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The Progressive Voter's Guide

Real Progress Means Voting Every Race and Issue
As a voter committed to real progress, it is extremely important that you vote in every race and measure on your ballot. The one you skip could be the one that keeps us from achieving high-quality health care for all, excellence in education, real security for our most vulnerable neighbors or a healthier environment.

The Progressive Voters Guide identifies the candidates with the most progressive track records and the ballot measure positions that will protect or promote progress in Washington. In races where track records and endorsements support a clear recommendation for which candidate will do the strongest and most effective job of representing progressive values, our guide highlights the recommended candidate. In other races we offer highlights and information about multiple candidates.

Together we can create a state committed to real progress, by voting for progress on every race and measure by August 18th.

Federal Races note:

President and Congress

This Guide does not include the Presidential or Congressional races because of campaign restrictions established by federal law.

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About This Voters Guide

The symbols indicate that a candidate has endorsements from groups dedicated to that issue area.

Voter Resources

Voter Guide Partners

  • Equal Rights Washington
  • Fuse
  • League of Education Voters
  • NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
  • National Organization for Women - Washington Chapter
  • National Women's Political Caucus of Washington
  • Planned Parenthood
  • Progressive Majority
  • SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW
  • SEIU Healthcare 775 NW
  • SEIU Local 925
  • Sierra Club
  • Stand for Children
  • UFCW Local 21
  • Washington Bus
  • Washington CAN
  • Washington CeaseFire
  • Washington Conservation Voters

Governor

Lt. Governor

  • Brad Owen

    Brad Owen

    Democrat

    Progressive groups aren't really weighing on this race. Lt. Gov. Brad Owen is a conservative Democrat running for re-election without credible opposition for a generally ceremonial position that also presides over the Senate. He's really your only choice in this race, unless you want to write in someone you know who is good at presiding over things.

    • No Candidate Web Site

Attorney General

  • John Ladenburg

    John Ladenburg

    Democrat

    Pierce County Executive and former County Prosecutor John Ladenburg is the clear choice for state Attorney General. He has the law enforcement and management experience to run the AG's office effectively and efficiently. He is widely respected as a straight shooter and has fought for the public interest - on issues like clean drinking water and building transit --throughout his career.  He understands the important role of Attorney General in an era of corporate abuses and he brings to the job a strong record of standing up for civil liberties, reproductive rights, environmental protection and the rights of consumers. 

    His opponent, incumbent Rob McKenna is smart, very ambitious, and very conservative.  He has opposed limits on irresponsible development and fought rail transit, while failing to stand up for ordinary citizens and challenge corporations on consumer protection issues like mortgage abuses.  He has occasionally used the office to promote a conservative partisan agenda.

    Environment Icon Labor and Working Families Icon Reproductive Freedom Icon Social Justice Icon
    Endorsed or Supported by: Sierra Club, NOW Washington Chapter, Fuse Washington, UFCW Local 21, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Planned Parenthood Votes!

Commissioner of Public Lands

  • Peter Goldmark

    Peter Goldmark

    Democrat

    Peter Goldmark is an eastern Washington rancher and biologist, and an ideal candidate for Lands Commissioner. The unanimous choice of the progressive community, he will put the public back in the office of Public Lands Commissioner. This former State Director of Agriculture is clearly the best choice for the sustainable management of the more than 5 million publicly-owned acres in Washington. He will stop the practice of allowing timber companies to regulate their own clearcuts, reform the process that allows wholesale conversion of state-owned forests to strip malls and irresponsible development, and bring a commitment to fighting global warming and the cleanup of Puget Sound that the incumbent sorely lacks. 

    His opponent, incumbent Doug Sutherland has lost sight of his responsibility to protect the public interest and manage resources sustainably.   He has reduced oversight, increased clear-cuts, and is too cozy with industries he regulates--with literally disastrous results.  Timber and mining interests are contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to his re-election.

    Environment Icon Labor and Working Families Icon Social Justice Icon
    Endorsed or Supported by: Washington Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, NOW Washington Chapter, Progressive Majority, Fuse Washington, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Local 925

Secretary of State

  • Sam Reed

    Sam Reed

    Republican

    Sam Reed has earned your vote. He has taken voter registration online. He has professionalized the elections system and he has made the office easier for Washington businesses to navigate. Reed gets high marks from the equal rights community for his work in implementing the Domestic Partnership Registry.

    Environment Icon Social Justice Icon
    Endorsed or Supported by: Washington Conservation Voters, Equal Rights Washington, Fuse Washington

Insurance Commissioner

State Treasurer

  • Jim McIntire

    Jim McIntire

    Democrat

    With a 30-year background in economics, public policy and elective office, state Rep. Jim McIntire is the progressive pick for state Treasurer. McIntire, a University of Washington economics professor, will work to make sure the state manages its finances wisely.

    Reproductive Freedom Icon Social Justice Icon
    Endorsed or Supported by: NOW Washington Chapter, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington

State Auditor

  • Brian Sonntag

    Brian Sonntag

    Democrat

    Progressive groups aren't really weighing in on this race.  Incumbent Brian Sonntag is widely perceived as competent and effective and has been endorsed by basically everyone on all sides who is endorsing in this race.  He does not have a credible challenger.


Superintendent of Public Instruction

Statewide Ballot Measures

  • Thumbs Down

    Initiative 985: More Traffic

    Vote No on I-985 if you don't want to gum up carpool lanes and think it's a mistake to divert money from education and health care into unspecified freeway projects. I-985 is this year's deceptive Tim Eyman initiative. It would make traffic worse by opening carpool lanes to all motorists during key travel times that include some rush hours -- bringing buses and vanpools to a standstill, and putting more cars back on the highways. It diverts $600 million from the general fund to transportation over the next 6 years - increasing a projected $2.4 billion shortfall and diverting money from schools and health care to a transportation slush fund whose projects aren't specified. And it prohibits the use of toll revenues to support public transit, carpool, and transportation choices investments. Vote NO on I-985.

    Opposed by: Transportation Choices Coalition, Municipal League of King County, Sightline Institute,Washington Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Environment Washington, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, Washington State Labor Council, League of Education Voters, NOW Washington Chapter, Fuse Washington, Northwest Progressive Institute,Eastside Audubon, Environment Washington, Futurewise, League of Education Voters, Minority Executive Directors Coalition, National Wildlife Federation, Snohomish County Committee for Improved Transportation, Tahoma Audubon Society, Statewide Poverty Action Network, National Council of Jewish Women Seattle Section, Eastside Audubon, Black Hills Audubon, WashPIRG, Washington Environmental Council, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Washington, Washington Tax Fairness Coalition, League of Women Voters of Washington, The Children's Alliance, Washington State PTA
  • Thumbs Up

    Initiative 1000: Death with Dignity

    Vote Yes on I-1000 if you believe terminally ill people should have a choice about how much pain and suffering they must endure at the end of their lives. I-1000, the Death with Dignity initiative, takes the decision on end-of-life matters out of the hands of the government, placing it instead with patients, their families and their doctors. Under the proposal,  mentally competent, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to receive — under strict safeguards — a prescription for life-ending medication. I-1000 is modeled on a similar law in Oregon, where experts agree the result has been an improvement in care for dying patients.

    Initiatives of this type are always challenging, and many progressives could oppose I-1000 for religious reasons. In fact, both sides invoke progressive moral values in this race. Progressive organizations tilt heavily towards supporting the initiative, though, based solely on the principle of where the decision should lie-- believing it belongs in the hands of patients, their families and their doctors. Vote YES on I-1000.

    Endorsed or Supported by: Equal Rights Washington, NOW Washington Chapter, Fuse Washington, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, ACLU of Washington, American Medical Women's Association, American Medical Student Association, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Puget Sound Chapter; Compassion & Choices, Death with Dignity National Center, National Association of Social Workers, Washington State Chapter; Humanists of Washington, Libertarian Party of Washington, National Council of Jewish Women, Seattle Chapter; Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Washington, National Women's Law Center, Northwest Women's Law Center, Older Women's League (OWL) of Seattle, Lifelong AIDS Alliance
  • Thumbs Up

    Initiative 1029: Safe, Quality Care for Seniors

    Vote Yes on I-1029 if you want training for and background checks of the people who care for our seniors and people with disabilities. Backed by the Alzheimer's Association, Washington Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and nurses, home care workers, sheriffs, prosecutors, and police chiefs across the state, Initiative 1029 would protect seniors and people with disabilities by requiring federal criminal background checks, certification, and improved training for long-term care workers. Immediate family members would be exempt from the new requirements. For peace of mind and safe, and quality care for the most vulnerable, Vote YES on I-1029.

    Endorsed or Supported by: Equal Rights Washington, NOW Washington Chapter, Fuse Washington, Washington CAN, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Local 925, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, UFCW Local 21, Statewide Poverty Action Network, Washington Association of Churches, El Centro De La Raza, One America, With Justice For All (formerly Hate Free Zone), Washington Community Action Network, APIA Votes Washington 2008, Alzheimers Association of Western and Central Washington, Residents Council of WA, CARES Washington, Elderhealth Northwest, Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans,IBEW Local 91, IUOE Local 286, Machinists Local 751, Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 8, Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, UNITE HERE Local 8, Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, Northwest Regional Council; International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 17, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Washington, Washington Education Association, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council (AFL-CIO)

Look up My Local Voter's Guide to get other races for your county and legislative district.