Washington Conservation Action Endorsements

Governor Jay Inslee has been a strong, principled leader on the important challenges facing Washington. Before he was elected as governor in 2012, Inslee represented both sides of the Cascades in Congress, opposed the Iraq war, and worked to increase accountability and oversight for Wall Street banks.

Inslee has established himself as a national leader on fighting climate change. He has invested more than $170 million into clean energy and energy efficiency projects, implemented the Clean Air Rule, and pushed for legislation that reduces pollution in Washington. In his 2020 bid for the presidency, Inslee brought a focus on climate to the race. Outside of his work on climate, Inslee has signed into law Washington's public option for health care, paid family leave, and the Equal Pay Opportunity Act.

Recently, Inslee has been a national leader in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. His proactive, decisive, science-driven efforts have saved countless Washingtonians from getting sick. Unfortunately, we've seen the flip side recently where states with governors who were slow or failed to act have seen dramatic increases in cases.

Inslee's opponent is Republican Loren Culp, the sole police officer of the town of Republic and one of the farthest right of Inslee's main primary challengers. Culp came to national fame for refusing to enforce the voter-approved Initiative 1639, which placed restrictions on semi-automatic firearm sales. Much of Culp's primary and early general election campaign has centered on opposing public health measures like wearing masks. 

Culp's policy track record is disturbing, especially related to the environment. He recently questioned whether the wildfires that have ravaged the region are climate-related. He's compared gun rights to the Holocaust and likened the governor's stay-home policies to the horrors of Japanese internment during WWII. He faces a lawsuit for failing to investigate a child sex abuse case and for intimidating the victim in a case that was swiftly prosecuted after the county stepped in and took over. 

As the coronavirus crisis continues and the gap in the state budget persists, we need real, experienced leadership at the helm of the state. Inslee is the clear choice for governor.

Former Port Commissioner and progressive state Rep. Gael Tarleton is now running for Secretary of State to serve as the state's chief elections officer, among other roles. First elected to the Legislature in 2012, Tarleton has been a strong advocate for environmental causes such as Governor Jay Inslee's initiative to reduce carbon pollution. She sponsored bills during her first term in the House to strengthen the maritime industry, improve access to health care, and ensure gender pay equity.

Tarleton is running for Secretary of State to expand access to voting in Washington while safeguarding our elections against "foreign and domestic" attacks. She wants to improve digital security and increase funding for county auditors to protect local elections from hacking attempts in the wake of the 2016 election. She would also expand audits of the state and local systems to identify any weaknesses that could be exploited.

Tarleton is challenging incumbent Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who has faced a bumpy road during her time in office. Last year, Wyman's office released a new $9.5 million voter registration database that was riddled with errors and led to a backlog of tens of thousands of registrations. King County elections director Julie Wise described the release as "irresponsible" and "not even functioning." In addition, Wyman was slow to support the Washington Voting Rights Act, same-day voter registration, and postage-paid ballots.

We need a progressive leader in the Secretary of State's office who is fully committed to protecting our elections and removing every barrier to participation in our democracy. Tarleton is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Mike Pellicciotti has served in the Washington state House representing the 30th Legislative District since 2016 and is now running for Treasurer. Pellicciotti has never accepted corporate campaign donations and has led efforts to make the Legislature's records open for public view. He also wrote the Corporate Crime Act, which increases financial penalties for corporate crimes by 100 times.

Pellicciotti is challenging incumbent Republican Duane Davidson. In 2016, incumbent Jim McIntire retired, leaving the seat open. Because of the crowded primary, two Republicans made it through to the general election, giving them control of the treasurer's office for the first time since 1957. Davidson previously served as the Benton County treasurer from 2003 to 2016. In his term, he has been a traditional Republican and has accused the state Legislature of "raiding" the Rainy Day Fund. He has only attended 3 of 18 critical pension meetings since fall 2017.

Pellicciotti has been a solid legislator and is the best choice in the race for Washington State Treasurer.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson's accomplishments during his two terms in office are impressive. From delivering millions of dollars back to consumers who were wronged by fraudulent corporations to his ongoing battle with the federal government to clean up the Hanford nuclear waste site to successfully fighting two Tim Eyman initiatives, Ferguson has been a strong and effective advocate for the people of Washington. He has sued the Trump administration 80 times as of late September and won all but one completed case. Some of Ferguson's biggest accomplishments from the past few years include safeguarding consumer medical data, protecting statewide water quality from Trump's erosive environmental policies, and fighting back against the Trump administration's child detention laws.

Ferguson faces a challenge from Republican attorney Matt Larkin, who is currently the legal counsel for his family's manufacturing business. Larkin worked in the Bush White House on efforts to direct federal funds to religious charities and is an advocate for a traditional Republican platform. Larkin opposes the vast majority of the lawsuits that Ferguson has filed to hold the Trump administration accountable. 

Ferguson is the clear progressive choice for Attorney General of Washington.

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz has been a proactive force for protecting our communities from climate change. As the head of the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), she has focused on protecting public lands, wildfire management, and climate action.

This year, Franz released a climate resiliency plan for rural Washington that includes massive reforestation as well as expanding wind and solar farms. Given the statewide threat and impact of wildfires with recent record-setting fire seasons, she has also worked on a 20-year forest health plan and a 10-year fire protection plan.

Franz's opponent is fisheries researcher Sue Kuehl Pederson, the former chair of the Grays Harbor Republican Party. Kuehl Pederson is running on a conservative platform that focuses on significantly increasing logging of state forests and rolling back protections for endangered species. In recent interviews, Kuehl Pederson also downplayed the importance of climate change in exacerbating this fall’s forest fires. 

Franz has the experience we need to guide and protect our state from increasingly dangerous fire seasons and the rising threat of climate inaction. Vote Franz for Commissioner of Public Lands.

Chris Reykdal is running for re-election to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to continue his leadership of our state's public schools through this challenging time. Previously, Reykdal spent 14 years serving on local school boards and in leadership positions at community and technical colleges, as well as serving 6 years in the Legislature. In the state House, Reykdal had a strong progressive voting record and was a consistent champion for public schools.

In his first term as superintendent, Reykdal has pushed the Legislature to fully fund K-12 education, increase teacher pay, and close the opportunity gap for students of color. More recently, Reykdal has worked closely with Gov. Inslee to help Washington schools navigate the pandemic. He made the tough decision early to close schools for the year in order to keep kids and families safe and to slow the spread of COVID-19. If re-elected, Reykdal will continue to advocate for these priorities and work with schools across the state as they make the transition back to in-person education.

Reykdal is facing former Republican legislative candidate Maia Espinoza. Espinoza is a school music teacher and a former legislative liaison to the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs. She was motivated to run by her opposition to comprehensive sexual health education and gained attention by publishing a false and inflammatory voters' pamphlet statement attacking Reykdal. In addition, an Associated Press investigation found that Espinoza provided false or misleading descriptions of her own education and the organization she leads. As of mid-September, Espinoza is also dangerously pushing for classrooms to re-open fully for in-person learning, despite mass outbreaks at schools and universities across the country.

Reykdal is the clear choice for Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Rep. Derek Stanford served nearly 10 years as a state representative before earning an appointment to the state Senate to replace Guy Palumbo last year. Throughout his tenure in the Legislature, Stanford has been a strong proponent of LGBTQ+ rights, consumer protections, environmental sustainability, and strengthening access to higher education in Washington state. Most recently, Stanford sponsored legislation that prohibits state agencies from creating databases based on an individual's religious affiliation. Stanford was also the prime sponsor of the Kuhnhausen Act, named after a transgender teen who was killed in Vancouver this year. The law prevents the use of the "panic" defense if someone commits a crime after learning of a victim’s actual or perceived gender identity.

Stanford is running against Dr. Art Coday, who previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2012 and 2018. His website does not appear to have been updated since 2018, but in that year, Coday's top priority was to completely repeal the Affordable Care Act and leave tens of millions of Americans without health insurance and at the whims of a few private insurance companies. His campaign also strenuously opposed any gun safety legislation and was anti-abortion.

Stanford is by far the best choice in this race.

Rep. Davina Duerr is running for re-election to the 1st Legislative District, Position 1. Appointed to the Legislature in the summer of 2019 to replace Derek Stanford, Davina Duerr is a former Bothell City Council member and deputy mayor.

Duerr has long been a strong regional advocate for improved transit and the protection of parks and forested land. If re-elected, she would continue her work advocating for transit and climate action in the House. Her other priorities include improving public education with greater equity between districts, increasing the number of pre-K programs, bridge and road repair, funding gun violence research, and reducing the impact of the coronavirus.

She is running against Republican and automotive service director Adam Bartholomew, whose platform is very conservative. He does not support commonsense, age-appropriate sex education and is not open to finding new sources of revenue for vital programs across Washington, despite the state's coronavirus-caused budget shortfall of approximately $4 billion. During the recent movement for racial justice, Bartholomew dedicated much of his personal Twitter feed to sharing anti-Black Lives Matter content.

Duerr is the clear choice in this race.

Rep. Shelley Kloba is running for re-election to the 1st Legislative District, House Position 2. Prior to joining the Legislature, Rep. Kloba served her community as a trustee for the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, as a Kirkland City Council member, and as the Washington State PTA legislative director for two years.

In the Legislature, Kloba has extended her knowledge of education policy to become an advocate for Washington's youth. In 2018, Rep. Kloba was the primary sponsor of a bill that extended the Expanded Learning Opportunities Council, which increases opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds. This year, she expanded workers' rights by sponsoring legislation that would prevent a positive marijuana test from disqualifying people from most jobs, excluding positions like firefighters and federal workers.

Her challenger is Republican Jeb Brewer. Brewer is running on a conservative platform and wants to prioritize issues including traffic and homelessness. He states that he would reduce regulations for businesses and industries like construction.

Kloba has been a strong advocate for her constituents and deserves another term in the House.

Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig is a strong leader and progressive champion who has broad support from the Spokane community in his re-election campaign.

Billig has worked hard for his district. He helped pass a transportation bill that created 43,000 jobs and worked to reduce pollution in the Spokane River. He's also been a strong advocate for high-quality early learning programs and better campaign finance reform to increase transparency in government, including two bills he passed to make elections fairer in our state. If re-elected, Billig will continue to work on progressive revenue that flips Washington's upside-down tax code, support a balanced economic recovery for everyone, make additional investments in education, and continue to foster a healthy economy.

His opponent in this race is Republican and Marine veteran Dave Lucas. Lucas irresponsibly wants to cut taxes when the state already faces a historic multi-billion dollar budget deficit, which would threaten funding for education, health care, and affordable housing. He also states that he would push back on taxes for polluters and reduce regulations on businesses.

Fuse members who interviewed Billig appreciated his proactiveness on policy and responsiveness to constituents, two positive qualities that are reflected in Billig's wide support from progressive partners. Billig has earned your vote for re-election to the state Senate.

Nurse practitioner Lori Feagan is running to bring progressive values to Olympia from the 4th Legislative District. One of her top priorities is improving health care, including lowering the cost of prescription drugs and holding price-gougers accountable when it comes to vital medications like insulin. As the state faces budget shortfalls due to the pandemic, Feagan promises to prioritize improvements like the Henry Road overpass and road separation projects.

Feagan is running against incumbent Republican Bob McCaslin. He has voted against a slew of progressive reforms and is one of most far-right members of the Legislature. Along with Rep. Matt Shea, McCaslin has supported splitting Washington into two states to create a new conservative state called "Liberty."

The local Fuse interview committee was extremely impressed with Feagan's determination to improve health care access, ensure living wages, and be a progressive force in Olympia. The range of endorsements for Feagan from our partners and from elected officials reflects her potential to bring people together for change. Feagan is the best choice in this race.

Accountant Lance Gurel is running for the 4th Legislative District, House Position 2 to bring progressive leadership back to the district for the first time in decades. In his interview with the local Fuse endorsement committee, Gurel said that he would support undocumented workers, many of whom have been deemed essential workers during this pandemic, with an emergency aid fund. He supports tax reform like the Working Families Tax Credit that would put money back in the pockets of Washingtonians with low and moderate incomes. Gurel also expressed support for affordable child care, mental health programs that divert people from the prison pipeline, and investments in clean fuels.

Gurel's opponent is Republican Rob Chase. Chase, who calls himself a Trump Republican, is running on the so-called "MAGA Doctrine" of "following the Constitution and shrinking government." Notably, he is supported by Rep. Matt Shea, who was ousted from the Republican caucus after an investigation deemed him a domestic terrorist.

The 4th LD deserves better than another Shea. Vote Lance Gurel for state House.

Progressive nurse Ingrid Anderson is challenging Sen. Mark Mullet in the 5th Legislative District. As a nurse, Anderson will bring an important perspective to Olympia as legislators craft a public health and economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If elected, Anderson would also prioritize keeping East King County affordable for working families, strengthening our K-12 education system, and rebuilding the economy in a way that works for everyone, not just special interests. As the mother of a son with asthma, Anderson understands the importance of protecting our clean air and will work to pass strong environmental protections for Washington.

Mullet is a small business owner and business-oriented Democrat who has been an obstacle to progress on many issues during his eight years in Olympia. He has taken thousands of dollars from oil and coal companies and hasn't been willing to vote for critical environmental bills. We need to address climate change and salmon and orca recovery, but Mullet has shown he won't support the solutions we need. In addition, Mullet voted against addressing the gender pay gap, opposed childcare assistance for working families, and even voted to cut teacher pay.

It's time for new leadership for the 5th Legislative District. Anderson has garnered support from a large number of progressive organizations, even earning the endorsement of Governor Inslee. Anderson is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Rep. Bill Ramos is running for re-election for the 5th Legislative District, House Position 1. Prior to serving in the Legislature, Ramos was an Issaquah City Council member as well as a member of the Human Services Commission and the Planning Policy Commission. In his time as a local elected official, Ramos earned a reputation as an environmentalist by fighting for sustainable development and growth policies, as well as by supporting expanded transit options. He built on that reputation in his first term in Olympia by sponsoring a slate of environmental bills this legislative session, including House bills on carbon sequestration and expanding equitable community renewable energy projects. Ramos states that his priorities if re-elected would include transportation improvements to replace aging infrastructure and passing more environmental protections. Facing budget shortfalls in next year's legislative session, Ramos says he will take a people-first approach by expanding health care coverage and promoting funds for worker protections and small businesses.

Running against Ramos is Republican Ken Moninski. Moninski, who runs two aviation-related businesses, is prioritizing reopening the economy, reducing regulations on businesses, opening schools, and otherwise making a "return to normal" in Washington. He states that he will not seek to raise new revenue despite the historic budget shortfall of $6 billion caused by the pandemic.

The 5th District needs a representative who can both handle the threat of the pandemic seriously as well as build policies for the future beyond it. Ramos is by far the best choice in this race.

Incumbent Lisa Callan is running unopposed for re-election to the 5th Legislative District, House Position 2. She serves as the vice-chair on the House Budget and Finance Committee and the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee. As a former Issaquah School Board member, one of Callan's top priorities is equity in education, as well as the completion of State Highway 18 and increasing housing affordability.

After a strong first term in Olympia, Callan has earned your vote for re-election.

Zack Zappone is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Volz for the 6th Legislative District, House Position 1. As a former teacher and creator of after school programs, Zappone's top priorities include ensuring that everyone has the training they need to enter the workforce, a housing-first approach to homelessness, worker protections, and creating a more equitable tax system for lower-income residents. He highlights his experience in logistics through his volunteer work with the Spokane Food Fighters, who are delivering meals during the coronavirus crisis.

Republican Volz voted against a bill that aimed to create an office of gun violence prevention and opposed adding immigration status to the state's anti-discrimination laws. If re-elected, Volz promises to "get our state government back to living within its means," which considering next year's coronavirus-caused state budget shortfall of $6 billion, could have devastating consequences for the services many in the district and across the state are relying on.

In his interview, Zappone impressed the Fuse local council with his strong progressive values and equitable platform. Zappone is the best choice in this race.

Helen Price Johnson is challenging Republican incumbent Ron Muzzall for the state Senate seat in the 10th Legislative District. Price Johnson has held an impressive number of leadership positions in the community, including as a board member of the South Whidbey School District, as the first female board member of the Island County Commissioners, and on the Board of Directors of the Whidbey Community Foundation.

Price Johnson believes housing is a human right and that climate change requires action. She pledges to revise the district's housing regulations and move the state towards increased renewable energy. On healthcare and childhood education, Price Johnson wants to see more investment in mental health and addiction treatment as well as free early childhood education.

Her opponent, Ron Muzzall, replaced Sen. Barbara Bailey when she retired last year. Muzzall, a farm owner and manager, has not offered a strong policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has left hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians out of work and struggling to get by. Rather than investing in communities, Muzzall would make knee-jerk cuts to services at the moment they're needed most.

Price Johnson's extensive track record of civic service, strong community support, and vision for rebuilding our economy make her the clear choice in this race.

Architect Angie Homola is running for the 10th Legislative District, House Position 1. She has a long track record of public service and civic engagement in Island County, including serving as an Island County Commissioner. One of Homola’s accomplishments as a commissioner was to make the meetings available online so that people across the county could watch and participate in their local government. She is running for Legislature on a progressive platform of good government including campaign finance reform, increased affordable housing, and environmental conservation. Homola wants to prioritize farming and forestry, provide strong services for veterans, and use public and mental health care to end opioid addiction.

Her opponent is GOP candidate Greg Gilday, a lawyer who wants to address homelessness and improve local roads. He claims to be running to work on both “public health and economic health” but has been pushing to re-open the state's economy before public health experts say it is safe. His platform is not detailed but does include his opposition to age-appropriate sex education in schools. Gilday would be a conservative voice while Homola is a true progressive who will bring strong values to Olympia.

Homola is the clear choice in the race for House Position 1 representing the 10th Legislative District.

Incumbent Democrat Dave Paul is running for re-election this year in the moderate 10th Legislative District. Paul is the current vice-president of Skagit Valley College and has been a longtime advocate for children and public schools. He has been a strong progressive during his term in the Legislature and worked on bills to lower the cost of prescription drugs, as well as advocating for a 100% clean electricity grid by 2025. If re-elected, Paul states that he will continue to prioritize environmental work and re-opening the economy safely.

Paul is running against Bill Bruch. As a chairperson for the Skagit County Republican Party, Bruch is running on a cookie-cutter GOP platform. He states that those who are homeless or suffering from addiction must use "personal responsibility" to find a job, and implies that the role of government when it comes to these issues should be secondary to the private sector. On coronavirus, Bruch believes that Gov. Inslee's stay-home order is "totally unacceptable," ignoring both public health science and that COVID cases have continued to increase in Washington.

Paul has earned strong support from our Progressive Voters Guide partner organizations and is the best choice in this race.

Bob Hasegawa is running unopposed for re-election to the state Senate. Since first being elected to the House in 2005, Hasegawa has distinguished himself through his social justice work. He is a labor advocate and founding member of several labor boards, including Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance AFL-CIO and the Washington State Labor Council. Hasegawa has also been a strong advocate for reforming our state's upside-down tax system and has pushed to establish a state bank.

Hasegawa has earned another term in the state Senate and deserves your vote.

Rep. Zack Hudgins has become a strong progressive leader in the Legislature. Throughout his tenure, Hudgins has focused on standing up for vulnerable Washingtonians, strengthening election transparency, and making effective investments into our state economy. In particular, Hudgins played a lead role in passing automatic voter registration legislation and increasing the number of ballot drop boxes in 2018. This year, he organized bipartisan support for legislation to restrict the use of facial recognition software. Hudgins is running for re-election on a platform of preventing budget cuts due to the economic downturn, addressing affordable housing and homelessness, and continuing to support stronger privacy laws.

Adrianne Moore is running against Republican incumbent Keith Goehner for the 12th Legislative District, House Position 1. She is a former manager at Room One, a health and social services center in Methow Valley. For several years, she was the center's sole employee, helping adults and children who were escaping domestic violence or needed mental health and substance abuse services. She's running for Legislature to continue her service to the community, especially for working families. Moore's platform includes incentivizing high-quality rural health care systems, bringing in more climate-friendly industries, and ensuring affordable housing.

Her opponent, Rep. Goehner, has voted against legislation to stop the climate crisis and opposed a bill that would require farmworkers' beds to be placed six feet apart to ensure safety during the pandemic. He is a consistent obstacle to progress in Olympia. 

Moore is the best choice for the 12th Legislative District, Position 1.

Democrat Danielle Garbe Reser is running for the state Senate seat in the 16th Legislative District, which is open after Sen. Maureen Walsh's retirement. Garbe Reser has served in several leadership roles in the community, including on Whitman’s Presidential Advisory Board and the Walla Walla YWCA’s Nominating Committee and Community Council’s Governance Committee. She believes in bipartisan solutions and has worked for both Democratic and Republican administrations through her 14-year career as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State.

Garbe Reser calls her platform, which focuses on community recovery and resiliency, both "fiscally responsible" and "community-driven." She wants to help get people back to work by modernizing the electric grid and supports additional investments in early learning, affordable housing, and quality healthcare. In Olympia, Garbe Reser wants to bring her district's concerns to the forefront and advocate for policy that works for all Washingtonians. To do this, she vows to prioritize people above partisan politics.

Garbe Reser is running against Republican Perry Dozier, who formerly served as the Walla Walla County Commissioner among other local elected positions. He has taken advantage of the coronavirus crisis as a way to criticize the governor and advance a conservative agenda. Dozier previously faced controversy for his efforts to pump water from agricultural zones to bottle and sell elsewhere.

Garbe Reser is the best choice for state Senate from the 16th Legislative District.

Frances Chvatal is running for House Position 1 in the 16th Legislative District. Chvatal has spent her career working in health care, including more than 35 years as a nurse, and is campaigning to improve our health care system. As a lifelong resident of Eastern Washington with strong community experience, Chvatal will work hard for the residents of the 16th District.

Chvatal wants to prioritize her constituents' health and focus on addressing the state's budget crisis without deep cuts. In light of the pandemic, she is pledging to ensure high-quality health care for all, as well as policies that improve mental health care access. Chvatal supports wraparound services for vulnerable residents, a living wage and fair hiring practices, and linking agriculture with a healthy environment.

Also in this race is Republican and Washington Farm Bureau director Mark Klicker. Klicker is running against the "liberal agenda" in Olympia. He states that he would stand against climate-saving measures like the clean fuel standard and would resist policies that attempt to rebalance the state's upside-down tax code. On the topic of re-opening, Klicker insisted that "we need to open up in a hurry."

During this ongoing public health crisis, the 16th District deserves a representative who will prioritize health and safety for all and take an informed approach to re-opening the state. Chvatal is the better choice in this race.

Democrat Carly Coburn is challenging Republican incumbent Skyler Rude for 16th Legislative District, House Position 2. Coburn is a lifelong Washingtonian who has served in several leadership positions, including as treasurer of the Tri-Cities Young Democrats, first vice-chair of the Franklin County Democrats, and as the first chair of the WSDCC Disability Issues Caucus.

Coburn's top priorities are increasing health care affordability and accessibility in rural communities, as well as increasing affordable housing. Her work as a disability advocate positions her well to advocate for integrated housing for adults with disabilities as well as more low-income housing. Coburn is a strong advocate for affordable health care and stated recently that "health care shouldn’t be allowed to be used as a bargaining chip against employees."

Coburn's opponent, incumbent Rep. Skyler Rude, has held the seat since last year and has already been an obstacle to a number of progressive bills. Like many of his Republican colleagues, Rude is more concerned with re-opening the economy than protecting the health of his constituents. One of his top priorities is "protecting business," which includes a host of anti-worker practices like training wages, subminimum wages, and reduced compensation for workers injured on the job.

Coburn is a true progressive and staunch advocate for marginalized residents of the 16th District. She is the best choice in this race.

Democrat Daniel Smith is challenging Republican incumbent Sen. Lynda Wilson to represent the 17th Legislative District in the Senate. Smith has been a social worker for more than two decades and currently manages the southwest Washington office for Community Health Plan of Washington, a local non-profit. As a Democrat, he believes in the principles of "family values, community values, [and] making sure everybody has an equal opportunity for success."

If elected, Smith wants to put his career in health care to work by advocating for more social services and better mental health care, as well as more affordable housing and early childhood education. He is running to support "data-driven decisions" when guiding public health and economic legislation. When it comes to managing the threat of coronavirus, Smith is determined to make sure that frontline health care workers have all the supplies they need to stay safe and treat Washingtonians.

Incumbent Sen. Wilson has already established a long track record of conservative votes in her first term alone. Wilson has been on the wrong side of health care access and reproductive rights, and she even said that the science on whether vaccines are safe is "not settled" while her district faced a measles outbreak. Wilson also generated controversy this spring when she told The Columbian that she was storing 100 coronavirus antibody tests in her home.

The 17th Legislative District deserves better representation than Lynda Wilson. Daniel Smith has received the support of many progressive organizations and is the clear choice for state Senate.

Democrat Tanisha Harris is challenging far-right incumbent Rep. Vicki Kraft for House Position 1 representing the 17th Legislative District. Harris spent a decade working for the Evergreen School District and now works as a Court Appointed Special Advocate program specialist with the YWCA Clark County.

Harris's priorities include supporting low-income and workplace housing to tackle the state's homelessness and housing affordability crisis, reducing gun violence, and making additional investments in education. She opposes re-opening Washington schools until the science says it is safe to do so. Harris does not support an income tax but does want to rebalance the state's upside-down tax system so that everyone pays their share.

Her opponent, Republican Rep. Kraft, worked for the virulently anti-worker Freedom Foundation and has one of the most far-right voting records in the House. She spent the early months of the pandemic trying to re-open the state long before public health experts said it was safe and even joined an April rally against Gov. Inslee's state-at-home-order. In this session, Kraft was a leading opponent of comprehensive sex education and broader vaccination of students. She is zealously opposed to abortion and voted against legislation requiring insurance companies to cover all women's health care. In addition, she opposed several LGBTQ+ equality bills and the Washington Voting Rights Act.

Kraft's battle against common-sense public health standards is appalling and especially bad during a pandemic. Harris, on the other hand, has the overwhelming support of labor, reproductive rights organizations, environmental groups, and more, and is by far the best choice in this race.

Donna Sinclair is running to represent the 18th Legislative District, House Position 2. Sinclair is a public historian and history professor at Washington State University Vancouver and Western Oregon University. She was first inspired to run for office after the 2016 election and currently serves on the board of directors for the Washougal School District and as a Democratic precinct committee officer.

Sinclair's campaign focuses on bringing affordable health care, well-paying jobs, and high-quality education to the region. Sinclair is concerned about affordability in Clark County and wants to guide the county's growth while protecting the environment and local quality of life. In addition, Sinclair wants to bring a new vocational and technical school to North Clark County so that students don't have to drive all the way to Vancouver.

Her opponent is incumbent Republican Rep. Larry Hoff, whose top three priorities are protecting the Second Amendment, improving transportation, and reducing taxes, despite an estimated budget shortfall of several billion dollars next year due to COVID. Though he believes that he is qualified to manage the state's economic crisis because of his private sector work, Hoff neglects to offer any policies for how to mitigate the public health crisis.

Sinclair is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Progressive Democrat Marianna Everson is running for the 19th Legislative District, House Position 1 to advocate for the needs of working people. Everson is running on a platform of supporting safe and affordable housing, fully-funded education, progressive taxes, and a healthy economy with living-wage jobs. Her extensive policy ideas also include comprehensive criminal justice reform, infrastructure upgrades, and protecting labor unions. As a registered psychiatric nurse, she places particular emphasis on the need for universal health care reforms, such as free point-of-care health care.

She is running against incumbent Jim Walsh, a conservative, two-term Republican who has voted against efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Washington, prohibiting bump stocks and background checks for firearm transfers, prohibiting sexual orientation conversion therapy on minors, and more. Walsh has emerged as one of the most inflammatory members of the state House, undermining his ability to work with other legislators to get things done. His response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been painfully poor as he joined April protests against Gov. Inslee's stay-at-home orders.

Everson is the best choice for state House.

Democratic Rep. Strom Peterson is running for re-election to represent the 21st Legislative District, House Position 1. Prior to joining the Legislature, Peterson served on the Edmonds City Council for six years, where he proved to be a capable leader in Snohomish County. In Olympia, Peterson had a hand in passing several important progressive bills.

In 2018, Peterson was the primary sponsor of the Secure Drug Medicine Back Act, an innovative program to limit the usage of unused and expired prescriptions in Washington communities. In 2017, he was a sponsor of Breakfast Before the Bell, a nutrition program for hungry students. This year, Peterson sponsored legislation to prevent the solitary confinement of incarcerated youth in all but extreme cases. If re-elected, Peterson states that he would continue to prioritize education, the environment, transportation, and more.

Peterson is running against Republican Brian Thompson, who runs a fire protection engineering consultancy. He is running to roll back the recently passed comprehensive sex-ed legislation and Gov. Jay Inslee's emergency coronavirus safety measures, stating that "we are all essential." Despite campaigning for "medical freedom," Thompson is strongly anti-choice.

Peterson has a strong progressive track record. He is the best choice for House Position 1.

Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self is running for re-election to the 21st Legislative District, House Position 2. She is a counselor in the Everett School District, and an active member of the community, focusing on childhood education and strengthening health services through numerous community organizations. Since joining the House in 2009, Rep. Ortiz-Self has emerged as a progressive champion for improving the health and well-being of youth and families across Washington.

This year, Ortiz-Self was the prime sponsor on bills to increase student access to counselors and provide resources for homeless college students. Her bill to fund nonprofits in low-income communities passed this year as well. Rep. Ortiz-Self has been a member of the state’s Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee for more than six years. If re-elected, she wants to continue to fund and improve education, protect the social safety net, and invest in job creation to support economic recovery.

Also in this race is far-right Republican Amy Schaper, who states that she is running to protect our borders, promote free-market solutions, and oppose civil rights like same-sex marriage. Schaper is strongly anti-choice and led a draconian "heartbeat" petition that would "require an ultrasound before an abortion" and includes provisions to "prohibit and criminalize abortion" in some cases.

During this time of economic and health crises, the 21st Legislative District needs a representative who has demonstrated care and knowledge in protecting the district's most vulnerable residents. Ortiz-Self is the clear choice in this race.

Incumbent Sen. Sam Hunt is running for re-election after being elected to the Senate in 2016. In his 16 years of representing the district in the House, Hunt was an advocate of open and fair elections and sponsored bills to encourage online voter registration, while also supporting increased education funding and women's health protections. This year, the senator backed a broad range of progressive bills and sponsored several, including cost-sharing requirements for insulin and requiring schools to incorporate local tribes' history into their curriculum.

If re-elected, Hunt's priorities in the Senate include fixing our upside-down tax code, which is the most regressive in the nation, increasing equitable funding for early education, and supporting universal health care, among other key policies. Hunt is committed to a state economic recovery that does not dismantle the social safety net and has emphasized his universal healthcare stance during the current public health crisis.

Hunt is running against Republican Garry Holland. Holland is a former employee of the State Department of Social and Health Services and chaired the Thurston County Republicans during the 2016 election. He is running on a typical Republican platform and, in response to the ongoing pandemic, threatened to sue Governor Inslee and school districts if schools didn't open in the fall.

With his experience and support from the progressive community, Hunt is the best choice in this race.

Rep. Laurie Dolan is running for re-election for the 22nd Legislative District, Position 1. As an educator with more than 30 years of classroom and area director experience with Spokane Public Schools, Dolan has been an effective vice-chair of the Education and State Government Committees where she fought for workers' rights and fully funded education.

Dolan is a leader in sponsoring progressive bills in the House. Some of her recent legislative highlights include funding for mental health experts in schools and transparent salary history laws that benefit women and people of color. In January, Dolan sponsored a bill that prohibited race-based hairstyle discrimination. After hearing directly from constituents, Dolan sponsored a bill in February that protected survivors' privacy when reporting sexual assault in an effort to create safer avenues for them to tell their stories. If re-elected, Dolan states that she will continue her work on safe schools, protections for workers, and expanding affordable healthcare, which is as important as ever with the threat of COVID-19.

Dolan is running against Republican J.D. Ingram. Ingram has had little campaign presence. In an interview with his fellow candidates this July, Ingram took a number of conservative stances, claiming at one point that he does not "favor any tax increases of any kind, for any reason." Ingram responded to questions about police accountability by insisting that to avoid sowing division, we should avoid recognizing race. Ingram also rejected speaking much on the subject of climate change, insisting the issue has been "irretrievably politicized."

Given Dolan's commitment to progressive issues and marginalized communities, she remains an important voice for the 22nd Legislative District. Dolan has received the majority of support from progressive organizations and is the best choice in this race.

Incumbent Sen. Christine Rolfes is the chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and a leader on education and environmental issues in Olympia. In previous sessions, she co-sponsored a bipartisan bill to address the state's over-reliance on property tax levies to fund education, advocated for the improvement of the state's oil spill response system, and protected maritime jobs. This year, Rolfes helped secure significant funding for improvements for the district, including adding habitat to the Illahee Preserve and funding two shelters, one for victims of domestic violence and the other for homeless youths.

Rolfes is being challenged by Republican Pamela Madden-Boyer, who is a former bus driver and teacher, as well as a business owner. Madden-Boyer's priorities include protecting the Second Amendment and fighting against comprehensive sex education in schools. She states that she will advocate for cutting taxes and cutting the budget, a proposition that does not add up in a year with a predicted state budget shortfall of $4 billion dollars due to the pandemic.

As Rolfes is sitting on the bipartisan Special Committee on Economic Recovery, we hope that she embraces new legislation that compels corporations and the wealthiest in our state to pay their share. At the same time, implementing measures like the Working Families Tax Credit would lift some of the regressive nature of our state's tax code.

Rolfes by far is the more experienced and progressive choice in this race.

Tara Simmons is the executive director of Civil Survival, a nonprofit organization that helps formerly incarcerated people reintegrate and become advocates for their community. Simmons made history when she became the first formerly-incarcerated person to graduate law school and be admitted to the Washington State Bar Association.

Simmons is running for the 23rd Legislative District, House Position 1 to reform our state's upside-down tax code, improve police accountability, and expand health care access, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is opposed to knee-jerk budget cuts during a public health emergency and wants to make the wealthy pay their share to invest more in communities. Notably, she is not accepting any campaign donations from corporations.

Her opponent is April Ferguson, former operations chair and data administration for the Kitsap County Republican Party. Ferguson, who has run for office and lost twice already, is running on a platform of individual liberty and opposing efforts to balance our state's upside-down tax code.

Simmons was one of the best and most inspiring progressive candidates Fuse interviewed this year. She will bring a unique voice and a passion for police and criminal justice reform to Olympia at a moment when it's needed more than ever. Simmons is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Rep. Drew Hansen is running for re-election to House Position 2, where he has represented the 23rd Legislative District since 2011. As the chair of the House College and Workforce Development Committee, Hansen has prioritized improving education and workforce policies. He helped expand the Olympic College engineering program for shipyard jobs and sponsored legislation to protect marine jobs. Hansen has also supported full funding of the State Need Grant for low-income college students, as well as free and reduced college for families earning less than $50,000 a year.

Hansen is running against Republican Elaina Gonzales-Blanton, who calls herself a constitutional conservative. She is running to protect Second Amendment rights, promote transparency, and push back against age-appropriate sex education.

Hansen is the best choice in this race.

Incumbent Democrat Sen. Kevin Van De Wege served as a representative for five terms before being elected to the Senate in 2016. Van De Wege is a firefighter and paramedic who has developed a moderate Democratic track record in Olympia. He has been a strong ally on environmental issues, including his co-sponsorship of a bill to require oil companies to disclose the amount of oil entering our state, the route of oil trains, and basic information for first responders.

Van De Wege is running against Republican and Port Angeles Port Commissioner Connie Beauvais. Beauvais states that she's running against new taxes - though the state is facing a coronavirus-caused estimated budget deficit of $4 billion dollars. She has not said whether she would attempt to raise additional revenue or make enormous cuts to transportation, social services, or other programs. Beauvais also has not promoted flipping the state's upside-down tax code, which favors corporations and the wealthiest over working families. The port commissioner also says she wants to bring checks and balances to Olympia because the Legislature is currently controlled by Democrats.

Van De Wege is the best choice in this race.

Rep. Mike Chapman is a moderate Democrat running for re-election to the 24th Legislative District, House Position 1. First elected in 2016, Chapman has fought for economic policies that create jobs in rural communities and protect the environment. This year, he was a co-sponsor of a major environmental bill to reduce state greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

Chapman is focused on producing solutions for families concerned about the quality of K-12 education and supporting economic opportunity in Washington. When it comes to economic recovery, Chapman wants to make sure that everyone pays their share. Unfortunately, despite giving outspoken support for law enforcement, Chapman has yet to propose any measure to increase police accountability.

Chapman is running against Republican Sue Forde. Forde previously ran for office and lost in 2003 against Steve Tharinger in the race for a county commissioner position. Her campaign platform focuses on criminal prosecution, Second Amendment rights, and reducing regulations. Forde has publicly minimized the detrimental effects of the pandemic on public health and says she is against Gov. Inslee's mask policy, a key part of the COVID-19 response.

While COVID-19 continues to threaten the health of Washingtonians and residents suffer through an economic crisis, it is more important than ever to choose a representative that will take our current moment seriously and follow the advice of experts. Chapman is the clear choice in this race.

Democratic Rep. Steve Tharinger is running for re-election to the 24th Legislative District, House Position 2. Since 2010, Tharinger has been a strong progressive leader for the district. He currently co-chairs the Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Aging and Disability and is a member of the Dementia Action Collaborative.

Tharinger is passionate about providing affordable health care options to all Washingtonians and has been unwavering in his advocacy for innovative policies that protect the environment. If re-elected, his priorities would be investing in ports and parks, strengthening health care, and recovering from the impacts of the pandemic. Rep. Tharinger recently spoke out in favor of protecting a fully funded and functioning postal service so that rural residents in his district can continue to receive medicine, pay bills, and vote by mail with confidence.

Tharinger is running against retired Army officer Brian Pruiett. Pruiett opposes fixing our upside-down tax code, despite the fact that low- and moderate-income residents pay a far higher tax rate than the wealthy. Pruiett recently made a statement offering unconditional support for law enforcement in all parts of Washington state, vowing that he will "not listen" to Washingtonians protesting for racial justice even within his own district.

In this time of health and economic uncertainties, the 24th Legislative District needs steady, progressive leadership that protects working people and the vulnerable, not just businesses' bottom lines. Tharinger is by far the best choice in this race.

Puyallup mayor and local small business owner Julie Door is running for state Senate in the 25th Legislative District. Prior to being elected as mayor this year, Door served on the council for seven years, where she supported the purchase of the Van Lierop farm to create a new park, implemented a Safe Routes to Schools initiative, and worked on securing adequate shelter for people experiencing homelessness in inclement weather. She was the community services chair of the Puyallup Kiwanis Club and is a board member of the South Sound 911 Board, among other community involvement.

Door became mayor at the beginning of the year, navigating Puyallup through the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic by swiftly declaring a state of emergency so that the city could access additional resources. If elected, she will build on that public health experience to expand health care access including mental health treatment. Door will also push for living-wage jobs in the district and promote more equity and investment in the classroom.

Door is running against Republican Rep. Chris Gildon. Gildon is one of several Republican legislators who criticized Gov. Inslee's stay-at-home order and supported leaving re-opening decisions up to local governments despite the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the state. This year in the House, Gildon voted against creating a statewide Office of Equity, requiring greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced to zero by 2050, and reducing transportation pollution.

As a lifetime resident of Puyallup with a keen grasp of the issues in the 25th District, Door will represent her constituents well in the Legislature. Door is the best choice in this race.

Puyallup School District teacher Jamie Smith is running for the 25th Legislative District, House Position 1 on a platform of improving life for families and working Washingtonians. Prior to seeking office, Smith spent 17 years as an educator in Puyallup.

If elected, Smith would prioritize securing more stable funding for public schools and increasing transit options to accommodate the more than 50% of workers who live in Pierce but work outside the county. In addition, she supports increasing investments in small businesses, job training in renewable energy positions, and fixing our state's upside-down tax code. Smith has said she supports expanded health care access to promote public health and to save the state money on overall care costs.

Smith is running against Republican Rep. Kelly Chambers, a conservative Republican who voted against establishing the Washington State Office of Equity and opposed comprehensive sexual health education for students. Kelly was endorsed by right-wing extremist and domestic terrorist Rep. Matt Shea in her re-election campaign. Chambers is strongly against balancing our state's upside-down tax code, despite the fact that her constituents with lower incomes pay at up to six times the rate of the wealthiest in the state under the current system. Chambers joined several other Republicans in challenging Gov. Inslee's extension of the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order in early May while the virus was still peaking, despite the recommendations of public health officials.

The people of the 25th Legislative District deserve a representative who cares about their health and economic well-being, not one who puts corporate profits first. Smith is by far the best choice in this race.

Firefighter and veteran Brian Duthie is vying for the 25th Legislative District, House Position 2. The seat is currently held by Rep. Chris Gildon, who is moving on to run for state Senate this year. Duthie has significant community experience including his role as a board member of the Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation.

Duthie is campaigning to strengthen K-12 education by reducing class sizes, adding more special education resources, and making sure teachers are fairly compensated. He believes that the state will only begin economic recovery when the dangerous spread of COVID-19 is also addressed, and he relies on health experts and medical professionals to inform his approach to public health policy. If elected, Duthie will focus on health care affordability and reducing traffic congestion in Pierce County.

Duthie's opponent is Puyallup City Councilmember Cyndy Jacobsen. Jacobsen is running on a very conservative platform including support for defunding Planned Parenthood, opposition to marriage equality despite it being the law since 2012, and cutting investments in our transportation system that would reduce traffic and create thousands of jobs. In addition, she wants the state to re-open before public health experts say it is safe to do so and she has amplified dangerous conspiracy theories about the coronavirus. 

Washingtonians need leaders who will listen to health care professionals and science when creating pandemic policy. Duthie is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Carrie Hesch is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Jesse Young for the 26th Legislative District, House Position 1. Hesch is a Teamster who works at the Washington Corrections Center for Women and serves as a Director on the Key Peninsula Community Service Board.

Hesch is running on a strong platform of health care reform, making the tax code more equitable, and protecting workers, including making sure front-line employees get the personal protection equipment (PPE) that they need. She is also campaigning to reform the criminal justice system to address overcrowding in Washington state prisons. Hesch has outlined detailed policy proposals to accomplish these progressive goals in office.

Young is a staunch conservative who voted against the creation of the Washington Office of Firearm Violence Prevention and opposed making it easier for young people to vote. He is a vocal opponent of the age-appropriate sexual health education bill that passed this year and has devoted time and energy to repealing it. Young says that the fix for a lack of affordable health care is a "focus on job creation" so that workers can be covered through their employers, a stance that makes no sense for unemployed, part-time, and underemployed people, especially during the pandemic. Even worse, he is determined to stand against the Affordable Care Act and gives no details on alternatives at a time when Washingtonians urgently need accessible and affordable health care.

Hesch is the clear choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Joy Stanford is challenging Republican Rep. Michelle Caldier for the 26th Legislative District, House Position 2. Stanford was a substitute teacher who has worked in the district with underserved and elderly populations, helping them gain access to health care. She challenged Caldier for this seat in 2018 and only narrowly lost.

Stanford has previously worked in housing services and the health care industry, and she hopes to use these experiences to address affordable housing and health care access with creative approaches. She is campaigning to keep infrastructure projects on budget and ensuring health care access for all, and will work to fix Washington's upside-down tax code. In response to recent protests for racial justice, Stanford said she supports increasing funding for non-police appropriate crisis responders such as mental health professionals.

Incumbent Michelle Caldier has built a career on opposing progressive policies. She voted against automatic voter registration, which has been proven to strengthen democracy by making it easier for eligible citizens to vote, and opposed legislation to expand access to reproductive health care. This year, she voted against prohibiting race-based hair discrimination and discrimination based on immigration status or citizenship. Caldier also voiced strong opposition to the comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual health education bill this year.

Joy Stanford will bring progressive priorities to Olympia. She is running a strong campaign and deserves your vote.

Democratic Sen. Jeannie Darneille is running for re-election in the 27th Legislative District. Darneille has been a strong advocate in her 12 years in the House and six years in the Senate, particularly for families who are struggling to make ends meet. She is a champion of women, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated individuals, health care access, and expanded economic opportunities for all.

This year, Darneille sponsored legislation requiring schools to incorporate curriculum on local tribal history and voted to prohibit discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status. She is running to reform the justice system and spoke out recently on the need for better public health in Washington prisons. If re-elected, Darneille will continue to fight for improved education, increased health care access, and gender and racial parity.

Also in this race is Republican Kyle Paskewitz. Paskewitz is the executive director of Parentalink, a nonprofit organization. He is anti-choice and opposes greater investments in our communities during the economic downturn. Earlier this year, Paskewitz's campaign social media proposed that Washington state should recklessly re-open before it was safe to do so, and he has since promoted anti-mask rhetoric on his personal social media.

Darneille is a strong advocate with the support of a number of progressive organizations. She deserves your vote in this race.

Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins is running for re-election to the 27th Legislative District, House Position 1. Jinkins was the first lesbian to serve openly in the state Legislature, where she helped pass marriage equality. She now serves as the first woman and LBGTQ+ speaker of the House in Washington. In office, she has been a passionate and effective champion for progressive values, particularly in her fight for women, equity, and closing tax loopholes.

Jinkins has sponsored bills to improve education funding and secured resources for a new health clinic in Hilltop that serves low-income patients. She consistently advocates for a capital gains excise tax on the wealthy that would fund schools. This year, Jinkins voted in support of bills to establish comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual health education, to prohibit discrimination based on immigration status or citizenship, and to establish the Washington State Office of Equity. To confront the detrimental effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Washington communities, Jinkins wants to reduce tuition costs, provide job training, introduce a public option to increase health care access, and work to guarantee affordable housing.

She is being challenged by Democrat Ryan Talen, a registered nurse. Talen is running to restructure Washington's electoral system, proposing "proportional representation with ranked-choice" as an alternative. However, Talen doesn't have a strong campaign presence.

Jinkins is an important progressive leader in our state. She is the obvious choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Rep. Jake Fey is running for re-election to the 27th Legislative District, House Position 2. He is a reliable progressive who has championed youth, environmental, and education issues in Olympia. As the son of German immigrants who helped raise his younger siblings at age 13 after his father passed away, Fey is very committed to ensuring future generations of Washingtonians have the support they need to succeed.

This year, Fey sponsored a green transportation bill designed to move Washington towards more sustainable and cleaner ways of traveling. He also sponsored bills to prohibit race-based hair discrimination and to require the state to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. With the coronavirus pandemic requiring Washingtonians to stay home, Fey has led the legislative response to address the transportation budget shortfall.

Fey faces a challenge from Barry Knowles, a perennial candidate who listed himself as an Independent in this race despite his past role as chairman for the district's GOP. Knowles has not updated his candidate materials since 2016 and does not seem to be running a serious campaign.

Fey is a progressive leader in the House. He the clear choice in this race and deserves your vote.

T'wina Nobles is challenging Republican Sen. Steve O'Ban for the 28th Legislative District Senate seat. Nobles is the president and CEO of the Tacoma Urban League, an organization that helps underserved communities navigate difficult economic times. She has worked in education for 15 years as an instructor, the University Place School Board Director, and a PTA leader.

If elected, Nobles wants to increase pay for teachers, reduce class sizes, and work to make schools more inclusive and equitable. She knows more needs to be done to ensure families in the 28th are healthy and safe, which she believes includes gun violence prevention, addiction recovery and mental health resources, and better health care access. Nobles is also running to fix our upside-down tax code and fight for better wages and affordable housing for working people.

Incumbent Sen. O'Ban is a far-right conservative who has previously sued the state to prevent Washingtonians from having access to birth control at some pharmacies. Likewise, he has fought against equality for the LGBTQ+ community, including leading the opposition to marriage equality. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, O'Ban pushed to re-open the economy long before public health experts said it was safe to do so. This year, he opposed establishing the Washington State Office of Equity and voted against prohibiting discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status.

Nobles is the clear progressive choice and would make a great state senator. In this tight race to unseat a conservative, Nobles deserves your vote.

Rep. Mari Leavitt is running for re-election for the 28th Legislative District, House Position 1. Leavitt was recently appointed to the State Legislators’ Task Force on Military and Veterans Affairs. She has been a hard-working leader who represents the district well.

This year, Rep. Leavitt supported legislation to combat the climate crisis and passed bipartisan legislation to support military families. She also supported legislation to prohibit race-based hair discrimination. In this race, she is campaigning to strengthen the social safety net for seniors and families, create affordable housing, and support small businesses. If re-elected, Leavitt will continue to advocate for her constituents and pass bipartisan legislation.

Leavitt faces a challenge from Kevin Ballard, a Republican who served on the DuPont City Council. He has repeatedly used his social media presence to call on Gov. Inslee to re-open Washington before public health experts declare it safe to do so. Ballard, who was the co-chair of Ben Carson's 2016 presidential campaign in Pierce County, strongly opposes abortion and supports defunding Planned Parenthood. 

Leavitt is the best choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Dan Bronoske is running for the 28th Legislative District, House Position 2, to succeed retiring Rep. Christine Kilduff. Bronoske has worked as a firefighter in Pierce County and Lakewood for almost two decades. As an active union member, he has experience working in Olympia advocating for policies that protect all workers.

Bronoske launched his campaign with Rep. Kilduff's endorsement. If elected, he will prioritize supporting working families, addressing the opioid epidemic, reducing health care costs, and improving our transportation system. Bronoske's commitment to increased health care access and a progressive pandemic response is informed by his career as a first responder. His campaign boasts support from a number of progressive organizations.

Bronoske is running against Republican Chris Nye. Nye has previously served on the University Place City Council and currently owns a marketing and listing service for real estate owners. He emphasizes the fiscal challenges Washington will be facing in the coming years but does not offer any proactive solutions for solving these challenges. 

Bronoske will bring a strong progressive voice to Olympia. He is the best choice in this race.

Rep. Melanie Morgan is running for re-election for the 29th Legislative District, House Position 1. Morgan is an Army veteran who was elected to the Franklin-Pierce School Board in 2015 and worked with Young Life to create a mentorship group for young Black men, focusing on participation in STEM fields. Since 2018, she has been a strong advocate for representation and equity in Olympia where she has served as the deputy majority floor leader.

This year, Morgan was the lead sponsor on legislation to prohibit race-based hair discrimination. In addition, she supported gun safety legislation as well as the bill to establish the Washington State Office of Equity. Morgan has spoken out about the need for racial justice, drawing on her experience on the governor-appointed Equity Task Force, and wants to move forward with an equitable lens, including proposing legislation to make Juneteenth a paid holiday in Washington. Morgan is also campaigning to increase voter engagement, access to affordable housing, and public transportation in her district.

Morgan is facing a challenge from Republican Koshin Mohamed Fidaar, an Army veteran and Executive Director of the Somali Community Services Coalition. He claims the district has a high crime rate but fails to offer thoughtful solutions to address it. Fidaar has also not addressed our state's upside-down tax code, which currently asks working families to pay up to six times more of their income in taxes than the wealthiest.

Morgan is a strong progressive voice in Olympia. She is the clear choice in this race and deserves your vote.

Incumbent Rep. Steve Kirby has served in the state House for 20 years, and previously on the Tacoma City Council for four terms. He sponsored legislation to give Gov. Inslee emergency powers because of our urgent need to address the climate crisis and has been a solid vote on many bills that support working families.

Unfortunately, Kirby has also supported legislation that benefits corporate interests and predatory lenders, and he has accepted campaign contributions from payday lenders, debt collectors, and pawn shops. Kirby endorsed former state Rep. David Sawyer's re-election campaign even after Sawyer faced broad and serious allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment. Kirby also has yet to have a town hall this year, and we were disappointed in his primary campaign mailer against Democratic candidate Sharlett Mena, which had racist and xenophobic undertones.

However, Kirby is a much better choice than his far-right opponent Republican Terry Harder, whose campaign site states that he will support the "God given second amendment right," any legislation that restricts safe abortion access, and reducing regulations on businesses. Harder says that he will take the tried-and-failed strategy of ending homelessness by preventing unhoused people from camping, but he has offered no solutions or ideas about where our unsheltered neighbors would go. 

Kirby is the better choice in this race.

Jamila Taylor is running for the 30th Legislative District, House Position 1 to succeed Rep. Mike Pellicciotti, who is running for state Treasurer. Taylor is an attorney who advocates for crime victims and has an extensive record of volunteer service. She previously served as the statewide advocacy counsel for the Northwest Justice Project where she managed a network of legal aid attorneys and has worked on youth intervention programs and other violence reduction efforts.

Taylor's progressive campaign platform includes increasing access to affordable housing, reducing the cost of prescription drugs, and improving transparency in government. She supports developing legislation to promote police accountability and address racial inequities in the criminal justice system. Taylor believes in protecting the social safety net as a preventative measure to stem cycles of trauma and poverty.

Taylor is running against Independent Republican Martin Moore. Moore is a Federal Way City Council member and the Executive Director of Audiobook Ministries. Despite running as an Independent to promote "people over politics," Moore has a conservative platform. In particular, he has aligned himself with socially conservative former Sen. Mark Miloscia, who lost his race after years of inflammatory comments about abortion and LGBTQ members of the community.

Jamila Taylor will bring progressive, community-driven solutions to the House. She is the best choice in this race.

Rep. Jesse Johnson is running to retain his seat in 30th Legislative District, House Position 2. Johnson previously served as a member of the Federal Way City Council before being appointed to the Legislature in January. He also works as a staffing analyst in workforce planning and development for Highline Public Schools and has sponsored multiple bills to support at-risk youth.

This year, Johnson sponsored legislation to prohibit race-based hair discrimination and supported gun safety legislation as well as a bill to establish a student loan program for undocumented students. He is running a strong re-election campaign promoting equitable access to quality education for every student, affordability for working families and seniors, and improving services to help homeless and housing-unstable individuals. Johnson wants to prioritize safety and public health as he reaches out to small business leaders in his district about re-opening after the coronavirus pandemic. In June, he stated his interest in developing police reform legislation to increase the accountability of law enforcement.

Johnson faces a challenge from Republican Jack Walsh. Walsh owns an ice cream shop in Federal Way and has twice led advisory vote campaigns to prevent retail marijuana shops from expanding to the city. Walsh falsely and insensitively claims that commercial interests are the victims of the housing crisis, and his proposed solution is to criminalize our neighbors experiencing homelessness and divert funding away from addiction recovery and mental health resources.

Johnson is a strong and effective progressive legislator. He deserves your vote.