Filing week has arrived. Between now and Friday at 4:00pm, people across the State of Washington are officially declaring their candidacy to run for office from United States Senator to District Court Judge. Despite months of outreach efforts, no Democrat in the 31st Legislative District has yet stated their intention to run for our state legislative seats. This means that our two Republican representatives are likely to run unopposed. Two independent candidates have filed for state senate, including one anti-vaxxer. If Republicans are allowed to run unopposed in our district, that means more money will be available to be spent to defeat Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Dr. Kim Schrier. We cannot let that happen.

 

This is where YOU come in. NOW is the time for you to step up and run for office. The best antidote for all the recent attacks on our democracy is participation. I'm tired of hearing the accomplishments of the Democratic majority in the state legislature misrepresented by local Republicans in mailings and online. They claim that the Democratic majority did not provide “any sort of relief...for working families.” This is demonstrably false, but we need Democratic candidates running campaigns to make sure the truth is
heard.

 

Sen. Fortunato has frequently dismissed calls for more solar and wind power as too expensive and unreliable. But the science is clear: the costs of renewable energy keep going down. Only the expansion of renewables and new methods of energy management and storage can lead to a grid that is reliable and clean. We need Democratic candidates making this point, and not allowing the Republican falsehoods to go unchallenged.

 

Republican legislators claim they are concerned for “our state’s most vulnerable” while voting against programs to help those most at risk. Why did all three of the 31st District Republicans vote against HB 1901 that would help victims of domestic violence obtain civil protection orders against their abusers? Who is going to hold them accountable for their failures to protect the citizens of their district if there is no Democratic candidate on the ballot to call them out?

 

If you have ever considered running for office, now is the time to make it happen. Or maybe you know someone who should run but just needs a nudge to get going. Take the leap, give that nudge, and DO IT NOW.

 

 

Please contact me with any questions or concerns: chair@31stdistrictdemocrats.org

Brian Gunn, Chair
31st District Democrats
(253) 234-4759