WSDCC – October 10, 2025

Posted on October 10, 2025

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Happy Friday, Washington Democrats!

We are less than one month away from Election Day! Washington has crucial races in every corner of the state and there are key elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and California to build Democratic power and resist the Trump regime’s authoritarianism. Find ways to volunteer for any of these great campaigns here.

If you want more information beyond our weekly Message from the Chair – sign up for our Topline Talkers email here. Topline Talkers appear less regularly, but go into more depth on a single issue as they arise. Sign up here.

Washington Democrats Fight Back
U.S. Senator Patty Murray is fighting for federal workers who are about to miss their first paycheck since Republicans shut down the government. Even though Trump himself signed a law protecting backpay for furloughed federal workers, he’s still spreading misinformation that those hardworking employees may not get it. These empty threats won’t deter Congressional Democrats who are fighting to protect healthcare for 22 million Americans.

In our neck of the woods, Washington’s state legislators are hard at work developing plans to increase housing affordability in next year’s session. From ensuring permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, as well as indoor emergency housing or shelter in various residential and commercial zones, Washington Democrats will use every tool at their disposal to house our neighbors and keep vulnerable people in their homes.

Working for Washington

On Thursday, Washington Democrats hosted a press conference with U.S. Representatives Adam Smith, Pramila Jayapal, and Marilyn Strickland to provide an update on the Republican federal government shutdown, and how Democrats are holding the line to not give up any leverage to save health care for millions of Americans. Watch the whole thing here or by clicking the image above.

When Trump killed funding for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, Democrats in Washington state leapt into action. Governor Ferguson and AG Brown plan to sue to stop this illegal clawback of congressionally-authorized (and signed by President Biden) funding that will create jobs and lower energy bills for Washingtonians. This $1 billion investment would kickstart production and use of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel, keeping Washington and the United States at the cutting edge of new, climate-saving technologies. Thanks to Washington’s clean energy leadership and the embrace of these technologies around the world, solar and wind power produced more electricity than coal this year. Try as he might, Trump can’t stop the clean energy future.

Washington is home to nearly 80,000 federal workers – many of whom live in red parts of our state. As Republican U.S. Representatives Dan Newhouse and Michael Baumgartner march in lockstep with Trump, their own constituents are starting to miss paychecks – all so Republicans can shred healthcare coverage for millions of Americans to pay for tax breaks for the top 0.1%.

King County and the City of Seattle are taking efforts to ensure Women, Infants, and Children benefits will continue even if federal funding runs out due to the Republican federal government shutdown. Millions rely on this food aid program and are worried about what will happen to their families if this funding runs dry. Remember: the shut down would end tomorrow if Republicans would start to negotiate in good faith to save healthcare for 22 million Americans.

Call to Action

It’s officially here! This Knocktober we need everyone, and I mean everyone, to get out and push our great Democratic candidates over the finish line. We have important legislative district races in Washington that we simply must not lose and nationally the biggest races in the country are for Virginia and New Jersey Governor as well as Prop 50 in California that will counteract Trump’s Texas Takeover.

Washington 
Join State Senator Deb Krishnadasan in LD 26 (Kitsap and Pierce) to knock doors and make phone calls. The primary was very close (she won it by just over 1,000 votes). We need to grow that margin and we only have weeks left to do it! Find an event to help our Sen. Krishnadasan here.

State Senator Victoria Hunt in LD 5 (Issaquah to Enumclaw) represents a vitally important district in Eastern King County. We can’t let the WAGOP rebuild their bench in King County. Find a canvass or phone bank to retain our Sen. Hunt here.

National
Recent polling is showing a tightening race in New Jersey for Governor. We MUST retain this seat for Democrats to stifle anymore GOP attempts to steal seats through gerrymandering. Help make calls for Mikie Sherrill’s campaign by signing up to volunteer here.

Virginia is a key battleground state and we have a chance to flip the Governor’s Office from red to blue this November. Abigail Spanberger needs our help. Make calls for this crucial race by signing up to volunteer here.

The biggest race on the West Coast will be Proposition 50 to allow Democrats there to counter Trump’s Texas Takeover that stole seats from Democrats. This one is a team effort and there are lots of opportunities to help out. Find a phonebank event here.

If you haven’t already – please sign up as a WA Dems volunteer here! 

  • Rally, Protest, and Gather
    • SATURDAY, 10/11 – Canvass for Senator Deb Krishnadasan w/ the WA State Labor Council in Gig Harbor at 11 AM at Kenneth Leo Marvin Vets Memorial Park. Sign up here, and a campaign representative will reach out with more details.
    • SATURDAY, 10/11 – GOTV Canvass w/ the 31st LD Democrats in Tehaleh at 1 PM. Sign up here.
    • SUNDAY, 10/12 – Canvass to Re-Elect Sen. Victoria Hunt w/ Tahoma School Board Candidate Elizabeth Karkoski-Gardner in Maple Valley at 1pm. Sign up here.
    • SUNDAY, 10/12 – Join Senator Deb Krishnadasan’s phone bank kickoff at 1 PM on Sunday, October 12th. Sign up here.
    • THURSDAY, 10/16 – Canvass for Senator Deb Krishnadasan in Port Orchard at 5 pm at Clayton Playground. Sign up here, and a campaign representative will reach out with more details.
    • SATURDAY, 10/18 – Join Indivisible’s nationwide No Kings Protest. Find a local event here.
    • SUNDAY, 10/19 – Join Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal for a virtual Resistance Lab training on Immigration Justice from 11AM to 1 PM. Sign up here.
    • SUNDAY, 10/19 – Join the LD 5 Democrats in an Enumclaw Day of Outreach at 1 PM. Sign up here.
  • 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.

DEMOCRATS IN THE NEWS

As Trump orders national guard to Portland, what’s crime really like?, The Seattle Times

How Washington was able to turn back coal, and what it means now, Pacific NW Magazine

Judge issues new broader order barring any National Guard from relocating to Oregon,
The Oregonian

Bondi dodges questions as she clashes with Democrats over claims she’s weaponized Justice Department,
The Seattle Times

WHAT I’M READING/WATCHING

Kiss the Fourth Amendment goodbye,
The Seattle Times (opinion)

This year, the U.S. Supreme Court gave law enforcement blanket permission to stop anyone based on their race, where they work, or the language they speak. It’s a sickening situation that has emboldened ICE and other border agencies to conduct their enforcement operations without articulating probable cause other than the color of someone’s skin. We must protest these unconstitutional decisions being handed down by the Roberts court and do everything possible to rebalance the court with justices who uphold the U.S. Constitution – and every amendment in the Bill of Rights

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.

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We sincerely thank you for your help and support.

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States