateman has been a standout member of the House and has earned your vote for state Senate.

Beth Doglio is running for re-election to House Position 1 representing the 22nd Legislative District. She was first elected to this seat in 2016, and was re-elected in 2022 after she stepped down in 2020 to run for Congress. Prior to seeking elected office, Doglio worked as the Climate Solutions campaign director and was the founding executive director of Washington Conservation Voters.

Doglio sponsored a large number of bills this year, including legislation to begin decarbonizing Puget Sound Energy’s gas system. She furthered her climate-saving agenda with several other bills she sponsored, including funding zero-emission school buses and changing rules around unlawful solid waste dumping. She also helped expand paid sick leave and ensure the safe disposal of guns seized by law enforcement.

Doglio is facing Independent candidate and Navy veteran Steve Owens. He states that he's running to diverge from politics as usual. He is not looking for endorsements or support from groups outside the district. Some of his policies include removing the need for college from government jobs, ending the "renter class" in favor of home ownership, and de-centralizing housing away from major transit lines.

Doglio has been a force for progress in the Legislature. She has earned your vote for re-election in the 22nd District.

Democrat Brynn Felix is challenging Nance for Position 2 representing the 23rd Legislative District. Felix has a long history of working as an advocate for civil rights and providing legal aid. As a law clerk for Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu and an organizer and lobbyist at ACLU of Washington, Felix has had a significant impact on our community. Notably, she worked to enact marriage equality, the Washington Voting Rights Act, and criminal justice reform policies. She has also served on Senator Patty Murray's staff on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, as well as with several community organizations.

In our interview with Felix, she stated that health care is her number one priority followed by education and equitable access to infrastructure. Though she recognizes that the legislature doesn't yet have the votes for single-payer health care, Felix wants to build policy bridges until that time comes by expanding eligibility for care and increasing investments into a strong health care workforce. She recognizes that funding for education drops the further south you go in the district. If elected, she wants to fully fund special education and protect collective bargaining for educators.

Felix believes her in-depth community service and lived experience as a member of the LGTBQ+ community allow her to be a stronger progressive leader for the district. We lean toward Felix in this race because of her extensive track record of organizing for progressive change.

Democrat Cameron Severns is running for Legislative District 25, House Position 1 to fill Republican Kelly Chambers' seat. Severns is an insurance agent and has served the community on the board of the South Hill Church, where he has led an addiction-recovery ministry. In 2022, he vied for another incumbent Republican’s seat in the 25th Legislative District in a formidable write-in campaign.

Severns is a more moderate candidate, running to bring a commonsense alternative to the district’s conservative leadership. He is a vocal advocate for environmental protections and a high quality of life for all. His campaign is built on his own experience with eviction and job loss. If elected, Severns wants to make sure that all residents of the 25th Legislative District have the same support. He is leading with the values of unity, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Challenging Severns is Republican Michael Keaton, a senior manager at one of the largest missile producers and U.S. defense contractors. Keaton has also served two terms on the Puyallup School Board. In this race, Keaton is running on a vague platform to eliminate regulations that keep our communities and ecosystems safe and to throw more people into our overcrowded jails and prisons.

Severns is the clear choice in this race.

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

Willis has demonstrated a long track record of civic leadership and previously ran an inclusive campaign that envisioned prosperous and safe neighborhoods for all. She is running on a community-centric platform to address living affordability, investing in infrastructure, supporting veterans’ affairs, building true community safety, and more.

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

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

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

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

Republican Carole Sue Braaten is challenging Trudeau this year. In 2012, she ran for a state House seat representing Legislative District 25 but did not make it past the primary. In this race, she has yet to release a campaign platform or website as of early June.

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

Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins is running for re-election to the 27th Legislative District, Position 1. She has been a passionate and effective champion for progressive values, particularly in her fight for racial and gender equity and closing tax loopholes. Since 2020, she has served as the first woman and LBGTQ+ speaker of the House in Washington.

As speaker, Jinkins leads the House's legislative process. She consistently advocates for the wealthy to pay their share and provide the resources our communities need to thrive. Recently, she has pledged to protect the right to abortion in Washington state. In previous sessions, Jinkins sponsored bills to improve education funding and secure resources for a new health clinic in Hilltop that serves low-income patients.

Challenging Jinkins this year is Republican Ken Paulson, who has run for office twice before with campaigns in 2008 and 2010 for Pierce County Council and state Senate. He raised no funds in his previous campaigns and has no campaign information or website available this year as of early June. Paulson has been featured in local newspapers advocating for anti-stalking laws after the death of his daughter at the hands of a stalker in 2010.

Speaker Jinkins has been a keystone of progressive advocacy in Washington and has earned another term in the House.

Sen. T'wina Nobles is running for re-election for the 28th Legislative District Senate seat to continue her outstanding work in Olympia. Nobles is the president and CEO of the Tacoma Urban League, an organization that helps underserved communities navigate difficult economic times. She has worked in education for 15 years as an instructor, University Place School Board director, and PTA leader.

As chair of the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee, she has dedicated herself to improving the lives of students across the state. Nobles sponsored a bill signed into law this year that will help youth in foster care thrive by providing them access to financial literacy education and banking. She also sponsored bills this session to increase access to free meals for students in need, establish collective bargaining rights for employed students, and make financial aid more accessible for postsecondary school students. As the only Black member of the Senate, Nobles has worked hard to improve equity for all in the state.

If elected, Nobles wants to increase pay for teachers, reduce class sizes, and work to make schools more inclusive and equitable. She knows more needs to be done to ensure families in the 28th LD are healthy and safe, which she believes includes gun violence prevention, addiction recovery and mental health resources, and better health care access.

Nobles faces a challenge from Republican Maia Espinoza. She has served on the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, and is the executive director and founder of the Center for Latino Leadership, a civic engagement organization.

This is Espinoza's fourth run for public office, with failed runs for Lakewood City Council, state representative, and Superintendent of Public Education. Espinoza's previous campaigns have been newsworthy for a lawsuit against her for false claims about her opponent's stance on comprehensive sexual health education, which Espinoza has stood against despite research showing healthier outcomes for students who learn about consent and their own health. She was also dinged in her 2020 race against Reykdal for falsely listing her organization as a nonprofit when it didn't meet the criteria. Her brief list of policy priorities this year includes right-wing dog whistles involving parental rights, which conservatives have used this year to try and siphon off public funding for private schools and enact book bans.

Nobles has been a standout progressive leader and has earned your vote for re-election to the state Senate.

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

Since joining the Legislature in 2019, Leavitt has focused on improving education, safeguarding democracy, and advocating for veterans and military families. She sponsored successful bills this year to protect election workers from harassment and death threats, assign the Washington Military Department to help residents in extreme weather events, and provide education to schools to prevent youth drug overdoses and addiction. She also sponsored a bill to help veterans and military families access workforce training after their assignments.

Her Republican opponent is Marine Corps veteran Gabe Sachwitz. Like many conservatives, he says that laws should be examined through the lens of the Constitution, but he offers little detail about how that would affect policies he would support in the Legislature. Sachwitz also states that policies should be "widely acceptable" to the public and that legislators shouldn't support "random changes," though again he gives no specific examples of actual policies or laws with which he has concerns. As of early June, he has no concrete examples of what he would seek to accomplish as a lawmaker.

Leavitt has worked hard to expand benefits for military families, fund local projects like toxic "forever chemicals" cleanup in Lakewood, and more. She is the best and most experienced choice in this race.

Incumbent Representative Dan Bronoske is running for another term in Legislative District 28, House Position 2. In addition to his Legislative work, Bronoske has served as a Pierce County and Lakewood firefighter for two decades and is an active union member. He is also a delegate on the Pierce County Central Labor Council Delegate and a member of the Pierce College EMS Advisory Board.

In office, Bronoske has been a champion of working people and community safety. Last session, he supported bills to strengthen gun safety in our communities, add legal protections against certain forms of sexual assault, and ensure oil pipelines do not harm our ecosystems. Bronoske’s top campaign priorities include continuing to improve community safety, reducing the cost of living, and supporting local small businesses.

Republican Mark Herr is challenging Bronoske for his seat from the right. He emphasizes police and law enforcement as the main tools to address homelessness, which represents only a band-aid approach to a complex challenge. Unfortunately, Herr provides voters with few details about his campaign priorities or how he would achieve results in office.

Rep. Dan Bronoske is a strong advocate for community progress and he deserves your vote for another term in the 38th Legislative District’s House Position 2

Rep. Melanie Morgan is running for re-election for the 29th Legislative District, House Position 1. Morgan is an Army veteran who was elected to the Franklin-Pierce School Board in 2015 and worked with Young Life to create a mentorship group for young Black men, focusing on participation in STEM fields. Since taking office in 2019, she has been an advocate for representation and equity in Olympia where she has served as the deputy majority floor leader.

As someone who has experienced homelessness, Morgan has focused her efforts in the Legislature on ensuring Washingtonians stay healthy and housed. She was the primary sponsor of the successful effort to establish a state department of housing that aims to tackle the enormous need for homelessness prevention and increase housing options. She has also worked to secure funding for a new Parkland/Spanaway homeless shelter, rental assistance, and charity care for those who need medical services but are struggling to afford them. In addition, Morgan has focused on supporting bills that provide food assistance to needy families, cap the cost of insulin, and increase public transportation options in Pierce County.

We are concerned about recent reports that Morgan "engaged in abusive and bullying conduct" while in office. Leaders of the House Democrats are waiting for the completion of her appeal before taking any action. Pending the outcome of the investigation, at the current time of writing, Morgan is more qualified than her opponent in terms of a real strategy and experience about how to make and pass policies that affect the people of the district. She is currently the best option for the 29th Legislative District.

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

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

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

Democratic incumbent Cindy Ryu is running for another term in House Position 1 representing the 32nd District. She joined the Legislature in 2011, becoming the first Korean American to serve in the state Legislature. Before that, she became the first Korean American woman mayor in the country when she was elected mayor of Shoreline. Outside of elected office, Ryu runs a property management business.

Ryu is a reliable Democratic voice in Olympia with top policy focuses on public education, the climate, transit infrastructure, and small businesses. As a secondary sponsor, Ryu helped pass a slate of progressive bills this past session, including bills to strengthen voting processes, support professional licensing for undocumented Washingtonians, and enact the Nothing About Us Without Us Act to ​​promote disability justice.

Republican Lisa Rezac is challenging Ryu in this race. Rezac has attempted to paint herself as a moderate by pointing to her previous Democratic voting record. However, she actually chairs the 32nd Legislative District Republicans, leading the conservative agenda for the area. Like other right-wing candidates in this election, Rezac is running on a divisive platform that prioritizes business interests and misinformation.

Ryu is the best choice in this race.

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.

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.

James DeHart is challenging Republican incumbent Travis Couture for House Position 2 in the 35th Legislative District. He previously ran for the district’s other House seat in 2022, when he ran a progressive campaign with a community vision for the district. DeHart has worked for the Department of Social and Health Services and the Department of Transportation. Currently, he works in public records management for the Washington State Gambling Commission.

DeHart is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and a pillar of his campaign is to fight for all marginalized Washingtonians, especially communities of color, to have access to voting, housing, and good wages. He is running an inclusive and optimistic campaign centered on connecting Washingtonians with the basic resources they need to thrive. He believes health care and housing are human rights and wants to strengthen our democracy, deliver high-quality education, and reform law enforcement to better serve all communities.

DeHart is the clear progressive choice for Position 2 in the 35th District.

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

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

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

Democratic Rep. Liz Berry is running for another term in Legislative District 36, Position 2. Before joining the Legislature in 2021, Berry served as the director of the Washington State Association of Justice, the president of the National Women’s Political Caucus, and a board member of the organization formerly known as NARAL Pro-Choice Washington.

Berry has had two successful terms as a strong advocate representing her community. This year, she was the primary sponsor of a series of bills aimed at closing loopholes and reducing gun violence in Washington communities. She also helped to pass progressive victories as a secondary sponsor on bills to bring zero-emission school buses to Washington students and to expand wage protections under the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act.

Berry is facing a challenge from conservative Victoria Palmer, a personal organizer and chair of the 36th District Republicans. Palmer claims to have become politically engaged during the coronavirus pandemic when she organized a “March for Freedom” to oppose Gov. Inslee’s science-backed public health guidelines. Her conservative, anti-science views are far out of step with local voters.

We recommend Liz Berry for another term in House Position 2 representing the 36th Legislative District.

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

Rep. Cortes has led with a thoughtful understanding of the root causes of community issues and a commitment to addressing them compassionately and effectively. This session, he helped to pass a number of critical bills as a secondary sponsor, including legislation to provide 100% clean energy school buses, expand the wage discrimination protections in the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, and streamline access to early learning and childcare programs for low-income and working Washington families.

Now, Cortes is campaigning to invest in workforce development and small businesses, expand affordable housing, provide wraparound services to Washingtonians struggling the most, and address our upside-down tax code so everyone pays their share. We recommend Julio Cortes for another term in Legislative District 38, Position 1.

Democratic Rep. Mary Fosse is running for re-election to Legislation Position 38, House Position 2. Prior to her first term in office, she served as a member of the Everett City Council, advocating for the city’s underserved Delta neighborhood, and as a chair of the Delta Neighborhood Association. She also runs a local plant nursery which involves teaching community plant workshops.

Fosse is a strong community advocate who has worked tirelessly to bring opportunity and prosperity to her constituents. As a secondary sponsor, she helped pass bills to streamline the voter address change process to reduce barriers to voting, enable working people to access professional licensing regardless of immigration status, and strengthen wage discrimination protections to ensure all workers are paid fairly. If re-elected, Fosse will continue prioritizing housing for all, accessible health care, workers' rights, and an economy that works for all of us, not just the wealthy.

Republican Marnie Claywell is challenging Fosse in this race. Claywell serves as the director of operations for a nonprofit focused on providing housing for community members who are low-income and/or have disabilities. Her platform in this race is typically right-wing, and she wants to eliminate abortion and reproductive health care access. If elected, Claywell wants to defend “God-given rights” in Olympia while pushing far-right policy in the Legislature. Her views are not representative of the district.

Mary Fosse has worked hard in her first term to bring progress to Legislative District 38 and she has earned another term in Olympia.

Democrat John Snow is a U.S. Navy veteran who is running to make a difference in the lives of 39th Legislative District residents. Snow supports reforms that empower working Washingtonians, including supporting the right to unionize, rebalancing the state's tax code to make the wealthiest finally pay their share, and increasing wages. He also supports funding public education so that teachers no longer struggle to survive. Unlike the incumbent, Snow also supports the right to abortion care. His platform has earned him the endorsement of three local Democratic organizations.

Snow is challenging conservative incumbent Sen. Keith Wagoner. Wagoner is a Navy veteran and a former Sedro-Woolley mayor who has served in the state Senate since 2018. He has supported a right-wing agenda in Olympia. Last year, he was the face of opposition to a Democrat-proposed bill requiring anyone purchasing a firearm to take a safety course beforehand. In the Senate, Wagoner also recently voted against bills to continue assistance programs to keep working families on their feet, to expand reproductive health access for all Washingtonians, and to provide the basic needs for our students.

Also in this race is Democrat Tim McDonald, a director on the Arlington School Board. McDonald is a retired airline pilot who has worked in a number of industries and even served in the Vietnam War. He is a moderate Democrat with a conservative fiscal policy that would restrict key community investments to make our community more equitable, sustainable, and safe. However, McDonald does support housing affordability measures, public greenspace access, and corporate accountability.

Snow is by far the best choice in this race.

Sen. Liz Lovelett is running for re-election in Legislative District 40. Lovelett is a fifth-generation Anacortes resident who previously served on the Anacortes City Council. In her time in office, Lovelett has prioritized passing bills that support environmental conservation. This year, she was the prime sponsor of a bill to explore geothermal energy in the state and has helped secure local funding for ferries, addressed chemical pollutants (PFAS) in the water supply in the San Juans, and supported the construction of the new Lopez Food Center. She has also played a key role in passing legislation protecting orcas and the Salish Sea. If re-elected this November, Lovelett wants to continue her work expanding investments in the ferry system, increasing access to nutritious food and housing for residents in need, and addressing climate-critical projects.

Lovelett faces a challenge from Republican Charles Carrell, who ran against her in 2020 and lost by nearly 40 points. Though he has no website or campaign information available as of mid July, his 2020 campaign focused almost entirely on the vague promise of eliminating government redundancy without any specific path or experience that he would use to achieve that.

Lovelett has earned your vote for state Senate from the 40th District.

Rep. Alex Ramel is running unopposed for re-election to Position 2 in the 40th Legislative District. Ramel has been a strong progressive leader in the Legislature since his appointment in 2020 and re-election in 2022. He previously served on the board of the Whatcom chapter of Washington Conservation Voters and now works as a climate policy advisor for an environmental nonprofit.

As a climate expert and former environmental organizer, Ramel has worked hard to protect Washington's clean air and water. This year, Ramel sponsored bills to upgrade the districts' energy systems in state-owned buildings and mitigate wildfire risk through electric utility planning. He also supported last year's successful bill to expand "middle housing" options like duplexes and triplexes to alleviate the state's immense need for affordable homes. Finally, he helped secure millions in funding for local projects like the Lopez Island Food Hub.

Ramel has been an outstanding advocate for progressive causes and has more than earned your vote to continue serving the 40th Legislative 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.

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.

Democrat and first-term representative Joe Timmons is running again for Position 2 representing the 42nd Legislative District. Before his election in 2022, Timmons worked in the governor's office as the regional outreach representative for Whatcom and neighboring counties.

Timmons was the prime sponsor for two bills this session - one that assists seniors by clarifying that meals in senior living communities are not subject to sales tax as part of their rental agreement and another that establishes a state medical reserve corps, which can assist across all communities in the event of a public health crisis or natural disaster. He also passed two bills last session to create a low-interest student loan program for students looking for advanced degrees in industries short on workers. Locally, Timmons worked to secure funding for the Whatcom Alternative Response Team program, a 24-hour crisis relief center in Bellingham, and other investments.

Running against Timmons is Republican Kamal Bhachu. This is Bhachu's third run for office in recent years. He ran unsuccessfully for the 42nd House seat in 2022 and for Whatcom County Council in 2021. As of mid-July, his site lists two priorities: repealing police accountability legislation and a vague mention of the function of schools. He has not listed any elected or community leadership experience.

Timmons' legislative record proves him to be an advocate for helping working families and neighbors in need in the district. He's the best choice for Position 2 in the 42nd 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.

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

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

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

Rep. Gerry Pollet is running for re-election to the 46th Legislative District, House Position 1. He is the executive director of Heart of America Northwest, a group devoted to cleaning up the Hanford Nuclear site. Pollet's background as an attorney and educator has enhanced his policy work on the issues of climate change, equitable education, and government transparency.

In the Legislature, Pollet has been a reliable vote for protecting the environment and improving education. This term, he sponsored bills that will mandate and fund the purchases of zero-emission school buses, reduce lead in cookware, and provide consumer protections in the solar energy market. In previous years, he also sponsored a bill to require the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, as well as bills to reduce school class sizes and offer free community college.

While Pollet has been excellent on environmental issues, we were extremely disappointed that he was an obstacle to important legislation related to housing affordability. The "missing middle" housing bill, sponsored by Rep. Bateman, would have given Washingtonians more housing options by increasing density near transit lines. As the chair of the Local Government Committee, Pollet used his position to water down this bill with amendments in a way that would exempt much of his district when the bill eventually passed. This isn't the first time Pollet has opposed important legislation that would reduce the cost of housing. In previous years, he also weakened or blocked bills that would allow homeowners to build and rent backyard cottages. As the need for affordable housing becomes more dire in Washington, Pollet should be more accountable and transparent to voters about why he refuses to support these much-needed bills.

Pollet faces two challengers in the primary election. Beth Daranciang is the president of the Bothell/North King Republican Women’s Club and a Republican precinct committee officer in the 46th District. This is her third run in the district; she ran in 2018 and 2020 for the 46th House and Senate seats. Her platform this year is even more conservative than most candidates. She is staunchly anti-abortion and has pushed false narratives about "buying babies" through surrogacy, supported lowering taxes on big businesses, and more.

The third candidate in this race is Democrat Ahndylyn Kinney, who is running as a self-identified moderate Democrat. The majority of her site's issue page critiques public safety but offers no real solutions on how she would make change aside from "respond[ing] to data and science to support policies which are effective" and funding yet more law enforcement.

While we have serious concerns about Pollet's positions on housing and density, his overall voting record makes him the best choice in this race.

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

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

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

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

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

Slatter's bills this 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.

Senator Annette Cleveland is running for re-election in the 49th Legislative District. Now in her third term since joining the Senate in 2012, Cleveland is an advocate for education, small businesses, health care access, and veterans. Her work experience ranges from small business advocacy with the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce to work for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray on WSU Vancouver funding, and she has also worked in services for veterans and military families.

Unfortunately, earlier this year, Cleveland was one of three Democrats who voted against this session's rent stabilization bill, alongside Senators Kevin Van De Wege and Mark Mullet. Her refusal to vote the bill out of the housing committee resulted in Washingtonians losing out on a 5 percent cap on annual rent increases at a time when so many renters are struggling with the cost of living. Furthermore, while Cleveland has supported and sponsored some good bills like this year's online health care expansion bill, she has also been an obstacle to passing legislation that allows hard-working nurses to take uninterrupted meal and rest breaks.

Despite these flaws, her opponent Lucia Worthington is not a better choice. A professor of business and history and acknowledged as a "recognized candidate" by the Clark County Republicans, Worthington has no elected or community leadership experience and very little concrete policy detail available on her website as of early June.

Annette Cleveland is the better choice in this race.