Thurston County

A host of candidates are running against Sen. Cantwell this year, though none appear to be competitive.

Dr. Raul Garcia is the leading Republican challenger for the U.S. Senate. 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. Despite his vague platform, he has already received support from some of Washington’s most prominent conservatives.

Paul Lawrence Giesick is running as a Democrat even though he self-identifies as a “Catholic, Libertarian-leaning conservative” and is campaigning on a platform indistinguishable from many right-wing candidates. A Marine veteran, Giesick has worked in aerospace, municipal administration, and production management. His platform emphasizes racist border policies, oil production, and cuts to crucial public services that Americans rely on. Giesick frequently uses religious language in his campaign and even boasts a “pledge a prayer” section.

David Tilton is running a non-partisan challenge to Cantwell. Tilton works for Microsoft as an associate manager and lacks community leadership or public service experience. He is running on a moderate platform to support local economies, invest in public education, ensure affordable health care, increase funding for militarized policing, and cut some public services.

Mel Ram, another Republican challenger for the Senate seat, is running an incoherent, spiritual, conspiracy-based campaign. She blames black mold for our nation’s social unrest and refers to a conspiracy called the “smart lie” as the reason she wants to enact massive education reforms.

Far-right candidate Isaac Holyk has some of the most extreme views in this race. He has stated that he believes the country is Christian in nature and that he does not believe in leading for “the greater good.” Recently, he came out against the Trump verdict, criticizing the fair ruling by a jury of Americans and in doing so undermining our criminal legal system. Like many MAGA Republicans, his platform consists of scapegoating people at the border, blaming Biden for economic insecurity caused by Trump policies, and promoting conspiracy theories about public education curriculums, including calling for a ban on any diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within schools.

Seattle Republican Scott Nazarino works in estate and retirement planning. Nazarino has only a vague campaign platform in this primary. He states that in order to keep our school-age children safe, he wants to bring armed guards to elementary schools – but we know that more guns do not make us safer.

Three additional candidates - Independent Thor Amundson, Independent Chuck Jackson, and "Socialist Workers" candidate Henry Clay Dennison - have minimal, unrelated, or no campaign website or information available as of mid-July. We will continue to monitor this race and update their information if it becomes available.

Perennial conservative challenger, Goodspaceguy, has also filed in this race. He regularly mounts empty, unserious challenges to seats across the state.

Perez faces three challengers in this race. The leading challenger is MAGA extremist Joe Kent. He 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.

Kent 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. But, Congressional District 3 deserves a representative that fights for everyone, not just the residents who look and think like Kent.

Camas City Council member and former King County prosecutor Leslie Lewallen is the other conservative Republican in this race. She is less extreme than Kent but holds very conservative values that don’t reflect the needs of Southwest Washington. While everyday residents are struggling to afford rent and medicine, Lewallen has focused her current platform on cutting funding from public services and cutting taxes for the wealthiest Washingtonians.

John Saulie-Rohman is running as an Independent in this race. Saulie-Rohman’s campaign platform centers on unity. His top national issues include a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine war, protecting civil rights and democracy, and bold health care reform to address affordability. Unfortunately, Saulie-Rohman has yet to share much about his professional or community leadership experiences.

Desirée Toliver, who previously worked for the Washington State Department of Ecology, has one of the most left-leaning platforms in this race. Toliver is a single parent who previously experienced housing insecurity that led her to live out of a car when denied emergency accommodations on one of the region's coldest days. She is running to be a voice for Washington’s most marginalized to bring bold progressive ideas to Congress with an optimistic campaign.

Toliver is campaigning with strong community values. She believes housing is a human right and wants to employ a Housing First approach to the crisis while funding wraparound mental health services. If elected, Toliver would work to rebalance the tax code so that corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share, invest in health care and environmental protections, improve access to reproductive health care, prevent gun violence, and strengthen workers’ rights. In this race, she has also stated that she wants a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict accompanied by the return of all hostages, regional humanitarian aid access, and a halt to U.S. arms support of Israel.

Eric Mahaffy is also challenging Rep. Strickland as a fellow Democrat in this race. Mahaffy is an IBEW union electrician who has never sought elected office or public service positions before. His platform is not particularly organized or policy-based but he emphasizes the values of equality, living affordability, government transparency, and workers’ rights. One idea he mentions is to develop a branch of the military called an Earth Force to defend against enemies of the planet. Mahaffy also supports ranked-choice voting, nonpolitical judge appointments, employee-owned businesses, and basing the cost of regular legal fines (such as parking tickets) on income.

Nirav Sheth is one of two Republicans challenging incumbent Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland in Washington’s 10th Congressional District. Sheth owns a Normandy Park restaurant and claims he was motivated to run for office after the business suffered a break-in. He previously served as a police officer and is a Marine veteran.

Despite saying he wants to raise the quality of life in Washington, Sheth joins fellow conservatives in vilifying those who are struggling most. He fails to offer solutions that will help Washingtonians afford rent, place food on the table, or cover health care costs, and wants only to divide us while supporting a pro-business agenda. Sheth has also called for the repeal of the capital gains tax, which when passed marked a huge win for rebalancing Washington’s tax code so that the wealthiest finally pay their share.

Engineer Don Hewett is the other Republican in this race whose platform is based on complaining about so-called establishment politics. Unfortunately, Hewett’s own priorities do not better represent the will of the people. If elected to Congress, he is running on a typically conservative platform that emphasizes cuts to social services. He is not a progressive choice for residents in the 10th Congressional District.

Kurtis Engle, who under his party affiliation simply put "Union," has no campaign website or information available as of mid-June. We will continue to monitor this race and update Engle's information if it becomes available.

Richard Boyce, running for Congress under the self-described "Congress Sucks" party affiliation, has no campaign website or information available as of mid-June. We will continue to monitor this race and update Boyce's information if it becomes available.

State Sen. Mark Mullet is a conservative Democrat who would be a step backward for Washington. For example, his votes were part of the reason that rent stabilization failed in the Legislature this year, denying Washingtonians the safety of more stable, affordable housing. Mullet also voted against the progressive capital gains tax, which taxes the ultra-wealthiest Washingtonians to fund education and early learning. Mullet's stances against bills like the wealth tax and the Climate Commitment Act make it clear that he would prioritize the powerful few over working families.

Former U.S. House Representative Dave Reichert is the leading Republican in the crowded gubernatorial race to replace retiring governor Jay Inslee. Reichert served Washington’s 8th Congressional District in the House for 14 years, where 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.

Another Republican in the race for retiring Gov. Inslee’s seat is Semi Bird, a recently ousted Richland School Board member. Bird has served in a number of leadership positions including as a senior advisor to the ambassador of Bangladesh, a former chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Energy, and as the executive director of a consulting firm.

Last August, Bird was recalled from the Richland School Board after his controversial vote to defy Washington’s indoor mask mandate during the height of the pandemic. In this race, he has defined himself as a “constitutional Christian conservative” and made concerning comments about the role of religion in government. Bird is in favor of expanding our overcrowded criminal legal system, further militarizing our police, allowing far-right groups control over public education, and eliminating policies that keep neighbors dealing with substance abuse safer. If elected, he would not represent the values or needs of average Washingtonians.

Heck faces several opponents this year, none of whom appear to be running competitive campaigns.

Republican Bob Hagglund is an IT professional with data science credentials. Previously, Hagglund joined some of the country's biggest MAGA conservatives in lying about the results of the 2020 elections in an effort to illegally install Trump as president. He has spent most of this campaign criticizing elected Democrats rather than offering his own ideas for improving the office. He has an identical platform to Rep. Mike Kelly, who is running for a state Senate seat. Like Kelly, Hagglund has shared transphobic and misogynistic rhetoric about protecting the so-called “very essence of womanhood.” Hagglund is not a leader and his views do not represent our state’s values.

Navy veteran and retiree Patrick Harman is also in this race. Harman previously ran an unsuccessful bid for Oak Harbor mayor in 2019. Now, he is running in support of typically conservative fiscal policy with more moderate social positions, including supporting reproductive freedom and commonsense gun safety policy. However, he has no detailed campaign information or website as of mid-July.

Republican Dan Matthews is a veteran and former school board member running to deprioritize public schools in favor of private education, cut spending on social services, and limit regulations on businesses and corporations.

Democratic challenger David Griffin has a minimal campaign website that promises to support government transparency, "embrace change" in leadership, and support reproductive rights. He lists no elected or community leadership experience.

Hobbs is facing a challenge from fellow Democrat Marquez Tiggs, a finance professional and veteran. In a volunteer capacity, Tiggs has been involved in community organizations such as POCAAN Seattle, which delivers social services for people of color. The pillars of his campaign include community empowerment, voter education, election security, and strengthening public trust in the electoral process. Tiggs’ ultimate goal is to build an inclusive, secure democracy where everyone’s voice can be heard and counted. In comparison to Hobbs, Tiggs appears to lack a track record of community leadership and strong endorsements in this race.

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.

Damon Townsend is running without party affiliation – what he calls “No Labels” – in this race. Townsend previously worked as Pierce County’s elections specialist and supervisor before resigning in 2019 after a “disruptive” personnel dispute where he displayed unprofessional conduct. In 2022, he ran to earn the county seat back but was unsuccessful. This election cycle, he has set his sights on the state’s highest elections position, campaigning on a platform to improve confidence in Washington elections, increase office transparency, improve voter privacy, and strengthen contingency planning for election emergencies.

Republican and Pasco attorney Pete Serrano is running to bring a conservative agenda to the attorney general's office. Serrano, the board president and general counsel of an organization that fights commonsense gun laws and public health mandates, was recently elected as 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.

Patrick DePoe, the tribal relations director for the state’s Department of Natural Resources, is running to become the first Native candidate to win a statewide position. DePoe is a member of the Makah Tribe who grew up on the Neah Bay reservation. In addition to his DNR job, he works with a number of groups at the intersection of environmental sustainability and Indigenous land use, including the Northwest Indian Fish Commission, the Environmental Justice Council, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. DePoe has also served on the Makah Tribal Council, including as vice chairman.

In this race, DePoe is running to manage public lands in a way that maximizes environmental sustainability while balancing building a stronger economy of well-paying jobs. He believes he can build a widespread climate coalition to engage all community stakeholders in efforts towards a green future. DePoe also wants to improve forest health while preventing and fighting increasingly dangerous wildfire seasons. Finally, he is committed to being a representative for rural communities who often serve as the frontline of environmental issues in our state. However, DePoe lacks Upthegrove’s experience in elected office as well as his demonstrated track record of writing and passing environmental legislation.

Also in this crowded race is state Senator Kevin Van De Wege. Van de Wege served five terms in the House before joining the Senate in 2016. Before that, he served as a firefighter and paramedic. His voting record makes it clear he would not be a progressive choice in this race. Van De Wege broke ranks with his party to vote against the critical 2021 Climate Commitment Act, which enables the state’s Department of Ecology to make headway on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and engages an environmental justice approach to make sure no community is left behind in climate mitigation, among other key policies. As a hindrance, rather than a leader, on addressing climate change within his own party, Van De Wege is not the best choice to take the bold action our communities need from the next public lands commissioner.

Firefighter and ecologist Allen Lebovitz is another Democrat in this race who is running to lead the public lands office with core values of sustainability and respect for the land. Lebovitz has worked for the state’s Department of Natural Resources in a number of roles since 2011, including aquation restoration ecologist and most recently wildland fire and forest resilience liaison. His experience spans policy, science, and frontline work to protect our public lands from environmental degradation, wildfires, habitat loss, and climate change.

Lebovitz is running with a progressive, sustainable vision for the office. If elected, he wants to invest in fire-resilient forest management techniques, ensuring public lands benefit all Washingtonians equitably, strengthening rural economies, and valuing healthy forests above time volume. His goals for office revolve around effective crisis management and a strategic, optimistic plan for a sustainable future.

Redmond City Council member Jeralee Anderson is another Democrat in this race. Anderson first joined the city council in 2018, and she also co-founded and serves as president of a globally recognized nonprofit focused on helping to make our transportation systems more sustainable. Her training is as a civil engineer, and her work has been recognized at many levels including as one of President Obama’s White House Transportation Champions of Change.

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.

Also in this race is Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson, a retired environmental and power analyst who has worked for Seattle City Lights and the Grays Harbor Public Utility District. Pederson previously ran for this seat in 2020. Despite the growing climate crisis and the need to build a sustainable Washington future, Pederson’s focus lies in criticizing the Democratic incumbent and prioritizing revenue from the sale of timber from public forests.

Gig Harbor School Board member David Olson is running on a reactionary platform. Olson wants to increase special education budgets, engage parental intervention, and double down on letter grade systems. Like many conservative school board directors, he wants to expand local control of curriculums and schools. Olson wants to employ strict guidelines in our schools that penalize students struggling the most.

Former Vashon School Board member John Patterson Blair is also in this nonpartisan race to challenge Reykdal. Blair previously ran for the state superintendent position in 2016 on a platform centered on individualizing Washington student experiences. As of mid-July, he lacks a campaign website and he previously failed to attend a community campaign event for candidates in this race.

Bill Boyd is the other Democratic candidate in this race. Boyd has worked in insurance for more than three decades and has spent nearly all of his industry experience at his own company, Boyd Insurance Brokerage. He is highly involved in his community as a church leader, youth sports coach, and league treasurer. Boyd is campaigning to expand health care options and take climate change into account in insurance coverage. However, he supports privatizing the workers’ compensation program, which the voters opposed in 2010 because it would undermine benefits for working people and their families.

Republican state Senator Phil Fortunato is also running for insurance commissioner. 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 health care and medicine they need. He is not a progressive choice in this race.

Democrat Chris Chung has no campaign website as of mid-July. His official voters guide statement is very vague and offers Washingtonians no real insight into how he would run the office. Fellow Democrat John Pestinger is a veteran who has worked for five years as a project manager in the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Insurance professional Jonathan Hendrix is running without a party preference in this race. Hendrix recently finished an eight-year stint with Premera Blue Cross and has previously worked for Aetna and United Dental Care. He believes his experience in the industry will allow him to better prioritize customer service. Unfortunately, he also supports deregulation of the industry. We know that left unregulated in the pursuit of profit, the insurance prices for customers soar while service quality declines. Washingtonians need a strong leader who is unafraid to hold private insurance corporations accountable.

Deer Park mayor Tim Verzal, who is running without a party preference, and Republican Justin Murta have no campaign website or information available as of mid-June. We will continue to monitor this race and update their information if it becomes available.

Republican Sen. Jim McCune is running for re-election to the 2nd Legislative District seat in the state Senate where he has served since 2021. Before that, McCune served on the Pierce County Council and represented the district in the state House for nine years. Outside of office, McCune owns a small business selling salmon products.

McCune aligns himself with MAGA politics and even previously promoted Trump’s dangerous hydroxychloroquine cocktail as a viable treatment for coronavirus in a taxpayer-funded council newsletter. Since joining the Senate more recently, he has taken some bad votes to oppose background check reform that prevents gun violence, funding for basic student needs, and assistance programs that help Washingtonians get back on their feet.

Conservative small business owner Ronda Litzenberger is the third candidate in this race. Litzenberger also challenged McCune for the seat in 2020. Her public service experience includes serving as an Eatonville School Board member and the chair of the small schools committee at the Washington State School Directors' Association. She espouses typical conservative rhetoric and has earned some local Republican endorsements. It's clear she will not bring progressive values to Olympia if elected.

While Michael Holloman identified as a Democrat on his ballot, he's actually running against progressive politics in this race in his self-funded, first-time campaign. He offers strong criticism of the Democratic party that echoes Republican talking points and has a platform that does not reflect the values of the district. Holloman supports the use of force to defend personal property, transphobic policy proposals, and compulsory drug rehabilitation. He is not a progressive choice in this race.

Former Thurston County sheriff John Snaza is also running for Position 2. Snaza, who is running as a Republican, was first elected sheriff in 2010 before losing a 2022 re-election bid. Snaza has since served as president of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and has done legislative lobbying for law enforcement on the organization’s behalf. Many community members want Snaza to face legal action for a 2018 collision that he caused. He lacks a campaign website or information as of mid-June but it's clear Snaza will not be a catalyst for progress on community progress if elected to the Legislature.

J.D. candidate and veteran Matthew Marshall is also in this race. Marshall served on the Eatonville School Board from 2019 until 2023. Currently, he works as a physician assistant in orthopedic surgery and as an adjunct professor of natural sciences. In this race, Marshall has an identical platform to far-right candidates Bob Hagglund and Rep. Mike Kelly. Like them, Marshall’s platform includes transphobic and misogynistic rhetoric. His entire platform is based on scapegoating, fearmongering, and dividing us, rather than bringing us together.

Conservative incumbent Rep. Joel McEntire is running for a third term in House Position 2 representing the 19th Legislative District. McEntire is a Marine reservist and program mentor for Western Governors University who has made a political platform out of obstructionism and divisive, far-right rhetoric.

In his current term, McEntire voted against protecting the right to abortion, including protecting medical providers from retaliation and codifying our reproductive rights into law. He has also voted against bills to make our communities safer from gun violence, increase affordable and accessible "middle" housing, and reduce our state’s carbon emissions to create a cleaner climate for future generations. If re-elected, McEntire will continue to promote a conservative agenda of slashing social services and opposing progressive legislation.

Also in the race is Justin Franks, an Independent who states that as a former small business owner himself, he understands the struggles Washingtonians in that position face now. He is running to push back against what he considers to be government overreach and to support his interpretation of the Constitution. He also doesn't think there should be regulations on firearms of any kind and states that if elected he will reduce housing regulations so homeowners can build quickly anywhere. Franks has listed no education, elected experience, or community leadership experience in this race.

Challenging Bateman is Nisqually member and tribal elder Bob Iyall. Iyall is the CEO of a Tribal Government Corporation and wants to bring to Olympia an urgency to act on salmon recovery. He also supports working families, environmental restoration, and economic development. Many of Iyall's stated priorities echo what Bateman has already been working on in the House, including protecting renters, building cheaper housing, and expanding behavioral health care.

Democrat Tela Hogle is also running in this race. She has been an educator for 25 years and serves as the president of Pizza Klatch, a local nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ youth. Her campaign details are sparse. She wants to support immediate housing and shelter needs, ensure a livable wage, and make tax reforms that help working people. That being said, Bateman is already successfully supporting these policies in her position in the Legislature and Hogle doesn't make a public case for why she would be more effective in the state Senate.

Republican incumbent Travis Couture is running for re-election to Position 2 representing the 35th Legislative District in Olympia. First elected in 2022, Rep. Couture has spent the last couple of years voting against key community bills such as legislation to increase abortion access for all, to protect consumer health data, and to require basic human rights in Washington’s private prisons. Previously, Couture worked for a manufacturing corporation that focuses on aerospace, arms, and defense. If re-elected, we can expect Couture to continue pushing a conservative agenda in office that doesn’t represent the real community issues facing the 35th LD.

Mayor of Shelton Eric Onisko has served on the city council for the past six years, serving as mayor for the last two. He also previously owned two local gas stations, which he has sold since being in office.

In this race, one of Onisko’s top priorities is to ensure that municipal-scale issues do not go neglected in the Legislature; and, as a mayor, he feels that he is especially suited to address this in Olympia. Specifically, he wants to make sure that Washington’s local governments get state support on pervasive community needs like housing affordability, infrastructure upgrades, and substance abuse services. Onisko has also said that unity is a core pillar of his campaign.

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 mid-July but it is clear that progressives are backing Mungia in this race.

Tacoma attorney David Shelvey is also in this race. Shelvey has practiced in the areas of family law, estate planning, and taxes, and most recently worked as a tax preparer at H&R Block. On his resume, he lists many degrees including PhDs supposedly earned in a year or less. He lacks judicial leadership experiences in professional or service capacities, and his campaign website shares somewhat scattered thoughts about various legal precedents. He stated in that interview that he decided to run for the Supreme Court after initially setting his sights on a local judicial seat because he was inspired by one of the court’s recent cases defending the rights of some of Washington’s most marginalized residents.

Tax and finance advisor Todd A. Bloom is also in this race. Bloom previously ran for Congress in 2016 as a Republican. While Bloom has a law degree and is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, his professional experience is in financial planning. He appears to have little direct experience with our state’s criminal legal system and offers only vague statements about service and judicial integrity in his campaign. His website is filled with what appears to be filler content from an unrelated architectural firm as of mid-July.