Working for Washington
32 days until Election Day!
Last weekend, we held the September State Committee Meeting in Yakima. We kicked things off with a day of service in Yakima, where we had over 30 party leaders out canvassing (we knocked 600 doors in one day!) for our incredible candidates Maria Beltran (pictured above), Chelsea Dimas, and Ana Ruiz Kennedy. If we’re successful in getting these badass women elected, they will be the first Democrats elected to the state legislature in a generation!
Thank you to everyone who came out for the September State Committee Meeting. This was our last chance to get everyone together before Election Day. I also want to thank everyone who joined us for the canvass and who helped the meeting run smoothly. I know our candidates greatly appreciated the assistance to help get the word out about their campaigns. This week we surpassed 426,000 dials and 79,000 door knocks through our field efforts. Onward!
VP Debate
Tuesday’s Vice Presidential debate was likely the last time Americans will see the Presidential tickets on the same stage before the election. What we saw was a plain spoken leader focused on solutions versus a slick politician painting an inaccurate portrait of Trump’s failures and flaws. For me, the biggest moment of the night was when Senator Vance refused to answer on whether Trump had lost the 2020 election and whether he would put country before party and support the election results this year. As Governor Walz said, “it was a damning non-answer.” On issue after issue – from gun safety to women’s health to economic empowerment and foreign policy – Tim Walz told America what we already know – only one candidate is ready to lead the whole country on Day One – not as a dictator, but as our Commander in Chief and that person is Vice President Kamala Harris.
WA Democrats were delighted to visit Common Power at Stoup Brewing in Capitol Hill as they welcomed hundreds of energized Harris-Walz. We heard from Common Power Executive Director Charles Douglas, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Suzan DelBene, Treasurer Mike Pelliciotti, and Supreme Court candidate Sal Mungia before the debate kicked off. Now the debates are over, it’s a full on sprint to election day. Ballots drop in just a couple weeks!
Seattle Channel City Inside Out Debate
Last week, I sat down with Emmy-winning journalist Brian Callanan at the Seattle Channel to debate GOP State Chair, Rep. Jim Walsh. I made that case that Democratic candidates are the only one’s offering real solutions to the problems facing Washingtonians. I also outlined how the four statewide initiatives that voters will decide will blow a multi-billion dollar hole in our state budget, gut education funding, and transfer tax burdens off the ultra-wealthy and onto frontline workers. Voters must VOTE NO on all of these initiatives or we will roll back all of the progress we have made in the state legislature. Please watch the debate and share with your networks!
Hacks and Wonks Podcast
My interview with Hacks and Wonks Podcast host Crystal Fincher went live last weekend. You can listen to the episode here. We discussed the role of the State Party in volunteer and candidate support, turning out the vote, and our priorities and strategies for the 2024 election. It was great to have such a wide-ranging opportunity to really go in-depth into the races and dynamics impacting this year’s election season. This is a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about the campaigns and issues that Washington voters will decide this November.
Disaster Relief
Hurricane Helene devastated many communities, further demonstrating the growing crisis in our climate as warm ocean waters supercharge storm systems. During tragedies like these, it is more important than ever that we stand united with our fellow Americans. Please join Washington Democrats in sharing our best wishes and support to these communities by considering a donation to any of these worthy organizations identified by the Harris-Walz campaign helping with relief efforts.
Democratic Ad Spending Dwarfs GOP in WA
Axios ran a story about political ad spending in Washington. The data is clear that we have enthusiasm and committed allies on our side to help us retain every statewide office and ensure growing majorities in our state legislature. The one thing missing from this chart? The $6 million and counting that hedge fund manager and mega-millionaire Brian Heywood and his cronies have pumped into the Let’s Go Washington statewide initiative campaign. These initiatives would permanently undo the biggest progressive policies of the last decade, from the Climate Commitment Act that protects our clean air and water, to the state’s excise tax on capital gains which makes millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share to fund education, as well as our groundbreaking long-term care insurance program that will help struggling seniors stay in their homes, and legislation transitioning new buildings away from natural gas, which causes childhood asthma.
Save Our Senate Majority
Montana’s Democratic Senator, Jon Tester is at risk of losing his seat. His campaign is calling for out of state volunteers to come knock doors or make phone calls in their areas of greatest need.
Mobilize Link to sign up for virtual phone banking, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings and throughout the day Saturdays and Sundays.
Coming to Montana Canvassing Interest Form – for anyone who wants to travel to Montana to knock on doors. Ravalli County (just south of Missoula), Helena, and Butte are areas of greatest need for canvassers. Please consider signing up for a weekend of canvassing!
Something for Everyone, Every Day of the Week
Join WA Dems Canvasses and Phone Banks EVERY DAY UNTIL ELECTION DAY
SATURDAY:
Black Voters for Harris-Walz Phonebank
Join Black Voters from across the country in making calls to turn out support for Vice President Kamala Harris! Each weekend, we will be joined by a special guest! RSVP here!
Latinos Con Harris-Walz: Weekly National Phonebank
Join the Latinos Con Harris-Walz Phone Bank on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. ET, and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET. RSVP here!
SUNDAY:
LGBTQ+ Latinos Con Harris-Walz
LGBTQ+ Latinos Con Harris-Walz phone banks start this Sunday. We will speak to voters in Spanish and English about the importance of this election. RSVP here!
Labor of Love! Union Member Phonebank
NEW: Join us and other LGBTQ+ labor union members as we make phone calls to voters in critical battleground states. RSVP here!
Jewish Voters for Harris-Walz Phonebank
NEW: Join Jewish voters and friends to make phone calls to voters in battleground states every Sunday at 5:00 p.m. ET. RSVP here!
Women for Harris-Walz Phonebank
Are you ready to take action and help make history this November? Join our 47 for 47 National Women for Harris-Walz phone banks every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. ET and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET. RSVP here!
Young Voters for Harris-Walz Phonebank
Brat fall means mobilizing the youth vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats up and down the ballot. Join Young Voters for Harris to make calls. Virtual training sessions will be held on Zoom, and we will be available to answer any questions you have during the call. RSVP here!
MONDAY:
Mondays: Broadway for Harris-Walz
Join Broadway for Harris-Walz on Monday, Sept 30 to make calls with drag stars including Brita Filter, Jackie Cox, Jasmine Rice Labeija, Marcia Marcia Marcia, Marti Gould Cummings, Nina West, Plasma, and others! RSVP here!
Veterans and Military Families for Harris-Walz Phonebank
Join the first Veterans and Military Families phone bank on Monday, Sept 30! Show off to share your support for the ticket and Governor Walz the night before he takes the debate stage. RSVP here!
TUESDAY:
Trans Folks for Harris-Walz Virtual Phonebank
Join transgender leaders across the country in mobilizing for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz every Tuesday. RSVP here!
WEDNESDAY:
LGBTQ+ Women for Harris-Walz Phonebank
Join LGBTQ+ women leaders across the country in mobilizing for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz every Wednesday. RSVP here!
Women for Harris-Walz Phonebank
Join Women for Harris-Walz on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. ET and Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. ET for a Women for Harris-Walz Phonebank. RSVP here!
THURSDAY:
Latinos Con Harris-Walz: Weekly National Phonebank
Join us for a virtual phone bank to speak to voters in English and Spanish across the country. Join the Latinos Con Harris-Walz Phone Bank on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. ET, and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET. RSVP here!
FRIDAY:
Host Your Own Phonebank: Rally your friends and family to set up your own phone bank! Here is a guide to get started!
Democrats in the News
State Treasurer candidates differ over proposed ‘baby bonds’ plan that seeks to address wealth gap in Washington, The Spokesman-Review WA Treasurer Mike Pelliciotti lays out his vision for baby bonds that would assist 40% of all newborns in Washington with a mini-trust fund that would help them afford higher education or a downpayment on a home.
Pinned by his own party’s extremism, Dave Reichert can only watch as Bob Ferguson dashes toward a first place finish, The Cascadia Advocate
Candidates for Washington Insurance Commissioner disagree over healthcare, gun liability, The Spokesman-Review State Sen. Patty Kuderer lays out why she is our best choice to be the next Insurance Commissioner.
Strickland, Schrier tour Puyallup Planned Parenthood, Tacoma Weekly Our tremendous U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier and Marilyn Strickland are committed to restoring women’s healthcare nationwide.
The surprising place analysts look to for election forecasting, The New York Times – The NYT’s The Upshot newsletter highlighted the predictive power of Washington State’s August Primary. While there are still a lot of unknowns, we could be on the verge of a good year for Democrats up and down the ballot – provided we can mobilize our supporters to turn out and vote!
Inside one man’s campaign to take down WA’s infant carbon market, The Seattle Times – Brian Heywood, a hedge fund manager from California, thinks he can scuttle our state’s best shot at surviving climate change. Please spread the word to VOTE NO on EVERY statewide initiative with your friends, family, neighbors, and communities.
What I’m Reading
The only patriotic choice for President, The New York Times Editorial Board
Voter and Volunteer Resources
Would you like an organizer to reach out to you to talk about volunteering? Please sign up here
Already know how you want to get involved and need a list of events to sign up for? You can find them all here
Interested in volunteering with the Harris-Walz campaign in swing states? Please sign up here
Interested in phone banking with the Harris-Walz campaign? You can sign up here
Interested in helping voters with questions about how to vote, join our voter protection volunteer team: here
Need to register to vote? Check out the Washington Secretary of State’s website
Have questions about voting, call your voter protection hotline: 206-309-VOTE
Have the resources to travel to a swing state and knock doors? Please fill out volunteer intake forms for Michigan and Wisconsin or sign up for a phone bank shift in these states here. Sign up for other swing state volunteer opportunities here
