Natalie Anderson
In this crowded race, Anderson is ready to distinguish herself by learning, growing, and engaging on key issues facing the Issaquah School District. Her priorities are:
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- addressing aging school and infrastructure
- focusing on improving underperforming schools
- alleviating overcrowding
Claudia Balducci
Over a career spanning two decades, Balducci has served in a number of executive roles (including Mayor of Bellevue) and has a proven record of delivering results that benefit local communities across King County. She has experience and expertise on the issues of greatest importance to voters – including transportation (Sound Transit Board & a key driver of light rail on the Eastside), affordable housing (Regional Affordable Housing Committee), public safety (including crime prevention and behavioral health support), and climate action – and is well-positioned to be an effective leader for the Eastside and across King County.
Ryan Calkins
Currently serving as Commission Vice President, Calkins is putting his master’s degree in international relations from Yale to work. Elected to the commission in 2017, Calkins focuses on sustainable economic development, ensuring prosperity is shared among all communities.
Sid Gupta
As a person who doesn’t own a car himself, Gupta is a champion of walkable, bikeable communities, and of mass transit solutions for Sammamish. He also supports recent efforts to increase housing affordability in the city. Gupta continues to volunteer with the many committees and NGOs that inspired him to run for city council for his first term, and he brings that firsthand experience with his community to his work.
Toshiko Hasegawa
As a current port commissioner, Hasegawa, a fourth-generation Japanese-American and Beacon Hill resident, has a passion for social justice through economic equality and sees the port as a means to create a thriving economy and a healthy environment coupled with equitable policies. Through her leadership, she has helped to facilitate the transition to a clean-energy future, launching programs aimed at making the Port of Seattle a global leader in transforming the maritime industry. As we face threats to funding, the environment, and our economy from the current administration, we need experienced leaders who understand the port and how it functions. Hasegawa is an excellent choice to steer the port through such challenging headwinds.
Victoria Hunt
Hunt, with a PhD in Ecology, will bring her intellect, common sense, and pragmatic style to the State Senate, just as she has done for the Issaquah City Council and State House of Representatives. In the House, Hunt has begun to tackle pressing issues and address citizens’ concerns about transportation funding, congestion, and affordability. She will continue to champion the effort for a sustainable, green future for the State of Washington. This endorsement is a pivotal step to retaining this seat for the Democrats.
King County Parks–Levy Renewal
Every six years, the levy funding for King County Parks comes up for renewal. About 81% of the funds raised will be used for maintaining and enhancing existing parks, with about 19% allocated for growth. From ball fields to swimming pools, to hiking trails, zoos and the aquarium, parks make for a healthy community. In this six-year period, the levy will increase by only about $2 a month per household. The Endorsement committee strongly recommends renewing the levy that funds the King County Parks system.
Barbara de Michele
Michele has been an exceptional city council member, bringing her experience, insights, and compassion to her work in keeping Issaquah vibrant. She remains deeply committed to addressing critical challenges such as affordable housing, traffic management, care for the most vulnerable, public health and safety, and environmental protection. Michele has earned the trust of the community and deserves another term on the Issaquah City Council.
Hamdi Mohamed
Mohamed was elected to the Port Commission in 2021 as the first Black woman on the Commission. She is currently the Port Commission President. In her first term, she made community and workplace investments, including electrifying the port, saving North Tacoma Park from development, and increasing sound insulation. Her priority in her second term is to strengthen the partnership between the port and surrounding communities by promoting renewable energy, decreasing pollution, and creating equitable economic opportunities for workers and small businesses.
Sydne Mullings
Mullings has served on the Issaquah School Board since April 2019, and she has been an effective leader advocating for the needs of students, parents, educators, and the community. Mullings is a calm and thoughtful leader focused on promoting high academic standards; a welcoming environment for students, families, and staff; diverse course options that align with students’ interests and future plans; robust measures to support social, emotional, and mental health; and sound financial management.
Sarah Perry
Here in the 5th LD, we have long known that Perry is a powerhouse with boundless energy and deep commitment to her community. We endorsed Perry’s first campaign for King County Council in 2021, and we have been privileged to watch her repeatedly prove herself a committed public servant. Perry is dedicated to listening to her constituents, building coalitions, and developing strategies to promote priorities, which include:
- community safety
- behavioral and mental health support
- thriving local economies and culture
- better mobility for everyone
- environmental protection and climate action
Perry lifts up everyone around her as she pursues a vision of an inclusive community where all residents can live, work, play, and learn, and she has earned our continued support as she seeks reelection.
Zach Pratt
Pratt is a true conservationist. He lives his values in our own backyard of the Black Diamond/Auburn area. As a professional geochronologist and an environmental activist in his off hours, he walks the talk. You’re as likely to find him leading teams in stripping the woodlands of invasive blackberries as you are serving as a docent for the Black Diamond Historical Society. Pratt will be an authentic representative of the region to the currently very Seattle-heavy King Conservation Board.
Benjamin Santos
Todd Tinker
Both of these judges were unopposed and were therefore automatically elected and will not appear on our ballots. They did, however, participate fully in the King County Democrats endorsement process, submitting candidate questionnaires and sitting for interviews. We found them both deserving of our recommendation. Judge Santos and Judge Tinker were appointed to their positions this year by Governor Ferguson. Judge Tinker is particularly focused on preventing prosecutorial overreach and ensuring that one’s outcome in a criminal or civil proceeding is not influenced by one’s community or economic status. Judge Santos spent most of his professional life as an attorney advocating for alternatives to incarceration for juvenile offenders and supporting survivors of sexual and/or domestic violence. He looks forward to expanding that work from the bench.
Victoria Schroff
As a member of a council that strives to be non-partisan, Victoria has nevertheless found ways to create a more inclusive, welcoming Maple Valley where everyone belongs. From creating a new mascot in Norm the Gnome, to originating a fund for police officers to directly help those in need, and starting two brand new city celebrations this year for Pride and Juneteenth, Schroff has been a strong advocate and leader on the council for Democratic values.
Lindsey Walsh
Walsh has been a city councilmember since 2019 and has served as council president for the past three years. She is running for mayor to continue her work to make Issaquah a vibrant, affordable city for residents and small businesses, while protecting the natural beauty of the region. Walsh sees affordable housing, transportation/traffic congestion, and the financial impact of Trump’s administration as the major issues over the next few years. She has practical approaches to these issues that center her commitment to equity, diversity, and environmental sustainability.
Lin Yang
Yang grew up in Sammamish and is already a leader in the community, having founded the Sammamish Youth Board while at Eastlake High School in 2001 and the Sammamish Independent local newspaper in 2020 after recognizing the need for a trustworthy local information source that also amplifies underrepresented voices. Yang is energetic and a creative thinker, committed to building a thriving, inclusive, engaged community with a range of housing options, improved transportation infrastructure, opportunities for youth, and a commitment to climate action.