Happy Friday, Washington Democrats!

It’s Go Time

Folks, ballots are out, and that means it is time to Get Out the Vote! We have a crucial state, and the August 5th Primary is our chance to make a statement that Democrats have had enough of the Trump administration’s chaos. So, we are going to do everything possible to elect problem solvers to our municipal and state offices.

• In LD 5 Sen. Victoria Hunt is fighting to preserve the late Bill Ramos’ Democratic legacy - going head-to-head against Republican opponent, failed State Rep. Chad Magendanz. This race is all hands on deck as corporate special interests have unleashed a torrent of cash to install their Republican puppet. Issaquah GOTV - 8/2 at 10:00am - sign up here! 

• In LD 26 Democratic incumbent Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan is expected to face off against MAGA bully, GOP State Rep. Michelle Caldier. All anyone needs to know about Republican Michelle Caldier is that she is now going around defending the Republican Congressional budget that slashed taxes for the ultra-wealthy while ripping away healthcare from the poor and shuttering rural health clinics. Bremerton GOTV - 8/2 at 3:00pm - sign up here! 

Working for Washington

This week, I was on King5 to talk about the WAGOP’s anti-democratic efforts to require everyone in Washington to procure a Real ID in order to vote. Let’s be absolutely clear: Washington has the best elections system in the country. Voting by mail in Washington is safe, convenient, secure, and fun! In fact, the ONLY voter fraud committed recently proven in our state was GOP State Rep. John Ley, who lied on his voter registration form because he wanted to run in the 18th Legislative District while not living there. You can watch my interview here.

Thankfully, Washington voters are already overwhelmingly rejecting this initiative. A recent Civiqs poll shows 60% of Washington voters want Rep. Jim Walsh, WA-19, to abandon his voter cancellation initiative. This initiative would disproportionately harm women who have taken their husband’s last name, everyone without easy access to their birth certificate or a passport, and would actually hurt more of Jim Walsh’s own constituents than other parts of the state. 

While this initiative is destined to be dead on arrival, Jim Walsh has publicly stated this is only step one in his efforts to end vote-by-mail in Washington. We must do everything in our power to protect our best-in-the-nation voting systems. 

Washington Democrats also welcomed DNC staff to our Seattle office to conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis. This is part of DNC Chair Ken Martin’s larger effort to invest more in state parties and build our strategic plan to take back Congress and the White House. We are already seeing positive momentum for these efforts as the DNC’s “Organizing Summer” secured record breaking grassroots fundraising and volunteer sign ups in June of this year.

Call to Action

• Rally, Protest, and Gather
• TOMORROW - Saturday, July 26 Street Rally to Defend the Constitution, Kirkland at the corner of 6th Street and Central Way. 11:30AM - 1PM. Sign up here.
• SUNDAY - July 27 Belfair Pride Parade at Key Bank on Roessel Road. 10:30AM assemble. Parade runs 11A - 2PM. Sign up here.
• Every Friday - Refuse Fascism Fridays in Everett at the Social Security Administration Office from 5 PM-6:30 PM. Sign up here.
• Every Monday - Mikey Mondays in Spokane outside the office of U.S. Representative Michael Baumgartner. Sign up here.
• Every Tuesday - Tesla Tuesday in Liberty Lake from 4:30PM-5:30PM. Sign up here.
• Every Wednesday - Musk or Us Protest in Redmond from 4PM-5PM. Sign up here.

• Send us details on rallies and protests in your communities 
• Email details to [email protected]

• Donate
• If you would like to see less Washington D.C. and more Washington state in your community, please DONATE to The Real Washington Fund - our rapid response account to counter MAGA’s chaos with real organizing, real solutions, and real results. We can’t do the work of holding Republicans accountable without your support.

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Democrats Fighting Back

Democrats use tariffs to turn inflation on Trump, The Washington Post

Rep. Suzan DelBene is helping lead the charge to tie Trump’s disastrous tariff policy on the skyrocketing prices on everyday goods people are buying. 

GOP state senators in WA go to bat for Trump’s megabill, Washington State Standard

“Sen. Braun is entitled to his opinion, but not his own facts. The evidence is overwhelming that the Big, Bad, Betrayal Bill will harm thousands of Washingtonians, including Sen. Braun’s own constituents,” said Brianna Aho, Spokesperson for Governor Ferguson. According to Governor Ferguson, 250,000 Washingtonians stand to lose Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage and another 150,000 won’t be able to afford insurance on the health care exchange.” 

DNC rolls out new billboard campaign outside rural hospitals, NOTUS

Rural hospitals set to close thanks to the Republican budget are being highlighted through billboards purchased by the DNC. These highly visible reminders will ensure rural voters know who to blame when they can’t access convenient healthcare in their own communities and have to drive for hours to get the care they need.

Democrats in the News

Rep. Jayapal talks recessions, protecting U.S. citizens from ICE, and the Epstein files, KUOW

Sen. Cantwell proposes 5-point plan for ‘world’s best weather forecasting system’, Everett Post

‘Literally no way’: Idea of redrawing WA’s congressional map gets bipartisan brush off, Washington State Standard

WA’s new rent cap set just below 10% for 2026, Washington State Standard

New DNC website blasts Big Beautiful Bill for ‘robbing working Washingtonians’, The Olympian

What I’m Reading

New data shows how WA voters turned out for 2024 presidential election, The Seattle Times

Washington ranked 15th for overall voter turnout in the 2024 election. Women voted at a higher rate than men (73% for women and 67% for men) while almost 50% of young adults (49.7%) aged 18-to-24 voted. Washington Democrats have been hard at work to reach more voters where they are and get them to cast their ballots for our problem-solving candidates. These analyses are useful to figure out where we should best focus those efforts.

Thanks for all you do,

Chair Shasti Conrad
Washington State Democratic Party