Washington State has mostly been considered a progressive state. However, there have been decidedly conservative trends recently at the ballot box. While wealthy, urban, and suburban areas remain overwhelmingly progressive; low-income, blue collar, and culturally conservative regions have become conservative strongholds. Within the next five years, progressives have the opportunity to disperse these strongholds. This will, in effect take Washington off of the list of "swing" states and put it squarely into the progressive camp.
| Legislature | ||
Democrats |
Republicans |
|
| Senate | ||
| 2004 | 24 |
25 |
| 2006 | 26 |
23 |
| Today | 32 |
17 |
| House | ||
| 2004 | 52 |
46 |
| 2006 | 55 |
43 |
| Today | 63 |
35 |
While the left has historically done well on the state level, county, city, and school board seats have been left largely in the hands of conservatives due to the lack of attention to these races. In fact, there is currently a near 2-1 advantage for conservatives in county offices. Moreover conservatives dominate in the number of city and school board seats they hold in areas that vote progressively in statewide races, such as Bellevue, Kent, and Federal Way.
Washington was one of the first states in which we opened our doors in spring 2004. Since then, we have helped swing control of the State Senate from a one-vote Republican majority to a 32-17 margin and increase the margin in the state house from 52-47 to 62-37. In addition, we've elected progressives to towns with 150 voters to large county offices across the state.
Click here to visit the Progressive Majority Washington website for more information
Mike Cooper
Candidate for Snohomish County Council - District 3 (Open Seat)
Mike Cooper is a Democrat on the Snohomish County Council. Mike recently retired as a Lieutenant from the Shoreline Fire District and is also a former State Representative from Washington's 21st legislative district. He is a union member with the International Association of Firefighters (Local 1760). He has been recognized as the 1999 Maritime Elected Official of the Year, 1999 Washington State Labor Council Legislator of the Year, and 2003 Inland Boatman's Union Legislator of the Year. In 2005 we elected Progressive Majority candidate Snohomish County Councilmember Dave Somers; Mike's election, along with Brian Sullivan's, means that the Snohomish County Council will have a progressive majority.
Marilyn Strickland
Candidate for Tacoma City Council - At Large (Open Seat)
Marilyn Strickland is a member of the Tacoma City Council. Marilyn is the Development Officer for the Tacoma Public Library, focusing on advocacy, fundraising, and community outreach. Born in Seoul, South Korea, her parents moved to Tacoma when her father was stationed at Fort Lewis forty years ago. She believes that education and literacy should be at the top of Tacoma's civic agenda. A graduate of the University of Washington, Marilyn earned an MBA from Clark-Atlanta University. She has worked in both public and private sectors, holding marketing positions with the American Cancer Society and Starbucks Coffee Company. Her community service and volunteer activities include the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees, the Grand Cinema Board of Directors, the Tacoma Pierce-County Black Collective, and the Elizabeth Wesley Youth Scholarship Program. She is currently the only person of color elected to the local school board, city council, or county government.
Brian Sullivan
Candidate for Snohomish County Council - District 2 (Open Seat)
Brian Sullivan a member of the Snohomish County Council. Brian has built a career for himself in public service. A former small business owner, Brian was elected to the Mukilteo City Council and then mayor, then to the state legislature. For his leadership, Brian was named an honorary lifetime member of the Mukilteo Firefighters as well as an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Aerospace Machinists Union in 2005. In 2005, we elected Progressive Majority candidate Snohomish County Councilmember Dave Somers; Brian's election, along with Mike Cooper, means that the Snohomish County Council will have a progressive majority.
Gael Tarleton
Candidate for Seattle Port Commission - Position 2 (Challenger)
Gael Tarleton is a member of the non-partisan Seattle Port Commission. She has a background in intelligence, having worked as a Senior Analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency - a job which makes her immensely qualified for the office of Seattle Port Commission, with port security an increasing concern. She most recently worked at the University of Washington, becoming the first ever Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for the College of Arts and Sciences. She is deeply concerned about the environmental issues facing the port as well as the security problems that the Port faces.
John Lovick
Candidate for Snohomish County Sheriff (Open Seat)
John Lovick is the Snohomish County Sheriff. Recently retired after 31-years with the Washington State Patrol, Sgt. Lovick was named the ''Trooper of the Year'' and holds many awards for his service. John is a union member with the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association. From 1999 until his election to Sheriff, John served in the Washington State House of Representatives, rising to the position of Speaker Pro Tempore. From 1994-1999, he served on the Mill Creek City Council, two of those years as Mayor. John is one of only three people of color currently elected at the county level in Washington state and the only one outside of King County. In addition, he is first person of color in Washington state to serve as an elected sheriff.
Steve Oliver
Candidate for Whatcom County Treasurer (Open Seat)
Steve Oliver is the Whatcom County Treasurer. Steve has served two terms on Ferndale's City Council including his current position as Mayor Pro Tem. He is a former member of Teamsters Local 231, previously served on the Ferndale Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments serves as Board President of the Ferndale Boys and Girls Club, and represents small cities on the Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence. Steve has worked in the Treasurer's office since 1998 and was appointed Chief Deputy Treasurer in 1999. He won election to County Treasurer in 2007.
Bob Kelly
Candidate for Whatcom County Council - District 1 - Position B (Open Seat)
Bob Kelly is a Whatcom County Councilman. He is a member of the Nooksack Tribe in Northern Western Washington. Bob first became interested in politics with his work on salmon recovery issues as Natural Resources Director with the Nooksack. He is also heavily involved in his community, serving as treasurer with the NW Indian Fish Commission, which is comprised of 20 tribes. He is not only the first Native American to serve on the Whatcom County Council, but also the first Native American to hold County office in Washington State.
Ramona Fonseca
Candidate for Mayor of Granger (Challenger)
Ramona Fonseca is the Mayor of Granger, a small town in the Yakima Valley. A retired state employee and activist, Ramona ran for office for several reasons. Granger has a heavy Latino/a population (86%), yet before her election, this overwhelming majority was not reflected in city government. After years of pressuring the city council and mayor to respond to citizen's request for information, Ramona decided a change was needed; she won her election to Mayor in 2007.
Barry Peters
Candidate for Bainbridge Island City Council - Position 1 (Open Seat)
Barry Peters is a member of the non-partisan Bainbridge Island City Council. Barry is cofounder and president of the non-profit Sustainable Bainbridge and co-chairman of Bainbridge Conservation Voters. Barry received a bachelor's degree in public and international affairs from Princeton University and attended law school at the University of Pennsylvania. Barry ran on a ''clean campaign pledge'' and only accepted contributions of $100 or less.
Hilary Franz
Candidate for Bainbridge Island City Council - Position 2 (Open Seat)
Hilary Franz is a member of the Bainbridge Island City Council. She is an accomplished environmental land-use lawyer, with ten years experience working with local governments, non-profit organizations and community groups on land use and environmental issues. She is a board member for the Washington Environmental Council and Bainbridge Island Trust for Working Landscapes, and she has been endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters and the 23rd District Democrats.
Laurie Carter
Candidate for Bonney Lake City Council - Ward 3 (Open Seat)
Laurie is a member of the non-partisan Bonney Lake City Council. A member of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3937, Dist. 11, she has worked in public service for 16 years, working to administer federally-regulated social security programs in Washington. In 2005, she was appointed to the Bonney Lake Park Board, and served as the Executive Director of the non-profit ''Beautify Bonney Lake,'' a partnership of citizens, commerce and government to enhance the beauty of the city. For her efforts she received the 2007 Community Impact Award. Her family has lived in the downtown area for 10 years and in the greater Bonney Lake area since 1986. She supports a walking downtown that will invite families to shop downtown and allow the current businesses to remain and thrive in a revitalized downtown.
Joshua Schaer
Candidate for Issaquah City Council - Position 4 (Open Seat)
Joshua Schaer is a member of the non-partisan Issaquah City Council, Position 4. Joshua is a defense attorney of six years' experience. Since 1996, Joshua has been an elected precinct committee officer of his local district Democratic organization. Joshua's experience includes being qualified to serve as a Judge Pro Tempore in King County, and serving on the Eastside Transit Sounding Board. Joshua's 2007 election was crucial to start building a Progressive Majority on the Issaquah city council, which is currently controlled by four conservatives; the other three seats are moderates.
Suzanne Quigley
Candidate for Lake Stevens City Council - Position 5 (Open Seat)
Suzanne Quigley is a member of the non-partisan Lake Stevens City Council. Suzanne was appointed to the seat after the incumbent resigned, and won her first election to the post in 2007. Suzanne holds a Ph.D. in hearing sciences and had a successful career directing a pediatric and adult cochlear implant program. Now a homemaker, she is very involved in her community, serving on the Lake Stevens Educational Foundation Board of Trustees, as President of the Lake Stevens Concerned Citizens and on the Board of Trustees of the Listen & Talk School. She is married to former State Senator (and former Congressional Candidate) Kevin Quigley.
Bruce Bassett
Candidate for Mercer Island City Council - Position 5 (Open Seat)
Bruce Bassett is a member of the non-partisan Mercer Island City Council. Bruce currently serves on the Mercer Island Open Space Conservancy Trust Board and is Treasurer for the Mercer Island Soccer Association. After a career that included 10 years as founder and CEO of a small high tech company, he wants to devote time to addressing pressing local issues.
Rebecca Francik
Candidate for Pasco City Council - Position 5 (Incumbent)
Rebecca Francik is a member of the non-partisan Pasco City Council, on which she has been serving for 11 years. She is a librarian and teacher in the Pasco School District. She is also a union member with the Washington Education Association. During her time on the council she has worked to both conserve water in the Columbia River and recruit more large-scale employers to Pasco. She is one of a few progressive leaders in elected office in Eastern Washington.
Mia Gregerson
Candidate for SeaTac City Council - Position 7 (Open Seat)
Mia Gregerson is a member of the SeaTac City Council. Mia is a third generation resident of the SeaTac community. She lives with her husband, Scott, and their daughter. She is very involved in the community by working with and coaching young athletes through Special Olympics and volunteers for the SmileMobile, which provides dental services for the poor. Professionally, she works as a surgical assistant. While the community is highly minority (40% people of color, heavy concentrations of Asians, Hispanics and African-Americans), she is the only person of color on the seven-member city council. She will also bring a fresh perspective as a young person to the council.
Terry Scott
Candidate for Shoreline City Council - Position 6 (Challenger)
Terry Scott is a member of the non-partisan Shoreline City Council. He currently serves as a University of Washington faculty member in the School of Medicine. In 2006, he was chosen to be a member, and then was elected Vice-chair of the City of Shoreline's Citizen's Housing Committee, which is currently making suggestions to the City Council on issues such as housing affordability and housing choices for area residents. Terry has lived in Shoreline with his wife Lyanne and their four children for almost a decade. He is a former president of the Washington State Academy of Physician Assistants, and has served on various committees at the local and national level, such as the UW Graduate Medical Education, School of Medicine Curriculum Committee, and the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants Health Policy Council. As a Physician Assistant in family practice, Terry has been active in advocating for patient access to care, and health care issues and concerns.
Richard Rush
Candidate for Spokane City Council - Position 1 (Challenger)
Richard Rush is a member of the non-partisan Spokane City Council in District 2. Richard has a business management background, but is currently a stay-at-home dad of two children. In a city where neighborhood communities are well organized, he is member of the Cliff/Cannon Neighborhood Council and participated in the city's rewriting of its comprehensive plan. The council is currently made up of four conservatives and three progressives, so Richard's 2007 victory sets us up to take back the council in 2009.
Ed Pacheco
Candidate for Toppenish City Council - Position 7 (Challenger)
Ed Pacheco is a member of the non-partisan City Council of Toppenish, a small town located in the Yakima Valley. A social worker whose family has lived in the city for over 30 years, Ed has seen the city in harsh conditions with a plummeting economy. Spurred to action by dedication to his hometown, Ed pushed the city council to hire a Spanish language interpreter for the residents of the over 75% Latino/a city. Despite this high Latino/a population, before Ed's election only two city council members out of seven represented this majority. Ed brings further representation to the Latino/a residents of Toppenish.
Sili Savusa
Candidate for Highline School Board - District 1 (Open Seat)
Sili Savusa is a member of the Highline School Board. She currently is the Family Center Coordinator for South West Youth and Family Services, a non-profit that provides free services to at-risk youth and families. At the age of 25, she became a Samoan chief. She also serves her community by being a Trusted Advocate, a group of people representing the various ethnic communities in North Highline. In response to the dropout rate, poor performance, and neglect Samoan children receive in the school system, Sili organized the first Samoan Parent Teacher organization in the country. Sili is the only person of color on the Board, although it represents one of the most diverse areas of Washington State.
Cindy Poysnick
Candidate for Puyallup School Board - Position 2 (Open Seat)
Cindy is a member of the non-partisan Puyallup School Board. She is a business-owner and a mother of school-age kids who graduated from schools in the district. The conservative Puyallup school board has thus far prevented comprehensive, medically-accurate sex education from being taught in Puyallup schools. Cindy, however, has testified in Olympia on behalf of a bill mandating medically-accurate sex education. She ran for the school board in 2005 and came within 1% of winning; in 2007 she won her election to the Board.
Maren Norton
Candidate for Shoreline School Board - District 4 (Challenger)
Maren Norton is a member of the non-partisan Shoreline School Board. Maren is an attorney with Stoel Rives, where she has worked on telecommunications, software licensing, and representing municipal clients in superfund cleanup litigation. She has represented numerous pro bono clients, including for public housing tenants, immigration appeals, and other such cases which earned her the Volunteer of the Year award by the King County Bar Association. She served as campaign manager for Carolyn Edmonds 1998 campaign for State Representative, beating a conservative incumbent and later for King County Council, as Edmonds' legislative assistant in Olympia, and has been involved in the 32nd District Democrats.
Donald Gargas
Candidate for Toppenish School Board - District 5 (Open Seat)
Dr. Donald Gargas is a member of the non-partisan Toppenish School Board. He has been a pediatrician with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic in Toppenish since 1973, advocating for the health and safety of children of migrant and seasonal farm workers. 2007 was his first run for political office.