Relentless attacks on immigrant and refugee communities under the Trump Administration are energizing a movement to create change at the ballot box in Washington State. Immigrants, refugees, and people of color are stepping up to run for office at record levels, and in communities across Washington State, grassroots community members are looking ahead to this fall’s elections.
We are proud to endorse the candidates below who we believe will be a voice for their community and for immigrant rights across Washington state.
OUR PROCESS
OneAmerica Votes’ endorsement process is led by grassroots leaders from immigrant and refugee communities across Washington State interviewing dozens of candidates seeking office. Leaders directly asked candidates questions on issues important to their communities while learning more about different municipal offices from school boards to port commissions. OAV leaders evaluated the responses and made recommendations to the OneAmerica Votes Board of Directors for review and affirmation.
"It’s vital that we vote our values. I enjoyed interviewing the different candidates to search for an effective advocate for social justice, voting rights, acceptance, economic opportunity and gender and racial equity,” said OneAmerica leader, Mahamoud Djama, about his experience. “As a OneAmerica leader, our aim is to identify candidates who desire to make a positive difference in the community through true public service.”
“Elections matter, and recent history shows just how much of a difference communities can make when they vote in force,” said Rich Stolz, Chief Executive Officer of OneAmerica Votes. “It's inspiring to see so many people of color and first and second generation Americans stepping up to run for office. Together, we're changing our communities for the better, bringing new hope to communities under attack in so many ways under the current federal administration. OneAmerica Votes proudly announces our 2019 primary election candidate endorsements.”
OUR 2019 ENDORSEMENTS
*Clicking on photos will take you to the candidates website or Facebook page.
YAKIMA
POSITION: Yakima City Council District 1
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Matthew Sagen
POSITION: Yakima City Council District 1
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Eliana Macias
POSITION: Yakima City Council District 3
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Berenice Ponce
VANCOUVER
POSITION: Vancouver School District Director, Position No. 1
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Caressa Milgrove
POSITION: Vancouver School District Director, Position No. 4
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Lindsey Luis
POSITION: Vancouver School District Director, Position No. 5
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Tracie Barrows
POSITION: Evergreen School District Director, District No. 2
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Bethany Rivard
POSITION: Evergreen School District Director, District No. 4
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Divya Jain
WENATCHEE
POSITION: Wenatchee City Council, At Large
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Jorge Chacón
SEATAC
POSITION: SeaTac Council Position No. 1
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Senayet Negusse
POSITION: SeaTac Council Position No. 5
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Takele Gobena
POSITION: SeaTac Council Position No. 7
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Mohamed Ali Egal
TUKWILA
POSITION: Tukwila City Council Position No. 2
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Nancy J. Manos
POSITION: Tukwila City Council Position No. 4
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Cynthia Delostrinos Johnson
POSITION: Tukwila City Council Position No. 6
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Tosh Sharp
KENT
POSITION: Kent City Council Position No. 3
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Hira Singh Bhullar
POSITION: Kent City Council Position No. 3
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Sara Franklin
POSITION: Kent City Council Position No. 5
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Mizan Rahman
**Mizan participated in our Ready to Lead training in 2019
POSITION: Kent City Council Position No. 7
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Awale A. Farah
**Awale participated in our Ready to Lead training in 2019
BURIEN
POSITION: Burien City Council Position No. 6
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Sofia Aragon
POSITION: Highline School District Director District No. 1
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Aaron Garcia
RENTON
POSITION: Renton Mayor
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Ruth Perez
POSITION: Renton Mayor
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Marcie Maxwell
SEATTLE
POSITION: Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 2
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Sam Cho
POSITION: Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 2
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Preeti Shridhar
POSITION: Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 5
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Fred Felleman
POSITION: Seattle School District Director District No. 3
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Rebeca Muniz
POSITION: Seattle School District Director District No. 3
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Chandra Hampson
POSITION: Seattle School District Director District No. 6
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Molly E. Mitchell
REDMOND
POSITION: Redmond City Council Position No. 1
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Varisha M. Khan
**Varisha participated in our Ready to Lead training in 2019
PUYALLUP
POSITION: Puyallup School District Director Pos. 5
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Turan Kayaoglu
**Turan participated in our Ready to Lead training in 2018
ISSAQUAH
POSITION: Issaquah School District Director District No. 3
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Minal Kode Ghassemieh
SAMMAMISH
POSITION: Sammamish City Council Position No. 6
CANDIDATE ENDORSED: Rituja Indapure
**Rituja participated in our Ready to Lead training in 2018