Supporters of #ST3 getting ready to speak for #MassTransitNow pic.twitter.com/SklpFlpAAt
— 43rd District Dems (@43rdDems) September 21, 2016
43rd District Democrats made a handful of general election endorsements Tuesday night for state and local ballot measures as well as judicial positions. The slate of endorsements came after the group made many of its higher profile endorsements in June, with the exception of one major initiative.
Sound Transit 3, the ballot measure to drastically expand light rail in the region, officialy received the nod from Democrats. The $53.8 billion package would extend light rail lines to Redmond by 2024, Ballard by 2030, and West Seattle by 2035. Extensions into Everett and Tacoma would come in the following years.
For King County Judge, 43rd Democrats endorsed David Keenan, Helen Halpert, Anthony David Gipe, Mariane Spearman, and Nicole Gaines Phelps. The 43rd Democrats voted to not make an endorsement for state treasurer.
While earning an endorsement from the 43rd Democrats can be an important signifier for officials and initiatives, the votes are not necessarily representative of the majority of Democrats in the district. The 43rd District includes Capitol Hill north of Madison, as well as Montlake, Madison Park, parts of downtown, and a handful of neighborhoods north of the ship canal.
In the race for the 7th Congressional District, State Rep. Brady Walkinshaw easily walked away with the group’s endorsement in June, earning 73% of the vote over State Sen. Pramila Jayapal. Homeless housing advocate Nicole Macri handily won the 43rd District House race endorsement.
The group also endorsed a slate of candidates and measures in one single vote.
And here are all the endorsements the group made in June which will carry into the general election (cross outs indicate the candidate or initiative lost in the primary):
