For questions about our endorsement process please reach out to our Campaign Director Jamielyn Wheeler at Jamielyn@FuseWashington.org
Fuse has released its first set of pre-primary endorsements for the 2022 election. Fuse's criteria for endorsements include:
- Supporting candidates who have outstanding leadership qualities and will fight for working people, a healthy environment, and a better future for our children.
- Supporting women, people of color, young people, and LGBTQ+ candidates running for office.
- Supporting strong progressive candidates in competitive races against more conservative opponents.
- Supporting progressives in races where the balance of power in the elected body is at stake and where Fuse efforts could help gain or protect a progressive majority.
Our 2022 early endorsed candidates will be included in our Progressive Voters Guide when it is released in early July. You can help us support all of these candidates by making a donation to the Progressive Voters Guide here!
Statewide
A few wealthy Republican donors are bankrolling this initiative to repeal our state’s capital gains tax. If they’re successful, the wealthiest 0.2% of taxpayers would take away $500 million a year from Washington public schools, students, and childcare. You can read more about this here.
Congress
Dr. Kim Schrier for U.S. House, Congressional District 8
Rep. Kim Schrier was elected to Congress in 2018 and has served on the Education & Labor and Agriculture committees and prioritized gun violence prevention, health care (including reducing the cost of prescription drugs), and reproductive freedom. Prior to running for office, she worked as a pediatrician in Issaquah for two decades.
Natasha Hill for U.S. House, Congressional District 5
Natasha Hill is running for Congress to be a progressive advocate for everyone in the 5th District, not just the wealthy few. She grew up in Spokane utilizing community resources like SNAP and later experienced homelessness and food insecurity while pursuing her law degree. Hill wants to make the child tax credit permanent, expand rural health care options, and raise the minimum wage so that any American can meet their basic needs on forty hours of work a week.
Legislative Candidates
Marcus Riccelli for state House, Legislative District 3, Position 1
In Olympia, Rep. Marcus Riccelli has sponsored key progressive legislation such as bills this session to ensure that all Washingtonians pay their share of taxes and to create more affordable housing options. Recently, Riccelli also sponsored the Hunger-Free Schools Act, which provides a bridge of federal funding for free breakfast to schools where nearly half of students' families are using public assistance.
Timm Ormsby for state House, Legislative District 3, Position 2
Incumbent Democrat Rep. Timm Ormsby is running for re-election to take action on climate change that supports job growth and sustainable community development. This year, he supported legislation to keep our communities safe from high-capacity firearms, as well as a bill to ensure cities and counties include affordable housing in their growth plans.
Michaela Kelso for state House, Legislative District 6
Democrat and 23-year Army veteran Michaela Kelso is running for the 6th Legislative District. She supports science-based education without religious interference, encouraging multi-family housing and more affordable housing options, funding community-wide recovery and addiction services for those who are struggling with drug use, and a wealth tax on the state's billionaires to finally have them pay their share for the resources we all use.
Emily Randall for state Senate, Legislative District 26
Sen. Emily Randall was born and raised on the Kitsap Peninsula in a hardworking union family. As a community organizer and advocate for health care and education, she is focused on putting the people of the 26th District first. Emily is now the chair of the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee, a member of the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee, and a member of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Yasmin Trudeau for state Senate, Legislative District 27
Sen. Yasmin Trudeau previously served as the legislative director for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Before that, she was a policy analyst for the Washington State Senate Democratic Caucus, where she worked for several policy committees. She joined the caucus team after having run the office of then-state Sen. Pramila Jayapal as her legislative aide.
Sharlett Mena for state House, Legislative District 29
Sharlett grew up in the Tri-Cities, Washington. The daughter of immigrant farmworkers, Sharlett is a first-generation American and the first in her family to graduate from college. Sharlett works as Special Assistant to the Director of the Washington State Department of Ecology, the agency that protects air, land, and water in our state.
Julia Reed for state House, Legislative District 36
Julia Reed is a Senior Consultant at Kinetic West. Her expertise includes policy and strategy development, communications, and organizational management. Prior to joining Kinetic West, Julia served in the Obama administration, working in the State Department and the Office of Management and Budget. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Princeton University and a Bachelor’s from Smith College. Julia grew up in Seattle, attending both Seattle Public Schools and Holy Names Academy high school.
Sharon Shewmake for state Senate, Legislative District 42
Rep. Sharon Shewmake is running for state Senate from the 42nd Legislative District. She is an economics professor specializing in environmental and urban economics at Western Washington University. During her time in Olympia, she has been an advocate for affordable childcare, environmental protections, and keeping housing affordable.
John Lovick for state Senate, Legislative District 44
Senator John Lovick has spent his life in public service. Prior to his election to office, he served as a State Trooper for 31 years and was named Trooper of the Year in 1992. He also served a total of 13 years in the United States Coast Guard, including time patrolling the waters off Alaska.
Local Candidates
Chris Jordan for Spokane County Commissioner, District 1
Jordan is running on a platform to invest in child care, strengthen the county’s middle class, alleviate traffic congestion in the region, and take action on the climate crisis to safeguard the local environment for generations to come.
Amber Waldref for Spokane County Commissioner, District 2
During Amber’s eight years on Spokane City Council she led efforts to clean up the Spokane River, to improve streets and utilities, and to support small business growth through targeted investment in the East Sprague District, the Hamilton Street Corridor, and in Downtown Spokane.
Maggie Yates for Spokane County Commissioner, District 5
Maggie Yates is running to create more investment in housing that everyone can access, expanded apprenticeship programs to help the local workforce, as well as expanded mental health care and child care. She believes that the best way forward on quality child care, clean water and air, better broadband, and more is to work together.
Robyn Denson for Pierce County Council, District 7
Robyn is a current Gig Harbor City Council member, where she has earned a reputation for listening, problem solving and getting things done. Prior to serving on City Council, Robyn served four terms on the Gig Harbor Parks Commission, including several years as Chair.
You can also learn more about why we oppose Larry Haskell for Spokane County Prosecutor here.
