Fuse has released its early endorsements ahead of the 2020 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.
With an email list of nearly 100,000 people and hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians using the Progressive Voters Guide, Fuse will educate voters about these candidates in the 2020 primary election. These candidates will also be included in Fuse's Progressive Voters Guide.
Jay Inslee for Governor
Governor Jay Inslee has been a principled leader on the important challenges facing Washington. Most recently, Inslee has provided strong, effective, science-based leadership during the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic.
Before he was elected 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. In his 2020 bid for the presidency, Inslee brought a climate-centered focus to the race, much as he has done in state politics. 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.
Outside of his work on climate, Inslee has signed into law Washington's public option for healthcare, paid family leave, and the Equal Pay Opportunity Act. He has also welcomed refugees into the state and signed a bill declaring Washington a sanctuary state.
Hilary Franz for Public Lands Commissioner
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, she has focused on wildfire management and climate action.
This year she released a climate resilience plan for rural Washington that includes expanding wind and solar farm and massive reforestation. 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.
Bob Ferguson for State Attorney General
Attorney General Bob Ferguson's has accomplished much in his two terms as attorney general. From his battle with the federal government to clean up the Hanford nuclear waste site to his formal investigation of price gouging during the coronavirus pandemic, Ferguson has been a strong and effective advocate for people in Washington. He has sued the Trump administration 50 times as of October 2019 and won every completed case (22 by his own count).
For questions about our endorsement process please reach out to our Campaign Director Jamielyn Wheeler at Jamielyn [at] FuseWashington.org.
