To help prepare you to vote in the Aug. 4 primary, The Seattle Times editorial board has interviewed candidates and made recommendations for some of the most important political jobs in the state. Among them, members of Congress, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor and key state legislative races in King and Snohomish counties.
Your mail ballot should be returned and postmarked by Aug. 4. You may deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Agree or disagree with our recommendations, please be sure to vote.
Here are our endorsements so far, and check back as we add more candidates each day.
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, 6th Congressional District
Kilmer is a thoughtful pragmatist with a strong work ethic and deep understanding of the district.
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U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, 7th Congressional District
Jayapal has established herself in Congress as a leader on progressive issues, such as income inequality and climate action, that resonate in her district.
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U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, 9th Congressional District
As the longest-serving member of Washington’s House delegation, Smith brings a wealth of experience and considerable clout to issues that matter to his district.
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Marilyn Strickland, 10th Congressional District
Like outgoing U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, candidate Marilyn Strickland has a strong record as a centrist Democrat who can successfully advocate for the 10th District’s diverse needs.
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Gov. Jay Inslee
Voters should elect Inslee one last time and demand he show as much discipline and objectivity in the looming fiscal crisis as he did during the coronavirus outbreak.
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U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, Lieutenant Governor
Washington is fortunate Heck reversed course on his plan to retire from politics after he leaves Congress. His career — within and outside government — is replete with reasons to have confidence in his abilities.
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Kim Wyman, Secretary of State
Wyman runs a tight, respected office, with the esteem of election officials around the state.
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Pat McCarthy, State Auditor
McCarthy governmental experience has been a powerful asset through a first term in which restoring stability was a top priority.
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Chris Reykdal, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Reykdal’s dual experience as an educator and legislator will help him continue to lead.
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Rep. Shelley Kloba, 1st Legislative District, Position 2
Kloba has been a solid public servant as a city council member and as the 1st Legislative District’s Position 2 representative.
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Rep. Bill Ramos, 5th Legislative District, Position 1
Ramos’ experience as a transportation consultant lends valuable expertise to discussions of state transportation planning. His background and deep knowledge of this complex issue will be an asset as state legislators work to create a comprehensive and sustainable state transportation plan.
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David Hackney, 11th Legislative District, Position 1
Hackney, a former U.S. attorney in California and war-crime prosecutor for the United Nations, has an impressive advocacy résumé. He holds positions on the board of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, the state Human Rights Commission and the Black business leadership group Tabor 100. A Harvard Law graduate, Hackney also worked at Amazon and the Nature Conservancy.
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Rep. Strom Peterson, 21st Legislative District, Position 1
Peterson’s pragmatic legislative record and experience as a local government official and retail business owner make him the best candidate to return to Olympia for a daunting task.
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Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, 21st Legislative District, Position 2
With her vantage point as a school counselor, Ortiz-Self promises to be a constructive voice as the Legislature grapples with how to protect school funding and improve equitable services during this state budget crisis.
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Rep. Drew Stokesbary, 31st Legislative District, Position 1
Stokesbary has shown consistently that he’s well-equipped to be a voice for fiscal prudence without reverting to simple partisanship.
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Thomas Clark, 31st Legislative District, Position 2
Clark, a Navy veteran and Democrat from Lake Tapps, shows strong potential for a good legislator. His insights about the vital regional aerospace industry will help lawmakers respond wisely to Boeing’s ongoing turmoil.
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Rep. Cindy Ryu, 32nd Legislative District, Position 1
As a former mayor of Shoreline and former president of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, Ryu has a clear understanding of how legislative levers can affect constituents in the 32nd and elsewhere.
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Rep. Lauren Davis, 32nd Legislative District, Position 2
Davis has a record of working across the aisle, enlisting lawmakers in reasonable solutions, including on behavioral-health and criminal-justice reform.
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Sarah Reyneveld, 36th Legislative District, House Position 2
Reyneveld’s depth of knowledge on critical state issues, combined with progressive values and a strong commitment to government transparency, should make her an outstanding and productive member of the Legislature.
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Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, 37th Legislative District, Position 1
Washington legislators should be addressing social-justice issues that are a priority for veteran state Rep. Tomiko Santos.
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Chukundi Salisbury, 37th Legislative District, Position 2
Salisbury is thoughtful, informed and has demonstrated the ability to build partnerships and create programs that benefit his community.
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Rep. My-Linh Thai, 41st Legislative District, Position 2
The former Bellevue School Board member is clearly driven to ensure all Washington kids have equal access to an excellent education. She lends important perspective to the unfinished work of honoring the state’s constitutional responsibility to provide basic education for every child.
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Rep. Nicole Macri, 43rd Legislative District, Position 1
Macri is a smart, dedicated advocate who should improve the Legislature’s response to homelessness and behavioral-health challenges.
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Rep. Frank Chopp, 43rd Legislative District, Position 2
Chopp’s ability to advance progressive legislation has improved the lives of countless Washingtonians. That includes children with more early learning opportunities, students with improved access to higher education and thousands of adults living in affordable housing advanced by Chopp.
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Anne Anderson, 44th Legislative District, Position 2
Anderson pledges to protect education, health care and working families in a task that will require both cuts and tax increases.
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Rep. Pat Sullivan, 47th Legislative District, Position 2
Sullivan’s history of budget leadership goes back to the deep cuts that followed the 2008 recession. He understands which reductions come with unintended consequences and how to prioritize programs. Sullivan’s insights will be needed to guide that painful process going into the 2021 Legislature.
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Rep. Vandana Slatter, 48th Legislative District, Position 1
Slatter is an effective legislator who is comfortable working at the intersections of important policy areas.
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Rep. Amy Walen, 48th Legislative District, Position 2
Walen is a pragmatic and independent advocate for fiscal responsibility and working families.
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The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.