5th Legislative District

Republican Chad Magendanz is running once again for the Legislature, this time challenging Victoria Hunt. He is a former Microsoft program manager who previously served as the president of the Issaquah School Board and in the state House from 2013 to 2017. Magendanz stepped down to run for the state Senate in 2016, losing to Sen. Mark Mullet, and then ran again for the state House in 2018, losing to the late Rep. Bill Ramos. He lost to Ramos a second time in 2024.

While in the Legislature, Magendanz maintained a conservative track record, including being the sole East King County legislator of either party to vote against a transportation bill that would've reduced traffic gridlock on the I-405 corridor. Magendanz is running to cut corporate oversight laws that protect workers, consumers, and the environment. Magendanz is proud of his "A" rating from the National Rifle Association during his last campaign, which raises questions about his willingness to keep our communities safe from gun violence.

In 2024, Magendanz originally planned to run for Superintendent of Public Instruction and, in a campaign interview, referenced “trans ideology” and “critical race theory,” echoing far-right conspiracy theories about our schools.

Chad Magendanz is not a progressive choice and has been repeatedly rejected by the voters of Legislative District 5. Victoria Hunt is the clear choice for state Senate.

John Wilson, the current King County Assessor, is running for King County Executive. During his campaign, Wilson stated that he would fight for "safe and thriving communities," citing his experience as King County Assessor.

In 2025, Wilson was accused of stalking and harassment by a former domestic partner. This was an alarming and serious allegation, which led to the current King County Council calling for Wilson's resignation. He continues to deny the allegations and has rejected calls for him to resign as Assessor. John Wilson is not fit to be King County Executive. Wilson withdrew from this race in mid-July but will still appear on the ballot.

Amiya Ingram is also running for King County Executive. Ingram has worn many hats professionally, from serving as a government military researcher to founding her own athleisure brand. While Ingram's campaign includes some progressive ideas, it also features other proposals that lean more moderate or conservative. She is a proponent of establishing more housing shelters that offer wrap-around services to address the housing crisis and help those struggling with addiction.

Rebecca Williamson is also running for King County Executive. Williamson's campaign website is linked to The Militant, which is a weekly socialist newsletter. As of early July, they do not have a detailed campaign website available, and their platform is unknown.

Bill Hirt is running for King County Executive. Hirt has run for various offices around Washington state, primarily to criticize light rail. Bill Hirt is not a serious candidate for King County Executive.

Don L. Rivers is the final candidate running for King County Executive. Rivers is prioritizing homelessness, safety, and small business support. He proposes some progressive solutions, such as housing-first programming and investments in affordable housing. His approach to public safety also includes public health measures and points to international models of community policing. Don L. Rivers is running a progressive campaign, however, there are other candidates in this race with more experience in public service.

Ahmad Corner is also running for King County Council from District 5. Corner grew up in tight-knit neighborhoods where community was highly regarded. He is a graduate of UW and the founder of Young Professionals of Seattle.

Corner is running a progressive campaign with inclusivity at its forefront. He is a proponent of improving affordability, community well-being, and youth development. However, in our interview with him, we were hoping to hear more concrete policy proposals that he would implement or support if elected. His website also mentions that he will fight for opportunities for all, but lacks specifics on how he plans to achieve this.

While Ahmad Corner is an enthusiastic candidate, there are other candidates in this race with more relevant experience and policy knowledge.

Attorney Steffanie Fain is running for King County Council, District Position 5. Fain has spent her decade-and-a-half-long legal career at law firms and is currently a managing partner at one in Seattle. She is also the current board president of Harborview Medical Center, the county’s public hospital, a position she has held since her first appointment in 2015. Fain went through breast cancer treatment herself and leads on the board with a lens to expand equitable access to health care.

Fain has yet to release a detailed campaign platform as of late June. Her website also lists public safety, affordability, and addressing homelessness as priorities, but does not provide any specific solutions to address these issues. Without detailed policy proposals, it’s unclear what her approach to these issues will be. However, she uses coded language on her website that is more common among Republicans who are skeptical of essential services. Even more concerning is her extensive list of endorsements from moderate Democrats and Republicans, which suggests she would likely lean to the right if elected. Fain is not a progressive choice in this race.

Peter Kwon, a current SeaTac City Council member, is running for King County Council, District 5. Kwon has been on the council since 2016 and served as Deputy Mayor from 2020 to 2022. He is also the founder of the Neighborhood Locking Mailbox program.

While he declares himself a true non-partisan elected official, Kwon's work on the SeaTac council often leans conservative. In 2024, Kwon spoke in favor of the FLOCK camera system as a deterrent to crime. However, the ACLU is skeptical of these cameras as its developer will not allow an independent review of its surveillance devices. Additionally, when residents of the Firs Mobile Home Park expressed concern over being pushed out by zoning changes, Kwon doubled down on the issue, saying he's "done quite a lot" to help the residents. Peter Kwon will not be a progressive voice if elected to the King County Council.

Angela Henderson is running for King County Council. As of late June, Henderson does not have a published campaign website, and their platform remains unknown. According to her voter pamphlet entry, Henderson's campaign is prioritizing accountability and access to affordable housing and health care. Her platform does not include specific policies that she intends to implement if elected.

Pahaliyah Brown is running for King County Council, District 7. According to his website, he is a graduate of the University of Washington and has experience in public service, environmental policy, and community leadership.

Brown is running a progressive campaign, with a primary focus on environmental issues. He is a proponent of clean policies, including reducing waste and protecting natural resources. Brown would also like to improve street safety through enhanced lighting, better sidewalks, and increased access to reliable transit options. Additionally, he would like to make King County friendlier to small and local businesses.

While we appreciate his progressive values, we would like to see more concrete policy proposals or suggestions from Brown. We lean towards voting for Maya Vengadasalam for King County Council, District 7, due to her relative experience.

Incumbent Pete Von Reichbauer is running for his ninth term on the King County Council in District 7, which covers South King County. Reichbauer is a conservative voice on the council and has not led community progress in his more than three decades of leadership. Before that, he served two decades in the state Senate, where he was also a proponent of right-leaning policy.

On the council, Reichbauer has focused on improving and expanding public space, including projects such as the Hylebos Wetlands, the South King County Baseball fields, and the 317th HOV ramps on Interstate 5. Last year, he and Republican Reagan Dunn were the only council members to vote against a commonsense effort to raise the regional minimum wage to better align with the higher cost of living and modern inflation. Reichbauer has not yet published his current campaign goals, but he is likely to continue implementing a conservative agenda if re-elected.

It’s time for new leadership in District 7. We recommend Maya Vengadasalam due to her experience in public service.

Yolanda Trout is challenging incumbent Nancy Backus for Auburn Mayor. She has been a city council member in Auburn since 2014 and currently serves as the Chair of the Wellness Committee.

In her time on the city council, Trout tends to vote more conservatively. In 2024, she voted to remove language from the city's camping ordinance which then allowed city employees to charge unhoused folks with a misdemeanor without offering them alternative shelter options first. Additionally, some conservative candidates and current officers endorsed Trout, such as Peter Kwon, Conrad Lee, Susan Honda, and Phil Fortunato. These endorsements are concerning and could signal a more conservative lean.

Her campaign for mayor prioritizes community engagement, public safety, economic revitalization, youth engagement, and transparency. Her campaign website lacks specific policy proposals she supports and/or intends to implement if elected. Additionally, her approach to issues like public safety has a conservative tone.

Ronnie Morgan is also running for mayor of Auburn. According to his voter pamphlet bio, Morgan prioritizes increasing affordable and workforce housing, reducing crime, and strictly enforcing laws. He does not provide further details on the policies he would support to achieve his campaign priorities. Additionally, in a survey administered by the King County GOP, Morgan echoed far-right talking points about transgender youth athletic participation.

Two other candidates are running for Auburn City Council, Position 4.

Yuval Fleming is an analyst at King County Metro Transit. His platform primarily addresses the issue of transit and infrastructure in Auburn. If elected, he aims to transform the transit system in Auburn into a safer and more encouraging environment for active modes of transportation. He highlights the dangers of motor traffic due to diverting motorists off highways to local streets. Additionally, he wants to prioritize a lower cost of living by cutting spending and lowering taxes that "disproportionately affect low-income residents and the working class." Lastly, he is campaigning for a more transparent and responsive government. While we appreciate some of his stances, we would like to see Yuval Fleming's platform developed further to include more specific progressive solutions.

Brian Lott is also running for Auburn City Council, Position 4. Lott is the Chief Administrative Officer for a local food technology company. He is running a conservative platform to criminalize people experiencing homelessness and send ever-more militarized police into our communities. He has used his Facebook page to advocate for multiple conservative causes over the years.

We know what keeps us safe: living in communities where people of every color and background have access to fair wages, great schools, and affordable health care, where we address problems with proven solutions, such as social supports, to tackle challenges like homelessness and the public health addiction crisis. Instead, Lott wants to label everyone without a home a criminal by making homelessness itself a crime. Lott is not a progressive choice in this race.

Two candidates are challenging Jeyaraj for Auburn City Council, Position 6: Lisa Stirgus and Cobi Clark. Neither matches Jeyaraj's progressive values and demonstrated track record of community service.

Lisa Stirgus is running to retain her seat, to which she was appointed in April 2025 to replace former City Council Member Larry Brown. Stirgus is campaigning for community and public safety as well as cleaner public spaces. While her platform is somewhat vague and lacks detailed policy proposals, she appears to lean more moderate. She previously campaigned for a strong police force that could deliver "inclusive and equitable service," but did not elaborate on what that meant. She also campaigned to connect people to city resources and support local businesses, but did not outline any specific policy goals.

Cobi Clark is a lifelong South Seattle resident and currently a real estate broker. According to his website bio, he recently completed his capstone project, conducting policy research and analysis for Washington Republican Senator Jeff Wilson.

Clark's priorities include affordable housing, civil rights, and economic development. He proposed zoning empty parking lots and distressed commercial areas for high-density housing, "ideally for purchase rather than rent." His other priorities include civil rights and economic development, however those plans were less detailed. Cobi Clark's ambiguous platform and recent work for a Republican Senator indicate his priorities may lean more moderate to conservative.

James Jeyaraj is the best choice for Auburn City Council, Position 6.

Several additional candidates are running for Kent City Council, Position 6.

Tod Oyefeso is a first-generation American, a test engineer at Blue Origin, and served on the Kent Land Use & Planning Board. Oyefeso was also part of a community advisory team for the Kent 2044 Comprehensive Plan in October 2024. Oyefeso is campaigning for better community safety, expanding human services, and youth career education. He noted Kent's struggle with fully funding the city's police department and wants to prioritize hiring more police officers. However, we were disappointed to see no mention of strategies for police reform or accountability. Additionally, Oyefeso pledged to build partnerships with nonprofits and government organizations to improve access to resources for those experiencing homelessness and/or mental health crises. Lastly, he supports youth-oriented programs that build trade skills and offer apprenticeships for career preparation.

Logan Evans, a teacher and former substitute, was inspired to run for office by the current city council. Evans is running a conservative campaign, particularly in the area of public safety. Evans is advocating for increased police presence and stricter penalties for repeat offenders. His plan to address homelessness is vague and uses language that insinuates unhoused people are inherently dangerous. Evans is not a progressive choice in this race.

RoseLynn "Rosie" McCarter is a certified peer counselor and is focusing her campaign on mental health and addiction treatment. She was also a co-chair of the Seattle chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America in 2022. While her campaign is compassionate, and her prior involvements signal a progressive lean, her campaign is not yet detailed enough for us to confidently recommend McCarter.

Jamie Lee is also running for Kent City Council, Position 6. She is the owner of All Aglow Spa in downtown Kent and is an advocate for survivors of domestic abuse. Lee's primary campaign priorities are addressing addiction and crimes related to addiction.

Starre Quiñones is the final candidate running for Kent City Council, Position 6. As of mid July, Quiñones does not have a published campaign website or social media accounts, so their platform is unknown.

There are two candidates running against Mike Westgaard: incumbent James Alberson and Gwendolyn "Gwen" Hosea-Mimms.

Prior to working on the council, James Alberson served as a Renton Planning Commissioner and is a former board chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. He is currently the President of the Renton City Council.

Alberson does not have a detailed campaign available, but he tends to lean more conservative. In the past, Alberson proposed mandatory enforcement programs as a potential solution to homelessness. That could mean jail time, community court, enrollment in programs, or a new regional jail for people experiencing homelessness, which would be costly and further displace people from jobs and support networks. Additionally, Alberson spoke on a panel advocating against raising the minimum wage in 2024.

Most recently, Alberson expressed skepticism of the proposal to declare Renton a queer sanctuary city, as opposed to just an "inclusive city." His comments on the matter seemed dismissive of the rising attacks on the LGBTQ+ community nationwide. Additionally, in a survey administered by the King County GOP, Alberson echoed far-right talking points about transgender youth athletic participation.

Gwendolyn Hosea-Mimms is also running for Renton City Council, Position 1. As of late June, Hosea-Mimms does not have a published campaign website or social media accounts, so her platform is unknown.

Ramandeep Mann is also running for Renton City Council, Position 2. Mann is the current owner of Happy Tails Animal Hospital in Renton. According to his website, he is the son of Indian immigrants whose father drove a taxi in Renton and his mom worked the graveyard shift at a hospital as a registered nurse.

Prior to announcing his run for city council, Mann spoke on a panel in 2024 advocating against the Raise the Wage initiative. Mann was highly critical of the effort to raise the minimum wage. While the current minimum wage in Washington is $16.66, the reported living wage for King County is $30.82 for an adult with no children. Therefore, the current minimum wage is not livable for many adults in Renton.

His campaign plans to address opportunity gaps, racial and financial inequities, and the behavioral health crisis. However, Mann does not specify the problems he would like to solve, nor does he propose any clear solutions.

Since Mann's platform is unclear, and he had a conservative stance against the minimum wage initiative, we do not recommend Ramandeep Mann for Renton City Council.

Yang is facing two opponents in this race: Karthik Seetharaman and Michael Boyer.

Karthik Seetharaman has two degrees in engineering and currently works as a Director of Software Development at Amazon. His priorities include fiscally smart decisions, emergency preparedness, and drawing small businesses to operate in Sammamish. Some of his proposals lean conservative, like his opposition to the increased housing units in the town center. He also said he would eliminate spending that "doesn't provide value to residents," however did not expand on what these eliminations would include. Due to his more conservative stance on some issues, we cannot recommend Karthik Seetharaman.

Michael Boyer is running for Sammamish City Council, Position 5. Boyer's platform is primarily focused on fiscal responsibility, saying he will pursue "prosperity, preservation and public good." He does not expand further to explain what he means, and offers limited solutions. Boyer cited his retirement and living on a fixed income as his call to public service, seeing the rising cost of living in Sammamish. However, his platform is too narrow and moderate for us to support.

There are three other candidates in this race.

Chinmay Nagarkar is a computer science teacher and WA Science Olympiad judge. His professional background also includes work at large tech companies like Amazon and Google. In this race, Nagarkar is running on a thin, conservative platform that does not propose community solutions to the problems facing this district. If elected, he plans to introduce AI teaching to supplement or, in some cases, replace teachers, increase law enforcement to enforce policy, and establish quarterly progress goals to measure traditional academic success in our schools. Kagarkar was named the best choice in this race by the King County GOP, which speaks to his conservative priorities if elected.

Software engineer Darren Cheung is also in this race. Cheung is a district parent and traces his campaign credentials to his volunteer coaching for his children’s sports teams. He has yet to release a detailed campaign platform as of mid-July, and it's unclear what his priorities will be if elected to the school board.

Insurance broker Jarrod Huffaker has yet to release a campaign platform as of mid July, failed to submit a public statement to the county voters’ pamphlet, and does not appear to have any previous community leadership experience.

Aiya Kravi is also running for Lake Washington School Board Director. She held a career in consulting and served as a PTSA Board Member, with experience in real estate investment. Her priorities include promoting healthier food options, after-school programs, and career counseling to support post-graduate success. Kravi proposes expanding access to after-school programs and removing barriers like language, gender, cost, transportation, and special needs.

The third candidate in this race is Susan Hughes, a conservative running for Lake Washington School Board Director. Her campaign website remains vague and lacks concrete policy solutions she would implement if elected. In a survey administered by the King County GOP, Hughes echoed far-right talking points about transgender youth athletic participation. She also promised to look for school programs to cut to save money in the district, which would undermine educational opportunities for local students. Susan Hughes' priorities are out of touch with the needs of families in the Lake Washington School District.

Two other candidates are running for the Lake Washington School Board representing District 4.

Incumbent director Mark Stuart is seeking another term on the Lake Washington School Board in District 4. Stuart first joined the school board in 2014 and works in public relations and advertising outside of elected office.

Stuart was censured by his colleagues last year for violating Board Policy and the Code of Conduct after he lied about and tried to cover up that his wife threatened a district parent in retaliation for their advocacy at a school board meeting. As a result, he is prohibited from serving as the school board’s legislative chair or on any of the school district committees. Stuart is now running on a platform that emphasizes bettering communication between district residents, school families, and board members. He also aims to enhance anti-discrimination and equity throughout the school district. Unfortunately, Stuart's conduct makes it clear he's not the right person to pursue these goals or continue representing the community in school district decision-making.

Kim Martin is a hospitality professional, small business owner, and district parent. She has volunteered for her PTSA, and has children who have been part of public, private, co-op, and homeschooled education locally. More than policy recommendations, Martin’s platform is centered on relationship-building: between parents and educators, schools and their surrounding communities, and families and the district leadership. While Martin has some laudable campaign priorities, she lacks the endorsements and community support of Richter.