4th Legislative District

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Federal

U.S. Senator

  • Patty Murray photo
    Democrat

    Patty Murray

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  • Sen. Patty Murray has been a consistent and strong progressive voice in the U.S. Senate. She's seeking re-election to continue fighting for our basic rights and a higher quality of life in Washington and beyond.

    Murray was first elected in 1992 and has been a champion for veterans, working families, women, and economic opportunities for all. Before her tenure in the Senate, Murray worked as a preschool teacher, on the Shoreline School Board, and in the Washington state Senate.

    During her time in Congress, Sen. Murray has worked hard to keep our communities safe from gun violence, pass abortion rights at the federal level so that everyone has reproductive freedom, and expand access to affordable childcare. This year, she voted in support of the Women’s Health Protection Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, and a slate of other progressive bills that invest in working communities so that our country is a place where everyone can thrive. Murray has earned an impressive and diverse coalition of endorsements from local and national organizations, elected leaders, and unions.

    Sen. Patty Murray is a national leader on many of the most important issues facing our country. She has earned your vote for re-election.

    Patty Murray

    Sen. Patty Murray has been a consistent and strong progressive voice in the U.S. Senate. She's seeking re-election to continue fighting for our basic rights and a higher quality of life in Washington and beyond.

    Patty Murray

    Sen. Patty Murray has been a consistent and strong progressive voice in the U.S. Senate. She's seeking re-election to continue fighting for our basic rights and a higher quality of life in Washington and beyond.

Other Candidates

Other Candidates - Tiffany Smiley

Sen. Murray faces more than a dozen challengers this year. The most prominent among them is Tiffany Smiley, a triage nurse running on a MAGA Republican platform. Smiley has never held public office but she previously worked on Capitol Hill.

Other Candidates - Tiffany Smiley

Sen. Murray faces more than a dozen challengers this year. The most prominent among them is Tiffany Smiley, a triage nurse running on a MAGA Republican platform. Smiley has never held public office but she previously worked on Capitol Hill.

5th Congressional District

U.S. Representative

  • Natasha Hill photo
    Democrat

    Natasha Hill

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  • Natasha Hill is running for Congress to be a progressive advocate for everyone in the 5th District, not just the wealthy few. She grew up in Spokane utilizing community resources like SNAP and later experienced homelessness and food insecurity while pursuing her law degree. Now Hill wants to ensure that no one should have to struggle through poverty to get their education or thrive in America. Hill currently owns her own law practice and has also served as an adjunct law professor and a member of the Spokane County Redistricting Committee.

    Hill is running to focus on addressing the disparities between working people, seniors, and families and the extraordinarily wealthy corporations that have dominated politics and the economy for decades. Hill wants to make the child tax credit permanent, expand rural health care options, and raise the minimum wage so that any American can meet their basic needs on forty hours of work a week. She also wants to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and overturn obstacles to the vote for youth and people of color.

    In our Spokane committee's interview with Hill, she expressed strong support for strengthening unions, codifying the right to abortion, and reimagining education, health care, and the criminal justice system. She has been endorsed by the state labor council, two legislative district Democratic organizations, and the county Democrats as well. For her bold and progressive platform in this time of crisis and widening inequity, as well as her broader organizational support, we lean towards Natasha Hill for U.S. Representative of the 5th Congressional District.

    Natasha Hill

    Natasha Hill is running for Congress to be a progressive advocate for everyone in the 5th District, not just the wealthy few. She grew up in Spokane utilizing community resources like SNAP and later experienced homelessness and food insecurity while pursuing her law degree.

    Natasha Hill

    Natasha Hill is running for Congress to be a progressive advocate for everyone in the 5th District, not just the wealthy few. She grew up in Spokane utilizing community resources like SNAP and later experienced homelessness and food insecurity while pursuing her law degree.

    • Endorsed By: Teamsters Joint Council 28, WA State Council of Firefighters, Washington State Labor Council , Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility
  • Ann Marie Danimus photo
    Democrat

    Ann Marie Danimus

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  • Ann Marie Danimus is running for U.S. Representative in the 5th Congressional District to develop a more equitable economy for working families. As a double-transplant recipient who has had to navigate the mires of the U.S. health care system, Danimus wants to see improvements at the national level from a representative who will support rural communities. She is an executive board member of the Spokane County Democrats as well as a precinct committee officer. She has served in numerous community organizations, including as founder of Stubborn Girl Fund 4 Arts and Education as well as Raise the Roof.

    Compared to Hill, more of Danimus' focus is on small businesses and rural jobs. She wants to regionalize sustainable farming, create federal grants for localized meat production, and reduce greenhouse gases in transport. She also supports single-payer health care and wants to draft bills to reduce veteran suicide. In our questionnaire from Danimus, she also highlighted the need for federal tax reform and her desire to expand the U.S. House so elected officials could better represent and advocate for their districts.

    Danimus has pledged to take no money from corporations, corporate PACs, or corporate lobbyists, and is endorsed by one county and one legislative district Democratic group.

    Ann Marie Danimus

    Ann Marie Danimus is running for U.S. Representative in the 5th Congressional District to develop a more equitable economy for working families. As a double-transplant recipient who has had to navigate the mires of the U.S.

    Ann Marie Danimus

    Ann Marie Danimus is running for U.S. Representative in the 5th Congressional District to develop a more equitable economy for working families. As a double-transplant recipient who has had to navigate the mires of the U.S.

Other Candidates

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is running for re-election to the office she has held since 2005.

With a 95 percent record of voting with Trump during his presidency, McMorris Rodgers is one of the most damaging lawmakers in Washington. She has voted yes on Trump's border wall, supported his trillion-dollar corporate tax cut, and was the only representative from Washington to vote for Trump's bill to cut $800 billion from Medicaid. She voted against raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and has refused on multiple occasions to hold town halls to answer to her constituents for her votes.

McMorris Rodgers has consistently stood in the way of abortion rights, including attempting to defund Planned Parenthood and its many services to the community. She has a 5 percent lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters for her many attempts to deregulate environmental protections. Voting McMorris Rodgers out of office would be a big step towards progress on the environment, workers' rights, reproductive freedom, and much more.

Statewide

Secretary of State

  • Steve Hobbs photo
    Democrat

    Steve Hobbs

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  • Democrat Steve Hobbs is running to retain his position as secretary of state for the remainder of the two-year term. He is a first-generation Japanese American and 30-year member of the military, serving tours in Kosovo and Iraq before becoming a lieutenant colonel in the Washington Army National Guard.

    Hobbs was appointed as secretary of state in November of last year after Kim Wyman resigned to join the Biden administration. Prior to his appointment, he served four terms in the Washington state Senate representing the 44th Legislative District. His voting record was consistently progressive on social issues and more conservative on taxes, environmental issues, and workers' rights.

    During his first eight months in office, Hobbs has been laser-focused on protecting our electoral systems from attacks. He has used his background in national security to partner closely with the Department of Homeland Security to stop digital threats to our voting systems, both foreign and domestic. Hobbs also understands the challenge misinformation poses to the integrity of our elections. He has been working to set up a division within his office specifically to combat misinformation and wants to work closely with social media companies to ensure they take down dangerous conspiracy theories.

    As many things re-open from the pandemic, Hobbs is committed to restarting his office's voter outreach program. He is very enthusiastic about a trusted messenger program he's launching to utilize community leaders to talk about the importance of voting. He also wants to improve outreach to reduce the racial disparities in rejected ballots because of signature mismatches.

    The only issue of concern with Hobbs is his personal opposition to ranked choice voting. During our interview, he shared that he's concerned about implementing a complicated new voting system at a moment of low trust in our elections. He is particularly concerned that voters like his mother, who speaks English as a second language, will have a difficult time learning and participating in the new system.

    Hobbs made a compelling case that the secretary of state must adapt to the new and complex challenges of running modern elections. Hobbs is a good choice if you're looking for someone with national security experience to safeguard and rebuild trust in our electoral system.

    Steve Hobbs

    Democrat Steve Hobbs is running to retain his position as secretary of state for the remainder of the two-year term.

    Steve Hobbs

    Democrat Steve Hobbs is running to retain his position as secretary of state for the remainder of the two-year term.

  • Julie Anderson photo
    Non-Partisan

    Julie Anderson

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  • Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson is running as a nonpartisan candidate to bring an independent voice to the secretary of state's office. Anderson served on the Tacoma City Council before running for county auditor in 2009 and winning re-election three times. As Pierce County auditor, which is a nonpartisan position, she has administered dozens of elections while also overseeing licensing and public record-keeping.

    Anderson is running as a nonpartisan candidate because she believes political parties shouldn't be involved in running elections they are simultaneously trying to win. Her campaign priorities include supporting more local races becoming nonpartisan, increasing access to voting and election information, and improving election security. She wants to translate the voters' pamphlet into 10 languages, going beyond what is mandated by the Voting Rights Act. She also wants to conduct risk-limiting audits in all 39 Washington counties and "pre-bunk" rumors to increase confidence in our state's election systems.

    While Hobbs spoke more about using cybersecurity to protect our elections, Anderson leaned on her professional expertise to describe ways to expand our democracy. She believes, for example, that the state should redouble its efforts to reach voters with disabilities. By using a secure, expert-vetted electronic ballot similar to those used for overseas military voters, Anderson sees a path forward to reach those who don't always have access to vote.

     

    During our interview, Anderson expressed support for ranked choice voting because she believes it will allow candidates to break through our two-party political system. She supports grants for local jurisdictions that are interested in trying ranked choice voting so that it's not unduly expensive for local governments, and so that auditors can learn more about how to manage and implement it.

    Anderson offers voters an experienced option if they are looking for an independent to administer our state's elections.

    Julie Anderson

    Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson is running as a nonpartisan candidate to bring an independent voice to the secretary of state's office. Anderson served on the Tacoma City Council before running for county auditor in 2009 and winning re-election three times.

    Julie Anderson

    Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson is running as a nonpartisan candidate to bring an independent voice to the secretary of state's office. Anderson served on the Tacoma City Council before running for county auditor in 2009 and winning re-election three times.

    • Endorsed By: Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility

4th Legislative District

State Representative, Position #1

  • Ted Cummings photo
    Democrat

    Ted Cummings

  • Union leader and Democrat Ted Cummings is running for the 4th Legislative District, Position 1. In 2018, Cummings challenged far-right extremist Matt Shea for a seat in the state House. He works as the financial secretary for the Union Steel Workers Local 338 and serves as the vice president of the Washington State Labor Council as well as a board member for his regional labor council.

    If elected, Cummings wants to use his professional background as a factory laborer to advocate for workers’ rights and prioritize people over corporations. He wants to address mass incarceration at its root by investing in community needs like health care, housing, quality education, and living-wage jobs so that all Washingtonians have the resources to thrive.

    Cummings is running against Republicans Suzanne Schmidt and MJ Bolt. Schmidt is the President of the Associated Builders and Contractors Inland Pacific Chapter and a board member of the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce. While working families in Washington are struggling to afford the basics, Schmidt is running on a very conservative platform that ignores what our communities really need. Instead of supporting policies to ensure everyone has fair wages, great schools, and affordable healthcare, she supports sending ever more militarized police into our neighborhoods and rigging the rules so corporations don’t have to pitch in what they owe.

    Bolt is a Republican member of the Washington State Board of Education. Previously, she served as the president of the Central Valley School Board and on a handful of education-focused legislative committees. Bolt has attacked our freedom to decide whether and when we grow our families by trying to ban safe, legal abortion in Washington and beyond. In addition, she would discriminate against teachers based on who they love.

    We recommend Ted Cummings for House Position 1 in the 4th Legislative District because of his commitment to bringing our communities together and providing all Washingtonians with the opportunities to thrive.

    Ted Cummings

    Union leader and Democrat Ted Cummings is running for the 4th Legislative District, Position 1. In 2018, Cummings challenged far-right extremist Matt Shea for a seat in the state House.

    Ted Cummings

    Union leader and Democrat Ted Cummings is running for the 4th Legislative District, Position 1. In 2018, Cummings challenged far-right extremist Matt Shea for a seat in the state House.

State Representative, Position #2

No Good Choices

No Good Choices - Rob Chase

Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Chase is running for his second term in the Legislature representing the 4th Legislative District, Position 2. Outside of his work in Olympia, Chase serves on the board of the Citizens Alliance for Property Rights.

No Good Choices - Rob Chase

Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Chase is running for his second term in the Legislature representing the 4th Legislative District, Position 2. Outside of his work in Olympia, Chase serves on the board of the Citizens Alliance for Property Rights.

Spokane County

Spokane County Auditor

  • Vicky Dalton photo
    Democrat

    Vicky Dalton

    Website Endorsements

  • Vicky Dalton is seeking re-election to remain the Spokane County auditor, a role she has served in for more than 20 years. She oversees election integrity and voter protection, recording and vehicle licensing processing, and county financial services.

    Since assuming the position in 1999, Dalton has proven her commitment to transparency, integrity, accountability, and efficiency in office. She has exceptional credentials, leading the state on a number of auditing commissions and committees. She also serves the community as a member of the Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners board.

    Dalton faces a challenge from MAGA Republican Bob McCaslin. He is a conservative state Representative for Legislative District 4 who is retiring from the Legislature this year to run for the auditor seat. McCaslin’s campaign platform is full of Republican rhetoric and shares his intention to cut community investments if elected. In 2020, McCaslin joined Trump-aligned extremists casting doubt over the election results. He supported a petition to audit the results in Spokane County, which demonstrated a lack of understanding of the roles and responsibilities of an auditor.

    In a time of rampant right-wing lies about election fraud, we need consistent, proven leaders like Vicky Dalton to protect our elections and uphold voter rights. She has earned your trust and your vote for Spokane County auditor.

    Vicky Dalton

    Vicky Dalton is seeking re-election to remain the Spokane County auditor, a role she has served in for more than 20 years. She oversees election integrity and voter protection, recording and vehicle licensing processing, and county financial services.

    Vicky Dalton

    Vicky Dalton is seeking re-election to remain the Spokane County auditor, a role she has served in for more than 20 years. She oversees election integrity and voter protection, recording and vehicle licensing processing, and county financial services.

Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney

  • Deb Conklin photo
    Non-Partisan

    Deb Conklin

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  • Pastor and former deputy prosecuting attorney in Clallam County Deb Conklin is running for Spokane County prosecutor. Conklin also formerly chaired the Spokane office of the Police Ombudsman Commission. Running with the “Non-Partisan Party,” Conklin is the only non-Republican to vie for the prosecutor seat in this race.

    If elected, one of Conklin’s priorities will be to make sure that the prosecuting attorney's office is not overcharging people in our community. She correctly points out that this leads to further crowding in jails and prisons, costs more, and makes our system less just. She wants to restore integrity and transparency to the office after some controversies in its recent history, including questions about current prosecutor Larry Haskell’s potential racial bias.

    In this race with no progressive options, we recommend Deb Conklin for Spokane County prosecuting attorney because of her support from our partner organizations and her focus on preventative solutions to community safety.

    Deb Conklin

    Pastor and former deputy prosecuting attorney in Clallam County Deb Conklin is running for Spokane County prosecutor. Conklin also formerly chaired the Spokane office of the Police Ombudsman Commission.

    Deb Conklin

    Pastor and former deputy prosecuting attorney in Clallam County Deb Conklin is running for Spokane County prosecutor. Conklin also formerly chaired the Spokane office of the Police Ombudsman Commission.

    • Endorsed By: SEIU Healthcare 1199NW , Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Spokane Firefighters Union IAFF L29

Other Candidates

Incumbent Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell is running for a third term. Haskell previously served on the Airway Heights City Council and the Cheney School Board. 

If re-elected, he wants to use the office to put pressure on the Legislature to increase law enforcement budgets in order to send militarized police forces into our neighborhoods. This year, Haskell’s wife was exposed as having used multiple racial slurs on social media and identified herself as a “proud white nationalist” – beliefs that have no place in our communities and especially not in our justice system.

Deputy county prosecutor Stefanie Collins, who works directly for Haskell, is challenging him as a fellow Republican in this race. If elected, she wants to put more people behind bars which is an ineffective, costly, unsustainable approach to reducing crime that doesn’t really make our communities safer. 

Republican Stephanie Olsen is the current assistant attorney general and the final candidate in this race. She previously worked in the county prosecutor’s office. Olsen is running on a vague conservative platform that advocates incarceration as a solution to all social problems and professes unequivocal support for militarizing and expanding law enforcement reach.

Spokane County Commission

Spokane County Commission, District #1

  • Chris Jordan photo
    Democrat

    Chris Jordan

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  • Chris Jordan, a managing attorney in the Spokane division of the state attorney general’s office, is running for Spokane County Commission in District 1. Jordan specializes in child safety cases as an attorney and worked with Columbia Legal Services to pass bipartisan legislation to support children and families experiencing housing insecurity. His other community leadership experience includes volunteering with Spokane River Cleanup and West Central Dinner Table.

    Jordan is running on a platform to invest in child care, strengthen the county’s middle class, alleviate traffic congestion in the region, and take action on the climate crisis to safeguard the local environment for generations to come. By expanding access to the basics like rent, groceries, gas, and prescription medications, he will work to make the county a place where everyone can build a healthy life. 

    Republican Kim Plese is the other candidate in this race. Plese previously owned a small business that offered printing and marketing services. She is running for commissioner on a typical conservative platform that disregards much-needed community investments in health care, housing, and schools in favor of putting more funding towards larger, militarized police forces.

    Chris Jordan is the clear choice in this race and deserves your vote for Spokane County Commissioner, District 1.

    Chris Jordan

    Chris Jordan, a managing attorney in the Spokane division of the state attorney general’s office, is running for Spokane County Commission in District 1.

    Chris Jordan

    Chris Jordan, a managing attorney in the Spokane division of the state attorney general’s office, is running for Spokane County Commission in District 1.

    • Endorsed By: SEIU Healthcare 1199NW

Spokane County Commission, District #2

  • Amber Waldref photo
    Democrat

    Amber Waldref

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  • Amber Waldref is running for Spokane County commissioner in District 2 to make the county a place where everyone can thrive. She served on the Spokane City Council for two terms and founded Priority Spokane, a data-driven organization that aims to increase local high school graduation rates and decrease family homelessness. She also currently serves on the Spokane Housing Authority board and the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force.

    While on the city council, Waldref was a leader on several important issues, including boosts for small businesses, working to clean up the Spokane River, and the ballot campaign to create the new all-electric rapid transit City Line. The former councilwoman now wants to bring that energy to the county level to protect the environment, empower youth, collaborate regionally on homelessness, and more.

    She differs from her conservative opponents in her proactive approach to safety, stating that a new jail is both incredibly expensive to the community and doesn't necessarily reduce crime in any way. Waldref would prefer to see innovative community programming to reduce crime and invest in kids and adults. She points to programs like the Carl Maxey Center and the Spokane Regional Stabilization Center as two ways to address racial disparities in the justice system and keep our communities safe.

    Waldref is experienced and ready for the challenge. Vote Waldref for Spokane County Commission, District 2.

    Amber Waldref

    Amber Waldref is running for Spokane County commissioner in District 2 to make the county a place where everyone can thrive.

    Amber Waldref

    Amber Waldref is running for Spokane County commissioner in District 2 to make the county a place where everyone can thrive.

Other Candidates

There are three Republicans in the race for District 2 County Commissioner: Michael Cathcart, Bob Apple, and Glen Stockwell.

Cathcart has served on the Spokane City Council since 2020. Previously, he was an aide for the highly conservative Sen. Michael Baumgartner, who voters may remember for his anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion stances. As former executive director of the pro-business Better Spokane, Cathcart's campaign coffers and agenda are flooded with developer money. He takes a conservative and hypocritical stance on issues like the possibility of a new jail, stating that "jail is going to make you a better criminal" but also advocating for building an expensive new one.

Apple also served on the Spokane City Council, from 2004 to 2011. He has run as both a Democrat and Republican, most recently as a Republican against Rep. Timm Ormsby. Apple's campaign strategy is explicitly pro-corporation and centers on handing businesses extra profits to solve housing, jobs, and our regressive tax structure.

Stockwell served on the Ritzville City Council in the 80s. Like Apple, he has swapped parties but is also a perennial candidate for many offices both federal and local. His priorities for office include finishing the Columbia Basin Project, increasing salmon returns, and "distributing electric energy to America." Stockwell's site is filled with MAGA photos and conspiracy theories. Stockwell was also arrested in October of last year for attempting to assault Republican Sen. Schoesler and is entirely unfit for office.

Spokane County Commission, District #5

  • Maggie Yates photo
    Democrat

    Maggie Yates

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  • Maggie Yates is running for Spokane County Commission, District 5 to improve the health of families, support affordable housing, and expand economic opportunity for all. She has served as Spokane County's regional law and justice administrator where she has been a leader on criminal justice reform. Some of her projects and recommendations for the local justice system have included remote court access, expanded data analytics, and an intake and release center.

    Yates wants to see more investment in housing that everyone can access, including rental assistance, programs for first-time buyers, and more. She also wants to see expanded apprenticeship programs to help the local workforce, as well as expanded mental health care and child care. In our local council's questionnaire, Yates states that she's looking forward to repairing and investing in relationships with tribes, community partners, and jurisdictions. She believes that the best way forward on quality child care, clean water and air, better broadband, and more is to work together.

    Yates' leading opponent is County Commissioner Al French, who is essentially the incumbent for this newly-created district. French served eight years on the Spokane City Council from 2002 to 2009 and has been on the County Commission since then. He is a conservative developer with a combative style and a history of ethics complaints. French alienated local cities by promoting aggressive urban sprawl and caused them to opt-out of a regional garbage system that has cost the county millions in revenue.

    His run against Yates this year highlights the depth of his apathy and conservatism. While Yates is seeking a regional response to homelessness, including more affordable housing and community-based resources, French states that the county has done enough on homelessness already. While Yates is prepared to continue her work on reform and reducing recidivism with focused programs, French wants to avoid the root of the problem and pour millions into building a new jail.

    Spokane County families need a representative like Yates on the council who will work hard and bring people together to move our region forward. Maggie Yates is the clear choice in this race.

    Maggie Yates

    Maggie Yates is running for Spokane County Commission, District 5 to improve the health of families, support affordable housing, and expand economic opportunity for all.

    Maggie Yates

    Maggie Yates is running for Spokane County Commission, District 5 to improve the health of families, support affordable housing, and expand economic opportunity for all.

Other Candidates

There are two other candidates in this crowded race. Independent Tara Carter is a Spokane County District Court clerk. She does not have elected or community leadership experience, and is running to keep things "growing in a positive manner." Her few policy positions available fall flat on reasonable policies for the county. For example, when confronted with the fact that Spokane County jails people of color at a far higher rate, her answer was to "stop looking at race" altogether. On homelessness, she said the county should help people look after themselves but offers few specifics on what that means.

Republican Don Harmon served as mayor of the city of Airway Heights between 1994 and 1999. He also served in the 80s and 90s on the Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors, among other municipal organizations. He hasn't released a campaign website or detailed priorities, simply saying that he decided it was time to run because all he's doing now is "mowing grass and moving snow." On policy issues, Harmon has little to offer voters. He states that he doesn't know what the solution for homelessness should be and that his number one priority, amid the many challenges and opportunities that he could tackle, is to build a new jail.