The following state-level candidates and measures are endorsed by the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO @WAstatelabor
U.S. CONGRESS
Third Congressional District: Jim Moeller vs. Republican incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler LOST 40-60.
STATEWIDE RACES
- Governor: Jay Inslee WON 56-44.
- Lt. Governor: Cyrus Habib WON 55-45.
- Insurance Comm.: Mike Kreidler WON 60-40.
- Attorney General: Bob Ferguson WON 69-31.
- Lands Commission: Hilary Franz WON 54-46.
- Secretary of State: Tina Podlodowski LOST 46-54.
- State Auditor: Pat McCarthy WON 53-47.
- State Treasurer: Duane Davidson WON 59-41
- Supt. of Public Instruction: Chris Reykdal WON 51-49.
STATE SUPREME COURT
- Pos. 1: Mary Yu WON 58-42.
- Pos. 5: Barbara Madsen WON 63-37.
- Pos. 6: Charles Wiggins WON 58-42.
LEGISLATURE, SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
- Senate: Tim Probst LOST 46-54.
- House 1: Sam Kim LOST 49-51.
- Senate: Dean Takko WON 57-43.
- House 1: Teresa Purcell WON 51-49.
- House 2: Brian Blake WON 60-40.
- Senate: Annette Cleveland WON 63-37.
- House 1: Sharon Wylie WON 73-27.
- House 2: Monica Stonier WON 55-45.
STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES
- YES on I-1433 for a minimum wage increase and paid sick leave: I-1433 would gradually raise the state minimum wage from $9.47 to $13.50 by 2020, and provide up to seven paid safe and sick leave days for all workers in Washington state. PASSED 59-41.
- Yes on I-1501 to protect homecare workers and seniors: Sponsored by SEIU 775, the union that represents state-paid homecare workers, I-501 would exempt from public disclosure the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of in-home caregivers and the clients they serve. It would also increase civil penalties on those who defraud senior citizens and other vulnerable people. PASSED 71-29.
- NO on I-732 the carbon tax: I-732 would put a carbon emission tax on the sale or use of fossil fuels and fossil-fuel-generated electricity, but rather than use the funds to build clean energy infrastructure and increase conservation, it lowers other taxes. The carbon tax would start at $15 per metric ton of emissions in July 2017, rising to $25 in July 2018, and then annually by 3.5 percent plus inflation until it reaches $100 per metric ton. Meanwhile, the measure would lower the state sales tax from 6.5 to 5.5 percent, increase a tax credit for low-income families, and reduce the business and occupation tax rate on manufacturers from 0.484 to almost nothing – 0.001 percent. Measure sponsors wanted I-732 to be revenue neutral, but they miscalculated, and it actually would result in a cut in state funding for schools and services of over $100 million a year. DEFEATED 41-59.
- YES on I-735 to repeal Citizens United: In its 2010 Citizens United decision, the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated limits on corporate expenditures for political candidates. I-735 would urge the Washington state congressional delegation to propose a federal constitutional amendment that constitutional rights belong only to individuals, not corporations. PASSED 63-37.
