Sign up for September tutorials on advertising disclosure, and using PDC data in reporting and election research
Join PDC staff on Sept. 2 and Sept. 10 for lunchtime classes focusing on advertising disclosure rules for campaigns and committees, and an overview of data available for researching campaigns at pdc.wa.gov.
On Sept. 2, PDC staff will present information on proper sponsor identification for political advertisements. Sponsors of political advertisements – which can appear as social media posts, websites, traditional print and digital ads and campaign signs – must be disclosed according to state law and PDC rules.
On Sept. 10, join staff for an overview of campaign finance data available online, tips for election research, and an opportunity for discussion and questions on those topics. This training might be particularly helpful for reporters covering the election and other interested members of the general public.
Both virtual classes are scheduled for 12 p.m. and will last about 45 minutes. Classes include a short presentation followed by a question and answer period. Register in advance for PDC classes here. You will receive a Microsoft Teams link the day before the class.
The PDC’s Lunch and Learn program offers brief, virtual lunchtime training and discussions on topics including advertising rules, filing tips, contribution and expenditure reporting, and more.
See more information on PDC training opportunities here.
WA Public Disclosure Commission
711 Capitol Way, Olympia, WA 98504
PDC accepting comment on proposed changes to complaint publication case resolution
At its August 27 regular meeting, the Public Disclosure Commission will consider adoption of proposed rule change regarding case resolution by the complaint publication process. The agency is accepting public testimony on the proposed rule change now.
The complaint publication process, under WAC 390-32-030, allows the agency to resolve allegations of minor violations by forwarding complaints and any responses to them to news media, rather than through a staff investigation.
PDC staff has proposed a change to the rule, allowing staff to publish these cases to the agency’s website, rather than also send them to news media, aligning the process with modern communications practices.
Under the state’s administrative rulemaking process, agencies must publish draft rules and hold a public hearing prior to adoption.
To submit written comments, email them to pdc@pdc.wa.gov. Comments can also be made in person or virtually at the August 27 meeting.
WA Public Disclosure Commission
711 Capitol Way, Olympia, WA 98504
Endorsed Candidates
Endorsed Candidate Index
John Duresky for Congress
We need Universal Healthcare | County Fairs | Upcoming YouTube Live Townhall
Join John Duresky at the Benton Franklin Parade Saturday | Grant County Fair Starting Friday
Meet & Greet John Duresky Tonight at Moonshot | Benton Franklin Parade |Grant County Fair
National Attention on WA-4 | Low-turnout drives importance of ballot returns
Duresky Campaign gains national attention
National Attention on WA-4 | Low-turnout drives importance of ballot returns
YouTube LIVE Townhall tonight starts at 7:00 pm | Link inside
District-Wide YouTube Live Townhall Tonight at 7:00 PM
YouTube LIVE Townhall | Phonebank Wednesday | The Home Stretch
Ballots are out | Phonebank Wednesday | Get Out the Vote & Celebrate
YouTube Live—District-Wide Townhall Tonight at 7:OOPM
Twisp Forum Tonight | Two Townhalls | Canvassing & BBQ on Saturday
Phone Banking in Pasco | Forum Tonight | Canvassing & BBQ
Happy Independence Day | Thank You | Parades—Forum—Canvassing & BBQ
I hate to ask—but the Federal Elections Commission Deadline Tomorrow
Fundraising Deadline | Let’s talk about immigration |Yakima Candidate Forum
New Endorsement | UNRIG | Plain. Talk. about corruption
Duresky Rocks | American Ranchers | Campaign Events
Events recap – Campaign ramps up – Pride month and Treaty Parade
Labor Endorsements – Friday Meet and Greet at Noon
Washington State Labor Council Endorsement and Fri-Sat Campaign Events
Get Yard Signs Today—Moses Lake Candidate Forum Today
Talk about Affordability and join us for Cinco de Mayo events this weekend
New Endorsement, Democracy Summer & Upcoming Events
Dear Friends of the John Duresky Campaign:
We are proud to announce that the John Duresky (WA-04) campaign will be participating as a partner in the 2026 National Democracy Summer School! This one-of-a-kind Democratic Fellowship, founded by Congressman Jamie Raskin and expanded across the country in an historic partnership with the DCCC, is dedicated to recruiting thousands of students and training them as the next generation of Democratic political activists and leaders.
As part of this educational and political initiative, we are looking for a group of dedicated students to join us here in Washington’s 4th Congressional District as John Duresky Campaign Democracy Summer Fellows!
(application will close Sunday, May 3 at 11:59pm)
This seven-week program will take place from Monday, June 22nd to Friday, August 7th and requires a commitment of 10-15 hours of campaign work per week. Fellows will also participate in exciting online seminars and a powerful curriculum designed by Congressman Raskin, while also organizing on-the-ground with John’s campaign here in WA-04.
Throughout the academic portion, Fellows will learn from academic luminaries, inspiring political leaders, policy experts, issue advocates and top community organizers from all across the country. Past Democracy Summer speakers have included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Professor Laurence Tribe, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the late Rep. John Lewis.
Not to mention, Fellows will also learn state-of-the-art skills in phone-banking, text-banking, canvassing, online organizing, low-dollar fundraising and voter registration—all the necessary ingredients for a thriving field operation! If you know a student who may be interested in this life-changing and America-changing program, please forward them this email. They won’t want to miss out!
If you would like to help fund our campaign as we mobilize our Fellows this summer, please click the link HERE!
Thank you for your support and solidarity,
Ashley Heyne
Volunteer Coordinator, Benton County
John Duresky for Congress
https://www.johnduresky4congress.com/
We have 2 Town Hall events coming up for the John Duresky campaign. We have:
1. Town Hall at White Bluffs Brewing, Wednesday 4/8 at 5:30 pm
2. Town Hall at Moonshot Brewing, Wednesday 4/15 at 6pm
We try to do the Moonshot events every 3rd Wednesday of each month. TBD whether we will also try to do recurring White Bluffs events – we will see how this one goes.
Thank you!
Ashley Heyne
Volunteer Coordinator, Benton County
John Duresky for Congress
John Duresky: Committed to Term Limits & Ethics in WA-04
This campaign runs on conversations.
It’s official: I’m in the race for State Representative.
I’m running for State Representative
Join us for a special rally and community canvass on Sunday, June 28th in support of Chelsea Dimas for State Representative! Featured guests include: UFW, Senator Rebecca Saldana, Senator Adrian Cortes, Representative Sharlett Mena, Representative Julio Cortes, and Rep. Monica Jurado Stonier, with more special guests to be announced!
No experience needed—we’ll train you and get you ready to go! Please register as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly! Vamos con todo, mi gente!
Sign-up here: chelseaforwa.com/events
Please let me know if you have any questions! Looking forward to collaborating with you all and getting lots of volunteers!
With gratitude,
Chelsea
Join us for a special rally and community canvass in support of our campaign! Featured guests include: UFW, Senator Rebecca Saldana, Senator Adrian Cortes, Representative Sharlett Mena, and Representative Julio Cortes.
Location details coming soon! For now, please save the date and sign-up! Vamos con todo, mi gente!
Ezequiel Morfin is a working-class father, electrician, and longtime community advocate from Toppenish who is running for State Representative because too many families are being priced out, pushed around, or left behind by decisions made far away from the people they affect.
I am running for Washington Supreme Court Position 3, and I wanted to reach out personally to introduce myself and share a little about who I am and why I am in this race.
I was born in Peru. My family came to this country when I was young, and we settled in Ballard and White Center as a large, working-class immigrant family. Growing up, I understood early what it meant to depend on institutions to be fair, to need the system to work, to be on the outside of power looking in. That experience never left me. It became the reason I went to law school, the reason I chose public service, and the reason I am asking for your support today.
After law school at Cornell, where I worked with the Public Interest Law Union and clerked for the Center for Capital Litigation defending death-row inmates in South Carolina, I began a career centered on one question: who does the law actually serve? Before joining the Department of Justice, I spent three and a half years at a firm in Houston where I devoted roughly 1,000 hours a year to representing a developmentally disabled Mexican national on Texas’s death row. My federal habeas petition succeeded. He was resentenced and removed from death row. That work reminded me every day why the law matters and who it is supposed to protect.
I joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle in 2008 and served nearly my entire tenure under President Obama. I did not just handle the cases that came across my desk. I built the office’s civil rights unit from scratch. I led the negotiation of the consent decree that reformed the Seattle Police Department. For an immigrant kid from White Center, that work was never abstract. It was the fulfillment of everything I believed public service could be.
President Obama nominated me to the federal bench. Mitch McConnell refused to allow a vote. I have always believed that the fact that Republican leadership worked to keep me off the federal bench says more about my record than almost anything else could.
So I kept going. I am now in my ninth year on the bench, first on the King County Superior Court, where my colleagues selected me to leadership and where the King County Bar Association ranked me in the top 10 of all judges for legal decision-making, and then for nearly four years on the Washington Court of Appeals. I have sat on the deciding panel in more than 700 cases and authored more than 200 majority opinions, many supporting labor and workers rights. I am proud of that record. It reflects nearly 25 years of fighting for fairness, accountability, and the rule of law.
I am humbled by the coalition that has come together in support of this campaign. Nine current or former Washington Supreme Court justices, including a majority of the sitting court, have endorsed me. Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis encouraged me to run and has endorsed only me in this race. Attorney General Nick Brown, who served alongside me in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is with me. So are three former governors: Gary Locke, Christine Gregoire, and Jay Inslee. The justices who have served on the very court I seek to join know what the job demands. Their support means everything to me.
I grew up learning that institutions only work if the people inside them fight to make them fair. That is what I have done my entire career. That is what I will do on the Washington Supreme Court.
I hope to earn your endorsement. To learn more about my record and the full coalition behind this campaign, please visit diazforjustice.com.
With gratitude,
Mike Diaz
Candidate, Washington Supreme Court Position 3
Fellow PCOs,
This November, Washington voters will elect a new justice to Position 3 on our State Supreme Court. I am here to tell you unequivocally: that justice should be Mike Diaz
I have known Mike for years, and I want to be direct with you. He is a person I hold in the highest regard, for his integrity, for his intelligence, and for his lifelong pursuit of justice. He is exactly the kind of jurist Washington needs at this moment, when the rule of law is under assault and the stakes could not be higher.
Mike’s story is not just a legal resume. It is the story of Washington itself. He was born in Peru and came to this country as a child, growing up in a large working-class immigrant family in Ballard and White Center. He knows what it means to be on the outside of power, to need the system to work, to depend on institutions to be fair. That lived experience is not something you can learn in a classroom or a courtroom. It shapes how you see the law, who you fight for, and what justice actually means. No one else in this race brings that to the bench.
Mike has spent nearly 25 years in the law. He founded the civil rights unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle and led the negotiation of the consent decree that reformed the Seattle Police Department. President Obama nominated him to the federal bench. Mitch McConnell blocked him, because he knew Mike was the real thing.
I am also writing because I worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office when Mike was there. I watched him build the civil rights unit from scratch. I watched him devote thousands of hours a year to protecting the most vulnerable from potential police abuse. I watched him fix problems and ensure accountability. That is who Mike Diaz is when no one is watching.
And his broader record is stellar. Mike pro bono represented a developmentally disabled man on Texas’s death row and succeeded in getting him off it. He has authored more than 200 majority opinions across more than 700 cases on the Court of Appeals, many protecting labor and workers’ rights. His King County Bar Association peer ranking is top 10. His record speaks for itself.
Nine Washington Supreme Court justices, three former governors, and I have all looked at that record and reached the same conclusion. As PCOs, you set the direction of this party. I’m asking you to do two things: vote for Mike Diaz for Washington Supreme Court Position 3, and share his story with every voter in your precinct before ballots are due.
Learn more and see the full coalition at diazforjustice.com.
Nick Brown
Washington State Attorney General
Breaking (Non) News: Ian’s Opponent Lands State Republican Support
Help Judge Ian Birk’s campaign reach its goal by midnight tonight
Please join us for a reception in Kennewick in support of Judge Ian Birk, who is running for the Washington State Supreme Court. This is a chance to meet Ian, hear about his campaign, and get involved with one of the most important judicial campaigns in the state.
Tuesday, June 23rd | 5:00pm-6:30pm
At the Kennewick office of GLP Attorneys
8500 W Gage Blvd, Suite A, Kennewick, WA 99336
Ian has spent his career fighting for working people, families, and consumers, and he brings that same commitment to the bench. Before becoming a judge, he spent 20 years in private practice representing injured workers and families, and he’s been a tireless advocate for everyday people throughout his career. He was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2022 and has earned a reputation as a careful, fair, and independent jurist.
This race matters. Ian will face Sean O’Donnell directly on the November ballot — with no August primary — and well-funded conservative interests are already working against him. Building momentum now is critical.
A new article from The Washington Observer makes clear what many have been warning: this year’s Washington Supreme Court races are likely to become some of the most expensive and politically consequential judicial races our state has ever seen.
The article notes that right-leaning political and business interests are looking closely at the Supreme Court, with the possibility of $5 million or more being spent across Supreme Court races this cycle. It also specifically identifies Judge Ian Birk’s race as one that will attract major outside spending from groups hoping to shift the Court to the right.
That is why we cannot afford to treat this as a sleepy, nonpartisan judicial race. And it’s why we need your help today- this race will easily cost over 1/2 of a million dollars and likely more in order to show voters who Ian is and what he believes in.
Ian’s campaign has earned remarkable support: seven current and former Supreme Court justices, more than 100 judges representing all 39 counties in Washington State, the sole endorsement of the State Labor Council, teachers, machinists, and King, Snohomish, and Spokane Democrats — along with former Governor Jay Inslee and over 150 elected officials from across the state.
If you can join us on June 23rd, please RSVP here. If you’d like to RSVP without making a donation, respond to this email. If you can’t make it, please consider making a contribution to support Ian by donating here or adding your name as an endorser.
Hope to see you on June 23rd!
With gratitude,
Team Birk
Friends,
We did it!
Thanks to early election returns, we know that Justice Colleen Melody is officially advancing to the November general election!
Whether you told your friends and family about the importance of voting for Justice Melody in the Primary, donated to our campaign, or simply made sure to submit your ballot on time—this result is thanks to you. Your support proves that Washingtonians value an experienced, independent, and fair judicial leader on our state Supreme Court.
While we take a moment to celebrate this huge milestone, we also know that our work is far from over.
The general election on November 3rd is right around the corner and we need to build on this momentum immediately.
Here’s how you can help us keep the momentum going:
- Chip in $25, $50, or $100 today: Early contributions allow us to reserve key media placements, print outreach materials, and plan our outreach strategy.
- Sign up to volunteer: From hosting a house party to helping send campaign materials out to voters, your time makes all the difference as we reach undecided voters. Email jonathan@bobmanconsulting.com and we will plug you in accordingly!
Thank you for standing with Justice Melody. Let’s carry this energy all the way to victory on November 3rd!
Warmly,
Team Melody
Friends,
Today is Primary Election Day!
The future of our state Supreme Court is on the ballot. Justice Colleen Melody has dedicated her career to upholding civil rights and ensuring equal justice under the law for every Washingtonian. But to keep an experienced, fair, and independent voice on our state’s highest court, we need every single vote returned today.
If you haven’t submitted your ballot yet, there is still time! Use a Ballot Drop Box until 8:00 PM sharp tonight. No postage is required. Click here for a list of Ballot Drop Box Locations.
Thank you for making your voice heard and standing up for judicial integrity in Washington State!
Warmly,
Team Melody
Judge Hawk needs your help before November
We’re Moving onto the General Election, Thank You for Getting us Here
Ballots Are Still Being Counted. Thank You for Showing Up
One more push for Judge Hawk before Election Day
Judge Hawk Needs Your Help Spreading the Word to Vote Hawk!
Ballots are out, Judge Jaime Hawk Needs Your Help to Get the Word Out to VOTE HAWK!
Ballots are out, Judge Jaime Hawk Needs Your Help to Get the Word Out to VOTE HAWK!
Help Judge Jaime Hawk Close out June Strong!
Join Judge Jaime Hawk in Kennewick THIS Friday, June 12th!
heo Angelis has spent his career standing up for the rule of law, protecting the rights of individuals, and ensuring our courts remain fair, independent, and accessible to all Washingtonians.
Appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court in March 2026, Theo brings more than 25 years of legal experience as a respected appellate advocate, legal scholar, and public interest lawyer. Throughout his career, he has handled complex litigation and appellate cases involving constitutional issues, intellectual property, and federal and state law, earning recognition across the legal community for his rigorous legal analysis and commitment to justice.
In addition to his legal practice, Theo has dedicated significant time to public service and pro bono advocacy. He has represented asylum seekers and children in need, and his work supporting vulnerable communities has been recognized by organizations including the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). He is also a recipient of the ACLU’s Humanitarian Award and the King County Bar Association’s Mentor of the Year honor.
Theo is the first Justice of Middle Eastern descent to serve the Washington State Supreme Court, and previously served as President of the Middle Eastern Legal Association of Washington (MELAW). The son and grandson of immigrants and refugees, he brings a deeply personal understanding of the importance of a legal system that protects opportunity, fairness, and equal treatment under the law.
He earned his law degree from Yale Law School and clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit before beginning his legal career. Theo lives in Seattle with his family and is honored to serve the people of Washington on the state’s highest court.
A JUDGE WHO EARNED HER SEAT IN THE COURTROOM.
Sharonda Amamilo has spent her career in places most people never see: public defense offices, military intelligence units, family courts. Places where the most difficult decisions have to be made. She knows how difficult the legal system is to navigate, and what it costs people when it fails them.
Before the bench, Sharonda spent twelve years at the Thurston County Office of Public Defense, representing adults and children in criminal, juvenile, and dependency matters. She has seen firsthand what happens when someone walks into a courtroom with no idea what they’re up against. She also served over 25 years in U.S. Army military intelligence, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer. Her work there as an Intelligence Oversight Officer required precise written analysis under pressure.
Today, Judge Amamilo serves on the Thurston County Superior Court, where voters elected her in 2020, making her the first person of color to hold this seat. Her docket has run from felony trials and complex civil disputes to dependency hearings and family law. As a Judge Pro Tempore on the Washington Court of Appeals, she also handles full record review and appellate deliberation alongside her Superior Court duties.
Sharonda has called Washington home since 1992. She and her husband of 28 years raised seven children here, and they now have six grandchildren. She earned her B.S. from Southern Illinois University, her MBA from Saint Martin’s College, and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Other Candidates
Other Candidates Index
Initiatives
Have you heard about Initiative 645?
It’s an attempt by hedge fund multi-millionaire Brian Heywood to cut his own taxes and
make almost everyone else in Washington pay more. It’s the anti-family, anti-worker, anti-economy initiative that, if passed, would give the ultra wealthy a tax break and leave Washington families footing the bill for the things we need to thrive: health care, public education, and more. And Washington families are saying: NOPE.
The NO on 645 campaign is a grassroots effort, full of moms, dads, aunties, uncles – regular Washingtonians like you and me, to defeat this measure. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/no-on-645-1?refcode2=23388_3793216_2tealp
Here’s what I-645 will do if it passes in November:
Our small $ together make a powerful difference for us all!
- Give a tax cut to Heywood and others who make more than a million dollars a year;
- Increase taxes on working families and small businesses;
- Blow a $13 billion hole in funding for essential services like health care, child care, and K-12 education in Washington.
Heywood’s ballot measure would benefit himself at the expense of almost everyone else in Washington. If I-645 passes, our K-12 students will be packed into larger classes. Free school meals for many students will be eliminated. We’ll pay more for health care and child care — if we can afford it at all. And without funding from the Millionaires Tax, we’ll lose the tax cuts that the legislature passed for working families.
This isn’t the first, or even second, time Heywood has tried to overturn Washington law for his own benefit. But if we stay united and defeat I-645 this fall, it could be the last. Chip in any amount today to become a Founding Donor to the No on 645 campaign.
Our small donations together don’t just add up, it shows the powerful force of families across this state who are saying NO to Brian Heywood and his anti-family, anti-worker, anti-economy initiative.
Let’s be clear, the consequences of this initiative would be steep: it will cut funding for important services like health care and k-12 education, AND raise taxes on working families and small businesses. Washington families will protect the future of our state and defend the Millionaires Tax at the ballot.
Together we are a powerful force for children and families in Washington,
Lauren, Sara, Kristin, and the entire MomsRising Together team
MomsRising Together, 12011 BEL-RED ROAD 100A, Bellvue, WA 98005, independently of and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
No on Initiative 001
Wow! ☀️Summer break for our littlest learners (and those not-so-little anymore!) is coming to a close soon.
I hope you and all parents, aunties, grandparents and caregivers alike have been able to soak in a break from the school year hustle – but there’s something brewing in our collective future that I want to make sure we’re talking about proactively.
While more and more families across WA are struggling to stay afloat in Donald Trump’s economy of tariffs and inflation, but still managing to infuse their children’s lives with love and care, a Trump mega-donor and hedge fund multi-millionaire, Brian Heywood, is bankrolling two more ballot initiatives that would put our kids and their classmates in real danger.
→ ADD YOUR NAME here to our roster of parents and voters rejecting these initiatives.
🚨🚨🚨 These two initiatives, I-001 and I-638, will be on our November ballots, and I’m ringing the alarm now among our statewide community of fierce and loving moms and parents because these initiatives would remove commonsense protections for child abuse victims, out LGBTQ+ students to unsupportive families, and subject hundreds of thousands of girls to invasive genital exams just to play afterschool sports.
Parents and voters may not always agree on everything (heck, we’re all figuring out the screen time battle in our own way, on the fly!), but something I know to be true is that we work together to protect our children from harm and set them up for a life of joy and success.
This is one of many reasons why MomsRising is a proud endorser of No Hate in WA, the campaign opposing I-001 and I-638.
Knowledge is power, so I want to make sure you have the facts about I-001 and I-638:
FACTS ABOUT I-001: THE FORCED OUTING INITIATIVE
What I-001 Does:
- I-001 would repeal the Safety Act (HB 1296), a bipartisan bill that ensures students have access to education and a safe learning environment. It would reinstate I-2081 and strip critical student privacy protections.
- Removes protections for abused children: Current law prevents parents under criminal investigation for child abuse from accessing their child’s social work, counseling, and disciplinary records. I-001 removes this protection.
- Forces schools to “out” LGBTQ+ students: I-001 would require teachers and counselors to reveal students’ identities to parents, even when doing so puts the student at risk of abuse or homelessness.
- Restricts students’ access to help: Students facing violence, sexual abuse, bullying, or depression would be less likely to seek help from school counselors who would be required to disclose confidential information.
- Disrupts classrooms: I-001 empowers extremist groups to challenge what teachers can teach, using confusing language that exposes school districts to costly lawsuits.
Yikes. No thanks. → ADD YOUR NAME here to our roster of parents and voters rejecting these initiatives.
FACTS ABOUT I-638: INVASIVE EXAMS ON GIRLS
What I-638 Does:
- I-638 is a constitutional amendment imposing a blanket ban on transgender students in girls’ sports and requiring medical verification of sex for female athletes. It replaces Washington’s successful case-by-case policy that has been in place since 2007.
- Invasive genital exams on girls: Under I-638, girls who want to play on a team will need medical certification of their sex, defined as a “reproductive organ” exam or costly genetic/hormone testing. Boys are exempt from these requirements.
- Disproportionate impact on girls of color: Low-income, rural, Black, brown, and immigrant girls who lack access to long-term family doctors would be most affected. These families often rely on free group sports physicals where genital inspections would be especially harmful.
- Replaces a working policy: Washington has had transgender-inclusive sports policies since 2007 with no issues. Only a handful of transgender girls play after school sports in Washington. The current case-by-case approach works.
- Medically unnecessary: The American Academy of Family Physicians says sports physicals should focus on heart, bone, and lung issues. The American College of OB-GYNs says pelvic exams have no medical reason for girls under 21 unless they have other health concerns.
- Black and brown girls face more scrutiny: Research shows that Black and brown women athletes face challenges to their sex far more frequently than white athletes. I-638 could be used to harass girls of color and keep them off sports teams.
These initiatives are opposed by nurses, mental health experts, teachers, domestic violence prevention advocates, the WA State Nurses Association, and MomsRising — because they’re poorly written measures that play politics with our children’s safety and wellbeing.
Out of 1 million K-12 students in our state, only a handful (5-10) of trans girls play sports and it’s not okay for a Trump mega-donor to bully them – and threaten all girls who play sports – with this statewide ballot initiative when the real threats to fairness in girls’ sports are systemic factors like under-resourced school district budgets and family wealth gaps.
Caring about girls’ sports means removing barriers, not creating more barriers for all girls in WA, like the invasive genital exam requirements proposed by I-638.
As parents and community members, we have the power to say no to I-001 and I-638 – and the mega-millionaire bankrolling a statewide effort to bully vulnerable kids via the ballot.
Thank you for making it this far! Together, we’re a powerful force.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. Hug your kids. And when the time comes, let’s make sure they go back to schools and sports that will remain safe, supportive, and on their side.
Warmly,
Sara, Lauren, Maggie, Maricela, Olivia and the entire MomsRising team
No on Initiative 638
Wow! ☀️Summer break for our littlest learners (and those not-so-little anymore!) is coming to a close soon.
I hope you and all parents, aunties, grandparents and caregivers alike have been able to soak in a break from the school year hustle – but there’s something brewing in our collective future that I want to make sure we’re talking about proactively.
While more and more families across WA are struggling to stay afloat in Donald Trump’s economy of tariffs and inflation, but still managing to infuse their children’s lives with love and care, a Trump mega-donor and hedge fund multi-millionaire, Brian Heywood, is bankrolling two more ballot initiatives that would put our kids and their classmates in real danger.
→ ADD YOUR NAME here to our roster of parents and voters rejecting these initiatives.
🚨🚨🚨 These two initiatives, I-001 and I-638, will be on our November ballots, and I’m ringing the alarm now among our statewide community of fierce and loving moms and parents because these initiatives would remove commonsense protections for child abuse victims, out LGBTQ+ students to unsupportive families, and subject hundreds of thousands of girls to invasive genital exams just to play afterschool sports.
Parents and voters may not always agree on everything (heck, we’re all figuring out the screen time battle in our own way, on the fly!), but something I know to be true is that we work together to protect our children from harm and set them up for a life of joy and success.
This is one of many reasons why MomsRising is a proud endorser of No Hate in WA, the campaign opposing I-001 and I-638.
Knowledge is power, so I want to make sure you have the facts about I-001 and I-638:
FACTS ABOUT I-001: THE FORCED OUTING INITIATIVE
What I-001 Does:
- I-001 would repeal the Safety Act (HB 1296), a bipartisan bill that ensures students have access to education and a safe learning environment. It would reinstate I-2081 and strip critical student privacy protections.
- Removes protections for abused children: Current law prevents parents under criminal investigation for child abuse from accessing their child’s social work, counseling, and disciplinary records. I-001 removes this protection.
- Forces schools to “out” LGBTQ+ students: I-001 would require teachers and counselors to reveal students’ identities to parents, even when doing so puts the student at risk of abuse or homelessness.
- Restricts students’ access to help: Students facing violence, sexual abuse, bullying, or depression would be less likely to seek help from school counselors who would be required to disclose confidential information.
- Disrupts classrooms: I-001 empowers extremist groups to challenge what teachers can teach, using confusing language that exposes school districts to costly lawsuits.
Yikes. No thanks. → ADD YOUR NAME here to our roster of parents and voters rejecting these initiatives.
FACTS ABOUT I-638: INVASIVE EXAMS ON GIRLS
What I-638 Does:
- I-638 is a constitutional amendment imposing a blanket ban on transgender students in girls’ sports and requiring medical verification of sex for female athletes. It replaces Washington’s successful case-by-case policy that has been in place since 2007.
- Invasive genital exams on girls: Under I-638, girls who want to play on a team will need medical certification of their sex, defined as a “reproductive organ” exam or costly genetic/hormone testing. Boys are exempt from these requirements.
- Disproportionate impact on girls of color: Low-income, rural, Black, brown, and immigrant girls who lack access to long-term family doctors would be most affected. These families often rely on free group sports physicals where genital inspections would be especially harmful.
- Replaces a working policy: Washington has had transgender-inclusive sports policies since 2007 with no issues. Only a handful of transgender girls play after school sports in Washington. The current case-by-case approach works.
- Medically unnecessary: The American Academy of Family Physicians says sports physicals should focus on heart, bone, and lung issues. The American College of OB-GYNs says pelvic exams have no medical reason for girls under 21 unless they have other health concerns.
- Black and brown girls face more scrutiny: Research shows that Black and brown women athletes face challenges to their sex far more frequently than white athletes. I-638 could be used to harass girls of color and keep them off sports teams.
These initiatives are opposed by nurses, mental health experts, teachers, domestic violence prevention advocates, the WA State Nurses Association, and MomsRising — because they’re poorly written measures that play politics with our children’s safety and wellbeing.
Out of 1 million K-12 students in our state, only a handful (5-10) of trans girls play sports and it’s not okay for a Trump mega-donor to bully them – and threaten all girls who play sports – with this statewide ballot initiative when the real threats to fairness in girls’ sports are systemic factors like under-resourced school district budgets and family wealth gaps.
Caring about girls’ sports means removing barriers, not creating more barriers for all girls in WA, like the invasive genital exam requirements proposed by I-638.
As parents and community members, we have the power to say no to I-001 and I-638 – and the mega-millionaire bankrolling a statewide effort to bully vulnerable kids via the ballot.
Thank you for making it this far! Together, we’re a powerful force.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. Hug your kids. And when the time comes, let’s make sure they go back to schools and sports that will remain safe, supportive, and on their side.
Warmly,
Sara, Lauren, Maggie, Maricela, Olivia and the entire MomsRising team
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