City of Burien

After 15 years representing the 33rd District in the state House of Representatives, Tina Orwall was appointed in January to replace Senator Karen Keiser, who retired. Before being elected in 2009, she spent 20 years as a professional in the public mental health system, holding a position in Seattle’s Office of Housing, where she worked to connect people to direct services and resources. Orwall is now running unopposed to retain her seat in the state Senate.

During her tenure in Olympia, Orwall has been a strong advocate for survivors of sexual assault. In particular, she has worked to end Washington’s backlog of rape kits and pass legislation to support sex-trafficking victims.

Since her appointment to the Senate, Orwall has continued to be an advocate for mental health and housing initiatives. In January, Orwall sponsored a bill that would not only arrange for social workers in schools but would increase services in high-poverty schools. Additionally, she voted to increase education funding and expand access to special education services.

Tina Orwall has been a compassionate advocate and leader for the district. We are excited to see what she accomplishes in her full term representing the 33rd Legislative District in the Washington state Senate.

Democrat Edwin Obras is running to retain his seat representing the 33rd Legislative District, Position 1. Obras was appointed to this seat after former Rep. Tina Orwall moved to the Senate. Obras has over 25 years of experience working in human services, including homelessness, anti-hunger, capacity building, and youth development.

Since his appointment, Obras has been a champion of thoughtful solutions to the challenges local families face. He voted in favor of several progressive bills, including capping rent increases at 10%, reducing landfill waste, and establishing anti-discrimination protections in schools. He also sponsored a bill to limit excessive home buying, a move intended to open the market to first-time home buyers. He also won praise from labor unions for his steady hand and hard work on bills to protect low-wage janitors and hotel workers.

If elected, Obras plans to continue advocating for housing affordability, criminal justice reform, and workers' rights. He is an advocate for labor protections for low-income and gig economy workers, fighting for fair wages and safe working conditions. He also hopes to use his professional background to help expand statewide access to mental health resources.

Edwin Obras is the best and most progressive choice in this race. He has earned your vote for the Legislature from the 33rd Legislative District.

Sen. Emily Alvarado is running unopposed to retain her seat representing the 34th Legislative District. She spent five years working at Seattle's Office of Housing, including two as its director. She was previously an organizer at Planned Parenthood and currently serves on the board of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, among several other leadership roles in community organizations.

Alvarado emerged as a progressive leader in the state Senate during her first legislative session after being appointed to the Senate seat. As it was in the House, her top priority is to maintain and expand affordable housing. She is a proponent of increased housing density and creating "more housing choices in all communities." This year, Alvarado successfully passed her rent stabilization bill to cap yearly rent increases, which will help reduce homelessness and allow families to remain in their homes.

Alvarado is also a champion for early learning. In 2025, she sponsored a bill to change permitting and zoning for childcare centers to integrate them into urban planning. In her current campaign, she continues to advocate for greater access to affordable and quality childcare.

Emily Alvarado has earned your vote to continue representing the 34th Legislative District in the Washington state Senate.

Brianna Thomas is running to retain her position as a state representative in the 34th Legislative District. Thomas was appointed to this position earlier this year to replace former Rep. Emily Alvarado. Prior to becoming a House representative, Thomas was the chief of staff for former Seattle City Council President Lorena Gonzalez. Previously, she led the effort to bring democracy vouchers to Seattle through the Honest Elections Initiative and also worked on the “Yes for SeaTac” campaign to raise the minimum wage to $15.

Since her appointment, Thomas has followed through on her previous campaign promises. She voted in favor of limiting rent increases to 10%, which will help improve housing affordability, and voted in favor of building more housing near transit. Additionally, she voted to strengthen anti-discrimination policies in schools and prohibit the removal of students from school grounds during the school day without parental authorization.

Her current campaign continues to focus on affordable housing, labor rights, economic recovery. She is a strong supporter of anti-displacement policies and adding to the housing supply. In addition to her work in labor rights, she is also unwavering in her stance on protecting reproductive and social rights. She stands for access to reproductive health, LGBTQ+ equality, and commonsense measures to reduce gun violence.

While Brianna Thomas is running unopposed in this race, she has certainly earned your vote to retain her position representing the 34th Legislative District in Position 1.

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.

Attorney Steffanie Fain is running for King County Council from District 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, where she has served since her first appointment in 2015. Fain went through breast cancer treatment and leads on the board with a lens to expand equitable access to health care.

Throughout her campaign, Fain has expressed support for left-leaning proposals, but wavers when asked about how to fund these efforts. Her preference is to rely heavily on grants to fund services, such as expanding housing and electrifying the Metro fleet, despite the uncertain availability of federal grants under the current administration. She was notably hesitant to embrace progressive revenue as an option.

Fain's broader campaign goals include public safety, affordability, and homelessness. Unfortunately, she offers largely generic talking points on these important and nuanced issues. Without more specific policy proposals, it’s unclear what her approach to these goals will be. Furthermore, Fain’s endorsements so far have come from a set of more moderate Democrats and Republicans, which appears to reflect her own political alignment. Additionally, Fain has received campaign contributions from a number of right-leaning individuals, elected officials, corporations, and PACs.

While we do not agree with all of her positions, Steffanie Fain is the less conservative candidate in this race.

Incumbent Commissioner Ryan Calkins is running unopposed 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 unopposed 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, and expanded the South King County Community Impact Fund. 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.

Hugo Garcia is running for re-election for Burien City Council, Position 1. Garcia, whose family immigrated from Mexico more than 30 years ago, learned the value of hard work at an early age by watching his father wait tables to support their family of five. Garcia has proven to be a thoughtful and progressive leader in Burien, particularly during a tumultuous period for the city.

If re-elected, Garcia plans to continue focusing on expanding access to housing and improving affordability. Garcia contributed to efforts to support people experiencing homelessness, including voting in favor of a proposal for a tiny home village. He also intends to defend Burien "against Trump Era Impacts" by supporting the city's libraries, museums, and public institutions. Garcia stood firmly against conservative council member Stephanie Mora's attempt to censure him after he criticized an ordinance criminalizing homelessness, which he said upheld and enabled systemic racism.

Due to his continued progressive leadership, we recommend Hugo Garcia for Burien City Council, Position 1.

Sarah Moore is running for re-election for Burien City Council, Position 5. Moore joined the City Council in 2022 and, in January 2025, began her position as Deputy Mayor. Previously, she co-founded ACLU Burien People Power and spent more than 20 years working at the Pacific Science Center.

Moore was one of only two city council members to vote against the harsh emergency ordinance to criminalize homelessness on public property at all times. On the ordinance, Moore said "the law makes the city one that 'offers a severe weather shelter on a 32 degree day and exile on a 33 degree day.'" In 2023, Moore also voted in favor of a $1 million proposal from King County to build a tiny home village for community members experiencing homelessness. Those in favor of the proposal argued that it was a step towards permanent housing. In addition, Moore stood with councilmember Hugo Garcia in support of raising the local minimum wage, which the voters of Burien approved in February.

Due to her continued progressive work in Burien, we strongly support Sarah Moore for Burien City Council, Position 5.

Rocco DeVito is challenging incumbent Stephanie Mora for Burien City Council, Position 7. DeVito grew up on naval bases and in a family dedicated to public service. A union member, DeVito currently works at King County Metro helping to improve the transit system and provide transit passes to those who need them most.

DeVito is an active and enthusiastic member of the Burien community. His campaign prioritizes safe streets, affordable housing, and taking a thoughtful approach to the city's budget. He is an advocate for renter protections and rent stabilization to prevent displacement. He is not supportive of Burien's camping ban and is a proponent of emergency shelters and tiny home villages as transitional housing options. He supports progressive revenue options at the state level to maintain services and protect our quality of life.

Rocco DeVito is the clear progressive choice for Burien City Council, Position 7 race.

Angelica Alvarez is running for re-election as Highline School Board Director, Position 2. She is currently serving her fourth term on the board, two of which she served as the board president.

Alvarez's re-election campaign is focused on accessibility and inclusion. As a child of immigrants, she is deeply committed to serving multilingual students and families, making sure they have the resources needed to be successful. During her time on the board, Alvarez has been a champion of inclusive policies, such as the family engagement and financial aid initiatives. She continues to be a representative leader for all students in the district, regardless of background.

Angelica Alvarez has earned your vote to serve another term as Highline School Board Director, Position 2.

Joe Van is running for re-election for Highline School Board Director, Position 3. Van was first appointed, then elected, to the board in 2015. He is the child of Vietnamese refugees and a graduate of the Highline schools.

While Van does not have a campaign website published as of early October, his platform is based on equity and inclusion for students of all backgrounds and experiences. We recommend re-electing Joe Van for Highline School Board Director, Position 3, so he can continue the work towards achieving the Highline Promise: securing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students in the district.

Incumbent Damarys Espinoza is running to be retained on the Highline School Board in District 2, to which she was appointed this past March. Espinoza has worked in public health and social advocacy in various roles for over two decades. She manages community engagement and research at the Environmental Health department of Public Health Seattle & King County, works as an affiliate nursing instructor for the University of Washington, and serves as the chief equity and policy officer at Mary’s Place. Espinoza is a leader in the nonprofit sector, having founded Indigenous advocacy-aligned organizations such as alterNative Consulting, Tlaloktekuhtli, and the Community Health Board Coalition.

Much of Espinoza’s community leadership centers on environmental justice, public health, and Indigenous advocacy, and her voice on the school board is similarly aligned with a community-centric, progressive vision for our district. Her re-election campaign is focused on fostering a welcoming and positive environment for both students and staff. She emphasizes the need for high-quality professional development, as well as community collaboration to build trust and engagement with the school district.

Damarys Espinoza is the best candidate in this race to bring thoughtful leadership to the Highline School Board from District 2.