Protect Your Family’s Income and Safety
All eyes are on the presidential race this year. But here in Washington state this Nov. 5, there is plenty more at stake. If you need a reason to return that ballot sitting on your kitchen counter, you’ll find dozens of them at the state and local level.
Friends, we can’t afford to sit this one out.
A down-to-the-wire presidential race nationally is looking like a double-digit blowout in this state. That means trouble further down the ballot for Republicans and sensible non-partisan candidates. It jeopardizes ballot propositions that aim to restore balance to our state government. Our state’s recovery from single-party domination could be delayed for years.
In the governor’s race, we have a clear choice in former Congressman and King County Sheriff Dave Reichert, public safety advocate and a voice of reason. He faces Democrat Bob Ferguson, who has crossed the line as attorney general by misusing the power of his office to crush political opposition.
For Commissioner of Public Lands, former Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler advocates a balanced approach to forest management and fire protection, against a Democrat backed by extremist environmental groups.
In the state Senate, we face the danger that Democrats will win a supermajority and eliminate any check on their so-called “progressive” agenda. Thoughtful incumbents like Keith Wagoner (Sedro Wooley), Ron Muzzall (Oak Harbor) and Curtis King (Yakima) face tough races and need our support. Our best opportunities to gain Senate seats are Maia Espinoza (Lakewood) and Chad Magendanz (Issaquah), who faces a squeaker for an open seat in East King County.
Another exciting new voice is Dr. Raul Garcia of Yakima, who is running for U.S. Senate. These candidates and others are our future.
Then come this year’s four big initiatives, which would undo the worst elements of the agenda our colleagues want to force on the state. These would:
Block a poorly conceived and hugely expensive effort to ban natural gas (I-2066);
Repeal a new “starter income tax” on capital gains (I-2109);
Cancel cap-and-trade policies that have driven up gas prices and the cost of food (I-2117); and
Let workers decide whether they wish to participate in a costly and badly designed long-term care insurance program (I-2124).
And there’s more. All 98 seats in the state House are up this year, and there are important local races in every community.
This year, let’s not confuse this Washington with the other one. We’ve got enough to concern us right here at home. Return that ballot. Vote every position. And remind your friends to do the same. The issues that unite us are the ones that matter.
Best,
Deanna Martinez, Board Chair and the Mainstream Republicans of Washington Board of Directors