There are lots of names to choose from on the ballot for the governor’s race but probably only one you should really choose

Ballots have been sent out for August’s primary election giving Capitol Hill voters the opportunity to cast a ballot and help set the course for races for a handful of seats in the state legislature, the governor’s office, and one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

ENDORSEMENTS: 43rd District Democrats, King County Young Democrats, The Urbanist, The Seattle Times, The Stranger

• Position 1, 43rd Legislative District: Two-term Democratic incumbent Nicole Macri is up against Republican Leslie Klein and independent Brandon Franklin. She has received widespread endorsements from 43rd District Democrats, King County Young Democrats, The Stranger, the Seattle Times and The Urbanist, with the latter pointing to her healthcare initiatives and efforts against Washington’s rent control ban.
• Position 2, 43rd Legislative District: This race is a bit more contentious with longtime Democratic incumbent Frank Chopp running for reelection against newcomers Sherae Lascelles of the Seattle People’s Party and Democrat Jessi Murray. The Seattle Times recommends Chopp, given his 25 years of experience and prominent initiatives like affordable housing, and King County Young Democrats endorse Murray. The Urbanist and The Stranger both endorse Lascelles, citing their experience in forming organizations to help sex workers and their firsthand experience dealing with institutional racism and living as a sex worker.  CHS took an in-depth look at the race here.
• UPDATE: 37th Legislative District: In the race for Position 1, incumbent Sharon Tomiko Santos gets the nod across the board. In the race for Position 2, you can almost feel the endorsement editors struggling over two worthy candidates. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington executive director Kirsten Harris-Talley gets the pick from the Young Democrats, the Stranger, and The Urbanist, while the Times backs city employee and activist Chukundi Salisbury for his “thoughtful, informed” approach.
• Governor: Somehow, there are 36 candidates running for governor, including “anti-tax” activist Tim Eyman and community organizer Omari Tahir Garrett. King County Young Democrats, 43rd District Democrats, The Urbanist and The Stranger all endorse two-time incumbent Jay Inslee, with the latter pointing to his climate change action promises and that he has “done a good job steering the state through the pandemic.”

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• Lieutenant Governor: In the race for Lieutenant Governor, a position responsible for assuming governorship if needed, 43rd District Democrats and the Seattle Times both endorse Democrat and current U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, current representative of Washington’s 10th Congressional District, while The Stranger and The Urbanist endorse Democratic State Sen. Marko Liias. The Urbanist applauds Liias’s “mass timber green building techniques” and The Stranger notes his record supporting the LGBTQ community.
• Secretary of State: 43rd District Democrats, King County Young Democrats, The Stranger and The Urbanist all endorse current state Democratic Rep. Gael Tarleton for Secretary of State, who is running against incumbent and Republican Kim Wyman. The Stranger expressed Tarleton is the most capable candidate to oversee Washington elections, given her experience as an intelligence analyst for the Pentagon and work on legislation protecting elections from foreign security threats. The Seattle Times, on the other hand, endorses Wyman, citing her track record protecting the state’s elections from cyber threats over the past eight years.
• State Treasurer: 43rd District Democrats, King County Young Democrats and The Urbanist endorse current Democratic state Rep. Mike Pellicciotti for State Treasurer over Republican incumbent Duane Davidson, with The Urbanist praising Pellicciotti’s efforts to “close the ‘revolving door’ between elected office and corporate lobbying.”
• State Auditor: King County Young Democrats, The Stranger and the Seattle Times all endorse Democratic incumbent Pat McCarthy for State Auditor, a position tasked with overseeing state finances, over fellow Democrat and accountant Joshua Casey and Republican police officer Chris Leyba.
• Attorney General: In the spot open for Attorney General, 43rd District Democrats, King County Young Democrats, The Stranger and The Urbanist all endorse Democratic incumbent Bob Ferguson, who is running against three Republican challengers. Ferguson came into prominence early on in President Trump’s tenure after he filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the Muslim travel ban, and The Stranger considers him a relatively strong advocate for advancing progressive causes.
• Commissioner of Public Lands: 43rd District Democrats, King County Young Democrats, The Stranger and The Urbanist all endorse Democratic incumbent Hilary Franz for Commissioner of Public Lands, with The Stranger citing her environmental justice background and policies since taking office.
• Superintendent of Public Instruction: As the future of in-person education remains uncertain during the COVID-19 pandemic, 43rd District Democrats, King County Young Democrats, The Stranger, and The Urbanist are all endorsing incumbent Chris Reykdal for Superintendent of Public Instruction, tasked with supervising K-12 public education. The Stranger applauds Reykdal’s handling of public school closures over the last few months as a result of the pandemic.
• Insurance Commissioner: 43rd District Democrats, King County Young Democrats and The Stranger also endorse longtime Democratic incumbent Mike Kreidler for Insurance Commissioner. The Stranger points to his advocacy for transparency in healthcare billing and work fighting credit score scams.
• 7th Congressional District: At the federal level, Washington’s 7th Congressional District incumbent Pramila Jayapal has four opponents and is endorsed by The Stranger, King County Young Democrats, and 43rd District Democrats. The Stranger lauds her progressive record, including her work on the Paycheck Recovery Act, student debt reduction and climate advocacy.

Washington’s top-two primary election takes place on August 4 ahead of the November 3 general election. Ballots can either be submitted by mail and postmarked by Election Day or turned in by 8 PM on August 4th at a drop box location.

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