The AFT Washington COPE committee made endorsements in many of the races in Washington this primary season. You can review the full list here (and if you aren't sure of your legislative district, you can find it at the Washington State Legislature District Finder). Many of the endorsements we made are familiar faces that members know and have spoken with before. This year, we saw a very high number of legislative appointees, who need to run in the next election to defend their appointments, so there may be some new faces here. We believe these candidates have strong, clear visions in line with our values, and would serve well in their districts.
State Legislature
LD 5: Victoria Hunt
Victoria Hunt is a third-term Issaquah City Council member and environmental scientist with a track record of championing initiatives for environmental stewardship, affordable housing, and improved public safety. Her vision for Washington reflects this; she is prioritizing increasing affordable housing in balance with protecting communities and the environment. She also plans to advocate for a strong public school system and for improved early-learning and childcare opportunities for families. Improved public safety, improved transit and accessibility, and improved access to healthcare are also key goals for Hunt, along with strengthened and improved environmental stewardship for Washington state. We agree with her about these needs and her intended remedies will build a stronger Washington that is resilient for the future.
You can learn more about Victoria Hunt at https://victoriahunt.com/.
LD 26: Deb Krishnadasan
Deb Krishnadasan grew up on her parents’ farm in Pierce County, learning early what can be accomplished when we work together. As the first person in her family to graduate college, she also sees the power education has to create opportunity for people, which AFT Washington agrees with whole-heartedly. Among the issues facing Washingtonians, Krishnadasan is particularly focused on issues of importance to our members. To address the affordability crisis, she has advocated for lowering taxes that disproportionately affect working Washingtonians. She wants to see fully funded preK-12 and improved class sizes and educator pay, as well as increased access to post-high-school education of all types. Healthcare is another key issue, and she supports improvements that would strengthen our system and serve Washingtonians well across the board, including protecting reproductive care and ensuring rural and Tribal communities have strong healthcare infrastructure. She is also strong on climate, recognizing that we can invest in clean energy jobs and grow and diversify our economy at the same time. All of these are the kind of steps we need to see to ensure that Washingtonians are facing the challenges of today and prepared for the opportunities of tomorrow, and we are pleased to endorse her.
You can learn more about Deb Krishnadasan at https://www.debkforsenate.com/.
LD 33: Tina Orwall
Tina Orwall is a lifelong Washingtonian who grew up in several communities in the Puget Sound. She graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in psychology and a Master’s in Social Work Administration, which led her to work as a clinical social worker, particularly for marginalized communities. In 2009, she took that commitment to people to the Legislature, where she served as a representative for 15 years. In the last session, she was appointed to the Senate, filling Karen Keiser’s seat in the 33rd LD. Her history in the legislature strongly aligns with AFT Washington’s values; she has made a career of advocating for the most vulnerable Washingtonians, fought to improve the justice system for victims of sexual violence and make suicide prevention programs stronger. She is an advocate for inclusion and collaboration; vulnerable people are often the people least heard in our government, and solutions must involve us all as we strive to make progress. Her goal, as is AFT Washington’s, is to make this state a state where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and we are pleased to endorse her.
You can learn more about Tina Orwall at https://www.electtinaorwall.com/
LD 33: Edwin Obras
As a child, Edwin Obras emigrated to the United States from the Phillippines. He is the first in his family to graduate from college, with a BA from UW and an MPA from Northeastern. His career has been in the human services field, working with non-profits and the City of Seattle on critical social issues such as homelessness, anti-hunger efforts, youth development, and more. Appointed to the House this year, Representative Obras’s platform continues that work. He is focused on social equity, worker protections, and community well-being, with particular priority placed on policies that serve traditionally marginalized residents of the state. His platform highlights increased worker protections, employer accountability and raising the minimum wage, improved housing stability for renters and support for the unhoused population, and supporting and giving voice to immigrant communities. These are values AFT Washington shares, and they are why we choose to endorse his candidacy.
You can learn more about Edwin Obras at https://www.edwinobras.org/.
LD 34: Emily Alvarado
Emily Alvarado is the child of two public school educators, and grew up in a community of teachers and activists, learning the value of public service, and the need to stand up for social and racial justice. She was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2022, and moved to the Senate in 2025 to fill the position vacated by Joe Nguyen. Her priorities include safe, affordable housing, healthcare, child care, and public education for all, priorities that AFT Washington agrees are crucial for creating the better world we know is possible. Senator Alvarado has supported many ways of increasing our state’s housing options, and prime-sponsored the rent cap bill that passed the House this session. She has indicated a desire to work with the Washington Universal Healthcare Commission to improve healthcare for all Washingtonians, and strongly supports education funding and making our schools and colleges safe and welcoming.
You can learn more about Emily Alvarado at https://emilyalvarado.com/.
LD 41: Janice Zahn
Janice Zahn was appointed to the state House this year, filling the vacancy left when Rep. Tana Senn moved to head up the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Zahn started strong and passed four bills in her first session, as well as providing significant legislation for two more bills. She brings her skills as a solutions-focused engineer and pragmatic problem solver to the legislature, and has paid close attention to our upside-down tax code, which is the over-arching cause of our current revenue shortfall. Zahn wants to see a relational approach, bringing in stakeholders in the public, the legislature, and the governor’s office to build support for increased progressive revenue in future sessions, which we applaud – we cannot fund education and other priorities that benefit working Washingtonians if the money isn’t there. She also strongly supports workers’ rights, and identifies a number of our constituencies’ key issues, such as contingent faculty and classified staff pay, stronger worker protections overall, greater support for students, and a stronger safety net – all policies that will make meaningful and important improvements for our members and for Washington families.
You can learn more about Janice Zahn at https://www.janicezahn.org/.
LD 48: Vandana Slatter
Vandana Slatter is a long-time community leader and, as a Doctor of Pharmacy with a degree from UW, an expert in biotechnology and healthcare, with skill in bringing together complex information and achieving safe and efficient solutions – a skill she brings to her legislative work. We particularly appreciate Sen. Slatter’s advocacy for education at all levels; she identifies education as the cornerstone of opportunity, and asserts that higher education should unlock doors, not become a financial burden. We agree! She has also worked with OSPI to establish solid funding models for PreK-12. Other priorities of hers include inclusive and accessible healthcare; affordable housing and displacement prevention; public safety and justice; immigration; and climate action, which she supports with solid legislative advocacy and a search for good solutions. We know that these are key needs for Washingtonians, and she is skilled at navigating the complexity of building solutions that help working Washingtonians; we support her vision and are pleased to endorse her.
You can learn more about Vandana Slatter at https://vandanaslatter.com/.
LD 48: Osman Salahuddin
Osman Salahuddin is running for reelection to the 48th District House. A Redmond native and the son of immigrants, he is educated as a neurobiologist and worked at the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center before running for office. His priorities include increasing the supply of housing and investing in affordable, supportive, and emergency housing; investing in public education, especial special education, and expanded workforce development opportunities, including expanded apprenticeship programs, improved public safety and gun violence prevention, and climate protections for our state. All of these priorities are crucial for our state’s current well-being and for our future strength, and they are priorities AFT Washington supports strongly. He has also stated that there is a need to increase worker access to financial capital – the vast majority of American businesses are small businesses – and he supports unions in the fight for improved worker protections and better wages. We think his vision is clear and sets Washington up for success.
You can learn more about Osman Salahuddin at https://www.electosman.com/.
King County
King County Council, Seat 5: Ryan McIrvin
Ryan McIrvin has a history as an advocate for smart growth and strong communities, amply demonstrated by his time on the Renton City Council, which he first was elected to in 2015. He is a South King County native, with a degree from Western Washington University and his career is with UW Bothell, where he fosters collaborative partnerships with businesses, municipalities, and community organizations. These are skills and experiences he brings to his priorities for the King County Council, which are strong communities where people feel secure, safe and affordable housing, better transportation, a cleaner environment, and economic opportunity to ensure that our region grows in a way that benefits everyone. We agree with him about these needs and priorities, and are excited to see a strong vision for the county that prioritizes equity and access for all, which has earned him AFT Washington’s endorsement.
You can learn more about Ryan McIrvin at https://www.ryanmcirvin.com/.
King County Executive: Girmay Zahilay
Girmay Zahilay believes deeply in our community and is running for King County Executive because he sees it as the most effective platform for solving our region’s biggest problems for every resident, not a few residents at a time in some of our cities. We agree that our problems, and our solutions, are interconnected and must be solved for everyone! His vision is of King County as a place of safety and opportunity for all, where all people have the chance to thrive. To accomplish this, his policy priorities include addressing homelessness and improving access to affordable housing; supporting families with universal childcare, gun safety, and protecting our reproductive rights; Trump-proofing our communities; preserving and improving our environment; and making our county government more responsive. AFT Washington shares these goals and believe that Zahilay has the skill and experience to make King County better for everyone – we are pleased to endorse his candidacy.
You can learn more about Girmay Zahilay at https://www.electgirmay.com/.
Seattle
City Council Seat 2: Jamie Fackler
Jamie Fackler is a building inspector for the city of Seattle, a shop steward for his union, and experienced in stand up for safer working conditions, against discrimination, to protect jobs, and to demand wages that keep up with inflation. He sees strong needs in the city for affordable and social housing, improved road safety in the Rainier Valley, and addressing the drug crisis. His platform for all of these issues revolves around improved public safety and an improved quality of life for all of Seattle’s residents. We support his approaches and believe that his experience with people-centered advocacy and goals will stand him in good stead in this work.
You can learn more about Jamie Fackler at https://www.jamieforseattle.com/.
City Council Seat 9: Dionne Foster
Dionne Foster has a long history of working hard for what is right – her early work experiences shaped her perspective on economic justice and strong labor standards. She received an MSW from UW and went on to teach as a contingent faculty member there. Her career has been committed to the service of improving people’s lives through work in non-profits, government, and philanthropy. Among her key issues, Foster identifies workforce development, progressive revenue to fund investments in school and childcare, improved access to city services and improved outcomes for all, climate protection, and standing up for our shared values, which closely match AFT Washington’s shared values. We believe Foster will bring a skilled, thoughtful voice and powerful advocacy to the Seattle City Council and are pleased to endorse her.
You can learn more about Dionne Foster at https://dionnefoster.com/.
Seattle City Attorney: Rory O’Sullivan
Rory O’Sullivan graduated from UW with degrees in Economics and International Studies and went on to work as a Legislative Assistant for Congressman Jim McDermott, which gave him exposure to policy-making. He got his J.D. from Georgetown, and volunteered with the Innocence Project. His legal work has focused on legal aid and poverty law, and he brings these experiences and many more to his run for City Attorney. His priorities for the city include timely prosecution of DUI cases, protecting survivors of domestic violence, protecting Seattle residents from Trump’s mass deportations, and defending labor rights. The approaches he has identified, for example in using proving strategies to reduce recidivism, are person-centered and focused on breaking the cycle of conditions that keep people in poverty and out of opportunity. We fully support this work and are pleased to endorse O’Sullivan for the City Attorney’s office.
You can learn more about Rory O’Sullivan at https://www.electroryosullivan.com/
City of Seattle Mayor: Katie Wilson
Katie Wilson is currently the co-founder and executive director of the Transit Riders Union, which has become a powerful voice for working people in King County. In her role, she has managed successful campaigns to raise the wage, improve transit, improve renter protections, and increase affordable housing. This work has involved directing hundreds of thousands of staff and volunteer hours, building multi-partner coalitions, and a deep commitment to strategic advocacy. Katie, born and raised in New York, moved to Seattle in 2004 and has held a variety of jobs, ranging from barista and laborer to apartment manager and legal assistant. She has deep knowledge of the needs and wants of Seattleites from diverse backgrounds, and her mayoral campaign is predicated on meeting those needs. AFT Washington endorses her for her vision for the Seattle of the future, where we have improved outcomes for unhoused people, abundant affordable housing, improved transportation and mobility, improved public safety, climate justice, economic development, and progressive revenue. She sees the need for a Trump-proof city for working families; we share that vision and are excited to help make it happen.
You can learn more about Katie Wilson at https://www.wilsonforseattle.com/.
Tacoma
Tacoma City Council, Seat 4: Silong Chhun
Silong Chhun’s family emigrated to the US when he was a child, and settled in a Tacoma neighborhood made of immigrants, refugees, and working people that shaped his life with every challenge and every triumph it experienced. He is running for Tacoma City Council to bring his vision of a thriving community where everyone has the opportunity for a dignified life to fruition, and we agree with his vision. Chhun’s priorities include strengthening legal protections and resources for immigrant families; ensuring city services and programs are accessible to all residents regardless of immigration status; creating a rapid response network to support families during immigration enforcement activities; targeted economic development to support immigrant-owned businesses and entrepreneurs; and partner with immigrant community leaders to create policies that reflect the real needs and experiences of Tacoma’s diverse immigrant population. At AFT Washington, we recognize the contribution of immigrants to our state’s shared success, and we believe that Chhun’s plan meets the moment we are in; we are pleased to endorse him.
You can learn more about Silong Chhun at https://www.silongchhun.com/home.
City Council, Seat 5: Zev Cook
Zev Cook has strong roots in Tacoma, where she has been a community organizer since 2018, and has worked with multiple direct aid and non-profit organizations, as well as co-founded Serve The People Tacoma, which has provided meals and supplies for homeless community members. Cook’s priorities for Tacoma include raising the minimum wage and including inflation-based updates; building affordable housing; and taxing the wealthy to support improved critical services. AFT Washington is in agreement with Cook that these policies would provide crucial support for our communities, giving community members greater freedom to thrive; she has earned our endorsement.
You can learn more about Zev Cook at https://zevfortacoma.com/.
City Council, Seat 6: Latasha Palmer
Latasha Palmer is an advocate for stability and security who understands the frustration of navigating broken systems and feeling powerless to change our circumstances. She knows the well-being of Tacomans requires bold leaders to step forward, and she is ready to meet this need. She has a long history of dedication to building a Tacoma where economic security, personal safety, housing stability, and climate resilience aren’t privileges for the few but are for the benefit of all Tacomans. Palmer’s vision of a strong, resilient community is founded on permanently-affordable housing for all; building a network of neighborhood block hubs that empowers community members; and jobs that protect people and the planet. We agree that these are important and essential ways to build strong communities and we are pleased to endorse Palmer.
You can learn more about Latasha Palmer at https://latashafortacoma.com/.
Mayor: Anders Ibsen
A Tacoma native, Anders Ibsen has long held the desire to give back to his hometown. He has served with the Pierce County Conservation District and on the City Council for several terms. He is knowledgeable about the issues facing Tacomans, and has an ambitious vision to strengthen and improve the city. Ibsen wants to see accessible homeownership, increased daycare providers and decreased costs, and thoughtfully addressing utility costs through several mechanisms. Public safety is another crucial issue for Tacomans, and Ibsen sees ways to address the mental health crisis, homelessness, and improve youth safety. Additionally, he recognizes the need to stand up and protect everyone’s basic rights, and will work with state leaders and Washington’s federal delegation to improve local protections for vulnerable communities. We agree with his assessment and believe that he has a vision that will build a strong, resilient community.
You can learn more about Anders Ibsen at https://www.andersibsen.com/.