To help prepare you to vote in the Nov. 3 general election, The Seattle Times editorial board has interviewed candidates and made recommendations for legislative positions that represent parts of King and Snohomish counties. Additionally, some local offices are on this ballot, as well as five state Supreme Court seats.
In our endorsements, we explain our reasoning so readers can decide for themselves if they agree. These recommendations are offered for consideration as voters do their other homework.
The editorial board is taking a slightly different approach to endorsements this year, particularly for legislative seats. The upshot is this: We are carefully scrutinizing incumbents’ records and how they voted on a number of issues, including unbalanced budgets and an outcome that resulted in bonding agencies giving Washington a negative outlook; this could lead to a reduction in the state’s stellar AAA rating if lawmakers don’t change their approach.
Here is Opinion editor Kate Riley’s explanation of our revised endorsement process.
If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Nov. 3, Election Day. If you deposit your ballot in an official drop box, it’s due by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Agree or disagree with our recommendations, please be sure to vote.
And keep checking back, as the board will add more endorsements and update existing ones between the primary and the general, including for Congress.
Here are our endorsements:
FEDERAL
U.S. House of Representatives
Congressional District 9: Adam Smith
Smith’s sophisticated take on foreign affairs and military policies makes him a go-to authoritative interview for many news organizations. He’s also omnipresent in local issues in the district. He intends to devote much of his next term to economic issues, including what to do about the nation’s $40 trillion debt, which he called “unsustainable.” Read full endorsement →
Congressional District 10: Marilyn Strickland
Washington’s 10th Congressional District has seen positive results from Strickland’s service. Now, more than ever, a plain-spoken, fearless voice is needed in Congress. Strickland is that voice. Read full endorsement →
STATE
State Senate
Legislative District 32: Jesse Salomon
Salomon’s lodestar is common sense policy — particularly around public safety — rather than going-along-to-get-along with the Democratic caucus. On transparency and independence, he stands apart. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 43: Jamie Pedersen
Pedersen has represented the Seattle neighborhoods of Capitol Hill, downtown and Wallingford ably and honestly since he was elected to the state House in 2006. But he must do better in balancing the progressive demands of his district with the need for more responsible government. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 44: John Lovick
Public safety has been the focus of much of Lovick’s work in Olympia, and his work has paid off for the district’s residents. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 47: Kristina Soltys
Soltys, a two-term Covington City Council member, has shown she can be both a voice for fiscally responsible government while still funding critical needs. She would bring a fresh urgency to the problem of runaway spending in Olympia. Read full endorsement →
State House of Representatives
Legislative District 5, Position 1: No endorsement
Three candidates failed to show leadership necessary to serve the Eastside district in the state Legislature. Read full position →
Legislative District 11, Position 1: David Hackney
Hackney has been a strong voice for sensible police reform, public safety and consumer fraud issues. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 26, Position 1: Adison Richards
Voters should send Richards, a smart and principled lawmaker with a finely-tuned ear to his district, back to Olympia. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 26, Position 2: Renee Hernandez Greenfield
The educator, with an eye toward making Olympia’s spending more effective, is the best choice in the purple district spanning the Key Peninsula to Bremerton. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 30, Position 1: Jamila Taylor
During her five years in the Legislature, state Rep. Jamila Taylor has tackled several heavy issues, the latest being tort reform. Voters should invest two more years in her legislative prowess. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 30, Position 2: Kristine Reeves
As a lawmaker, Reeves is comfortable making tough, thoughtful decisions. The state Legislature needs more independent, constituent-focused thinkers like her. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 32, Position 1: Keith Scully
Scully has spent a decade representing voters in Shoreline as City Council member and mayor, where he’s managed to keep the social safety net intact in a burgeoning city, without blowing the budget. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 32, Position 2: Lauren Davis
State Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, is a very effective legislator who has made great strides for behavioral health statewide. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 33, Position 1: Edwin Obras
Obras has drawn from his local government experience to become an effective representative of the 33rd District. He deserves to be reelected. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 34, Position 2: Mary Anito
Newcomer Anito presents fresh ideas and sticks to key priorities of education, housing and healthcare. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 37, Position 1: Kelabe Tewolde
On the pressing matter of K-12 schools, Tewolde, a history teacher and associate leadership development director at Rainier Scholars, comes across as a much-needed breath of fresh air. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 41, Position 1: Janice Zahn
Zahn’s distinct skill set as an engineer, combined with a willingness to dig in for solutions, have earned her another term in Olympia. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 41, Position 2: Michael Rosen
Independent candidate Rosen makes a solid case that the Legislature’s multiple years of unwise budgeting and billions of dollars in new taxes must stop. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 43, Position 1: Nicole Macri
Macri’s healthcare expertise and deep community connections make her a leader in Olympia. She deserves another term. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 44, Position 2: April Berg
Berg is a skilled lawmaker willing to tackle some of the Legislature’s thorniest challenges, including the state’s surging tort liability. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 46, Position 1: Gerry Pollet
Pollet has ably served the 46th Legislative District in North Seattle, focusing on education, the environment and gun violence. He deserves reelection. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 46, Position 2: Darya Farivar
Since she was last reelected, Farivar has shown the ability to put aside ideology and try to do something helpful for her district. She made the grocery business a priority after her district faced the loss of a Fred Meyer. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 47, Position 1: No endorsement
The editorial board notes that while the hopefuls for the 47th Legislative District, Position 1, are qualified in different ways, no one stood out as a changemaker. Read full position →
Legislative District 47, Position 2: Chris Stearns
For his work with tribes, focus on the electricity grid and a mindset toward growing the state’s emerging space industry, Stearns deserves another term in Olympia. Read full endorsement →
Legislative District 48, Position 2: Amy Walen
Walen is an independent, contemplative lawmaker not beholden to special interests or ideology. Her willingness to roll up her sleeves on bills and the budget make her invaluable in Olympia. Read full endorsement →
Supreme Court
Supreme Court, Position 1: Colleen Melody
Melody possesses a sharp intellect, deep legal knowledge and a commitment to making the court more transparent and accessible to all Washingtonians. Read full endorsement →
Supreme Court, Position 3: Jaime Hawk
The editorial board remains hopeful that Hawk will be open to the views and experiences of all Washingtonians, and develop an independent voice. Read full endorsement →
Supreme Court, Position 4: Sean P. O’Donnell
O’Donnell has diverse experience in the courts, as a judge, a prosecutor and a leader in his profession. His commitment to more transparency from the court is refreshing. (Because this race has only two candidates, it will not appear on the primary ballot. Voters will have their say in November.) Read full endorsement →
Supreme Court, Position 5: Theo Angelis
The editorial board was impressed by Angelis’ legal reasoning and his appreciation of the limits of judicial power. He is an independent thinker and strong addition to the bench. Read full endorsement →
Supreme Court, Position 7: Debra Stephens
With the turnover on the court, Stephens, with her experience as chief justice and institutional knowledge, is the better choice. Read full endorsement →
Initiative 001, ‘parents’ rights’: Vote No
It is poorly written, not tailored for Washington and could expose already vulnerable kids to harm in instances where they are victims of abuse at home. Read full endorsement →
Initiative 638, ban on trans girls in sports: Vote No
It would unfairly target a few students to appease those who want to dictate to schools just who is worthy of participating in competitive sports and who isn’t. Read full endorsement →
Initiative 645, ‘millionaires tax’ repeal: Vote No
The initiative would ultimately worsen Washington state’s budget problems, producing deeper cuts to state services and likely spurring further, more damaging tax hikes in coming years. Read full endorsement →
SEATTLE
City Council
Position: 5: Julie Kang
Residents who want an advocate instead of an ideologue in City Hall ought to choose Kang. North Seattle voters deserve hardworking, honest representation that reflects the concerns and values of the community. Read full endorsement →
Municipal Court
Municipal Court Judge, Position 5: Garmon Newsom
Newsom represents the kind of experienced and thoughtful jurist that residents deserve on the bench. Read full endorsement →
KING COUNTY
Assessor: Rob Foxcurran
Foxcurran is best positioned to bring a fresh perspective to the office and lead it long-term. Currently a senior appraiser for the city of Seattle, he has worked as an appraiser in the private sector as well. Read full endorsement →
Metropolitan King County Council
King County Council, District 2: Toshiko Hasegawa
Hasegawa stands out as the best choice to serve District 2 residents. Her vast experience in various areas of governance would be an asset to the Metropolitan King County Council. Read full endorsement →
King County Council, District 8: Nick Duda
Duda would bring a fresh approach to solving some of King County’s most pressing and longstanding problems. Read full endorsement →
