Got your Primary Election ballot? Fill it out and mail it in!

(July 23, 2020) — Got your ballot?

County auditors around Washington state mailed Primary Election ballots to voters last week, so you should have yours by now. (If you didn’t receive your ballot or misplaced it, contact your county election department.)

Union voters are being urged to fill them out right away and return them. Primary election ballots must be mailed — postage free! — or deposited into county election drop boxes by Tuesday, Aug. 4. Historically, fewer people vote in the Primary Election. So by voting, union families have an opportunity to make a real difference in deciding which candidates advance to the General Election in November.

How you vote is a personal decision. Unions across Washington state have reviewed voting records, interviewed candidates, and researched, debated and voted upon which ones will best support working families. The result of that work is a list of Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO endorsements for union members’ consideration in races for Congress, Washington State Legislature, and statewide offices and judicial races.

Following are some highlights from those endorsements. Union members who want more information about why these candidates were endorsed should visit the WSLC’s Election Information page:

Beth Doglio for U.S. Representative, 10th CD

Union delegates voted to give state Rep. Beth Doglio (D-Olympia) the WSLC’s sole endorsement in the race to fill Washington’s open 10th Congressional District seat being vacated by Congressman Denny Heck.In doing so, the WSLC joins a wide array of labor unions that have endorsed Doglio, including UFCW 21 (grocery, retail, and healthcare workers), WFSE/AFSCME (state employees), IAM District 751 (machinists), Iron Workers Local 86, firefighter unions representing DuPont, Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, Thurston County, and West Pierce County firefighters, and many others.

“I am humbled to have the sole endorsement of the Washington State Labor Council in this race and to be supported by so many unions representing frontline workers,” Doglio said. “This endorsement reflects my thirty-year history of working side-by-side with labor to deliver wins for working people and it demonstrates my commitment to fighting for the same in Congress. Our state is the template for national action – the best path to economic recovery is by lifting up our country’s working families and supporting strong labor movements.”

“In this uncertain and challenging time, working people deserve leaders in Congress they can trust to fight for them – there is no doubt that’s Beth Doglio,” said WSLC President Larry Brown. “Leading efforts to strengthen prevailing wages, allow part-time workers to organize, and protect the health of firefighters and first responders, Beth Doglio has been a champion for the needs of working people in Washington state, now we need her doing the same in Washington D.C.”

“As an activist and in the legislature, Beth Doglio has proven to be an incredible partner for our state’s workers and labor community,” said WSLC Secretary Treasurer April Sims. “With Beth’s collaborative and effective leadership in Congress, we will have a strong advocate for a robust, worker-centered agenda – someone dedicated to creating an economy where all workers can succeed and thrive – with the vision and experience to make it happen.”

Read more about Beth’s candidacy.

Path to Power Candidates for State Legislature

The WSLC’s Path to Power training program provides union members and local community activists with the tools and tips they need to run successful political campaigns and get elected in an effort to build power that will positively influence our communities. Here are some Path to Power candidates running for Washington State Legislature in 2020:

5th LD — INGRID ANDERSON for State Senate — Ingrid is a Snoqualmie Valley resident, a Registered Nurse at Overlake Hospital, and an active member of the Washington State Nurses Association. She is a leader at her union who has fought in Olympia for better and more affordable health care. Now she’s running for State Senate in east King County’s 5th Legislative District against incumbent Mark Mullet, who has sided with corporate interests over working families on some important issues. For that reason, big business interests are targeting Ingrid with negative political ads in hopes of getting Mullet re-elected.

Read more about Ingrid’s candidacy.

10th LD — SUZANNE WOODARD for State Representative — Suzanne is a neonatal nurse from Whidbey Island who has worked in local hospitals delivering thousands of babies, and caring for new moms, military families, and seniors throughout the north Puget Sound region. She has been a proven leader at her union, UFCW 21. She’s a Democratic candidate for State Representative, Pos. 1 in the 10th District, challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Norma Smith, who has just a 20% voting record on working families issues. Suzanne has been endorsed by The (Everett) Herald, which writes:

“Suzanne Woodard offers skills and background that would be valuable to 10th District residents and to her fellow lawmakers. Her experience in nursing and health care issues can be drawn on during the consideration of related bills, including keeping health care affordable and serving those who struggle with addiction, mental health issues and homelessness. Woodard would be well-placed to protect and expand on recent efforts to improve the state’s service to those vulnerable communities, services that could be threatened in a search for budget cuts.”

Read more about Suzanne’s candidacy.

19th LD — CLINT BRYSON for State Representative — Clint Bryson is a Journeyman Inside Wireman and a third generation IBEW member who serves as Assistant Business Manager for IBEW Local 76. Now he is asking voters of Southwest Washington to allow him to serve them, running as a Democratic candidate for State Representative, Pos. 1. Clint is challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Jim Walsh, a conservative legislator with just a 29% voting record on working family issues.

Read more about Clint’s candidacy.

26th LD — CARRIE HESCH for State Representative — Carrie is a Gig Harbor resident who works at the Washington Corrections Center for Women, serves as an elected Director on the Key Peninsula Community Services Board, and is a proud Shop Steward for Teamsters Local 117. Carrie is a Democratic candidate for State Representative, Pos. 1 against Republican incumbent Rep. Jesse Young, who has just a 25% voting record on working families issues.

Carrie has been endorsed by the (Tacoma) News Tribune, which writes:

“Bringing new blood to the 26th’s legislative delegation is consistent with the spirit of change in that district. Carrie Hesch, 47, is a Gig Harbor Democrat and state prisons professional; she runs the recreation and wellness programs at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Purdy. She not only has an eye for waste in bureaucracy, she also has insights into the ‘vicious cycle’ of drug abuse, incarceration, homelessness and recidivism that plagues marginalized women.”

Read more about Carrie’s candidacy.

36th LD — LIZ BERRY for State Representative — Liz is a working mom, nonprofit executive director, and someone who has been a champion for women in leadership her entire career. Her campaign has been enthusiastically endorsed by dozens of state and national leaders. In addition to the WSLC, she is supported by AFT Washington, ATU 587, IAM District 751, IBEW 77, Puget Sound Pilots, SEIU 6, SEIU 775, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, Joint Council of Teamsters 28, UFCW 21, UFCW 1439, the Washington State Nurses Association, and several other unions. In its endorsement of Liz, The Stranger wrote:

“Liz Berry was the only candidate who said she wouldn’t respond to the massive statewide budget crisis by voting to impose austerity measures next session. Her opponent, Sarah Reyneveld, told the Seattle Times that ‘essential services… must be preserved even if that means some nonessential state employees are let go,’ as the Times put it. She characterized her position on cuts a little differently in our meeting. “We can’t make the mistakes of austerity,” she said. Cutting public sector jobs is making the mistakes of austerity. Vote Berry.”

Read more about Liz’s candidacy.

AFL-CIO Central Labor Council endorsements

Most regional AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils, which make endorsements in county and city races, have not done so in 2020 because very few of those races are on the ballot in even-numbered election years. However, the Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO has made some recommendations.

If there are local races on your ballot, check with your local Central Labor Council to see if they have any recommendations.