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Election Day November 5, 2024
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Welcome to the Preview Edition of the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2024 November election! The Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. We will continue making edits and adding candidates and ballot measures until voting begins in mid-October.  You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. Please share this guide with your friends and family!

Statewide Ballot Measures

VOTE NO

Vote NO on I-2066 to keep moving forward on clean energy!

Initiative 2066 is the fourth initiative to be put before voters that's sponsored and funded by millionaire Brian Heywood and a cadre of Washington Republicans. This initiative would raise energy bills and costs for families and businesses by rolling back or eliminating modern standards that make homes more energy efficient.

Backed by powerful interest groups who want to make more money off households’ energy use, I-2066 aims to overturn parts of the state's building code that incentivize clean energy and clean air. Next to transportation, Washington's buildings are the second highest source of pollution, contributing 25 percent of emissions. To that end, the state Legislature has required that building construction reduce pollution through energy-efficient electrification and other means, including rebates for electric appliances instead of natural gas-fueled ones.

I-2066 would roll back some of these laws, which would force utility companies to continue to invest in costly outdated technology. It would also jeopardize Puget Sound Energy's ability to provide financial assistance to homeowners switching from natural gas to electrification, and potentially end neighborhood electrification programs. It would stop towns, cities, and counties from making their own decisions that work best for their communities by forcing them to subsidize the use of natural gas in appliances or buildings, 

The fossil fuel industry and wealthy conservatives want to stop energy efficiency and clean energy in order to increase their profits, saddling us with higher energy bills. Don’t let them raise our costs while polluting our air, vote No on I-2066 this year.

Initiative 2066 is the fourth initiative to be put before voters that's sponsored and funded by millionaire Brian Heywood and a cadre of Washington Republicans. This initiative would raise energy bills and costs for families and businesses by rolling back or eliminating modern standards that make homes more energy efficient.

Backed by powerful interest groups who want to make more money off households’ energy use, I-2066 aims to overturn parts of the state's building code that incentivize clean energy and clean air. Next to transportation, Washington's buildings are the second highest source of pollution, contributing 25 percent of emissions. To that end, the state Legislature has required that building construction reduce pollution through energy-efficient electrification and other means, including rebates for electric appliances instead of natural gas-fueled ones.

I-2066 would roll back some of these laws, which would force utility companies to continue to invest in costly outdated technology. It would also jeopardize Puget Sound Energy's ability to provide financial assistance to homeowners switching from natural gas to electrification, and potentially end neighborhood electrification programs. It would stop towns, cities, and counties from making their own decisions that work best for their communities by forcing them to subsidize the use of natural gas in appliances or buildings, 

The fossil fuel industry and wealthy conservatives want to stop energy efficiency and clean energy in order to increase their profits, saddling us with higher energy bills. Don’t let them raise our costs while polluting our air, vote No on I-2066 this year.

VOTE NO

Vote no on I-2109

If passed, Washington Initiative 2109 (I-2109) would repeal Washington's current capital gains excise tax on stock market profits greater than $250,000, eliminating more than $2.2 billion in funding for early learning, child care, K-12 education, and school construction over the next 5 years. This is a tax break for Washington’s multi-millionaires and billionaires.

All of Washington's kids, no matter their zip code or how much money their parents earn, should have the same access to care and early learning. In its first year, Washington’s capital gains tax funded early learning and schools to the tune of nearly $900 million. This education funding has already prevented Washington’s childcare system from collapsing, avoiding the pitfalls that other states are facing.

In Washington, 99.8% of us will never pay the capital gains tax - home sales, retirement accounts, college funds, farm sales, and much more are all exempt. Because of these exemptions, this tax is paid by just 0.2 percent of Washingtonians, all of whom are extremely wealthy. In 2023, fewer than 4,000 extremely rich people paid the tax. Some of our state’s wealthiest people have spent the last two years trying to repeal this tax or get it thrown out in court, and they have failed. Now, they’re trying to convince voters to eliminate it for them so they don’t have to pay. 

In its first two years, funds from the capital gains tax have already had a significant impact on kids and schools. Without this funding, child care programs will be cut, schools will stay under resourced, and much-needed repairs and construction of schools will grind to a halt. This will hurt working families who rely on child care, students trying to learn with outdated textbooks, and rural communities who need overdue upgrades to crumbling school buildings.

Leading this effort is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who personally spent $6 million to put this measure on the ballot. He and MAGA Republican party chair Jim Walsh would rather deprive our kids of learning opportunities than pay what they actually owe in taxes. Vote no on I-2109.

If passed, Washington Initiative 2109 (I-2109) would repeal Washington's current capital gains excise tax on stock market profits greater than $250,000, eliminating more than $2.2 billion in funding for early learning, child care, K-12 education, and school construction over the next 5 years. This is a tax break for Washington’s multi-millionaires and billionaires.

All of Washington's kids, no matter their zip code or how much money their parents earn, should have the same access to care and early learning. In its first year, Washington’s capital gains tax funded early learning and schools to the tune of nearly $900 million. This education funding has already prevented Washington’s childcare system from collapsing, avoiding the pitfalls that other states are facing.

In Washington, 99.8% of us will never pay the capital gains tax - home sales, retirement accounts, college funds, farm sales, and much more are all exempt. Because of these exemptions, this tax is paid by just 0.2 percent of Washingtonians, all of whom are extremely wealthy. In 2023, fewer than 4,000 extremely rich people paid the tax. Some of our state’s wealthiest people have spent the last two years trying to repeal this tax or get it thrown out in court, and they have failed. Now, they’re trying to convince voters to eliminate it for them so they don’t have to pay. 

In its first two years, funds from the capital gains tax have already had a significant impact on kids and schools. Without this funding, child care programs will be cut, schools will stay under resourced, and much-needed repairs and construction of schools will grind to a halt. This will hurt working families who rely on child care, students trying to learn with outdated textbooks, and rural communities who need overdue upgrades to crumbling school buildings.

Leading this effort is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who personally spent $6 million to put this measure on the ballot. He and MAGA Republican party chair Jim Walsh would rather deprive our kids of learning opportunities than pay what they actually owe in taxes. Vote no on I-2109.

VOTE NO

Vote NO on I-2117 to keep the CCA in place

The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) makes big polluters pay for the harm they cause to our air, water, and communities and creates a roadmap for reducing emissions over time. I-2117 is a multi-millionaire funded initiative that would eliminate the CCA and ban Washington from ever creating something similar.

Voting no on I-2117 is critical for our environment and communities. Without the funds raised by the CCA, many popular programs would be terminated, threatened, or reduced, including, wildfire resilience,, school-based bike programs, free bus fare for students, updating our ferry system, restoring fish habitat, and increasing the sustainable supply of water. The revenue from the Climate Commitment Act also creates good-paying, local jobs like making homes more energy-efficient and installing heat pumps and solar panels. Ending the CCA would shift the burden of paying for the impacts of pollution away from polluters and onto our families and communities. 

Behind this initiative is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who has personally spent more than $6 million to put this measure on the ballot. He’s partnered with MAGA Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh to roll back the ways our elected leaders have made life better in Washington in recent years with no care about the damage to our communities he leaves in his wake.

I-2117 would mean more toxic air pollution and wildfires, and cause more kids and seniors to suffer from asthma and heart conditions. . The Climate Commitment Act is our state's best shot at creating a healthy future for all of us in Washington. Vote no on I 2117 to keep the CCA in place.

The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) makes big polluters pay for the harm they cause to our air, water, and communities and creates a roadmap for reducing emissions over time. I-2117 is a multi-millionaire funded initiative that would eliminate the CCA and ban Washington from ever creating something similar.

Voting no on I-2117 is critical for our environment and communities. Without the funds raised by the CCA, many popular programs would be terminated, threatened, or reduced, including, wildfire resilience,, school-based bike programs, free bus fare for students, updating our ferry system, restoring fish habitat, and increasing the sustainable supply of water. The revenue from the Climate Commitment Act also creates good-paying, local jobs like making homes more energy-efficient and installing heat pumps and solar panels. Ending the CCA would shift the burden of paying for the impacts of pollution away from polluters and onto our families and communities. 

Behind this initiative is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who has personally spent more than $6 million to put this measure on the ballot. He’s partnered with MAGA Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh to roll back the ways our elected leaders have made life better in Washington in recent years with no care about the damage to our communities he leaves in his wake.

I-2117 would mean more toxic air pollution and wildfires, and cause more kids and seniors to suffer from asthma and heart conditions. . The Climate Commitment Act is our state's best shot at creating a healthy future for all of us in Washington. Vote no on I 2117 to keep the CCA in place.

VOTE NO

Vote NO on I-2124 and reject this attempt to repeal WA Cares

If passed, Washington Initiative 2124 (I-2124) would eliminate long-term care coverage for Washington’s seniors by collapsing the WA Cares Fund, Washington’s long-term care benefit. This would cause more people, mostly women, to leave their jobs to provide unpaid care for loved ones. 

I-2124 is designed to force the WA Cares Fund to fail. By making it optional to pay into the program, it ensures that the fund will not have enough money to operate and it will collapse. I-2124 will send more people into debt by forcing them onto the private insurance market, with high premiums and expensive bills. Private insurance companies routinely jack up premiums without warning and deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, cancer, or high blood pressure. 

Leading the effort to sabotage long-term care is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who has personally spent more than $6 million to put 4 initiatives on the ballot, alongside MAGA Republican Party Chair Rep. Jim Walsh. Their continued efforts to repeal any source of funding for public needs like health care is not just deeply cynical but dangerous for the majority of us. 

Most Washingtonians will need assistance as we age through caregivers or home modifications we need to continue living at home and WA Cares provides that to all of us. This short-sighted, millionaire-powered effort will leave many of us without care. Vote no on I-2124 and reject this attempt to repeal WA Cares.

If passed, Washington Initiative 2124 (I-2124) would eliminate long-term care coverage for Washington’s seniors by collapsing the WA Cares Fund, Washington’s long-term care benefit. This would cause more people, mostly women, to leave their jobs to provide unpaid care for loved ones. 

I-2124 is designed to force the WA Cares Fund to fail. By making it optional to pay into the program, it ensures that the fund will not have enough money to operate and it will collapse. I-2124 will send more people into debt by forcing them onto the private insurance market, with high premiums and expensive bills. Private insurance companies routinely jack up premiums without warning and deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, cancer, or high blood pressure. 

Leading the effort to sabotage long-term care is Republican mega-donor and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who has personally spent more than $6 million to put 4 initiatives on the ballot, alongside MAGA Republican Party Chair Rep. Jim Walsh. Their continued efforts to repeal any source of funding for public needs like health care is not just deeply cynical but dangerous for the majority of us. 

Most Washingtonians will need assistance as we age through caregivers or home modifications we need to continue living at home and WA Cares provides that to all of us. This short-sighted, millionaire-powered effort will leave many of us without care. Vote no on I-2124 and reject this attempt to repeal WA Cares.

Federal

In this pivotal election, Vice President Kamala Harris embodies a hopeful vision of unity, freedom, and progress for our country’s future. Harris made history as the first Black woman and first South Asian woman to serve as Vice President and she has worked closely with President Biden to implement a broad and impressive agenda. Before that, she had a strong track record, ranging from leading the nation on recidivism reduction as San Francisco district attorney to fighting for marriage equality as California’s first woman attorney general to her hard-fought progressive victories in the U.S. Senate.

Throughout her public service career, Harris has demonstrated integrity, leadership, and tenacity in fighting for regular Americans. As a California senator, Harris sponsored progressive bills such as the Climate Equity Act of 2020 and the COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act of 2020 to build community safety that doesn’t leave anyone behind. Her 2024 campaign priorities include ensuring American billionaires pay their fair share in taxes while alleviating the burden on middle-class families, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, restoring and protecting reproductive health care across the country, defending civil rights against the authoritarian vision of Project 2025, making housing, child care, and education more affordable for all Americans, and more. In all of her leadership roles, she has never shied away from confronting bullies and she is more than qualified to stand up to Trump’s low blows, misinformation, and hate-based campaign.

Joining Harris as a running mate on the Democratic ticket is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a champion of working families and former high school teacher. Walz’s community leadership experience ranges from serving as a local football coach, representing a primarily Republican district as a Democrat in the U.S. House, and his current term uniting a purple state in Minnesota’s highest executive office. Walz’s priorities are firmly rooted in his Midwestern upbringing, union membership, and Army veteran background; he believes in responsible gun ownership, uplifting rural farmers, and protecting LGBTQ+ kids. He worked to lower the prescription cost of insulin to $35 for many Minnesotans and stood up for reproductive freedom after _Roe _was overturned as the first state to codify abortion rights into state law. His community-minded leadership and track record of bringing people together make him a strong partner for Harris.

While we can continue to push Kamala Harris’ platform towards even more progressive goals, it is clear that she is the best choice to make history as our next president of the United States.

In this pivotal election, Vice President Kamala Harris embodies a hopeful vision of unity, freedom, and progress for our country’s future. Harris made history as the first Black woman and first South Asian woman to serve as Vice President and she has worked closely with President Biden to implement a broad and impressive agenda. Before that, she had a strong track record, ranging from leading the nation on recidivism reduction as San Francisco district attorney to fighting for marriage equality as California’s first woman attorney general to her hard-fought progressive victories in the U.S. Senate.

Throughout her public service career, Harris has demonstrated integrity, leadership, and tenacity in fighting for regular Americans. As a California senator, Harris sponsored progressive bills such as the Climate Equity Act of 2020 and the COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act of 2020 to build community safety that doesn’t leave anyone behind. Her 2024 campaign priorities include ensuring American billionaires pay their fair share in taxes while alleviating the burden on middle-class families, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, restoring and protecting reproductive health care across the country, defending civil rights against the authoritarian vision of Project 2025, making housing, child care, and education more affordable for all Americans, and more. In all of her leadership roles, she has never shied away from confronting bullies and she is more than qualified to stand up to Trump’s low blows, misinformation, and hate-based campaign.

Joining Harris as a running mate on the Democratic ticket is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a champion of working families and former high school teacher. Walz’s community leadership experience ranges from serving as a local football coach, representing a primarily Republican district as a Democrat in the U.S. House, and his current term uniting a purple state in Minnesota’s highest executive office. Walz’s priorities are firmly rooted in his Midwestern upbringing, union membership, and Army veteran background; he believes in responsible gun ownership, uplifting rural farmers, and protecting LGBTQ+ kids. He worked to lower the prescription cost of insulin to $35 for many Minnesotans and stood up for reproductive freedom after _Roe _was overturned as the first state to codify abortion rights into state law. His community-minded leadership and track record of bringing people together make him a strong partner for Harris.

While we can continue to push Kamala Harris’ platform towards even more progressive goals, it is clear that she is the best choice to make history as our next president of the United States.

Other Candidates

Harris is running against former President Donald Trump in this election. Since the last presidential election when the American people rejected Trump’s hateful messages, he has incited a coup to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, been convicted of 34 felony counts of falsified business records, and continued to amplify white nationalist rhetoric. Donald Trump’s explicit goal with another term is to further dismantle our democratic institutions. His leaked Project 2025 would lead to an unprecedented rollback of basic civil rights and freedoms that we all enjoy. In his single term, Trump mishandled the national coronavirus response, separated thousands of immigrant children from their families and locked them in cages, sought to strip millions of Americans of health care, and eliminated climate protections that safeguard our air and water. Despite losing the 2020 election, the effects of his catastrophic presidency are still unfolding, most notably with the Supreme Court he installed overturning our reproductive freedoms. Trump’s running mate Ohio Governor JD Vance previously described Trump as “a total fraud that is exploiting [his base]” but is now running as another dangerously extremist figurehead. We cannot afford the damage and division of another Trump term.

There are a number of third-party candidates in this race. Perennial Green Party candidate Jill Stein is seeking the presidency again in this race. She sought the party nomination after Cornel West left the party to run separately. Her top priorities include climate policy that is even more aggressive on climate change than the Green New Deal, withdrawing American support of Israel and Ukraine, reforming the size and term limits of the Supreme Court, and securing free education from pre-K through college.

Decorated scholar, author, and professor Cornel West is running as a Justice For All Party candidate. Alongside his running mate Professor Melina Abdullah, West is campaigning against Biden’s strong support for the Israeli military in the ongoing war in Gaza. The rest of his platform is strongly justice-focused, viewing issues Americans face in the full context of their history and attempting to right historical wrongs while building community safety and prosperity.

Libertarian Chase Oliver represents more moderate Libertarian leadership in the face of a rising far-right faction within the party. He is an openly gay candidate and first discovered the Libertarian Party at an Atlanta Pride event. He is running with Mike ter Maat, a George H.W. Bush administration economist and retired “pro-reform” police officer, to decriminalize marijuana, withdraw aid to Ukraine and Israel, streamline citizenship pathways, defend NRA gun ideals, eliminate the Federal Reserve, and more.

Also in this race is Socialism and Liberation Party candidate Claudia De la Cruz running on an anti-capitalist platform. De la Cruz is an educator, working mother, organizer, and theologian from the South Bronx. Her running mate Karina Garcia is a Chicana organizer, working mother, and educator. Together the socialist candidates have a leftist view of what will empower working people and our country, including the nationalization of America’s top 100 largest companies, cutting the U.S. military budget by 90% to fight for a peace agenda, reproductive freedom for all, reparations for Black Americans, and criminalizing corporate lobbying, amongst many other priorities.

Former Baltimore resident Rachele Fruit is running as a pro-Israel, pro-working class candidate with the Socialist Workers Party candidate. Fruit believes that the major parties are too capitalist while other socialist movements do not stand against anti-semitism. The pillar of her campaign is upholding the state of Israel as a refuge for the Jewish diaspora from rising anti-Jewish hatred, and she believes strongly in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s vision, which includes settlement expansion, Palestinian displacement, and the eradication of Hamas. Her single-issue views are on the more extreme side of this debate.

Joseph Kishore, the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party, is running with Trotskyist Jerry White on the party’s ticket in this election. Kishore’s platform is that of his party which seeks to mobilize the global working class against international, late-stage capitalism. It criticizes the United States’ support of Israel’s war in Gaza, warns of the rise of fascism within Trumpism, and advocates for the nationalization of major corporations, amongst other socialist goals.

Nirvana bassist and co-founder Krist Novoselić recently created his own new, Washington-based party called the Cascade Party to serve as a centrist option. Some priorities of the party include protecting family farming, reforming the judicial appointment process to include voters, environmental conservation and protection, and creating a hypercompetitive health care market where hospitals can reference credit scores when evaluating a patient’s ability to pay.

Finally, Independent candidate Shiva Ayyadurai is a known anti-vaccine activist who faced controversy when he claimed to have invented email as we know it when he was a teenager. He lacks a campaign platform in this race but his past Senate run seems to misunderstand progressive priorities adopted by the Democratic party in recent elections.

Last updated: 2024-09-20

Harris is running against former President Donald Trump in this election. Since the last presidential election when the American people rejected Trump’s hateful messages, he has incited a coup to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, been convicted of 34 felony counts of falsified business records, and continued to amplify white nationalist rhetoric. Donald Trump’s explicit goal with another term is to further dismantle our democratic institutions. His leaked Project 2025 would lead to an unprecedented rollback of basic civil rights and freedoms that we all enjoy. In his single term, Trump mishandled the national coronavirus response, separated thousands of immigrant children from their families and locked them in cages, sought to strip millions of Americans of health care, and eliminated climate protections that safeguard our air and water. Despite losing the 2020 election, the effects of his catastrophic presidency are still unfolding, most notably with the Supreme Court he installed overturning our reproductive freedoms. Trump’s running mate Ohio Governor JD Vance previously described Trump as “a total fraud that is exploiting [his base]” but is now running as another dangerously extremist figurehead. We cannot afford the damage and division of another Trump term.

There are a number of third-party candidates in this race. Perennial Green Party candidate Jill Stein is seeking the presidency again in this race. She sought the party nomination after Cornel West left the party to run separately. Her top priorities include climate policy that is even more aggressive on climate change than the Green New Deal, withdrawing American support of Israel and Ukraine, reforming the size and term limits of the Supreme Court, and securing free education from pre-K through college.

Decorated scholar, author, and professor Cornel West is running as a Justice For All Party candidate. Alongside his running mate Professor Melina Abdullah, West is campaigning against Biden’s strong support for the Israeli military in the ongoing war in Gaza. The rest of his platform is strongly justice-focused, viewing issues Americans face in the full context of their history and attempting to right historical wrongs while building community safety and prosperity.

Libertarian Chase Oliver represents more moderate Libertarian leadership in the face of a rising far-right faction within the party. He is an openly gay candidate and first discovered the Libertarian Party at an Atlanta Pride event. He is running with Mike ter Maat, a George H.W. Bush administration economist and retired “pro-reform” police officer, to decriminalize marijuana, withdraw aid to Ukraine and Israel, streamline citizenship pathways, defend NRA gun ideals, eliminate the Federal Reserve, and more.

Also in this race is Socialism and Liberation Party candidate Claudia De la Cruz running on an anti-capitalist platform. De la Cruz is an educator, working mother, organizer, and theologian from the South Bronx. Her running mate Karina Garcia is a Chicana organizer, working mother, and educator. Together the socialist candidates have a leftist view of what will empower working people and our country, including the nationalization of America’s top 100 largest companies, cutting the U.S. military budget by 90% to fight for a peace agenda, reproductive freedom for all, reparations for Black Americans, and criminalizing corporate lobbying, amongst many other priorities.

Former Baltimore resident Rachele Fruit is running as a pro-Israel, pro-working class candidate with the Socialist Workers Party candidate. Fruit believes that the major parties are too capitalist while other socialist movements do not stand against anti-semitism. The pillar of her campaign is upholding the state of Israel as a refuge for the Jewish diaspora from rising anti-Jewish hatred, and she believes strongly in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s vision, which includes settlement expansion, Palestinian displacement, and the eradication of Hamas. Her single-issue views are on the more extreme side of this debate.

Joseph Kishore, the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party, is running with Trotskyist Jerry White on the party’s ticket in this election. Kishore’s platform is that of his party which seeks to mobilize the global working class against international, late-stage capitalism. It criticizes the United States’ support of Israel’s war in Gaza, warns of the rise of fascism within Trumpism, and advocates for the nationalization of major corporations, amongst other socialist goals.

Nirvana bassist and co-founder Krist Novoselić recently created his own new, Washington-based party called the Cascade Party to serve as a centrist option. Some priorities of the party include protecting family farming, reforming the judicial appointment process to include voters, environmental conservation and protection, and creating a hypercompetitive health care market where hospitals can reference credit scores when evaluating a patient’s ability to pay.

Finally, Independent candidate Shiva Ayyadurai is a known anti-vaccine activist who faced controversy when he claimed to have invented email as we know it when he was a teenager. He lacks a campaign platform in this race but his past Senate run seems to misunderstand progressive priorities adopted by the Democratic party in recent elections.

Last updated: 2024-09-20

Democrat Maria Cantwell is running for another term in the U.S. Senate, where she has served the state of Washington since 2001. Before that, she served in the state Legislature and had a successful career in the private sector, leading marketing efforts for a large tech company.

In Congress, Cantwell has been a strong advocate for environmental protections and clean energy. She recently sponsored bills to protect waterways while promoting clean energy and strengthening tribal involvement in matters relating to conservation and land management. This spring, Cantwell partnered with Sen. Patty Murray to secure $28 million in funding to replace lead pipes in Washington and ensure safe drinking water across the state. In this race, she is running on a broad and detailed platform to address Washington’s most pressing issues, including protecting and restoring reproductive health access, increasing funding for K-12 and student loans, and expanding the affordable housing tax credit and other housing solutions.

Dr. Raul Garcia is the Republican challenger for the U.S. Senate seat. After initially announcing a campaign for governor, he is now running to install conservative leadership in one of Washington’s senate seats. Dr. Garcia is a Yakima-based doctor and hospital medical director who previously ran for governor in 2020. He has served in leadership positions across medical institutions, nonprofits, and small businesses. Garcia has received support from some of Washington’s most prominent conservatives.

Cantwell has been a thoughtful and hard-working advocate for the people of Washington. She has earned your vote for another term in the U.S. Senate.

Democrat Maria Cantwell is running for another term in the U.S. Senate, where she has served the state of Washington since 2001. Before that, she served in the state Legislature and had a successful career in the private sector, leading marketing efforts for a large tech company.

In Congress, Cantwell has been a strong advocate for environmental protections and clean energy. She recently sponsored bills to protect waterways while promoting clean energy and strengthening tribal involvement in matters relating to conservation and land management. This spring, Cantwell partnered with Sen. Patty Murray to secure $28 million in funding to replace lead pipes in Washington and ensure safe drinking water across the state. In this race, she is running on a broad and detailed platform to address Washington’s most pressing issues, including protecting and restoring reproductive health access, increasing funding for K-12 and student loans, and expanding the affordable housing tax credit and other housing solutions.

Dr. Raul Garcia is the Republican challenger for the U.S. Senate seat. After initially announcing a campaign for governor, he is now running to install conservative leadership in one of Washington’s senate seats. Dr. Garcia is a Yakima-based doctor and hospital medical director who previously ran for governor in 2020. He has served in leadership positions across medical institutions, nonprofits, and small businesses. Garcia has received support from some of Washington’s most prominent conservatives.

Cantwell has been a thoughtful and hard-working advocate for the people of Washington. She has earned your vote for another term in the U.S. Senate.

3rd Congressional District

Democratic incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is running for a second term serving Washington’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House. Perez defeated Republican incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler and MAGA challenger Joe Kent in 2022. She runs a family auto repair shop with her husband and was the previous executive director of the Stevenson Downtown Association, a part of the Main Street American coalition.

In office, Perez has been a voice for rural and working-class Washington communities. She has championed the "right to repair" to save money for her constituents and reduce waste. Her voting record has been independent, reflecting her district on border policy, the environment, education, and public safety. Her campaign platform in this race remains focused on the issues affecting regular Washingtonians like affordable childcare, substance abuse treatment, energy independence, abortion and reproductive health care access, keeping large corporations accountable and out of politics, and raising wages to match the rising cost of living.

Regardless of what else is happening in the other Washington, Perez has remained laser-focused on improving lives in the 3rd Congressional District. For example, she has focused on fixing infrastructure, including securing $600 million for a new I-5 Bridge.

Perez is once again facing MAGA extremist Joe Kent who is running again after being narrowly defeated in his 2022 bid against Perez. In his previous primary campaign, he distinguished himself from fellow Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler by his extremely far-right platform and an endorsement from Donald Trump. Kent is a Special Forces veteran and former CIA employee. He is running a negative campaign that relies on stoking fears and scapegoating members of our community. Kent has campaigned on adopting a national abortion ban, the promise to impeach President Biden and Vice President Harris, and the dangerous lie that Trump won the 2020 election. Now, he once again hopes that he can empower himself by dividing us; Congressional District 3 deserves a representative who fights for everyone, not just the residents who look and think like Kent.

The district needs leaders who will stand up for them, not MAGA conspiracy theorists. Perez has earned your vote for a second term in Congress.

Democratic incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is running for a second term serving Washington’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House. Perez defeated Republican incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler and MAGA challenger Joe Kent in 2022. She runs a family auto repair shop with her husband and was the previous executive director of the Stevenson Downtown Association, a part of the Main Street American coalition.

In office, Perez has been a voice for rural and working-class Washington communities. She has championed the "right to repair" to save money for her constituents and reduce waste. Her voting record has been independent, reflecting her district on border policy, the environment, education, and public safety. Her campaign platform in this race remains focused on the issues affecting regular Washingtonians like affordable childcare, substance abuse treatment, energy independence, abortion and reproductive health care access, keeping large corporations accountable and out of politics, and raising wages to match the rising cost of living.

Regardless of what else is happening in the other Washington, Perez has remained laser-focused on improving lives in the 3rd Congressional District. For example, she has focused on fixing infrastructure, including securing $600 million for a new I-5 Bridge.

Perez is once again facing MAGA extremist Joe Kent who is running again after being narrowly defeated in his 2022 bid against Perez. In his previous primary campaign, he distinguished himself from fellow Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler by his extremely far-right platform and an endorsement from Donald Trump. Kent is a Special Forces veteran and former CIA employee. He is running a negative campaign that relies on stoking fears and scapegoating members of our community. Kent has campaigned on adopting a national abortion ban, the promise to impeach President Biden and Vice President Harris, and the dangerous lie that Trump won the 2020 election. Now, he once again hopes that he can empower himself by dividing us; Congressional District 3 deserves a representative who fights for everyone, not just the residents who look and think like Kent.

The district needs leaders who will stand up for them, not MAGA conspiracy theorists. Perez has earned your vote for a second term in Congress.

Statewide

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is running for governor on his impressive record of advocating for all Washingtonians. He has served as attorney general since 2012 and has won some of the biggest and most consequential legal cases in Washington's history during that time.

Ferguson has an impressive record of success in litigating against the Trump administration and greedy corporations. When Donald Trump attacked access to contraception, Ferguson took him to court and won. Ferguson has sued the federal government to clean up the Hanford nuclear facility more quickly and has defended the Affordable Care Act from the Trump Administration, helping preserve care for 825,000 Washingtonians. Other wins include protecting statewide water quality from Trump's pro-pollution environmental policies, securing over $1 billion from opioid manufacturers to fund treatment, and fighting back against child detention laws.

All of these wins echo Ferguson's priorities in running for governor: to continue fighting to improve health care access, protect consumers, and strengthen the rights of working families in Washington. If elected, he plans to scale up behavioral health care. Recognizing that currently "our jails are collectively our largest mental health provider," he is committed to a large number of interventions in our communities including prevention, adding more health providers, and more peer service support. He's also committed to breaking up corporate monopolies and reducing the cost of living, establishing Washington as a clean energy hub, and exploring high-speed rail infrastructure.

Republican and former U.S. Representative Dave Reichert is running against Ferguson. Reichert served Washington’s 8th Congressional District in the House for 14 years. During that time, he took some bad votes against climate protections and health care affordability and voted for a national abortion ban, among other anti-abortion votes. He also previously served as the elected King County Sheriff, and worked on the prominent Green River Killer case.

While Reichert is adept at sounding more moderate than some of his MAGA colleagues, his policy positions tell the truth, particularly when speaking to friendly crowds of Republicans behind closed doors. Earlier this year, Reichert said that he opposes marriage equality, which Washington voters passed in 2012 and became the law nationwide in 2015. More recently, Reichert finally admitted that he plans to vote for Trump this November and cited his signed MAGA hat as evidence of his Republican credentials. Finally, Reichert questioned humans' impact on climate change, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus. Reichert is clearly out of step with the values of most Washingtonians.

Bob Ferguson is an accomplished progressive who leads with integrity and grit. He is the best choice to be the next governor of Washington.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is running for governor on his impressive record of advocating for all Washingtonians. He has served as attorney general since 2012 and has won some of the biggest and most consequential legal cases in Washington's history during that time.

Ferguson has an impressive record of success in litigating against the Trump administration and greedy corporations. When Donald Trump attacked access to contraception, Ferguson took him to court and won. Ferguson has sued the federal government to clean up the Hanford nuclear facility more quickly and has defended the Affordable Care Act from the Trump Administration, helping preserve care for 825,000 Washingtonians. Other wins include protecting statewide water quality from Trump's pro-pollution environmental policies, securing over $1 billion from opioid manufacturers to fund treatment, and fighting back against child detention laws.

All of these wins echo Ferguson's priorities in running for governor: to continue fighting to improve health care access, protect consumers, and strengthen the rights of working families in Washington. If elected, he plans to scale up behavioral health care. Recognizing that currently "our jails are collectively our largest mental health provider," he is committed to a large number of interventions in our communities including prevention, adding more health providers, and more peer service support. He's also committed to breaking up corporate monopolies and reducing the cost of living, establishing Washington as a clean energy hub, and exploring high-speed rail infrastructure.

Republican and former U.S. Representative Dave Reichert is running against Ferguson. Reichert served Washington’s 8th Congressional District in the House for 14 years. During that time, he took some bad votes against climate protections and health care affordability and voted for a national abortion ban, among other anti-abortion votes. He also previously served as the elected King County Sheriff, and worked on the prominent Green River Killer case.

While Reichert is adept at sounding more moderate than some of his MAGA colleagues, his policy positions tell the truth, particularly when speaking to friendly crowds of Republicans behind closed doors. Earlier this year, Reichert said that he opposes marriage equality, which Washington voters passed in 2012 and became the law nationwide in 2015. More recently, Reichert finally admitted that he plans to vote for Trump this November and cited his signed MAGA hat as evidence of his Republican credentials. Finally, Reichert questioned humans' impact on climate change, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus. Reichert is clearly out of step with the values of most Washingtonians.

Bob Ferguson is an accomplished progressive who leads with integrity and grit. He is the best choice to be the next governor of Washington.

Democrat Denny Heck is running for a second term as Washington’s lieutenant governor. Heck is a former representative who served the 10th Congressional District from 2013 until 2021. His professional background also includes serving five terms representing Legislative District 17 in the state House, starting small businesses in his community, serving as the chief of staff to Gov. Booth Gardner, and founding one of the nation’s largest statewide public affairs networks.

Heck has fought for a number of Democratic priorities, including rebalancing our upside-down tax code, investing in public infrastructure, reducing health care costs, increasing workforce development and employment opportunities, and making college more affordable. He's running to continue fighting for affordability, health and safety, and opportunity for all Washingtonians.

Heck is running against Republican Dan Matthews, a veteran and former school board member running to deprioritize public schools in favor of private education, cut spending on social services, and roll back laws that hold corporations accountable. He is not a progressive choice and doesn't represent the needs of our communities.

We recommend Denny Heck for another term as the state’s lieutenant governor.

Democrat Denny Heck is running for a second term as Washington’s lieutenant governor. Heck is a former representative who served the 10th Congressional District from 2013 until 2021. His professional background also includes serving five terms representing Legislative District 17 in the state House, starting small businesses in his community, serving as the chief of staff to Gov. Booth Gardner, and founding one of the nation’s largest statewide public affairs networks.

Heck has fought for a number of Democratic priorities, including rebalancing our upside-down tax code, investing in public infrastructure, reducing health care costs, increasing workforce development and employment opportunities, and making college more affordable. He's running to continue fighting for affordability, health and safety, and opportunity for all Washingtonians.

Heck is running against Republican Dan Matthews, a veteran and former school board member running to deprioritize public schools in favor of private education, cut spending on social services, and roll back laws that hold corporations accountable. He is not a progressive choice and doesn't represent the needs of our communities.

We recommend Denny Heck for another term as the state’s lieutenant governor.

Democrat Steve Hobbs is running for another term as Washington's secretary of state. He first joined the office when he was appointed in 2021 and was retained by voters in 2022. Hobbs, a first-generation Japanese American, previously served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Washington Army National Guard and a four-term state senator for the 44th Legislative District.

In office, Hobbs has pursued a progressive set of priorities to ensure Washington’s election integrity, making the state safe from attacks and accessible to all Washington voters. He has worked on strengthening digital security, preventing the spread of misinformation, and voter outreach. Unfortunately, in the last election, he expressed concerns about implementing ranked-choice voting for fear of the fragility of public trust and the accessibility of it to non-English-speaking voters.

In this race, Hobbs’ top two priorities are to ensure our elections remain both secure and accessible for every eligible voter. While he has and will continue to pursue security measures – such as cybersecurity investments and improvement grants, Hobbs also believes it’s his job to restore community trust in him and his office. He has also taken great strides to reach eligible voters from historically disenfranchised communities, including formerly incarcerated voters.

Republican Dale Whitaker, who owns a small tax business, is also in this race. Whitaker serves as the executive director of We Believe We Vote, which claims to educate Christian voters by supporting conservatives with some of the _most _extreme views in the state, including strong anti-abortion stances, homophobic positions, and a belief that the Christian Bible should be the ultimate guiding text for leaders. In this race, Whitaker’s top priority is election transparency and security. Unfortunately, the greatest threat to our democratic, electoral processes has been incursions from the far-right, of which Whitaker is affiliated. Washington voters deserve a secretary of state who is above divisive, conspiracy-based politics.

Hobbs is the best choice for Washington's secretary of state.

Democrat Steve Hobbs is running for another term as Washington's secretary of state. He first joined the office when he was appointed in 2021 and was retained by voters in 2022. Hobbs, a first-generation Japanese American, previously served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Washington Army National Guard and a four-term state senator for the 44th Legislative District.

In office, Hobbs has pursued a progressive set of priorities to ensure Washington’s election integrity, making the state safe from attacks and accessible to all Washington voters. He has worked on strengthening digital security, preventing the spread of misinformation, and voter outreach. Unfortunately, in the last election, he expressed concerns about implementing ranked-choice voting for fear of the fragility of public trust and the accessibility of it to non-English-speaking voters.

In this race, Hobbs’ top two priorities are to ensure our elections remain both secure and accessible for every eligible voter. While he has and will continue to pursue security measures – such as cybersecurity investments and improvement grants, Hobbs also believes it’s his job to restore community trust in him and his office. He has also taken great strides to reach eligible voters from historically disenfranchised communities, including formerly incarcerated voters.

Republican Dale Whitaker, who owns a small tax business, is also in this race. Whitaker serves as the executive director of We Believe We Vote, which claims to educate Christian voters by supporting conservatives with some of the _most _extreme views in the state, including strong anti-abortion stances, homophobic positions, and a belief that the Christian Bible should be the ultimate guiding text for leaders. In this race, Whitaker’s top priority is election transparency and security. Unfortunately, the greatest threat to our democratic, electoral processes has been incursions from the far-right, of which Whitaker is affiliated. Washington voters deserve a secretary of state who is above divisive, conspiracy-based politics.

Hobbs is the best choice for Washington's secretary of state.

Democratic incumbent Mike Pellicciotti is running for re-election to Washington state treasurer. Pellicciotti was first elected to the position in 2020. Before that, Pellicciotti served as a representative for Legislative District 30 in the state House, an assistant state attorney general, and a deputy prosecuting attorney for King County.

In public office, he has advocated for transparency and public accountability. He has never accepted corporate campaign donations and previously worked to make the Legislature’s records open for public view. As a treasurer, he has prioritized economic security and prosperity for all, especially working families and retirees. In office, he has worked to strengthen budget reserves, increase pension funds, and manage debt costs.

Republican Sharon Hanek is challenging Pellicciotti in this race. Hanek is a certified public accountant and serves as the vice chair of the Pierce County Planning Commission. Hanek has run for office unsuccessfully several times before, including losing by more than 17 percent statewide in her 2012 run for state Treasurer. Hanek is the founder of My Family My Choice, a far-right group aligned with Moms for Liberty that wants to ban books and promotes conspiracy theories about public schools. We can't afford to give Hanek a statewide platform for her dangerous, far-right agenda.

Pellicciotti has been a reliable Democratic leader in the Washington state treasurer’s office and he has earned your vote for another term.

Democratic incumbent Mike Pellicciotti is running for re-election to Washington state treasurer. Pellicciotti was first elected to the position in 2020. Before that, Pellicciotti served as a representative for Legislative District 30 in the state House, an assistant state attorney general, and a deputy prosecuting attorney for King County.

In public office, he has advocated for transparency and public accountability. He has never accepted corporate campaign donations and previously worked to make the Legislature’s records open for public view. As a treasurer, he has prioritized economic security and prosperity for all, especially working families and retirees. In office, he has worked to strengthen budget reserves, increase pension funds, and manage debt costs.

Republican Sharon Hanek is challenging Pellicciotti in this race. Hanek is a certified public accountant and serves as the vice chair of the Pierce County Planning Commission. Hanek has run for office unsuccessfully several times before, including losing by more than 17 percent statewide in her 2012 run for state Treasurer. Hanek is the founder of My Family My Choice, a far-right group aligned with Moms for Liberty that wants to ban books and promotes conspiracy theories about public schools. We can't afford to give Hanek a statewide platform for her dangerous, far-right agenda.

Pellicciotti has been a reliable Democratic leader in the Washington state treasurer’s office and he has earned your vote for another term.

Incumbent Democrat Pat McCarthy is running for a third term as Washington state auditor. McCarthy made history as the state’s first woman auditor when she took office in 2017. Before that, she served Pierce County in the elected roles of both executive and auditor and was previously a member of the Tacoma School Board, including as board president. She serves in multiple community leadership positions including on the Asian Pacific Cultural Center Advisory Board and with the Pierce County Sexual Assault Center.

In her first two terms, McCarthy has worked hard to bring accountability and transparency to the auditor’s office. She previously launched important investigations into both white-collar crime and unemployment benefit cases and even oversaw the largest fraud case in state history pertaining to misappropriated local housing funds. Looking towards another term, McCarthy wants to prioritize public and private sector integrity, responsible resource use, and advancing the office’s technology infrastructure to serve the public better.

Spokane County Republican Party leader Matt Hawkins is challenging incumbent McCarthy in this race. Hawkins created the We The People interactive calendar, which details events in U.S. history that he deems important. He has run for elected office before including vying for the top Republican Party job in the state last year, as well as the Washington state Senate in 2018. In this race, Hawkins boasts a typically conservative platform which includes continuing to cast doubt on the security of our local elections and worsening the imbalance in our state’s tax code.

McCarthy has earned your vote for another term as Washington's state auditor.

Incumbent Democrat Pat McCarthy is running for a third term as Washington state auditor. McCarthy made history as the state’s first woman auditor when she took office in 2017. Before that, she served Pierce County in the elected roles of both executive and auditor and was previously a member of the Tacoma School Board, including as board president. She serves in multiple community leadership positions including on the Asian Pacific Cultural Center Advisory Board and with the Pierce County Sexual Assault Center.

In her first two terms, McCarthy has worked hard to bring accountability and transparency to the auditor’s office. She previously launched important investigations into both white-collar crime and unemployment benefit cases and even oversaw the largest fraud case in state history pertaining to misappropriated local housing funds. Looking towards another term, McCarthy wants to prioritize public and private sector integrity, responsible resource use, and advancing the office’s technology infrastructure to serve the public better.

Spokane County Republican Party leader Matt Hawkins is challenging incumbent McCarthy in this race. Hawkins created the We The People interactive calendar, which details events in U.S. history that he deems important. He has run for elected office before including vying for the top Republican Party job in the state last year, as well as the Washington state Senate in 2018. In this race, Hawkins boasts a typically conservative platform which includes continuing to cast doubt on the security of our local elections and worsening the imbalance in our state’s tax code.

McCarthy has earned your vote for another term as Washington's state auditor.

Nick Brown is a former U.S. attorney for Western Washington running to protect the climate, our democracy, and Washingtonians' civil rights. Before his appointment by the Biden Administration in 2021, Brown worked as the general counsel for Gov. Jay Inslee. He also served in the US Army as a judge advocate general (JAG) officer, where he represented soldiers and the Army in legal matters, followed by working as a prosecutor. Brown has also served as chair of the attorney general’s Advisory Subcommittee on Civil Rights.

As the first Black U.S. attorney in the state's history, Brown notes that Washington is experiencing the highest number of hate crimes in 20 years. He wants to use the attorney general's office to implement laws that prosecute domestic terrorists, especially the burgeoning white supremacist movements that have threatened local leaders and committed violent hate crimes.

In our interview with Brown, he identified his top three priorities as strengthening the operations of the office, holding local jurisdictions accountable for upholding the law, and environmental enforcement. He emphasized his work with the attorney general's office as a special assistant attorney general and said that he would strive to build a more representative office and ensure they resolve problems with legal standards that led to the office receiving a fine last year. One of Brown's biggest accomplishments as an attorney was helping write Initiative 1639, Safe Schools and Safe Communities, which makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to own a semi-automatic rifle. He later defended the law against the NRA. Building from that success, Brown wants to continue to enforce laws against deadly weapons and defend the state against voter suppression, wage theft, and more. Brown also wants to enforce environmental laws strictly and uphold strong consumer protections by, for example, pursuing the ongoing investigation on monopolistic practices by landlords and rental companies to keep prices inflated.

Republican and Pasco attorney Pete Serrano is running to bring a conservative agenda to the attorney general's office. Serrano is the board president and general counsel of an organization that fights commonsense gun laws and public health mandates, and he was recently elected mayor of Pasco. He states that while he disagrees with these laws he will follow the state Constitution, but the Seattle Times also reported that he intended to remain "actively engaged" with the organization in a Facebook video on the organization's page. If elected he promises to "Make Washington Safe Again" and make the office more transparent. Serrano is not a progressive choice in this race.

Brown is the clear choice in the race to be the next Attorney General of Washington.

Nick Brown is a former U.S. attorney for Western Washington running to protect the climate, our democracy, and Washingtonians' civil rights. Before his appointment by the Biden Administration in 2021, Brown worked as the general counsel for Gov. Jay Inslee. He also served in the US Army as a judge advocate general (JAG) officer, where he represented soldiers and the Army in legal matters, followed by working as a prosecutor. Brown has also served as chair of the attorney general’s Advisory Subcommittee on Civil Rights.

As the first Black U.S. attorney in the state's history, Brown notes that Washington is experiencing the highest number of hate crimes in 20 years. He wants to use the attorney general's office to implement laws that prosecute domestic terrorists, especially the burgeoning white supremacist movements that have threatened local leaders and committed violent hate crimes.

In our interview with Brown, he identified his top three priorities as strengthening the operations of the office, holding local jurisdictions accountable for upholding the law, and environmental enforcement. He emphasized his work with the attorney general's office as a special assistant attorney general and said that he would strive to build a more representative office and ensure they resolve problems with legal standards that led to the office receiving a fine last year. One of Brown's biggest accomplishments as an attorney was helping write Initiative 1639, Safe Schools and Safe Communities, which makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to own a semi-automatic rifle. He later defended the law against the NRA. Building from that success, Brown wants to continue to enforce laws against deadly weapons and defend the state against voter suppression, wage theft, and more. Brown also wants to enforce environmental laws strictly and uphold strong consumer protections by, for example, pursuing the ongoing investigation on monopolistic practices by landlords and rental companies to keep prices inflated.

Republican and Pasco attorney Pete Serrano is running to bring a conservative agenda to the attorney general's office. Serrano is the board president and general counsel of an organization that fights commonsense gun laws and public health mandates, and he was recently elected mayor of Pasco. He states that while he disagrees with these laws he will follow the state Constitution, but the Seattle Times also reported that he intended to remain "actively engaged" with the organization in a Facebook video on the organization's page. If elected he promises to "Make Washington Safe Again" and make the office more transparent. Serrano is not a progressive choice in this race.

Brown is the clear choice in the race to be the next Attorney General of Washington.

King County Council chair Dave Upthegrove is running for commissioner of public lands to fill the vacancy left by Hilary Franz. Upthegrove previously served in the Legislature for five terms, where he made history as the first openly gay representative from outside of Seattle. He joined the King County Council in 2013, where he has been a strong advocate for climate concerns and environmental protections. 

Upthegrove has an inclusive vision for using the office to improve the quality of life for all Washingtonians. Upthegrove wants to mitigate the damage of wildfire seasons, bring good jobs and services to rural Washington, preserve mature legacy forests, expand recreational opportunities on public lands, and center the idea of environmental justice to guide policy. While he lauds the incumbent Franz for her work on wildfire prevention, Upthegrove wants to be more ambitious when it comes to reforming forestry policies. He believes the department needs a more honest accounting of the carbon impacts of forestry and timber work, which he is well positioned to lead having managed King County's forest carbon program. Upthegrove also wants to use his experience and relationships in the legislature to help pass laws and increase funding for the department's conservation work.

Former congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler is back on the ballot this election. In 2022, she lost her re-election primary to ultra-conservative Joe Kent and current Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez. In Congress, Herrera Beutler voted with Trump more than 80 percent of the time, though she has received criticism from her party after voting to impeach Donald Trump following the January 6th insurrection. Herrera Beutler has overwhelmingly opposed bills that protect our environment including the 2021 Build Back Better Act and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act which, both contained bold policies to alleviate the climate crisis. She lacks a detailed campaign platform in this race but mentions wildfire mitigation, habitat preservation, and public land use as top issues.

The race for this open seat will determine whether our state will be a leader in fighting climate change, protecting our forests, and preventing forest fires or bow to the demands of big timber companies. Upthegrove's environmental track record in office and endorsements from Washington Conservation Action, the Sierra Club, and other environmental champions make him the clear choice in this race.

King County Council chair Dave Upthegrove is running for commissioner of public lands to fill the vacancy left by Hilary Franz. Upthegrove previously served in the Legislature for five terms, where he made history as the first openly gay representative from outside of Seattle. He joined the King County Council in 2013, where he has been a strong advocate for climate concerns and environmental protections. 

Upthegrove has an inclusive vision for using the office to improve the quality of life for all Washingtonians. Upthegrove wants to mitigate the damage of wildfire seasons, bring good jobs and services to rural Washington, preserve mature legacy forests, expand recreational opportunities on public lands, and center the idea of environmental justice to guide policy. While he lauds the incumbent Franz for her work on wildfire prevention, Upthegrove wants to be more ambitious when it comes to reforming forestry policies. He believes the department needs a more honest accounting of the carbon impacts of forestry and timber work, which he is well positioned to lead having managed King County's forest carbon program. Upthegrove also wants to use his experience and relationships in the legislature to help pass laws and increase funding for the department's conservation work.

Former congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler is back on the ballot this election. In 2022, she lost her re-election primary to ultra-conservative Joe Kent and current Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez. In Congress, Herrera Beutler voted with Trump more than 80 percent of the time, though she has received criticism from her party after voting to impeach Donald Trump following the January 6th insurrection. Herrera Beutler has overwhelmingly opposed bills that protect our environment including the 2021 Build Back Better Act and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act which, both contained bold policies to alleviate the climate crisis. She lacks a detailed campaign platform in this race but mentions wildfire mitigation, habitat preservation, and public land use as top issues.

The race for this open seat will determine whether our state will be a leader in fighting climate change, protecting our forests, and preventing forest fires or bow to the demands of big timber companies. Upthegrove's environmental track record in office and endorsements from Washington Conservation Action, the Sierra Club, and other environmental champions make him the clear choice in this race.

Incumbent Chris Reykdal is running for a third term in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Reykdal has been a strong champion for public education as superintendent, during his six years in the Legislature, and in 14 years on local school boards or in leadership positions at educational institutions.

The superintendent's office provides resources and guidance on language access, student safety, school district budgeting, and meeting student needs to Washington's 295 public school districts and 6 state-tribal education compact schools. In office, Reykdal has worked to reduce learning gaps, raise educator salaries, increase free meal access, and expand dual and tribal language learning programs.

In our interview, Reykdal acknowledged that the pandemic and declining birth rates have affected enrollment rates in public schools. Despite this challenge, he was proud that districts have made gains in other areas like retaining teachers of color. He identified the decrease in state funding, relative to inflation, as a fundamental challenge facing public schools. He reiterated his commitment to advocating for the Legislature to increase funding per student and allow districts to fund special education. He also expressed his commitment to keeping schools public, rejecting vouchers, and improving mental health support for students. This year, OSPI offered legislation to increase paraeducator pay to attract and retain these critical classroom supports. Finally, he cited his experience running a large state agency for the last eight years as a key strength compared with his less experienced opponents.

Gig Harbor School Board member David Olson is challenging Reykdal on a reactionary right-wing. Like many conservative school board directors, he welcomes conservative, politically-motivated censorship that would block access to books and multicultural programming. Olson also wants to employ strict guidelines in our schools that penalize students who are struggling the most. According to The Seattle Times, he told the Washington Republican Party convention "that if every high school graduate opted for the skilled trades instead of pursuing a four-year degree, universities 'could all go bankrupt and that would save America.'" Olson's extremism and conspiracy theories are completely disqualifying for someone looking to lead our state's public education system.

Reykdal has strong support from educators across the state and has earned your vote for re-election.

Incumbent Chris Reykdal is running for a third term in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Reykdal has been a strong champion for public education as superintendent, during his six years in the Legislature, and in 14 years on local school boards or in leadership positions at educational institutions.

The superintendent's office provides resources and guidance on language access, student safety, school district budgeting, and meeting student needs to Washington's 295 public school districts and 6 state-tribal education compact schools. In office, Reykdal has worked to reduce learning gaps, raise educator salaries, increase free meal access, and expand dual and tribal language learning programs.

In our interview, Reykdal acknowledged that the pandemic and declining birth rates have affected enrollment rates in public schools. Despite this challenge, he was proud that districts have made gains in other areas like retaining teachers of color. He identified the decrease in state funding, relative to inflation, as a fundamental challenge facing public schools. He reiterated his commitment to advocating for the Legislature to increase funding per student and allow districts to fund special education. He also expressed his commitment to keeping schools public, rejecting vouchers, and improving mental health support for students. This year, OSPI offered legislation to increase paraeducator pay to attract and retain these critical classroom supports. Finally, he cited his experience running a large state agency for the last eight years as a key strength compared with his less experienced opponents.

Gig Harbor School Board member David Olson is challenging Reykdal on a reactionary right-wing. Like many conservative school board directors, he welcomes conservative, politically-motivated censorship that would block access to books and multicultural programming. Olson also wants to employ strict guidelines in our schools that penalize students who are struggling the most. According to The Seattle Times, he told the Washington Republican Party convention "that if every high school graduate opted for the skilled trades instead of pursuing a four-year degree, universities 'could all go bankrupt and that would save America.'" Olson's extremism and conspiracy theories are completely disqualifying for someone looking to lead our state's public education system.

Reykdal has strong support from educators across the state and has earned your vote for re-election.

State Senator and attorney Patty Kuderer is running for Washington insurance commissioner. She has served the 48th Legislative District since 2015 when she was appointed to the state House before being appointed to fill the Senate seat vacancy in 2017.

Kuderer has been one of the most active sponsors of progressive bills in the Legislature. This year, she was the primary sponsor of a successful bill to ensure NARCAN is available in Washington schools. As a secondary sponsor, she helped to pass a slate of progressive bills, including ensuring that valid ballots are not unduly rejected, limiting the ability to bring firearms to public places like zoos, transit stations, and libraries, and aligning state and federal financial aid programs. Kuderer is now campaigning for insurance commissioner on a progressive platform that includes exploring universal health care, reducing auto insurance costs, expanding cancer screening for firefighters, and improving access to climate change insurance for homeowners and businesses.

Republican state Senator Phil Fortunato is also running for the commissioner position. Fortunato was first elected to represent the 31st Legislative District in Olympia in 2016 as a representative before being immediately appointed to an open Senate seat. Outside public service, his professional background is in erosion control and stormwater management. In the Legislature, Fortunato was the primary sponsor of many far-right bills, including legislation to strip abortion rights for some Washingtonians and to oppose commonsense gun safety policy. If he's elected insurance commissioner, Fortunato wants to remove regulations that keep health care costs lower. He is vehemently opposed to universal health care policies that would allow all Washingtonians, regardless of income status, to access the care and medicine they need.

We recommend Patty Kuderer for Washington insurance commissioner because of her strong background in public service and clear vision for the office.

State Senator and attorney Patty Kuderer is running for Washington insurance commissioner. She has served the 48th Legislative District since 2015 when she was appointed to the state House before being appointed to fill the Senate seat vacancy in 2017.

Kuderer has been one of the most active sponsors of progressive bills in the Legislature. This year, she was the primary sponsor of a successful bill to ensure NARCAN is available in Washington schools. As a secondary sponsor, she helped to pass a slate of progressive bills, including ensuring that valid ballots are not unduly rejected, limiting the ability to bring firearms to public places like zoos, transit stations, and libraries, and aligning state and federal financial aid programs. Kuderer is now campaigning for insurance commissioner on a progressive platform that includes exploring universal health care, reducing auto insurance costs, expanding cancer screening for firefighters, and improving access to climate change insurance for homeowners and businesses.

Republican state Senator Phil Fortunato is also running for the commissioner position. Fortunato was first elected to represent the 31st Legislative District in Olympia in 2016 as a representative before being immediately appointed to an open Senate seat. Outside public service, his professional background is in erosion control and stormwater management. In the Legislature, Fortunato was the primary sponsor of many far-right bills, including legislation to strip abortion rights for some Washingtonians and to oppose commonsense gun safety policy. If he's elected insurance commissioner, Fortunato wants to remove regulations that keep health care costs lower. He is vehemently opposed to universal health care policies that would allow all Washingtonians, regardless of income status, to access the care and medicine they need.

We recommend Patty Kuderer for Washington insurance commissioner because of her strong background in public service and clear vision for the office.

17th Legislative District

Marla Keethler is running in the newly redistricted 17th Legislative District for state Senate. Keethler is a broadcast journalist and currently serves as the two-term mayor of White Salmon, where she's prioritized infrastructure efforts like replacing the aging Hood River Bridge and restarting the Jewett repaving project. She has a track record of bridging gaps in local resources to raise the quality of life in Southwest Washington.

Keethler's campaign emphasizes finding common-ground solutions to childcare, housing, infrastructure, and public safety. In local interviews, she has said she wants to build partnerships in the region that could help bring in more education providers and expand the resources available to local schools. Keethler is proud of the work she's done locally to update the city's housing code to allow more affordable types of homes and bring more opportunities for affordable housing. Keethler emphasizes that her nonpartisan background as mayor could help serve as a bridge to improve collaboration in lawmaking.

Keethler is challenging Republican Sen. Paul Harris. He has occasionally broken with his party on important issues, including sponsoring bills that would raise the age for buying tobacco products to 21 and opposing some of this year's dangerous ballot measures. However, his record is disappointing on other priorities, including opposing bills to protect access to abortion care. In addition, Harris voted against allowing survivors of domestic violence to seek help virtually during the pandemic. More recently, he opposed capping excessive rent increases, establishing a behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention system, and expanding basic assistance like laundry and reduced-price meals for foster and homeless youth. 

Marla Keethler is a dedicated public servant who will bring strong leadership to Olympia. She is the clear choice for state Senate representing the 17th Legislative District.

Marla Keethler is running in the newly redistricted 17th Legislative District for state Senate. Keethler is a broadcast journalist and currently serves as the two-term mayor of White Salmon, where she's prioritized infrastructure efforts like replacing the aging Hood River Bridge and restarting the Jewett repaving project. She has a track record of bridging gaps in local resources to raise the quality of life in Southwest Washington.

Keethler's campaign emphasizes finding common-ground solutions to childcare, housing, infrastructure, and public safety. In local interviews, she has said she wants to build partnerships in the region that could help bring in more education providers and expand the resources available to local schools. Keethler is proud of the work she's done locally to update the city's housing code to allow more affordable types of homes and bring more opportunities for affordable housing. Keethler emphasizes that her nonpartisan background as mayor could help serve as a bridge to improve collaboration in lawmaking.

Keethler is challenging Republican Sen. Paul Harris. He has occasionally broken with his party on important issues, including sponsoring bills that would raise the age for buying tobacco products to 21 and opposing some of this year's dangerous ballot measures. However, his record is disappointing on other priorities, including opposing bills to protect access to abortion care. In addition, Harris voted against allowing survivors of domestic violence to seek help virtually during the pandemic. More recently, he opposed capping excessive rent increases, establishing a behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention system, and expanding basic assistance like laundry and reduced-price meals for foster and homeless youth. 

Marla Keethler is a dedicated public servant who will bring strong leadership to Olympia. She is the clear choice for state Senate representing the 17th Legislative District.

Republican Rep. Kevin Waters is running unopposed for re-election to Legislative District 17, Position 1. Waters is the executive director of the Skamania Economic Development Council and founder of Backwoods Brewing Company. He previously served as a commissioner of the Port of Skamania. Waters is an anti-choice legislator with a typically conservative platform in this race. In his next term, he wants to increase funding for militarized policing and use law enforcement as the response to addiction in our community instead of compassionate treatment. He also wants to tackle affordability issues in the district but doesn’t have a progressive approach to doing so.

Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice for state House representing Legislative District 17 in Position 1.

Republican Rep. Kevin Waters is running unopposed for re-election to Legislative District 17, Position 1. Waters is the executive director of the Skamania Economic Development Council and founder of Backwoods Brewing Company. He previously served as a commissioner of the Port of Skamania. Waters is an anti-choice legislator with a typically conservative platform in this race. In his next term, he wants to increase funding for militarized policing and use law enforcement as the response to addiction in our community instead of compassionate treatment. He also wants to tackle affordability issues in the district but doesn’t have a progressive approach to doing so.

Write in a more progressive candidate of your choice for state House representing Legislative District 17 in Position 1.

Democrat Terri Niles is running for House Position 1 in the newly redistricted 17th Legislative District. Niles is the past vice president of the Oregon Nurses Association and has worked for 20 years as an ICU nurse. She has served as a Clark County charter review commissioner and president of the Clark County Democratic Women, among other community leadership roles.

If elected, Niles wants to find common ground on issues that affect everyone in the district. She wants to improve access to health and reproductive care, expand affordable housing, and reduce the cost of higher education while offering access to apprenticeships, giving the next generation the runway they need to succeed. She supports crisis intervention care that improves and supplements the city's current response to behavioral health calls. Niles' campaign vision for the 17th District is widely supported by an impressive number of our progressive partner organizations, elected officials, and local leaders.

Also in this race is Republican and Washougal mayor David Stuebe is also in the running to replace Rep. Harris in the Legislature. Stuebe was first elected to the Washougal City Council in 2021 and named by his fellow council members as mayor pro tem that same year, If elected, he says that he plans to retain his seat as mayor. He has no policy platform or candidate website available as of early June.

As a longtime health care worker who wants to expand opportunities for good jobs, accessible care, and a strong education system to everyone in the district, Terri Niles is the best choice for the 17th Legislative District in House Position 1.

Democrat Terri Niles is running for House Position 1 in the newly redistricted 17th Legislative District. Niles is the past vice president of the Oregon Nurses Association and has worked for 20 years as an ICU nurse. She has served as a Clark County charter review commissioner and president of the Clark County Democratic Women, among other community leadership roles.

If elected, Niles wants to find common ground on issues that affect everyone in the district. She wants to improve access to health and reproductive care, expand affordable housing, and reduce the cost of higher education while offering access to apprenticeships, giving the next generation the runway they need to succeed. She supports crisis intervention care that improves and supplements the city's current response to behavioral health calls. Niles' campaign vision for the 17th District is widely supported by an impressive number of our progressive partner organizations, elected officials, and local leaders.

Also in this race is Republican and Washougal mayor David Stuebe is also in the running to replace Rep. Harris in the Legislature. Stuebe was first elected to the Washougal City Council in 2021 and named by his fellow council members as mayor pro tem that same year, If elected, he says that he plans to retain his seat as mayor. He has no policy platform or candidate website available as of early June.

As a longtime health care worker who wants to expand opportunities for good jobs, accessible care, and a strong education system to everyone in the district, Terri Niles is the best choice for the 17th Legislative District in House Position 1.

State Supreme Court

Sal Mungia is an awarded and experienced local attorney running for retiring Justice Susan Owens’ Position 2 on the state Supreme Court. Mungia is a partner at a Tacoma- and Seattle-based firm where he works in trial and appellate law primarily focused on injury law and medical malpractice. He has a long history of leadership and service including, among other experiences, as the former president of the Washington State Bar Association, former chair of the Equal Justice Coalition, and a cooperating attorney with the ACLU of Washington.

Mungia’s career has been strongly community-oriented. He has done significant pro bono legal work while working to improve our criminal legal system. Now, he has earned wide and impressive support in his bid for the court including from sitting Supreme Court Justice Yu and Chief Justice González.

Federal Way Municipal Court Judge Dave Larson is also in this race. Larson has spent 16 years as a judge, and 23 years before that as a trial attorney. He claims to have bipartisan support and wants to serve as a “balance” if elected. Yet unfortunately, Larson perpetuates fears of rising crime rates as a reason for his candidacy even though judges are meant to be impartial arbiters and the state’s highest court deals more with large cases that affect all Washingtonians rather than individual instances of nonviolent crime. He has not listed any endorsements as of late August but it is clear that progressives are backing Mungia in this race.

We recommend Sal Mungia in this race to bring trusted, just, and community-minded leadership to Washington’s Supreme Court.

Sal Mungia is an awarded and experienced local attorney running for retiring Justice Susan Owens’ Position 2 on the state Supreme Court. Mungia is a partner at a Tacoma- and Seattle-based firm where he works in trial and appellate law primarily focused on injury law and medical malpractice. He has a long history of leadership and service including, among other experiences, as the former president of the Washington State Bar Association, former chair of the Equal Justice Coalition, and a cooperating attorney with the ACLU of Washington.

Mungia’s career has been strongly community-oriented. He has done significant pro bono legal work while working to improve our criminal legal system. Now, he has earned wide and impressive support in his bid for the court including from sitting Supreme Court Justice Yu and Chief Justice González.

Federal Way Municipal Court Judge Dave Larson is also in this race. Larson has spent 16 years as a judge, and 23 years before that as a trial attorney. He claims to have bipartisan support and wants to serve as a “balance” if elected. Yet unfortunately, Larson perpetuates fears of rising crime rates as a reason for his candidacy even though judges are meant to be impartial arbiters and the state’s highest court deals more with large cases that affect all Washingtonians rather than individual instances of nonviolent crime. He has not listed any endorsements as of late August but it is clear that progressives are backing Mungia in this race.

We recommend Sal Mungia in this race to bring trusted, just, and community-minded leadership to Washington’s Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Steven González is running unopposed for re-election to Position 8 on the Washington Supreme Court. González was first appointed to the bench in 2012 and was chosen by his peers to serve in the chief justice position in 2021, making him Washington’s first chief justice of color. Before becoming a judge, González’s law career ranged from international business law and terrorism prosecution to civil rights pro bono work. He serves on the board of the Washington Leadership Institute to provide opportunities and support for legal professionals from backgrounds and identities that have previously been excluded from legal spaces.

In his leadership role on the state’s top court, González has sought to make the legal system a place for justice and dignity for all Washingtonians. He worked to make our courts more accessible to non-English speakers. González has received bipartisan support in past races but consistently received support from some of the state’s top progressive leaders. González has been ranked highly by some of the state’s most progressive bar associations including QLaw, Latina/o Bar Association of Washington, Washington Women Lawyers, and more.

We recommend Justice Steven González for another term in Position 8 on Washington's Supreme Court to continue bringing just and experienced judicial leadership to our top court.

Chief Justice Steven González is running unopposed for re-election to Position 8 on the Washington Supreme Court. González was first appointed to the bench in 2012 and was chosen by his peers to serve in the chief justice position in 2021, making him Washington’s first chief justice of color. Before becoming a judge, González’s law career ranged from international business law and terrorism prosecution to civil rights pro bono work. He serves on the board of the Washington Leadership Institute to provide opportunities and support for legal professionals from backgrounds and identities that have previously been excluded from legal spaces.

In his leadership role on the state’s top court, González has sought to make the legal system a place for justice and dignity for all Washingtonians. He worked to make our courts more accessible to non-English speakers. González has received bipartisan support in past races but consistently received support from some of the state’s top progressive leaders. González has been ranked highly by some of the state’s most progressive bar associations including QLaw, Latina/o Bar Association of Washington, Washington Women Lawyers, and more.

We recommend Justice Steven González for another term in Position 8 on Washington's Supreme Court to continue bringing just and experienced judicial leadership to our top court.

Justice Sheryl McCloud is running unopposed for re-election to Position #9 on the Washington Supreme Court. McCloud is a former public defender who has served on Washington’s top court since 2013. She co-chairs the court’s Gender & Justice Commission and serves as the liaison to the state bar's Council on Public Defense. On the bench, Justice McCloud’s top areas of attention include constitutional and individual rights, and she authored the 2017 opinion barring a private business open to the general public from refusing to serve a gay couple. She was the founding member of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association.

In this election, her focus is on protecting constitutional rights. She has been rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by a number of the state’s top bar associations, including the King County Bar Association, QLaw, and the Washington Women Lawyers. These organizations ensure that our justices are treating all Washingtonians fairly and protecting constitutionally outlined civil rights.

Justice McCloud deserves your vote to continue bringing fair and experienced leadership to the state Supreme Court.

Justice Sheryl McCloud is running unopposed for re-election to Position #9 on the Washington Supreme Court. McCloud is a former public defender who has served on Washington’s top court since 2013. She co-chairs the court’s Gender & Justice Commission and serves as the liaison to the state bar's Council on Public Defense. On the bench, Justice McCloud’s top areas of attention include constitutional and individual rights, and she authored the 2017 opinion barring a private business open to the general public from refusing to serve a gay couple. She was the founding member of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association.

In this election, her focus is on protecting constitutional rights. She has been rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by a number of the state’s top bar associations, including the King County Bar Association, QLaw, and the Washington Women Lawyers. These organizations ensure that our justices are treating all Washingtonians fairly and protecting constitutionally outlined civil rights.

Justice McCloud deserves your vote to continue bringing fair and experienced leadership to the state Supreme Court.