About the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide

Fuse is dedicated to a vision of shared and sustainable prosperity, equity, and justice for all people. Our mission is to achieve progress through government by the people and for the people in Washington state. We use our Progressive Voters Guide (PVG) to support candidates and ballot measures that will help us achieve our mission and vision for Washington.  

The Fuse communications team begins research on the Progressive Voters Guide at the beginning of each April and we exhaustively research candidates and ballot measures for several months. We try to put ourselves in the shoes of progressive voters and provide them the information they need to make an educated choice based on their values in every race. 

 

Which locations and races do we include?

Unfortunately, our small team cannot research and write recommendations for each of the thousands of candidates who run each year. As such, we take our list and begin to prioritize which races to research based on many factors, including: 

• The number of voters, progressive voters, and Fuse members in the jurisdiction

• If Fuse has a local council there

• If it’s a political swing area or has a potentially close race with broader political implications

• If Fuse or a partner organization places an especially high priority on a specific candidate

• if a candidate identifies as being a member of a historically underrepresented group

 

What information do we consider for our recommendations?

Once we have a starting point of which races we are likely to cover, we begin researching the candidates and ballot measures. We compile information from many sources, including (but not limited to):

• Candidate websites

• News articles

• Voters pamphlet statements

• Legislative voting records

• Fuse staff and local volunteer council interviews

• Online and in-person nominations from Fuse members and staff

• Candidate policy questionnaires

• Partner organization endorsements

• Conversations with partners and local stakeholders who have interviewed or worked with a candidate

• Public Disclosure Commission filings

• Past campaigns

How do we make decisions in complicated races?

After we’ve compiled the information above, here are some factors we consider in making our recommendations in crowded or politically complex races. These are roughly listed in order of importance, though sometimes a single factor, like appropriate behavior, can outweigh everything else. 

1. Partner endorsements and volunteer council recommendations: We strongly weigh the endorsements of our official partner organizations. In addition, the recommendations of our volunteer and advisory councils in Spokane, Pierce County, Clark County, and south King County play a significant role in our decisions.

2. The best choice in a given race: We do not automatically choose the most progressive candidate in the race. Instead, we weigh all of the information available and use the factors listed here to determine who we think is the best choice for progressive voters in a race. 

3. Equity and diversity: We believe representation and diversity are critical for both engaging communities and crafting good public policy. We seek to support candidates who identify as a member of a historically underrepresented group or whose voice is particularly lacking in the office they’re seeking. We give significant weight to improving representation in evaluating races with multiple good, qualified progressives. 

4. Experience and track record: We look for candidates with personal or professional experience related to the duties of the office they seek. For incumbents, we heavily weigh their track record in office, including their voting record, sponsorship of legislation, public statements, and level of community engagement. For candidates who have not held elected office, we will look closely at their professional and community leadership roles, a track record of bringing people together to achieve goals, and the depth of their understanding of the community they seek to represent.

5. Prioritization of resources: We try to focus our limited resources as an organization on the most important races where we think we can be a game-changer. Therefore, we usually won’t oppose an established progressive incumbent unless they have a viable challenger and we’re prepared to run a comprehensive campaign. 

6. Viability: We will rarely recommend a candidate we deem to have a very low chance of winning when there are multiple progressive choices. Factors we consider in assessing viability include money raised, the strength of a candidate’s campaign infrastructure (i.e. staff and volunteer capacity), perceived local enthusiasm for their candidacy, and the strength of their opponent. However, our orientation is toward providing voters more information whenever possible to help them make their decision, even if we believe a progressive candidate is less viable, including showing their picture and endorsements.

7. Likelihood of effectiveness if elected: We do our best to evaluate how effective someone would be in office based on our assessment of what’s needed for that jurisdiction. We look for candidates with innovative proposals and experience building coalitions, navigating large bureaucracies, creating complex public policy, and communicating their agenda with the public. 

8. Diversity of partner support: We give extra weight to candidates who receive the endorsements of partners across different issue areas, i.e. both labor unions and environmental groups. 

9. Appropriate behavior and alignment with progressive values: In rare cases, we will oppose a politically progressive candidate if we believe their behavior or values are so abhorrent that we can’t justify putting our name behind them. 

Who makes the recommendation decisions?

The Fuse Communications team in consultation with the Campaign Director and the Executive Director make most of the recommendation decisions. The Fuse Board of Directors is consulted on approximately five percent of races that we anticipate will be most controversial. 

 

How can the public weigh-in?

Submit a comment: We prominently feature a Feedback button on the website: https://fusewashington.actionkit.com/survey/pvgcomments/

Nominate a candidate: In 2019, we created a new process for anyone to nominate a candidate for the Progressive Voters Guide, including staff. You can fill out the short form here: https://fusewashington.actionkit.com/survey/2021_PVG_Nomination. 

On January 3, $100 worth of "Democracy Vouchers" will be arriving in the mailboxes of registered voters and lawful permanent residents of Seattle. These vouchers are the result of the successful Honest Elections Seattle Initiative 122 from 2015, which gives ordinary people a stronger voice in our government and limits the power of big money in Seattle elections.

What exactly are Democracy Vouchers?

The four $25 vouchers are part of a first of its kind public financing option that will strengthen the role of small donors in Seattle's elections. This allows people from all walks of life to run for office and win, not just the wealthy or the political elite. The vouchers are financed by a small city-wide property tax, and only candidates who opt-in to the public financing program and pledge to obey the terms of the program can receive them. 

What candidates are eligible to collect democracy vouchers?

Though only the City Council and City Attorney candidates are eligible for the Democracy Voucher program during the 2017 election, in the future, all candidates for mayor, at-large and district city council, as well as the city attorney are eligible to participate in the Democracy Voucher program. To qualify, they must pledge to obey the terms of the program and collect a minimum number of small contributions at a $10-contribution limit from residents (600 for mayor, 400 for at-large city councilor, 150 for district city councilor or city attorney). Once candidates reach the required fundraising threshold, they will be approved to collect Democracy Vouchers by the SEEC. The terms of the program include agreeing to participate in at least three public debates per election, filing with King County Elections to run for the seat for which they are fundraising, and obeying strict fundraising and spending caps.

How do I receive the vouchers?

If you are a registered voter, they will simply arrive in your mailbox. If you are not a registered voter but are eligible under federal law to give to a candidate, including lawful permanent residents of Seattle (such as those with green cards who are not yet American citizens), you may apply to receive Democracy Vouchers by completing an application on the City of Seattle's website.

How do I use my vouchers once I get them?

Residents can give their Democracy Vouchers directly to eligible candidates and their staff in person, through the mail, dropped off at Seattle Customer Service Centers, or through electronic return methods. For more information on how to turn in your vouchers to candidates, visit www.seattle.gov/democracyvoucher. The SEEC will distribute Democracy Voucher funds to candidates at least twice each month. We recommend not giving the vouchers away as soon as you get them, but holding on to them in a safe space. Once you know all the candidates who have filed, then decide how to allocate your four $25 vouchers.

Does the Progressive Voters Guide recommend which candidates to share my vouchers with?

Not yet-but stay tuned for more.

Where can I learn more information?

Visit the Honest Elections Seattle website at http://www.honestelectionsseattle.org/ or the city's website at http://www.seattle.gov/democracyvoucher