US Senate • US House • Other Key State Races • Ballot Initiatives
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Use these sites to find out which Candidates and Issues to vote for:
US Senate
US House of Representatives
District 1Suzan DelBene (i)
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Chair emeritus of the center-left New Democrat Coalition, DelBene is running to secure her seventh term. She’s a pragmatist with two decades of business experience in the tech sector and has advocated for working families, consumer protections and data privacy, healthcare, technology, and small businesses. |
District 2Rick Larsen (i)
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Larson has served as a member of the U.S. House, representing Washington's 2nd Congressional District 2001, and is running for re-election. Since at least 2011, Larsen has been assigned to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Larsen's first position as an elected official was in 1998 as a member of the Snohomish County Council. Prior, he worked as the director of public affairs for the Washington State Dental Association and an economic development official with the Port of Everett. Larsen earned his bachelor's degree from Pacific Lutheran University and a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Minnesota. |
District 3Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (i)
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Gluesenkamp Perez narrowly won this largely rural, politically diverse district in 2022. The fifth-generation Washingtonian, small business owner, and mother of a toddler faces another competitive race this year as Republicans are actively trying to flip her seat. Gluesenkamp Perez listens closely to her community to focus on making things easier for working families in her district. She supports reproductive freedom, affordable childcare, energy independence, and increasing wages to match the rising cost of living. |
District 4Dan Newhouse
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No Democrat finished in the top two during the primary for this district seat so two Republicans are on the ballot in the general election. They have some important differences: Jerrod Sessler is a MAGA Republican and was endorsed by Trump, while Dan Newhouse is one of the last remaining GOP house members who voted to impeach Trump in 2021. |
District 5Carmela Conroy
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Carmela Conroy is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Washington's 5th Congressional District. Her career includes working as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, national security professional, deputy prosecuting attorney, fast food service worker, child care worker, event planner, and teacher. Born in Spokane, Washington, Conroy is a graduate of the University of Washington, with a graduate degree from the U.S. Naval War College and a law degree from the University of Washington School of Law. She has been affiliated with League of Women Voters, Friends of the Bluff, Spokane Preservation Advocates, and American Foreign Service Association. |
District 6Emily Randall (i)
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Emiy Randall currently is the State Representative for District 26 since 2019 is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Washington's 6th Congressional District. Her career experience includes working as a development professional with Wellesley College, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Legal Voice Born in Port Orchard, Washington, Randall earned her B.A. in Spanish and Women's Studies from Wellesley College in 2008, and lives in Bremerton, Washington. |
District 7Pramila Jayapal (i)
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Since 2016, Jayapal has been known as an effective left-of-center leader. She currently chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus and advocates for canceling student debt and more humane immigration practices. She also supports universal healthcare, protecting workers’ rights, reducing corporate influence in government, and social justice. |
District 8Kim Schrier (i)
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Currently the only female doctor in Congress, Schrier is a strong voice for reproductive freedom and lowering the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs. The pediatrician and mom has deep roots in Yakima Valley and is fighting Republican attempts to flip her seat this year. |
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D. Adam Smith (i)
or Melissa Chaudhry
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District 9This district features two Democrats on the ballot.Compare their endorsements here.
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District 10Marilyn Strickland (i)
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Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland has represented Washington's 10th Congressional District since 2021 and is running for reelection. A former mayor and City Council member of Tacoma (2010 - 2017, 2008-2009 respectively), Strickland is CEO of the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce since 2020. She has served as a campaign chair for the United Way of Pierce County; a trustee of the Tacoma Public Library; and a member of The Black Collective and the International Women's Forum. Strickand earned a B.A. in sociology from the University of Washington and an M.B.A. from Clark-Atlanta University. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Strickland lives in Tacoma, Washington. |
Other key state races
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WA Governor Bob Ferguson
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Ferguson has served as the state’s attorney general since 2013 and earned a reputation for fighting back against unconstitutional policies during the Trump administration when he sued to safeguard clean water, abortion access, and worker protections. He takes a moderate stance on taxation, police funding, and tackling crime. He personally argued the Arlene’s Flowers case before the Washington State Supreme Court and won, guaranteeing rights for same-sex couples. The fourth-generation Washingtonian grew up in a working-class household and has lived and worked on both sides of the Cascades. |
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WA State Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck (i)
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Heck has held this position since 2021 after previously serving as a representative of Washington’s District 10 in Congress, where he was a reliable Democratic vote. The life-long Washingtonian supports building more affordable housing. |
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WA Attorney General Nick Brown
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Brown, an Army veteran who earned the Bronze Star Medal, holds a law degree from Harvard Law School. He served as a prosecutor before he was appointed general counsel for Governor Jay Inslee and later US Attorney for Western Washington by President Joe Biden. In his roles, Brown has earned a reputation for prosecuting hate crimes and protecting the most vulnerable members of marginalized communities from discrimination. The father of two promotes safety from gun violence, works to combat climate change, and stands up for reproductive freedom. |
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WA Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (i)
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Prior to becoming secretary of state in 2021, Hobbs served as a Washington senator. He served over 30 years in the Army and is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard. Hobbs has been a solid advocate for ensuring election integrity, accessibility, and security and has worked to expand voting access. He also has increased investments in voter outreach to include eligible voters who are young, members of tribal and underserved communities, non-English speakers, new state residents, and those with disabilities. Hobbs instituted text messaging that notifies voters when their ballot has been received and accepted by their county election director and that alerts voters when there is a problem with their ballot. |
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WA Auditor Pat McCarthy (i)
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As State Auditor since 2017, Pat is responsible for the entirety of the State Auditor's Office (SAO). She leads 400 employees based in 15 offices across the state. Her more than 30 years of public service includes Deputy Auditor, and Board President for the Tacoma School District. Pat was the first woman to serve as Pierce County Executive winning two terms starting in 2009. In 2010, she was given the Key award for her efforts in an open, transparent, and accountable government by the Washington Coalition for Open Government. |
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WA Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti (i)
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Treasurer since 2020 Mike Pellicciotti (Pelleh-chee-otti) is dedicated to increasing government transparency, protecting Washington’s financial health, and policies that support working families and retirees. The former assistant attorney general served North Pierce and South King Counties in the State House of Representatives, focusing on increasing penalties for corporate crime and getting “dark money” out of politics. As Treasurer, Mike is focused on reducing financial barriers for all Washingtonians. In 2023 he earned the Rodel Fellow: bipartisan recognition of America’s 24 most promising elected leaders. He has a B.A. in Business Administration and a Master’s in Rural Development as a United States |
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WA Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal (i)
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Reykdal has held this nonpartisan position since 2017 after previously serving as a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives (District 22) for six years. He is a product of the public education system and put himself through college with multiple jobs, scholarships, grants, and student loans. Reykdal is also a former high school history teacher with many years of administrative experience serving on local school boards and at state-wide community and technical colleges. He wants to prioritize paying instructional assistants a living wage, fully funding special education, and increasing mental health support for students. He is committed to continuing investment in public education, unlike his opponent who would defund the system. |
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WA Insurance Commissioner Patricia Kuderer
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Kuderer reliably sponsored progressive bills in the state legislature during her 10 years there and now wants to represent consumers and hold companies accountable to the law as insurance commissioner. In this role, she would manage a large department that regulates insurance providers operating in Washington State. The responsibilities include licensing, negotiating prices with insurors, and investigating customer complaints in order to improve service quality. With healthcare as her top priority, she wants to keep the WA Cares program, make prescription drugs more affordable, and work towards universal healthcare. |
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WA Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove
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Upthegrove would take an ambitious approach to reforming forestry policies as head of Washington’s agency for management and oversight of the state’s natural resources. He has a depth of policy experience from serving in the state legislature and on the King County Council, and has relationships with a broad coalition of environmentalists who want to protect mature forests and address climate concerns. Upthegrove also has a record of prioritizing racial and environmental justice and Tribal sovereignty. His opponent, Jaime Herrera Beutler, is a Republican who receives money from the timber industry. |
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Sal Mungia (Position 2)
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Steven Gonzalez (Position 8)
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Sheryl Gordon McCloud (Position 9)
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Ballot Initiatives
Initiative
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Recommendation: VOTE NOInitiative 2109. Repeal the capital gains excise tax imposed on long-term capital assets by individuals with capital gains over $250,0001 Initiative 2109 would repeal the Washington capital gains excise tax, a tax that doesn’t apply to 99.8% of Washington residents. This initiative would only benefit about 4,000 individuals who make millions in profits from stock sales. Repealing the tax would result in slashing $5 billion from public education, childcare, and early-learning programs, draining both state and local budgets for educating the state’s children. If I-2109 passes, school districts may have to turn to more property tax levies to raise needed funds. |
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Initiative
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Recommendation: VOTE NOInitiative 2117. Prohibit carbon tax credit trading and repeal provisions of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act , a state law that provided for a cap and invest program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 20501 Initiative 2117 would strip billions of investment dollars from community priorities in every county, priorities like air quality, transportation and transit services, fish habitat, and wildfire prevention. It would also eviscerate funding for programs that reduce toxic air, expand the state’s air-quality monitoring network, modernize school buildings, prevent wildfires, support clean transportation options, and reduce health disparities in communities most impacted by pollution. I-2117 would mean more Washington kids and seniors would suffer from asthma and heart conditions. and would shift the burden of paying for the impacts of pollution on to local communities and families. |
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Initiative
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Recommendation: VOTE NOInitiative 2124. Allow all employees and self-employed individuals to opt out of the state’s Long-Term Services Insurance Program (Washington Cares)[1] In 2019 the state legislature passed the Washington Cares Act, which established a statewide long-term insurance program: Employees and self-employed people make contributions (similar to unemployment insurance) for as long as they work in the state. A typical Washington employee earning $50,091 annually would, for example, contribute $291 yearly or $24.21 monthly. Over 30 years, this person would contribute a total of $8,716 to the program. When individuals need long-term care, they can, beginning in July 2026, access their benefit to pay for services (up to a lifetime total of $36,500, adjusted for inflation).2 The program also allows self-employed and gig workers to enroll in the program. Long-term care comprises a range of services, supplies, and support for individuals needing assistance with daily living tasks both in-home and in residential care . Initiative 2124 would allow any employee to opt out of the Washington Cares program, which would likely result in: · Harm people with pre-existing conditions · Remove $8.1 billion from the state long-term care program, leading to premium hikes and ultimately bankrupting the program for those still in it · Leave our state’s residents at the mercy of for-profit insurance companies · Force people to pay for services and supplies out of pocket, which would drain their savings or drive them to sign over their homes to qualify for Medicaid |
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Initiative
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Recommendation: VOTE NOInitiative 2066. Prohibit state and local governments from restricting access to natural gas[1 The 2024 state legislature passed HB 1589,“an act relating to supporting Washington’s clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future.” The bill updates state statutes that relate to Puget Sound Energy’s reporting obligations to regulators and requires PSE to end fossil fuel incentives next year that support residential customers to purchase any natural gas appliances or equipment. This requirement does not apply to electric heat pumps that include a natural gas backup or commercial and industrial customers until January 1, 2031. Initiative 2066 seeks to delay and disrupt the state’s transition to a clean energy economy and disregards the latest scientific research showing that gas use harms human health. 1 https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2024/07/initiative-2066-putting-washingtonians-at-risk-of-higher-energy-prices-gets-certified.html |
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Other Local Races
