MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Happy Friday, Washington Democrats!
Working for Washington
Washington Democrats were thrilled to welcome DNC Chair Ken Martin to Seattle last weekend. Ken sat down with elected officials, thought leaders, and advocates to learn lessons from this Washington that he can take back to the other Washington. We discussed the GOP’s cynical ploy to steal Congressional seats in Texas so they can cheat voters out of representation in the midterms next year and the many efforts the DNC is taking to overcome them. If you are interested in taking part in a Day of Action or writing a letter of support to the brave Democratic legislators of Texas, please go to democrats.org and get involved!
This week, I also joined U.S. Representative Adam Smith for his annual Taste of the 9th event featuring amazing food from local restaurants and chefs throughout Washington’s 9th Congressional District. Congressman Smith has been forcefully pushing back on Trump’s authoritarian power grabs from deploying the National Guard to Washington, D.C. or military troops in Los Angeles. Washington Democrats will not be silent in the face of the GOP’s anti-democratic lawbreaking!
August Primary Update
Ballots in Pierce and Kitsap are nearly entirely counted – and State Senator Deb Krishnadasan will finish above 50% with about a 1,000 vote lead! This is extremely exciting and shows how our message of safeguarding core governmental services while focusing on community-led solutions is resonating with purple districts like LD 26. While greatly encouraging, these results also show what we’ve known all along – this will be an extremely tight race down to the wire. We need to keep our foot on the gas and help Senator Krishnadasan get over the finish line in November!
In LD 5, State Senator Victoria Hunt leads her opponent by 8.4% (as of writing) with 54.1%. This is an incredible result in a tough opponent. We won’t take anything for granted in this race, but voters in LD 5 are clearly supporting Senator Hunt’s vision for housing affordability and a pristine environment. This district has seen close races in the recent past, so we must remain vigilant to ensure Senator Hunt retains this seat!
In Pierce County, control of the County Council will be determined by November’s County Council District 5 race. Democrat Brian Yambe leads with nearly 42% of the votes in the Primary and overall Democratic vote share was around 60%. Yambe is in a strong position to consolidate that vote and keep the Pierce County Council blue!
And on the local level, Democrat Cherish DesRochers is fighting off a challenge from MAGA Republican Brian Munson for Battle Ground City Council. Winning red and purple districts starts with developing proven leaders at the local level and city council is a great place to start. We will be monitoring this one closely.
Netroots Nation
Last week, I also attended Netroots Nation, the largest gathering of progressive political power in the country! I joined my fellow State leaders, Alabama Dems Vice Chair Tabitha Isner and Nebraska Dems Chair and Association of State Democratic Committees President Jane Kleeb, to discuss how we can win back power in red and purple parts of the country. I want to thank Tabitha and Jane for their deep knowledge and leadership, as well as Arshad Hasan who did a tremendous job moderating our panel. Thank you to everyone who made Netroots a success!
As the only state that didn’t shift towards Republicans in 2024, changemakers around the country are looking to Washington state for leadership. Our state is proof that progressive economic policies are popular and that fielding diverse candidates who fit their districts builds a bench that can win elections year after year.
Call to Action
- Rally, Protest, and Gather
- TODAY – Weekly Resistance Events in Wenatchee from 4:30PM-5:30PM at Memorial Park. Sign up here.
- TOMORROW – Street Rally to Defend the Constitution in Kirkland from 11:30AM-1PM at 6th Street and Central Way. Sign up here.
- TUESDAY – Immigrant Justice Team: Community Education Session on Data Sharing. Virtual from 5:30PM-6:30PM. Sign up here.
- Every Friday – Refuse Fascism Fridays in Everett at the Social Security Administration Office from 5PM-6:30PM. Sign up here.
- Every Monday – Mikey Mondays in Spokane outside the office of U.S. Representative Michael Baumgartner. Sign up here.
- Every Tuesday – Tesla Tuesday in Liberty Lake from 4:30PM-5:30PM. Sign up here.
- Every Wednesday – Musk or Us Protest in Redmond from 4PM-5PM. Sign up here.
- Send us details on rallies and protests in your communities
- Email details to press@wa-democrats.org
- Donate
- If you would like to see less Washington D.C. and more Washington state in your community, please DONATE to The Real Washington Fund – our rapid response account to counter MAGA’s chaos with real organizing, real solutions, and real results. We can’t do the work of holding Republicans accountable without your support.
- Follow us on social media
Democrats Fighting Back
WA sues Trump administration over lost climate funding,
The Seattle Times
Attorney General Nick Brown launched a new lawsuit this week to claw back more than $9 million in Congressionally-approved funding to train the next generation of climate scientists. AG Brown has sued the Trump administration more than a dozen times to defend Washingtonians from the Trump administration’s lawless overreach.
State Sen. John Braun will challenge U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perezhttps://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-sen-john-braun-will-challenge-u-s-rep-marie-gluesenkamp-perez/,
The Seattle Times
Once again, Washington’s third congressional district will be ground zero in the battle to retake the U.S. House of Representatives. This time, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez will likely face State Senator John Braun, a career politician who has spent his career bending over backwards to carve out loopholes for special interests. Today, Braun has been forcefully defending the Republican budget that will strip his constituents of health insurance, food assistance, and explode our nation’s debt by an additional $4.5 TRILLION – all to give Elon Musk and other billionaires the largest tax decrease in U.S. history.
Inside Senate Dems’ summer warpath with Trump,
Axios
U.S. Senate Democrats held more than 100 events in the first week of August recess. From Town Halls on Medicaid to hospital visits and food bank tours, Senate Democrats are making sure voters know just how bad the Republican budget is for normal Americans.
The message Democratic voters delivered in Washington’s primary, Gorge News Center
The results are in and the message is clear – voters want Democrats who will fight back against Trump’s disastrous policies. When we show our policies in action and make people’s lives better at the state level, we can win more elections.
Democrats in the News
WA GOP Sen. John Braun challenges Gluesenkamp Perez for Congress,
CascadePBS
Rep. Randall pursues legislation to reinstate DEI policies at national parks,
KNKX
Sen. Cantwell, Vancouver child care center owner urge Congress to take action to save the ACA tax credits, expansion,
The Columbian
Washington rep. Questions Zelensky exclusion from US-Russia summit,
MyNorthwest
Opinion: Health care providers’ concerns outweigh politicians’ reassurances,
Yakima-Herald Republic
Democratic Senator Victoria Hunt now leads Republican rival Chad Magendanz by a greater margin than Bill Ramos did in 2024,The Cascadia Advocate
What I’m Reading
WA homeless patients have a lot to lose under Trump’s Medicaid changes,
The Seattle Times
The Republican budget is going to make life even harder on Washington’s most vulnerable residents. Despite what Republicans like Rep. Dan Newhouse say, erecting barriers and forcing people who are already hanging by a thread to jump through hoops to receive life-saving care will do enormous harm.
Thanks for all you do,
Chair Shasti Conrad
Washington State Democratic Party
In 2024, Washington Democrats led the nation with sweeping electoral victories. Now, we’re fighting to elect a supermajority in Olympia, protect our swing seats in the House, and stand up to MAGA extremism across the country.
WA Dems empowers grassroots organizing and elects Democrats up and down the ballot. Your support fuels our fight to stop Trump and defend our democracy.
We sincerely thank you for your help and support.
Washington State Democrats PO Box 4027 Seattle, WA 98194 United States