Ballots are arriving in mailboxes across Washington State for the August 1st primary election. 2017 got off to a rough start for immigrant and refugee communities, but Washington communities banded together like never before – and now form the backbone of the resistance to Donald Trump’s harmful, anti-immigrant policies. At the airports, in the streets and at the ballot box, communities have firmly rejected a divisive agenda that seeks to tear communities apart.
This election, we have a fantastic opportunity to bolster the resistance by electing strong candidates who will fight for our values, our rights, and a Washington where all are welcome. We encourage you to vote for them! And remember to turn in your ballot by August 1st.
Vote Lorena González for Seattle City Council, Position 9. Lorena Gonzalez has long fought for the rights of immigrants and refugees in Seattle and Washington State. As a Councilmember, Lorena spearheaded a $1 million legal defense fund for immigrants. This invaluable support will provide a lifeline hundreds of community members who find themselves under attack from the current administration.
Vote Teresa Mosqueda for Seattle City Council, Position 8. A longtime leader in the labor movement, Teresa has led on issues that matter most to our communities: fair wages, paid family leave, affordable housing, protecting our civil rights and more. She led statewide efforts on I-1433, which raised the minimum wage and established paid safe and sick time for workers across Washington.
Vote Zak Idan for Tukwila City Council, Position 5. Zak’s story is the American Dream. Arriving from Somalia, he established himself as a leader in the community, working for King County as an engineer and serving on several boards and commissions. If elected, Zak will use his experience and knowledge of government to fight for his vision of a Tukwila that welcomes all.
Vote Satwinder Kaur for Kent City Council, Position 2. A powerful and tireless advocate, Kaur has demonstrated her commitment to the diverse residents and neighborhoods of Kent while remaining grounded in a Sikh faith tradition that values service, equity and resilience. Kaur brings a strong working knowledge of Kent’s government and a deep personal understanding of the challenges facing Kent’s residents. Her commitment to transparency, inclusiveness and to working across differences to find real solutions will make Kent a more equitable and vibrant community.
And stay tuned for these champions of the resistance during the general election in November!
De’Sean Quinn for Tukwila City Council,
Jesse Johnson for Federal Way City Council, Position 2
Ubah Aden for Tukwila School Board
This week, our most powerful tools of resistance – our ballots – will be arriving in our mailboxes. Be sure to fill yours out and turn it in by August 1st!