The Stranger Endorsements
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.
Congress
1st Congressional District
Rep. Suzan DelBene is seeking another term representing Washington Congressional District 1 in the U.S. House. DelBene has been a staunch advocate for working families, consumer protections and data privacy, health care, technology, and small businesses since she was first elected to the position in 2012. She also serves on the Pro-Choice Caucus. Professionally, her background is in tech, including working at Microsoft and leading a handful of local startups. In addition, she worked as the director of the Washington State Department of Revenue before joining Congress.
Some of DelBene’s greatest accomplishments in office include expanding the low-income housing and child tax credits, increasing access to baby formula across the country, funding job-training opportunities (resulting in $22 million for Washington state alone), and securing programs to support Americans struggling with substance abuse issues. In this race, she boasts a detailed, thoughtful platform that includes priorities to defend reproductive freedom, reduce the cost of living for working families, increase access to affordable health care, safeguard our local ecosystems and natural resources, strengthen the Social Security program, support Washington farms and food security, and more.
DelBene is a strong Democratic voice in Congress who deserves another vote to continue advocating for Washington’s 1st Congressional District.
Rep. Suzan DelBene is seeking another term representing Washington Congressional District 1 in the U.S. House. DelBene has been a staunch advocate for working families, consumer protections and data privacy, health care, technology, and small businesses since she was first elected to the position in 2012. She also serves on the Pro-Choice Caucus. Professionally, her background is in tech, including working at Microsoft and leading a handful of local startups. In addition, she worked as the director of the Washington State Department of Revenue before joining Congress.
Some of DelBene’s greatest accomplishments in office include expanding the low-income housing and child tax credits, increasing access to baby formula across the country, funding job-training opportunities (resulting in $22 million for Washington state alone), and securing programs to support Americans struggling with substance abuse issues. In this race, she boasts a detailed, thoughtful platform that includes priorities to defend reproductive freedom, reduce the cost of living for working families, increase access to affordable health care, safeguard our local ecosystems and natural resources, strengthen the Social Security program, support Washington farms and food security, and more.
DelBene is a strong Democratic voice in Congress who deserves another vote to continue advocating for Washington’s 1st Congressional District.
7th Congressional District
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is running for another term in the U.S. House representing Washington’s 7th Congressional District. Jaypal was first elected to the position in 2016 and has since become one of the strongest progressive voices in Congress, advocating for immigration reform, civil liberties, and economic justice as the chair of the Progressive Caucus. In 2001, Jayapal founded the now largest immigrant rights organization in the state, OneAmerica. She has also been a leader on local issues, including championing Seattle’s $15 minimum wage effort on the Mayoral Advisory Committee.
In Congress, Rep. Jayapal has pioneered bold progress, including being a strong advocate for reproductive freedom and abortion access, supporting trans civil rights, and speaking out for immigrants. She has criticized President Biden’s harsher border policies and spoken in support of peace in the Middle East amidst the rising death toll in Gaza and growing concerns of a regional war. She recently announced the House Progressives' 2025 goals, which include raising wages, investing in our future with clean energy and K-12 education funding, eliminating the Senate filibuster, and increasing regulation and accountability for the nation’s largest companies.
Congresswoman Jayapal exemplifies what it means to bring progressive, community values to Congress. She is a key voice in the U.S. House working to uplift our nation’s most marginalized and she has earned your vote for another term representing Congressional District 7.
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is running for another term in the U.S. House representing Washington’s 7th Congressional District. Jaypal was first elected to the position in 2016 and has since become one of the strongest progressive voices in Congress, advocating for immigration reform, civil liberties, and economic justice as the chair of the Progressive Caucus. In 2001, Jayapal founded the now largest immigrant rights organization in the state, OneAmerica. She has also been a leader on local issues, including championing Seattle’s $15 minimum wage effort on the Mayoral Advisory Committee.
In Congress, Rep. Jayapal has pioneered bold progress, including being a strong advocate for reproductive freedom and abortion access, supporting trans civil rights, and speaking out for immigrants. She has criticized President Biden’s harsher border policies and spoken in support of peace in the Middle East amidst the rising death toll in Gaza and growing concerns of a regional war. She recently announced the House Progressives' 2025 goals, which include raising wages, investing in our future with clean energy and K-12 education funding, eliminating the Senate filibuster, and increasing regulation and accountability for the nation’s largest companies.
Congresswoman Jayapal exemplifies what it means to bring progressive, community values to Congress. She is a key voice in the U.S. House working to uplift our nation’s most marginalized and she has earned your vote for another term representing Congressional District 7.
8th Congressional District
Imraan Siddiqi is running for Congress for the 8th District to represent Washingtonians looking for a different approach to foreign policy. For the past four years, he has served as the executive director of the Washington chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and has also served on CAIR's board of directors in Arizona, later becoming their chapter's executive director in 2015 as well.
As an advocate for the American Muslim community, Siddiqi was one of the first plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Trump's Muslim travel ban in 2017 and has brought his passion and energy for justice to this year's run for office as well. In our interview, he expressed dismay that aside from U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, none of Washington's members of Congress have adequately stood against the offensive in Palestine, asked for a ceasefire, or tried to stop the U.S. transfer of weapons to Israel. He stated that if elected, he wants to reduce the nation's high investment in the military-industrial complex and instead pour more into Medicare access for all and affordable housing. He wants to uplift criminal legal reform, support labor unions and the right to unionize, and hold corporations accountable for carbon emissions.
Imraan Siddiqi is running for Congress for the 8th District to represent Washingtonians looking for a different approach to foreign policy. For the past four years, he has served as the executive director of the Washington chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and has also served on CAIR's board of directors in Arizona, later becoming their chapter's executive director in 2015 as well.
As an advocate for the American Muslim community, Siddiqi was one of the first plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Trump's Muslim travel ban in 2017 and has brought his passion and energy for justice to this year's run for office as well. In our interview, he expressed dismay that aside from U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, none of Washington's members of Congress have adequately stood against the offensive in Palestine, asked for a ceasefire, or tried to stop the U.S. transfer of weapons to Israel. He stated that if elected, he wants to reduce the nation's high investment in the military-industrial complex and instead pour more into Medicare access for all and affordable housing. He wants to uplift criminal legal reform, support labor unions and the right to unionize, and hold corporations accountable for carbon emissions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Legislative Races
5th Legislative District
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.
32nd Legislative District
Democrat Rep. Lauren Davis is running for another term in Legislative District 32, House Position 2. Davis has served in the state Legislature since 2019 and serves as the strategy director of the Washington Recovery Alliance, a nonprofit supporting those experiencing addiction and mental illness that she helped found.
Davis has made gun violence prevention, addiction recovery, public education, and affordable housing her top priorities in office. In the most recent session, she supported several successful progressive bills, including legislation to strengthen protections against gun violence, authorize professional licenses for undocumented Washingtonians, and expand wage anti-discrimination protections.
Davis has earned your vote for another term representing the 32nd Legislative District.
Democrat Rep. Lauren Davis is running for another term in Legislative District 32, House Position 2. Davis has served in the state Legislature since 2019 and serves as the strategy director of the Washington Recovery Alliance, a nonprofit supporting those experiencing addiction and mental illness that she helped found.
Davis has made gun violence prevention, addiction recovery, public education, and affordable housing her top priorities in office. In the most recent session, she supported several successful progressive bills, including legislation to strengthen protections against gun violence, authorize professional licenses for undocumented Washingtonians, and expand wage anti-discrimination protections.
Davis has earned your vote for another term representing the 32nd Legislative District.
41st 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.
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.
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
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.
46th Legislative District
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. 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.
47th Legislative District
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.
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.
Seattle City Council
Depending on where you live, you may have the following city races on your ballot.
Alexis Mercedes Rinck would bring a strong mix of professional and lived experience to the Seattle City Council in Position 8. She currently works for the University of Washington as the assistant director for policy, planning, and state operations, and before that, she worked for King County Regional Housing Authority in equity and engagement. She also previously served on the board of Fuse Washington, which produces this guide.
Rinck is running for city council with a bold, optimistic vision for uplifting our diverse community. Her family members experienced incarceration, substance use disorder, and homelessness during her childhood, profoundly shaping her outlook and advocacy for our social safety net. Some of Rinck's top priorities include addressing the housing crisis, mitigating the effects of climate change on our city, investing in pathways to higher education, and increasing community safety, including through policing alternatives and gun violence prevention. Rinck is a strong advocate of clean energy, electrification infrastructure, and transit investments, among other green improvements to the city. In this race, she has outshined her opponents with broad community endorsements from unions, local Democrats, and progressive elected leaders in Seattle.
We recommend Alexis Mercedes Rinck for Seattle City Council, Position 8 because of her strong support from our partner organizations and her progressive vision for the city.
Alexis Mercedes Rinck would bring a strong mix of professional and lived experience to the Seattle City Council in Position 8. She currently works for the University of Washington as the assistant director for policy, planning, and state operations, and before that, she worked for King County Regional Housing Authority in equity and engagement. She also previously served on the board of Fuse Washington, which produces this guide.
Rinck is running for city council with a bold, optimistic vision for uplifting our diverse community. Her family members experienced incarceration, substance use disorder, and homelessness during her childhood, profoundly shaping her outlook and advocacy for our social safety net. Some of Rinck's top priorities include addressing the housing crisis, mitigating the effects of climate change on our city, investing in pathways to higher education, and increasing community safety, including through policing alternatives and gun violence prevention. Rinck is a strong advocate of clean energy, electrification infrastructure, and transit investments, among other green improvements to the city. In this race, she has outshined her opponents with broad community endorsements from unions, local Democrats, and progressive elected leaders in Seattle.
We recommend Alexis Mercedes Rinck for Seattle City Council, Position 8 because of her strong support from our partner organizations and her progressive vision for the city.