41st Legislative District

Rep. Janice Zahn is running to retain Position 1 representing the 41st Legislative District. Zahn emigrated from Hong Kong as a child and has dedicated her adult life to stewarding public infrastructure and services. She is the chief engineer for the Port of Seattle and served on the Bellevue City Council until her appointment to the Legislature in January.

Zahn has been a consistent and outspoken progressive leader in our community. In our interview, she shared that her priorities include supporting affordable housing, paid family leave, efficient project management, and protecting public education for students. She approaches policy with an eye on equity and wants to "help those who are furthest from power to create a level playing field for them to advocate for themselves."

One of Zahn's proudest accomplishments during her time on the Bellevue City Council was the development and implementation of a safe parking program. The program supported approximately 60 children experiencing housing instability by providing a safe space for families to park their cars, rest, study, and have a meal. The program particularly supported single working moms, helping them find their own stability and move into transitional housing.

Janice Zahn is a caring and compassionate leader who has hosted over 250 constituent meetings to hear their concerns. She has earned your vote for Position 1 representing the 41st Legislative District.

King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci has served District 6 (Bellevue and East King County) since 2015. She began her career as a public interest lawyer fighting for women and LGBTQ+ people. She was a neighborhood organizer who went on to serve on the Bellevue City Council, including for a term as mayor. Balducci has served as chair of the county council and serves as vice chair of the Sound Transit Board of Directors, where she successfully advocated for an early opening of the "starter line" in East King County.

In her nearly two decades of public service, Balducci has prioritized progressive solutions to the issues facing our region, including improving transportation options, promoting affordable housing, enhancing community safety, addressing climate action, and supporting arts and culture. Her track record is strong in all of these areas, including an arts levy to invest in science, heritage, arts, and cultural organizations, as well as legislation to keep “forever chemicals” out of our local environment. She was a tenacious advocate for the East Link light rail and the 10-station, 14-mile expansion plan slated for completion in early 2026.

Balducci is running for the executive position with a vision of an inclusive, vibrant, and climate-friendly county where all residents can thrive. She emphasizes her track record of effective leadership at the city and county levels that has delivered results for her communities. As a bus and bike commuter, Balducci is an avid supporter of expanding transit options, particularly light rail and bus routes. Additionally, she is an advocate for transit-oriented housing as a means of improving affordability, as well as cutting red tape to expedite the construction of badly needed housing in our region. Furthermore, she has outlined thoughtful plans to reduce gun violence, expand mental health and addiction treatment services, and youth prevention programs.

Incumbent Sarah Perry is running for another term representing District 3 on the King County Council. Perry was first elected in 2021 when she challenged an incumbent on a hopeful platform. Her professional background is in financial consulting for community entities, including nonprofits and universities, in the Puget Sound region.

Perry is a collaborative, community-minded, and practical leader who has worked to improve the quality of life in King County. During her term, she has advocated for farmers and rural workforce development, approved numerous strategies to increase affordable housing and alleviate the homelessness crisis, and supported local public services, including food access, mental health treatments, and senior services. Recently, she helped pass a policy to provide relief to help bomb cyclone victims get back on their feet. Now, Perry is running on a platform to continue building environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, and robust public services in King County.

We recommend re-electing Sarah Perry to serve another term representing District 3 on the King County Council.

Jude Anthony is running against Reagan Dunn for King County Council in District 9. We are confident Anthony is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.

Incumbent Commissioner Ryan Calkins is running for re-election for Port of Seattle, Commissioner Position 1, where he has served since 2017. He works for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as an advisor on offshore wind and maritime infrastructure. Previously, Calkins also ran a successful import and distribution company and started a local nonprofit focused on supporting small business entrepreneurship. His background in business, maritime infrastructure, and public service makes him a highly qualified voice on the commission.

The Port of Seattle oversees public assets in travel, trade, and commerce for the region. Over the last eight years, Calkins has helped push the commission in a more progressive direction. He advocates for equity, sustainability, and prosperity to port leadership, and he has supported measures to protect our port’s local ecosystem, fight for workers’ rights, and improve local immigration policy. Calkins is campaigning on a platform that emphasizes environmental justice, sustainable economic development, and creating living-wage jobs

Ryan Calkins deserves your vote for another term in Position 1 on the Seattle Port Commission.

Incumbent Hamdi Mohamed is running unopposed for re-election for Commissioner Position 3 on the Port of Seattle. Mohamed was first elected to the position in 2021 on a visionary progressive platform, making her the first Black woman to serve on the commission. Mohamed’s mother worked for the airport when her family first settled in SeaTac as Somali refugees – an upbringing that has deepened her knowledge of the port’s community importance. She is the department director for Seattle’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and previously worked as a policy advisor for the King County Office of Equity and Social Justice. She is currently the only commissioner who resides in South King County.

Mohamed is a leader in people-focused policy, taking seriously the real impact of port commission decisions on the local community, ecosystem, and economy. On the commission, she has prioritized economic development to create good-paying local jobs, support workers’ rights, and help small businesses flourish. She has also been a strong voice for addressing airport noise disruptions, reducing port pollution that impacts the South King County communities, and promoting renewable energy solutions.

We recommend Hamdi Mohamed for another term as Port of Seattle Commissioner, Position 3, to continue bringing strong, progressive leadership to the to the region.

Commission president Toshiko Grace Hasegawa is running for re-election to Commissioner Position 4 on the Port of Seattle. Hasegawa was first elected to the position in 2021, becoming one of the first women of color to serve on the commission, alongside her colleague Hamdi Mohamed. Hasegawa is the former executive director of the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA), an advocacy organization that advises government agencies on issues affecting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She currently serves on the boards of Densho and the Seattle chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, both organizations that uplift the city’s Japanese American community.

On the commission, Hasegawa has been a voice for community empowerment, equitable prosperity, and regional sustainability. She was a critical advocate protecting North SeaTac Park, led efforts to increase childcare and health care for airport employees, helped set ambitious goals to decarbonize the cruise industry, expanded the South King County Community Impact Fund, and more. If re–elected, Hasegawa will continue her tireless work to fight for clean water and air, strong workers' protections, and economic development that benefits local communities first in her progressive vision for the commission.

We recommend Hasegawa for a second term on the Seattle Port Commission.

Councilmember Vishal Bhargava is running to be retained on the Bellevue City Council in Position 1. He was appointed to the seat after longtime progressive councilmember John Stokes retired. Bhargava is a director of product management at Amazon, where he has worked for more than a decade. He has a master's degree in urban planning and has served on the city’s planning commission since 2018.

Bhargava wants to ensure that as our city grows, all community members can access a high quality of life. He states that he would take a data-driven approach to decision-making to promote affordability, mental health resources, workforce development, and more. He wants to draw upon his experience in urban planning to push for more housing to reduce the cost of living and make Bellevue more accessible.

Bhargava describes himself as a center-left candidate, which comes through in his platform. He supports increasing funding for mental health crisis response as well as traditional law enforcement, strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in Bellevue, and expanding internet access. While few of our partner organizations have taken a position in this race, he has earned the sole endorsement of the King County Democrats.

Bhargava is still very new to the council and has only a modest track record. We hope that he leverages his expertise to push the council to be more ambitious in building housing in a city where the current median home price is an astonishing $1.7 million. Bhargava is a good choice if you're looking for a highly collaborative councilmember with strong experience in urban planning.

Nonprofit founder Naren Briar is running for Bellevue City Council, Position 2. Briar has worked as a product manager in the AI ethics space at Meta and has run the Genocide Education and Human Rights Initiative for almost a decade. As a member of the Kurdish American community and a participant in Bellevue Essentials, the city's civic engagement program, Briar is a strong communicator and leader dedicated to creating safe and healthy communities.

Briar is running on an optimistic and progressive platform. If elected, she hopes to address the housing crisis by increasing mixed-use development, expanding affordable options, and implementing tenant protections. Briar also aims to invest in community progress through enhanced public transit, living-wage jobs, cultural event programming, cross-agency government collaboration, and other initiatives. Her thoughtful, forward-looking platform has helped her earn an impressive slate of endorsements from community leaders that continues to grow.

Naren Briar is the right choice to bring new ideas and fresh leadership to the Bellevue City Council. We enthusiastically recommend her for Position 2.

Pradnya Desh is challenging conservative incumbent Jared Nieuwenhuis for Bellevue City Council, Position 4. Desh holds an impressive range of professional experiences, having worked as an attorney, CEO of a tech startup, U.S. diplomat, and more.

Desh is running to secure a bright and diverse future for the residents of Bellevue. Her policy priorities include streamlining affordable housing development, expanding transit, and promoting social equity. She is an advocate for greener policies, encouraging clean tech, improved walkability, and safe bike paths. Finally, she advocates for inclusive policies that protect and uplift community members.

Pradnya Desh offers a fresh and progressive vision for Bellevue, a contrast to Nieuwenhuis's outdated policies. We recommend Pradnya Desh for Bellevue City Council, Position 4.

Claire Sumadiwirya is running to be retained in Position 5 on the Bellevue City Council, to which she was appointed in April of this year. Sumadiwirya works at the intersection of private innovation and social impact and started her own social enterprise company, Bellden Ventures. Her approach to small business ownership involves nurturing the community, and she has shared the profits of her downtown business, Bellden Café, with several nonprofits. Sumadiwirya has also served on the King County Open Space Equity Cabinet and with the Bellevue School Foundation.

As a first-generation immigrant, Sumadiwirya has approached her leadership roles with a commitment to strengthening the social fabric of our local community while increasing opportunities, prosperity, and belonging for all. Her campaign is prioritizing collaboration, inclusion, affordability, and safety. As an effort to improve tenant protections, she aims to make renter resources available in multiple languages, which would support marginalized communities most affected by housing instability. She is an advocate for alternative policing methods that seek to reduce harm in vulnerable communities, such as expanding the crisis response team and reducing inappropriate arrests.

Claire Sumadiwirya is a thoughtful and dedicated leader who is focused on supporting all communities in Bellevue. She has earned your vote to serve a full term on the Bellevue City Council in Position 5.

Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson is running for another term in Position 6 on the Bellevue City Council. Robinson first joined in 2014 and was elected mayor by her fellow council members in 2020. She is the first person to serve three two-year terms as mayor in the city's history.

Robinson has led the city with a steady hand during a period of rapid change and growth over the last 5 years. She has worked to support small businesses, advocate for Bellevue's parks and green spaces, and maintain Bellevue's quality of life. Robinson is proud of her efforts to attract new businesses and high-paying jobs to the city, which has contributed to continuous growth in the downtown core. She also oversaw efforts to develop the Spring District and other hubs centered around the new light rail expansion through Bellevue. Despite these successes, we were recently disappointed to see Robinson organize a letter opposing progressive efforts in Olympia to ensure that the wealthiest corporations and individuals in our state pay what they truly owe our communities in taxes.

Lynne Robinson is the best choice for Position 6 on the Bellevue City Council.

Issaquah City Council president Lindsey Walsh is now running for mayor. Walsh is a small business owner who has served on the city council since 2019, when she was first appointed. Her community leadership is extensive, encompassing service on the Eastside Fire & Rescue board, the city’s Planning Policy Commission, the King County Affordable Housing Committee, and the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Growth Management Policy Board. She has run her own search engine marketing company outside of public service work for the past two decades.

Walsh is running on a platform that emphasizes affordable housing, community safety, environmental health, and economic prosperity. If elected mayor, she aims to streamline permitting while promoting workforce and middle-income housing development. Walsh also supports expanding green spaces, bikeways, and walkways, as well as investing in sustainable infrastructure. In addition, she would advocate for bolstering local crisis response with mental health professionals and making strong investments in downtown revitalization and economic growth. She envisions an Issaquah that is prosperous, safe, and welcoming for all, and she has earned strong support in this campaign from fellow city leaders, neighboring mayors, and progressive lawmakers at the state level.

Lindsey Walsh is the clear progressive choice for Mayor of Issaquah.

Kelly Jiang is running to be retained on the Issaquah City Council in Position 6. Jiang was appointed to fill Victoria Hunt’s seat in February of this year. She is the director of strategic initiatives for a renewable energy company that focuses on improving sustainability in buildings. In the community, Jiang serves as the board president for the Issaquah Alps Trail Club and as a member of the board of Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust.

Jiang is running with a focus on affordable housing, sustainability, transportation, and public safety. She is a proponent of streamlining permits to boost a range of housing development. She also supports leveraging the Inclusive Housing Investment Pool, which was developed to preserve current affordable housing infrastructure and promote transit-oriented development. Jiang is an advocate for funding mental health professionals and the homeless outreach team as a component of public safety.

Jiang has been a strong addition to the Issaquah City Council and has earned your vote for Position 6.

Barbara de Michele is running unopposed for another term on the Issaquah City Council in Position 3, where she has served since 2019. Before that, de Michele held other community leadership positions, including serving two terms on the Issaquah School District Board of Directors and more than a decade on the Issaquah Arts Commission. She is also actively involved in building safe opportunities and communities for youth and families through her past roles as business manager of The Garage and executive director of Issaquah Community Network.

De Michele has been a staunch voice for reducing the cost of living while maintaining a well-resourced community with high-quality public services. On the council, she worked to redirect millions in progressive revenue for local affordable housing and homelessness prevention measures, protect tenants with a required six-month rent increase notice, champion the continued development of a 2042 Sound Transit station in Issaquah, and establish an Equity Board to ensure Issaquah is a thriving and welcoming community for all.

She is running for re-election on a detailed and optimistic platform with goals including increasing language access to municipal resources, partnering with marginalized community members to improve life in Issaquah, leading the way for greater transit diversity in the city to reduce congestion, and preserving public green and recreation spaces. She has strong progressive support and deserves your vote for Position 3.

Engineer Tola Marts has served on the Issaquah City Council in Position 7 since 2010 and is running unopposed for re-election. Marts has served as the council president multiple times during his 15 years on the council. Outside of elected office, he has worked as a director of engineering for multiple technology companies, including a local defense and space company.

Marts has identified workforce housing and living-wage jobs as his top priorities in creating a sustainable Issaquah. Unfortunately, in 2023, he opposed local measures to increase housing supply and improve affordability, as well as publicly criticizing similar statewide efforts.

Washington families need more housing options in every city across the state. While Marts has yet to release a new set of campaign priorities for this current campaign as of mid-August, we hope that he is more open in his next term to supporting development that helps Issaquah become a better place for everyone to live.

Daniel Becker is running unopposed to retain Position 2 on the Mercer Island City Council. Becker was appointed to the position in June 2025 and is the owner of Kotis Design. As of mid-September, Becker does not have a detailed campaign website available. However, he has been a thoughtful leader in his first few months on the council, advocating for environmental protections and improved transparency. Daniel Becker has earned your vote for a full term on the Mercer Island City Council.

Ted Weinberg is running unopposed for re-election to Mercer Island City Council, Position 4, where he has served since 2022. Weinberg works for the City of Seattle in IT resource and project management, helping to oversee budget and resource allocations for 60 municipal IT projects, such as court information systems and police video systems. Previously, he served on Mercer Island’s planning commission, the Mercer Island Sister City Association, and Friends of Seward Park.

On the council, Weinberg has prioritized council efficiency and transparency while addressing the community’s biggest challenges. He’s worked to ensure that local schools, public infrastructure, and green space are maintained to meet the needs of the community while the council continues strategic planning for the future.

In this race, Weinberg is running to build up Town Center in anticipation of the light rail development, repair water and sewage infrastructure, fund mental health services and senior services within the city’s Youth and Family Services, build a new City Hall, and more. His campaign has earned the support of state and local elected progressives. Weinberg has earned your vote for re-election to Mercer Island City Council, Position 4.

Chris Villasenor is running for Position 4 on the Newcastle City Council. Villasenor previously served in Position 4 when he was appointed in 2021, becoming the first person of color to serve on the Newcastle City Council.

Villasenor's priorities include public safety, community events, and financial stability for future generations. He is taking a community-centered approach to governance, advocating for open dialogue and implementing community engagement initiatives. He continues to be supportive of community events, such as the Art Fair and Lunar New Year Celebration, that celebrate the diversity within the Newcastle community. While his platform could benefit from more specific solutions, he is endorsed by many elected officials, including Janice Zahn and Paul Charbonneau, and previously championed progressive solutions.

If elected, Chris Villasenor will continue to bring thoughtful leadership to the council. He has earned your vote for Newcastle City Council, Position 4.

Karin Frost Blakley is challenging incumbent Jim Quigg for Newcastle City Council, Position 5. Blakley has been an active community member, serving on the PTSA, Chamber of Commerce, and as a Planning Commissioner.

Blakley's campaign is focused on making Newcastle a more welcoming and inclusive place for all residents. She spearheaded the de-annexation of her neighborhood from Renton to Newcastle, which gave her a deeper understanding of local policy matters. Blakley hopes to utilize her time on the council to ensure that the resources we cherish are properly maintained, such as our parks, trails, and local businesses. She has earned the support of many community leaders, including current council member Paul Charbonneau and state Rep. Janice Zahn.

Karin Frost Blakley offers a fresh perspective for Newcastle, unlike her opponent, whose narrow vision excludes certain community members from feeling welcome and represented. Karin Frost Blakley is the clear choice for for Newcastle City Council, Position 5.

Incumbent Paul Charbonneau is running for re-election to Position 6 on the Newcastle City Council. Charbonneau was first elected to the Newcastle City Council in 2021 at the age of 25, representing a new generation of young elected officials in Washington.

Charbonneau has consistently been a progressive leader during his time on the council. He is an outspoken advocate for affordable housing and mental health awareness. In June 2024, he submitted a motion to raise the Pride flag at City Hall as a symbol of support and recognition for the LGBTQ community, a motion that became controversial after half the council voted against it. Thanks in part to his outspoken leadership and community organizing, the council later reversed this decision and raised the pride flag.

Additionally, Charbonneau championed a package of tenant protection proposals that would have introduced measures to limit security deposits, late fees, and prohibit the requirement of social security numbers in the renter application process. While the ordinance failed, Charbonneau continues to be a steadfast voice in the fight for affordable housing. In 2025, he voted to reinstate language in the city's comprehensive plan that enforced equitable practices in housing development.

Paul Charbonneau represents a new generation of progressive leadership and will continue to make positive change on the council. We strongly recommend re-electing him to Position 6 on the Newcastle City Council.

Andy Jacobs is running for Newcastle City Council, Position 7. Jacobs' professional career spanned four decades in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry, including 20 years at Costco Wholesale.

Jacobs' campaign prioritizes public safety, public engagement, and thoughtful growth. He is taking a community-centered approach, highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusive representation. While we would like to see more specific policy proposals that Jacobs intends to implement, we appreciate that his candidacy has accrued several progressive endorsements, including from Rep. Janice Zahn and the King County Young Democrats.

Jacobs would be a thoughtful and compassionate leader who could make a positive impact in the office. We recommend Andy Jacobs for Position 7 on the Newcastle City Council.

Michael "Mike" Westgaard is running for Renton City Council, Position 1. Westgaard is a dedicated community advocate, actively participating in the initiatives to raise the minimum wage and ban housing discrimination against people returning from incarceration. To this role, he brings lived experiences that help shape his approach to public policy. As a union worker and someone who battled substance abuse, he understands what his constituents need and will be a strong leader on those causes.

If elected, Westgaard would prioritize raising the minimum wage, supporting sustainable transportation, redefining public safety, and addressing the growing housing crisis. He is a vocal advocate for alternatives to policing, like crisis care centers and educational professionals trained in mental health support and crisis prevention in schools. He plans to address the housing crisis by expanding affordable housing options and introducing rent stabilization for both residential and commercial properties.

Based on his progressive values, personal experiences, and community leadership, we recommend voting for Michael Westgaard for Renton City Council Position 1.

Amy Lam is running for re-election for Sammamish City Council, Position 1. Lam has been on the council since 2021 and is both the first Asian-American and woman of color elected to the Sammamish City Council. Professionally, she works as a graphic designer at the Washington State Department of Health.

Environmental protections are at the forefront of Lam's re-election campaign, along with developing affordable housing options to meet the requirements of the Growth Management Act. Emergency preparedness is embedded in her public safety plan, noting the imminent effects of climate change. She is an advocate for community education, the development of an overnight emergency shelter, and evacuation awareness. To address the affordable housing crisis, Lam supports the Town Center Plan, which aims to include 2,000 market-rate and affordable housing units, while striking a balance between sustainable development.

We recommend re-electing Amy Lam for Sammamish City Council, Position 1.

Sid Gupta is running to retain Position 3 on the Sammamish City Council. Gupta is a restoration and native plant steward with Washington Native Plant Society. He has also served on both the city's planning commission and the Sammamish Friends board.

Environmentalism and sustainability are at the forefront of his campaign, with Gupta being an avid bicyclist. He aims to enhance mobility throughout the city and reduce residents' reliance on cars. Gupta is an advocate for protected bike lanes and sidewalks that not only help increase mobility but also create safer transit routes. His approach to housing also focuses on improving connectivity by condensing housing development around transit hubs and community centers. Densified housing provides easier access for emergency responders and decreases the impact on stormwater and roads.

Sid Gupta's commitment to environmental preservation and building a more connected city earns him a full term in Position 3 on the Sammamish City Council.

Lin Yang is running for Sammamish City Council, Position 5. Yang is a Chinese-American immigrant who was raised by a single mom in Sammamish. Yang highlighted the community that welcomed him and his mom when they were new to the city and how they became their support system. Yang went on to earn two degrees in public policy and eventually returned to Sammamish to raise his own family. Yang started the Sammamish Independent, a local newspaper that provided student journalists with an opportunity to get involved in their community.

Yang's campaign platform is focused on expanding housing and transit options to reduce the cost of living. Citing the astronomical median home price of $1.7 million, he wants to add more homes and increase affordability requirements for new housing developments. Additionally, he would prioritize creating a community center to foster stronger connections between neighbors.

Lin Yang is clearly an involved community member who wants to give back to his community what they gave to him. Lin Yang is the best choice for Sammamish City Council, Position 5.

Karen Howe is running to retain her seat in Position 7 on the Sammamish City Council. She currently serves as the Mayor of Sammamish.

During her time on the council, Howe has been an advocate for improving affordable housing options available to residents of all income levels. She is supportive of the Town Center Plan, which includes 2,000 market-rate and affordable housing units, while balancing sustainable development. A home is the most basic human need, and increased options allow our teachers, healthcare workers, and service providers to continue living in the communities they serve.

Howe advocates for maintaining the things that keep Sammamish beautiful and connected: well-maintained parks, safe bike paths, and enhanced public transit options. She is a proponent of introducing a teen community center to help youth engagement in the town.

Karen Howe has earned your vote to serve another term on the Sammamish City Council in Position 7.

Incumbent director Jane Aras is running unopposed for a second term representing District 5 on the Bellevue School District Board of Directors. Her background includes teaching special education in Bellevue and Renton, holding leadership roles in the PTSA, and volunteering with Bellevue schools for over two decades. In this role, she established a math and reading club, as well as a before-school computer programming program for local students.

On the school board, Aras has worked hard to restore our high-quality local education after the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic disruptions by taking a holistic, community approach. She is committed to building a local school system that emphasizes social and emotional development, genuine intellectual curiosity, and equitable opportunity. To do this, Aras supports fostering soft skills, promoting mental health resources, supporting post-graduate opportunities in higher education and vocational pursuits alike, and utilizing data-driven approaches to identifying and repairing equity gaps. She believes academic excellence follows from investing in our school staff, resources, and programming, and her campaign is widely supported by local progressives.

Aras has earned your vote for re-election to the Bellevue School District Board of Directors.