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
Jude Anthony
We admire a citizen activist who shares our values and is willing to stand up and challenge a long-time incumbent with a problematic policy record.
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.
Susan Balthaser
Susan brings her thoughtful, data-driven approach, and rich career experience to the district. She spent years as a paramedic before returning to school to earn a Master’s in Occupational Health, then pivoting to a career at Boeing and finally, Microsoft. Susan has a grasp on what students need to be successful in life, no matter where they are headed after graduation, and with two young children in the district, she and her wife are experiencing the highs and lows of the Tahoma School District themselves. Susan is running unopposed, and was recently appointed to this position.
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.
Karen Howe
Karen Howe has served on the Sammamish City Council since 2021 and currently serves as Mayor. Karen is running for reelection to the City Council to continue building on the progress and momentum the city has achieved in fiscal stability and accountability, climate and sustainability planning, expanding affordable housing, creating a welcoming and inclusive place for all, improved transportation options, and more. She sees emergency preparedness, public safety, and long-term financial stability as top issues for the city and acknowledges the significant challenges the city is facing with the loss of federal funds under the Trump administration. Karen cites her experience as a business manager in the private sector managing multi-million dollar budgets, and her local and regional government experience as critical to providing the leadership Sammamish needs.
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.
Kelly Jiang
Kelly Jiang was appointed to the Issaquah City Council in February of 2025. She grew up in Sammamish and moved to Issaquah about 5 years ago, joining the board of the Issaquah Alps Trail Club to advocate for conservation and forest management. During her short tenure on the Council, she has jumped into her new role, joining community events and participating in Council meetings. Kelly’s priorities include housing affordability, environmental stewardship, transportation and public safety. She understands the challenges our city faces, and she is committed to finding solutions to ensure Issaquah continues to grow and thrive in sustainable ways for residents and businesses alike. Kelly earned the Council’s vote in February and deserves our endorsement for Issaquah City Council Position No. 1.
Jolyon “Jo” Johnson
We recommend Jo Johnson for re-election to the Snoqualmie City Council where he has served the community for 4 years. The 5th LD has a long and positive history with Jo who was a PCO in LD5 for many years prior to redistricting and was a part of the formation of Indivisible WA8. Jo’s priorities include protecting the parks, repairing and replacing aging infrastructure, and expanding inclusive housing. We encourage you to support Jo Johnson.
Liz Karkoski-Gardner
Liz works as a Cardiac ICU nurse and it shows in her no-nonsense approach to life and to this campaign. She has progressive ideals, and is a fierce advocate for kids. Liz has volunteered as PTO president at her children’s elementary school, and is well aware of the primary issues faced by the district right now, including overcrowding, low attendance, and mental health concerns. Having grown up in Northern Idaho, she appreciates the value of strong schools here in Washington and is prepared to defend them. For this open, contested seat, Liz is the best candidate and deserves our endorsement.
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.
Devin Leshin
Devin comes from a teaching family, and has experience developing curriculum and teaching himself, before beginning his career in tech. He has two children in the district, and has navigated the IEP difficulties. He will bring that knowledge to the Tahoma school board. Devin offers solutions to the problems faced by the district, like bullying and overcrowding, instead of being just another voice of complaint. He is active and passionate about his children’s education, and the students in Tahoma would benefit from his advocacy. This is a crowded race, and Devin is the only candidate seeking Democrat endorsement. His values align with ours and he has demonstrated that he deserves our endorsement.
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.
Carmen Rivera
We recommend Carmen Rivera to continue her progressive work for the City of Renton.
Carmen was born and raised in Renton. She was elected to the council in 2021 and wants to continue her work to make the city a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Areas where she has worked to improve quality of life in Renton include investments in housing assistance, mental health supports and recreation services; building climate resistance and reducing waste and emissions; supporting workers and small businesses; and planning for and creating affordable growth. Priorities for a second term include (1) increasing investments in social services (especially for unhoused and compassion-oriented treatment); (2) updating public transportation, with a focus on pedestrian walkways, trails and parks; and (3) increasing community-engaged governance.
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.
Michael Westgaard
Michael Westgaard, candidate for Renton City Council Position 1, wowed your endorsement committee with his enthusiastic support of our Democratic principles. His employment with the King County Waste Water Treatment Center as an Operator and work as a Shop Steward, supporting his union coworkers, is an apt display of his blue-collar bona fides. His campaign to win is on track having already door knocked half the number he needs to win and raised $13,000. He has been endorsed by our buddies at King County Democrats.
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.
Katia Zakharoff and Kevin Nichols
The committee recommends a dual endorsement of Kevin Nichols and Katia Zakharoff for this seat. We rarely recommend dual endorsements, but after 3 interviews with these candidates, the committee found both candidates to be equally well qualified and worthy of our support. Each candidate brings unique background and qualifications – Katia as an immigrant and small business owner, Kevin as a scientist with deep relationships with the local school district – and would be effective representatives on the city council.