Democracy is at its best when immigrants, refugees and people of color are engaged and represented at all levels by people that come from our communities and act in our interests. There is a lot at stake for our communities this election season and we must mobilize and vote to elect people like us, leaders of color and allies committed to co-governance, to serve at all levels of government.
In Congress and the White House, we must elect a strong pro-immigrant delegation that will counteract harmful anti-immigrant narratives and policies and replace them with a new vision for a just immigration system, democracy for all, and an education system that meets ALL of our needs.
In our state, we must elect leaders who will ensure we all have what we need to stay healthy and safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, no matter our immigration status. We need leaders who will build a better state that prioritizes public health, community prosperity, and economic justice.
"OneAmerica Votes (OAV) represents and works with numerous communities, and when OAV endorses a candidate, it implies that those communities align themselves withthe candidate as well. Therefore, it's vital that leaders, that represent the values and needs of our communities, get to interview candidates and make sure that they're "on the same page" when it comes to the issues that affect us." -Youth Council Member Alex
Our Grassroots Leadership (GRLC) and Youth Council, a group of immigrant, refugee, and POC leaders from across the state, virtually interviewed candidates, asked tough questions, and made key decisions on whether to endorse and how to work with these candidates in the future.
We are excited to announce our 2020 endorsements which are a key way that we can elect people of color and allies committed to co-governance, educate legislators on our issues, and hold them accountable to co-governing with our communities.
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US TO LIFT THESE POWERFUL CANDIDATES WE HAVE ENDORSED TO ELECTED LEADERSHIP BY SUPPORTING THEIR CAMPAIGNS WITH YOUR VOICES, YOUR DOLLARS, YOUR TIME, AND YOUR VOTE.
*More endorsements will continue to be added to this list as they are interviewed.
OUR 2020 ENDORSEMENTS
KEY ENDORSEMENTS
*Click/hover on photos for more information
The endorsements listed below are key races OneAmerica Votes will be mobilizing around this election season! If you are interested in canvassing with OneAmerica Votes to elect these candidates - sign up to join one of our weekly Vote Parties!
JAMILA TAYLOR
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 30
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 30
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
Jamila Taylor shares our values of equitable education systems, safe workplaces for all and racial justice.
Taylor is a victim’s rights advocate and attorney who is a former Counsel for the Northwest Justice Project. She also serves on the Federal Way Human Services Commission.
She is an advocate for COVID-19 recovery for all, no matter immigration status, investing in an education system that meets the needs of children of color, and ensuring that everyone is able to access the court system without fear.
Taylor will be an advocate for our communities in the legislature to fight for funding for our citizenship programs, dual language classrooms and more pivotal programs as we gear up for a recession and budget cuts due to COVID-19.
REP. JESSE JOHNSON
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 30
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 30
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
Rep. Jesse Johnson is up for re-election and has been a strong advocate for issues pertaining to immigrant justice in the past. He will push for progressive revenue reformt o ensure equitable investments that puts communities over corporations.
He grew up in Federal Way since he was 5 years old and is the oldest of 4 children. He currently works as a Staffing Analyst in Workforce Planning & Development for Highline Public School. Johnson is a champion for youth and education - he shares our vision of an education system that works to close the opportunity gap for children of color. He is an ally to our youth in Federal Way who seek college access and success.
A vote for Rep. Jesse Johnson means electing people like us who will fight for vital programs and justice for our communities.
TANISHA HARRIS
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 17
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 17
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
Clark County deserves to have people like us in office that share our values and reflect the diversity of the district. Representation matters.
Tanisha Harris is ready to be the voice working and middle-class families need in Olympia! Harris was born and raised in Vancouver, WA. She’s spent ten years working for the Evergreen School District as an educator and now advocates for children in the foster care system. As an elected official, she would sponsor, support and vote for legislation that protects a woman’s right to choose, access to healthcare for all families, public policy that support women in the workforce and keeps our schools and communities safe.
Harris shares our values of democracy, education and justice for all. She will fight to make sure that the rich pay their fair share, preserving vital programs for our immigrant communities.
CAROLYN LONG
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Vancouver deserves to have people in office that share our pro-immigrant values, and that will keep us safe and steady in this time. We deserve a representative, and a Congress, that will keep families together, create pathways to citizenship, respect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to find a better life, and who will treat immigrants with dignity and justice.
Carolyn Long, a pro-immigrant progressive who came close to victory in 2018, is running once again. The current representative is attacking our communities in this time of crisis; she doesn’t represent immigrants or care about us - Carolyn Long can chart a new course. One that puts immigrant values at the forefront.
When elected, she will work alongside our Vancouver leaders to create a new vision for immigrants in the Southwest WA region. We are excited to endorse Long to flip the 3rd.
ADDITIONAL ENDORSEMENTS
*Click/hover on photos for more information
STATEWIDE
GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE
WASHINGTON STATE GOVERNOR
GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE WASHINGTON STATE GOVERNOR
A strong advocate for immigrant communities. Governor Jay Inslee helped create the $40 million Immigrant Worker Relief Fund and has time and time again showed support for Sanctuary Cities and ensuring the well-being of ALL Washingtonians.
SUPERINTENDENT CHRIS REYKDAL
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
SUPERINTENDENT CHRIS REYKDALOFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
U.S. CONGRESS
REP. SUZAN DELBENE
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
REP. SUZAN DELBENECONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
REP. RICK LARSEN
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
REP. RICK LARSENCONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
REP. DEREK KILMER
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
REP. DEREK KILMERCONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Rep. Jayapal is the founder of OneAmerica and has been a resilient and powerful advocate of immigration reform. We are proud to have her in leadership in D.C.
REP. KIM SCHRIER
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 8
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
REP. KIM SCHRIERCONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 8
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
REP. ADAM SMITH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 9
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
REP. ADAM SMITHCONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 9
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
BETH DOGLIO
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
BETH DOGLIOCONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Doglio is running for congress against an anti-immigrant congressperson. She will be an advocate of immigrant issues. She will fight for a Clean Dream Act, ensure #not1moredollar of our tax dollars are used to fund immigrant detention & border security, and fight to ensure that immigrants are not left out of COVID-19 relief packages in the future.
PIERCE COUNTY
T'WINA NOBLES
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 28
SENATOR
T'WINA NOBLESLEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 28
SENATOR
Nobles would be a powerful advocate for our communities. She will fight for funding for early learning and childcare programs, advocate for our detained immigrants, and support funding for citizenship programs.
JOY STANFORD
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 26
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
JOY STANFORD LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 26
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
REP. LAURIE JINKINS
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 27
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
REP. LAURIE JINKINSLEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 27
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
REP. MELANIE MORGAN
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 29
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
REP. MELANIE MORGAN LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 29
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
KING COUNTY
REP. BILL RAMOS
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 5
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 5
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
Rep. Bill Ramos grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. He wants to show up and support immigrants today in the way he would have wanted his grandparents to have been received and supported years ago.
Ramos is an advocate of our communities and wants to ensure everyone is counted in the Census. He is passionate about education and the environment and we look forward to working with him in the future.
SEN. BOB HASEGAWA
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 11
SENATOR
SEN. BOB HASEGAWALEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 11
SENATOR
Sen. Hasegawa has been a strong supporter of OneAmerica's legislative priorities in the past, including the need for progressive revenue that puts communities first!
He is a third generation Japanese American who fought to pass the Washington Voting Rights Act and has shown his support for expanding COVID-19 relief to ITIN filers, as well as expanding unemployment insurance benefits to undocumented communities. We look forward to our continued partnership.
REP. CINDY RYU
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 32 REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 32 REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
Rep. Ryu is an advocate for immigrant communities in the legislature. She has advocated for a more equitable education system that includes supporting K-14 publicly funded education, so that at least 2 years of college is accessible to everyone, including immigrants and refugees.
Ryu is an immigrant herself who came from Korea in 1969 and also supports a capital gains tax that puts our communities first!
MIA SU-LING GREGERSON
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 33
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 33
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
KRISTEN HARRIS-TALLEY
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 37
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 37
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
Kristen Harris Talley has been a huge champion for our issues! As a mother of 3 students in the public school system herself, she supports our early learning education initiatives that seek to close the opportunity gap for students of color.
She believes we all deserve COVID-19 relief, regardless of immigration status and is an activist that has worked shoulder to shoulder with the community for over 20 years for racial, gender and economic justice. We are proud to endorse her as she rises up to be a leader for our communities in Olympia.
REP. TANA SENN
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 41
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 41
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
Rep. Senn is a champion for early learning programs who believes bilingual education is an advantage that benefits our economy and community. We will work together to close the gap in opportunity for all students.
REP. TANA SENN
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 41
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 41
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
Rep. Senn is a champion for early learning programs who believes bilingual education is an advantage that benefits our economy and community. We will work together to close the gap in opportunity for all students.
MYLINH THAI
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 41
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 41
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
REP. FRANK CHOPP
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 43
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
VANDANA SLATTER
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 48
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
REP. DEBRA ENTENMAN
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 47
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 47
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
Rep. Entenman grew up in Rainier Vista and was shaped by the powerful women and the education she received. She is a supporter of immigrants and the issues that impact our communities.
She has advocated to make higher education free for students and restricting ICE's access to student information.
REP. PAT SULLIVAN
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 47
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 47
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
Rep. Sullivan is an advocate of OAV's priorities - ensuring pivotal programs are funded in the state budget. He supports citizenship access, dual language programs, and ensuring immigrants get they care they deserve.
When asked what stood out to them Rep. Sullivan's endorsement interview, OAV Youth Council Member Alex stated, "It may seem like such a small act, but how he greeted each person on the call stuck with me. It really seemed like he was listening to (and not just hearing) us, and that he valued our power as an organization."
SKAGIT & WHATCOM COUNTY
REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 40
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 40
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
Rep. Lekanoff has been deeply involved with her community for more than 20 years.
Lekanoff is a fierce advocate of our education work, especially around expanding bilingual education. She has also advocated for all children, regardless of immigration status, to have the best start and equal chance to succeed in their classes during a pandemic.
She also supports designing a state-run unemployment program for undocumented communities in Washington and we know we can count on her advocacy for our communities in the state legislature.
SNOHOMISH COUNTY
REP. LILIAN ORTIZ-SELF
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 21
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 21
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
Rep. Ortiz-Self has worked in the legislature for 6 years. She has worked with OneAmerica in the past around our education policies.
She is an advocate for our immigrant communities and has pushed for the expansion of early learning programs. We know she will continue to work with our communities to close the opportunity gap for students of color.
REP. JOHN LOVICK
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 44
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 44
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 1
Rep. Lovick has been a representative since 2016 and has been an advocate for our communities in the education realm, including that education funding is preserved and greater support for our teachers.
Lovick is a strong advocate for criminal justice reform and a strong voice in the fight for racial justice in our nation. We are proud to endorse him and look forward to continue to work with him.
APRIL BERG
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 44
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 44
REPRESENTATIVE, POSITION 2
THURSTON COUNTY
CAROLINA MEJIA
THURSTON COUNTY COMMISSION
DISTRICT 1
KITSAP COUNTY
SENATOR CHRISTINE ROLFES
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 23
STATE SENATOR
BALLOT MEASURES
OneAmerica endorses the following ballot measure positions:
- Referendum 90: Vote APPROVED for comprehensive sex ed that values science and that teaches our children about their bodies, that consent is important, and that LGBTQ people exist.
- Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution No. 8212: Vote APPROVED to make sure that our elders are taken care of, so none of us will be left without care when we need it.
- King County Charter Amendments:
- Charter Amendment 1: Vote YES to make sure victims of police violence or negligence have legal representation and a fair court process that holds police accountable.
- Charter Amendment 3: Vote YES to make sure that programs and services in King County are available to all, regardless of immigration status, so we all have what we need to stay healthy and safe.
- Charter Amendment 6: Vote YES to reform policing, protecting Black and brown lives and mentally ill and disabled community members by shifting power from Sherriffs to the County Executive, who can prioritize mental health and other non-police professionals responding to emergencies.
- Seattle Proposition 1: Vote YES for mass transit that supports our communities, especially immigrant and low income community members, that rebuilds our crumbling infrastructure like the West Seattle Bridge, and that reduces global warming emissions and traffic.