2026 will be a big year for statewide offices, federal congressional districts, and state legislative seats. Check back often as we roll out our endorsements for this year.
Are you running for office and seeking an endorsement? We're scheduling interviews! You'll find helpful information on our Get Endorsed page.
Want to support our work? As an all-volunteer organization, we can't recruit, train, and elect women and non-binary people to all levels of office in Washington alone. All donations you make will go directly to our Women-Powered Campaign Fund, which is fueling women and non-binary people running in close races all across the state.. Let's help them win in November! DONATE today!
Volunteers
The endorsement process requires a great deal of volunteer assistance. If you're interested in participating with an interview team or organizing one, your help would be appreciated. For more information, please email info[at]nwpcwa.org.
SHORTCUT TO ENDORSEMENTS BY POSITION
The National Women's Political Caucus screens and endorses candidates for federal-level offices, provided with the input of the local and state organizations.
CONGRESSIONAL POSITIONS |
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Suzan DelBene |
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez |
Pramila Jayapal |
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Kim Schrier |
Marilyn Strickland |
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STATEWIDE POSITIONS |
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LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS |
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Lisa Parshley |
Lisa Parshley, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology) Washington State Representative, LD 22, Position #2 [email protected] or [email protected] Legislative phone: 360-481-3324 Personal phone: 503-729-0238 Elected experience: Olympia City Council, position #5 –2018-2022, re-elected 2021, resigned December 17th, 2024 Washington LD 22 State Representative, position #2, term 2025-2027. Appointed committee assignments: Finance Committee, Local Government, and Healthcare & Welfare, Capital Budget (vice chair) Appointments: Universal Health Care Commission, CSG Energy and the Grid, and CSG Legislative Council River Governance (LCRG) Caucus memberships: Maritime, Science and technology, Housing for All, Working Family, Disabled Adults, and Water Caucus Community Service: Paws 4 Cause board member: Animal Cancer Foundation and American Cancer Society Point-in time count: animal health tent (2018-2024) Vaccine clinics for animals in tiny home villages/stabilization sites |
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Tarra Simmons |
Tarra Simmons is a State Representative for Washington’s 23rd District and serves as Deputy Speaker Pro Tem. A formerly incarcerated person, former Registered Nurse and now a civil rights attorney, Tarra uses her lived experience and professional expertise to advocate for a strong social safety net, affordable housing and healthcare, and community safety for all people. In the legislature, Tarra is a champion for labor with a 100% voting record, fiercely defending the rights of workers. As a former Registered Nurse, she passed landmark mental health parity legislation (HB 1432), expanded access to Charity Care (HB 1616). As a an advocate for civil rights, she passed the "Free the Vote Act," restoring voting rights to thousands. Tarra is known for building consensus through empathy and an open-door policy, ensuring every constituent has a voice in Olympia. |
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Deb Krishnadasan |
Deb Krishnadasan is a Washington State Senator, lifelong Washington resident, and first-generation college graduate dedicated to expanding opportunity for others. She served on the Peninsula School Board from 2015–2020, including two years as President, where she championed high-quality education for all students. Deb founded Stand Up for Peninsula Schools (SUP) and led successful levy and bond campaigns that funded four new elementary schools and modernized two middle schools. In the Senate, she has focused on affordability, education, and equity, passing legislation to expand childcare access, strengthen property tax relief for seniors and people with disabilities, and protect reproductive freedom, including emergency care for pregnant patients. Deb is a proven, community-driven leader committed to supporting women and families, protecting fundamental rights, and building a more equitable Washington. |
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Mari Leavitt |
Mari Leavitt is a military child and an advocate for seniors, students, working families, veterans/military families, and people experiencing homelessness. She is running for re-election to ensure every family in Washington has financial security through living-wage jobs, healthcare that is affordable and accessible, safe housing, access to a quality public education — from early learning through college or technical training, and thriving small businesses. As a legislator, Mari serves as the Deputy Majority Whip, a member of the Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee, the Capital Budget Committee, the Appropriations Committee, the Early Learning Advisory Council, the Rules Committee, and Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. She also serves on the Joint Task Force Against Trafficking of Persons. Mari has sponsored policies that deal with: expanding affordable housing, addressing homelessness,and protecting healthcare workers from workplace violence. |
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Vanessa Kritzer |
Vanessa Kritzer is in her seventh year on the Redmond City Council, where she recently served as Council President. She is a mom of two kids who is a leader on local action to advance childcare, housing affordability, reproductive healthcare access, and supporting families and individuals in need. She is running to represent the 45th district to make statewide progress on these issues and bring her deep policy expertise to fight for our kids, our climate, and our communities. Vanessa is also the Executive Director of the Washington Association of Land Trusts, where she works to protect our lands and waterways. Her career has included work at Microsoft and years working for nonprofits in Washington, DC, including the Latin America Working Group and the League of Conservation Voters. Vanessa holds MBA and MPA degrees from UW and served as the student member of UW's Board of Regents during graduate school. She is the former State Endorsement Chair of NWPC-WA. |
CITY POSITIONS |
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COUNTY POSITIONS |
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Jane Van Dyke |
A Washington native, Jane Van Dyke grew up in Seattle and has lived in Clark County over 40 years. As a current Utility Commissioner, she brings her legal and non-profit executive experience to Clark Public Utilities. Elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2020, she currently serves as Board President. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara and Lewis and Clark Law School, she is a member of the Washington State Bar. She is active with national, regional and state public utilities, serving as president of the state association in 2024-25. She is also a member and active with a number of local organizations, including Vancouver Sunrise Rotary, Columbia Land Trust, League of Women Voters, and EOCF-HeadStart. She participates regularly in community events, including the utility's Race for Warmth and Stream Team. She enjoys hiking, international travel, and spending time with her family. |
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Leesa Manion |
Leesa Manion, a career prosecutor, is the first woman, the first person of color, and the first Asian American to serve as King County Prosecuting Attorney. Prior to being elected in November of 2022, Leesa served as Chief of Staff in the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for 15 years, where she oversaw a workforce of nearly 500, managed an annual budget of $100 million, and spearheaded projects designed to reduce disproportionality, increase public safety, and improve victim services. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the Civil Division, where she focused on litigation and client advising. Leesa serves on the Boards of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, the American Prosecutors Association, and the WA Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and is a former Board member of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle. She is part of the Korean American Bar Assoc. and the Nat. Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Assoc. |
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Claudia Balducci |
King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci has spent the last two decades in public service, including serving as Mayor of Bellevue and chairing the King County Council through the height of the pandemic. Called a “transit die-hard,” Claudia has worked to expand transit options across the county, and is credited with delivering Light Rail to the Eastside. She has brought together cities, employers, non-profits, and communities to develop transparent and accountable housing affordability plans, which have resulted in thousands of new affordable homes with even more to come. She has championed programs to improve education and economic opportunity, been a life-long champion for reproductive justice, led locally and regionally to respond to climate change and to protect our clean waters, and advanced opportunities in arts, culture, heritage, and science, most recently through the Doors Open program. She is a graduate of Providence College, and earned her law degree at Columbia University. |
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Teresa Mosqueda |
Teresa Mosqueda is a King County Councilmember representing District 8, first elected to Seattle City Council in 2017 and to King County Council in 2023. A third-generation Mexican American and proud Chicana raised in a union household, she is the first Latina elected to the King County Council. Before elected office, she advanced workers' rights and healthcare access at the WA State Labor Council and helped pass Initiative 1433 raising the statewide minimum wage. In office, she passed JumpStart Progressive Payroll Tax, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, Hotel Worker Protections, and the Seattle Housing Levy. At King County, she chairs the Board of Health and the Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee, championing immigrant protections, survivor services, affordable housing, and advanced worker protections. She is a proud union member of OPEIU Local 8. |
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Linda Farmer |
Linda Farmer serves as Pierce County Auditor, where she oversees elections for nearly 600,000 voters and manages essential services including licensing, recording, and passport processing. Elected in 2022, she brings decades of public service experience, including serving on the Lakewood City Council and the Pierce County Charter Review Commission, and as Chief Communications Officer for the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services. Linda is nationally accredited in elections administration and holds degrees from Syracuse University and the University of Washington. She has focused her career on improving access to government services, strengthening election integrity, and building public trust. |
JUDICIAL POSITIONS |
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Lisa O'Toole |
Judge Lisa O’Toole was first elected as a King County District Court judge in 2014. She serves in the Bellevue Courthouse and is the KCDC East Division presiding judge and on the Court's Executive Committee. She is committed to ensuring that justice is administered fairly, efficiently, and equally to all, and that everyone is treated with respect and courtesy. Judge O’Toole brings to the District Court bench more than 30 years of experience practicing law and trying cases, both as a former prosecuting attorney and as a former civil attorney in private practice. A life-long resident of Washington, Judge O’Toole graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla with a B.A. in Economics, and from the Seattle University School of Law, (formerly University of Puget Sound School of Law), with a J.D., cum laude. She lives with her husband and children in East King County. Judge O’Toole is an active volunteer on many judicial committees, both within King County District Court and State-wide. |
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Jennifer Racourt |
Judge Rancourt has proudly served on the Snohomish County District Court since 2019. During that time, she served as the Presiding Judge as well as the Dean of the Washington State Judicial College. Judge Rancourt helped create and presides over the county's relicensing program which has assisted over 100 individuals overcome obstacles to re-licensing. She also presided over the county's first pre-trial services program designed to reduce both incarceration and recidivism rates through targeted services. Prior to her election in 2018, Judge Rancourt dedicated her legal career to public defense work representing vulnerable populations affected by substance use disorder, mental illness and poverty. She also served as a judge pro tem for nearly a decade and chaired the state's Clemency and Pardons Board under Governors Gregoire and Inslee. Judge Rancourt is a long-time resident of Stanwood where she raised her son, a freshman at WSU and daughter, a junior at Stanwood High School. |
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Rachelle Francis |
Judge Francis is a District Court judge in the Cascade Division in Snohomish County. She was unanimously appointed to a newly created judicial position by the Snohomish County Council in 2023. Judge Francis grew up in the Stanwood area where she worked in agriculture jobs as a teenager to help pay for her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington. She received her law degree at Seattle University and immediately began working at the Snohomish County Public Defender Association where she remained for 22 years. During her time at SCPDA, Judge Francis gained valuable experience in criminal law, but spent the majority of her career representing individuals being detained for involuntary commitment for mental health and substance use issues, as well as supervising other attorneys in this role. Issues such as procedural fairness and due process are priorities for Judge Francis, and she strives to make sure the most vulnerable in our community have access to justice. |
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Elizabeth Fraser |
Judge Fraser was born in the U.S. but spent her first 12 years in Eastern Canada. One of her vivid early memories while living in Canada was hearing about w v x on the international evening news. She still remembers the shock at learning that it was lawful ANYWHERE to have non-consensual sex (rape) with one's wife. She was raised in a very estrogen-rich family where everyone was raised to expect that women should be treated equal to men. She also clearly remembers her mother bristling and not being able to get a credit card in her own or establish her own credit rating. Living in several states and countries led to her appreciation of cultural differences and the Her college major was in "The Program of Liberal Studies/Great Books Program" which was steeped in philosophy, history and never-ending inquisitiveness. Her assertiveness and ire at anyone ever being treated as "less-than" made the path to law school natural. A legal career spanning 25 years in public defense. |
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Linda Coburn |
Judge Linda Coburn earned her BA at the University of Washington and MS at Ohio University. After her 13-year career as a journalist, she graduated with honors from Seattle University School of Law. She was a career public defender and served as law clerk to Judge Stephen Dwyer (Court of Appeals) and Judge George Bowden (Snohomish County Superior Court). As Edmonds Municipal Court presiding judge, she created space for jurors to pump breast milk as needed. Since being elected to the Court of Appeals in 2020, Judge Coburn continues to be committed to improving both access to justice and the quality and diversity of the judiciary. She is a member of the State Supreme Court's Minority Justice Commission and served on the advisory committee to the Supreme Court's Gender and Justice Commission. Judge Coburn is a 34-year resident of Snohomish County, where she raised two sons with her husband. She is a baseball umpire and the top-ranked high school volleyball official in Snohomish County. |
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Colleen Melody |
Colleen Melody began serving as a Justice of the Washington Supreme Court in January 2026. Prior to joining the Court, she served as Chief of the Civil Rights Division in the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. There, she enforced federal and state laws protecting the rights of Washingtonians. During Justice Melody’s tenure, the Civil Rights Division led some of the most visible and cutting-edge enforcement matters the office undertook. That included co-leading a lawsuit to protect the availability of abortion medication nationwide, as well as challenges to the federal government’s Family Separation Policy and Transgender Military Service Ban. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Justice Melody served in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC. She is a graduate of the UW School of Law. Justice Melody was born and raised in Spokane, and now lives in rural Western Washington with her husband and two daughters. |
