US Congress
Pramila Jayapal – US Congress, District 7
You may have seen Congresswoman Jayapal at our Kill the Cuts rally last year, or our research funding townhall at UW, or speaking against the attack on trans rights on the House Floor, or in the streets on May Day alongside workers and immigrants who are fighting for justice. Congresswoman Jayapal has been a powerful force for workers and the labor movement, immigrants, and higher education across Washington State. Let’s send her back to Congress not just with a win in this race, but an overwhelming mandate to continue fighting for our values. Vote for Pramila Jayapal for the U.S. House of Representatives!
Washington State Legislature
Renee Hernandez Greenfield – LD 26 House Position 2
Renee Hernandez Greenfield is running to be a champion of higher education, immigrant rights, and fighting for progressive revenue. Her history as a union member with AFT, knowledge of higher education labor issues, and prioritization of research funding and climate change makes her a fantastic candidate. Vote Renee Hernandez Greenfield for LD 26 House Position 2!
Jaelynn Scott – LD 37 House Position 2
Jaelynn Scott is a community organizer, is currently the Executive Director of the Lavender Rights Project, and we are thrilled to support her for State House in District 37 (South Seattle). She’s running on a campaign to address the housing crisis, pass state universal healthcare, strengthen data privacy including addressing surveillance, and champion just transition and climate policies that center community and union workers over billionaires… and plans to tax the rich so that all Washington residents have a just and sustainable future. Vote Scott!
Joe Timmons – LD 42 House Position 2
The UAW proudly endorses Joe Timmons in running for re-election as a State Representative of Washington’s 42nd District. Throughout his time in the legislature, Joe has demonstrated a commitment to lowering barriers to education. He has been a champion for funding and protecting higher education, as well as furthering the ability for student workers to organize. Timmons was instrumental in the bargaining process during Local 4929’s strike at WWU in 2025, and successfully sponsored and passed House Bill 1570, which established collective bargaining rights for non-academic student employees at Western and led to a contract later that spring. We are confident that Timmons will continue to fight for working people in Washington, and encourage you to vote for him in the upcoming primary.
Eamonn Collins – LD 42 Senate
Eamonn Collins has earned UAW’s endorsement for State Senate in the 42nd Legislative District. Collins has experience as a public school teacher and a U.S. policy maker in D.C., and has demonstrated a passionate commitment to improve working people’s lives through progressive revenue. His work as Vice President of Kulshan Community Land Trust has enabled families in Bellingham to secure stable, affordable housing; and he is ready to further relieve working people of housing costs at the state level. Collins has been outspoken in his support of organized labor and will bring strong connections to UAW, WFSE, PSE, AFT, and other unions to his office once elected. Remember to vote for Eamonn Collins in the primaries by August 4th!
Jamie Pedersen – LD 43 Senate
In our interview with Senator Jamie Pedersen, he identified his priorities for the next legislative session, listed here in order of importance: reforming Washington’s tax code through progressive taxation, funding education from early learning through higher ed, and making housing more abundant and affordable. These are the issues UAW members have consistently voiced as our top political priorities.
As Senate Majority Leader, Pedersen’s leadership in the legislature has been critical to pass major progressive legislation this past year, including the millionaire’s tax and unemployment insurance for striking workers. Historically, he has supported our collective bargaining legislation, including HB 1570. During our interview, he discussed creative solutions for stabilizing higher education funding and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting state-level research funding, including legislation like SB 6321, so that the life-saving research conducted by university employees can continue despite federal funding cuts.
Pedersen has a record of supporting legislation that benefits our members and working people everywhere. It is critical to keep an effective leader in the Senate who can build on the momentum from this past legislative session. Vote Jamie Pedersen for WA State Senator, LD 43!
Gerry Pollet – LD 46 House Position 1
UAW endorses Gerry Pollet for House of Representatives in Washington’s 46th District. Pollet is a faculty member at the University of Washington, and a union member and Instructor at Western Washington University. Pollet has consistently supported locals 4121 and 4929 throughout his time as a professor and legislator, including by successfully organizing fellow faculty members and legislators in support of UAW 4929 members during their strike. He is a consistent voice for pro-worker policies. Further, Pollet is a long-time champion of higher education funding, working to expand the Washington College grant and cut through the barriers to post-secondary education for working class Washingtonians. Vote for Pollet!
Javier Valdez – LD 46 Senate
Before being elected to the state legislature, Senator Valdez was the first president of his union, AFSCME Council 2, Local 21-C. He has been a consistent champion of policies that boost unions and protect workers, and address rising costs, including supporting the Millionaire’s tax and co-sponsoring our WA Science Research Bill (SB 6321). Last session, Senator Valdez sponsored and passed a bill to ban face coverings for law enforcement to address the terror of ICE agents in our state. Let’s send him back to Olympia with strong support!
Jessica Forsythe – LD 48 House Position 2
Jessica Forsythe is challenging the incumbent corporate democrat Amy Walen, who voted against the millionaire’s tax and rent stabilization, and has a history of taking campaign contributions from big business and corporate PACs. Meanwhile, Forsythe, who is currently a Redmond City Council member, is a union member who has championed and passed tenant protections, co-authored Redmond’s Climate Emergency Declaration, and worked to expand transit options in the city. Let’s see what Forsythe, who has taken down incumbents in the past, can do in Olympia, and flip this seat to a union member and progressive champion. Vote Forsythe!
Vandana Slatter- LD 48 Senate
Members across the state enthusiastically endorse Vandana Slatter for Senate in the 48th Legislative District! Senator Slatter is a leading voice in Washington on the importance of science and research, and is the prime sponsor of the WA Science Research Bond bill (SB 6321). She has a background as a scientist who earned her doctorate from UW. She’s also a fierce advocate for higher education and student aid, including professional and graduate students, progressive revenue, and reproductive care. As an immigrant herself, Slatter is also a large proponent of protecting our immigrant and undocumented colleagues. Vote Vandana Slatter for State Senator for the 48th Legislative District!
WA Supreme Court
Position 1: Colleen Melody. Position 3: Jaime Hawk. Position 5: Theo Angelis. Position 7: Debra Stephens.
Washington State has several State Supreme Court races this year, which is the body that interprets the state constitution and laws. The next State Supreme Court will likely take up the issue of the Millionaire’s Tax and immigrant rights, among other critical issues, which is why the mega-wealthy are running their own WA Supreme Court candidates to overturn progressive victories. Our endorsements represent a slate of candidates that have experience defending working people, immigrants, reproductive and gender affirming care, and are committed to expanding access to justice. This August, vote: Colleen Melody (Position 1), Jaime Hawk (Position 3), Theo Angelis (Position 5), and Debra Stephens (Position 7) to defend and expand our rights in these areas!
City of Seattle
Seattle Prop 1- Vote YES for Seattle Libraries
Nilu Jenks – Seattle City Council District 5
Electing labor champions who understand the interconnectedness of the various issues facing our city, like labor rights, immigration, housing, and climate change, is critical to making sure Seattle is a city in which workers can thrive. One of Jenks’ top priorities is protecting immigrant rights, for example ensuring local resources are never used to support federal mass deportations. Further Jenks takes the time to meet with District 5 members to talk through concrete policy proposals. Jenks has experience as a community organizer, which is why UAW members can trust Jenks to get consistent feedback from the community and represent what working people need at City Hall — vote Nilu Jenks for Seattle City Council District 5!
Katherine Edwards – Municipal Court Judge Position No. 2
King County Municipal Court elections shape how laws and offenses within Seattle and King County are ruled on, and making sure issues like tenant law, wage theft, and other legal offenses are ruled on fairly is essential to make sure that our rights we win at the bargaining table and in policy are protected. Katherine Edwards’ experience as a public defender, thoughtfulness about protecting court participants from ICE, and focus on eliminating disproportionate sentencing make her an excellent candidate for Municipal Court. Vote Katherine Edwards for Seattle Municipal Court!
King County
Rebecca Saldaña – King County Council District 2
Rebecca Saldaña got her start by organizing farm workers in WA, and has continued to be a longtime labor ally in Washington, previously serving as a Senator in Washington’s 37th Legislative District. Through her time in the Senate, Saldaña has fought to expand collective bargaining access for workers in Washington, including sponsoring and passing bills for student workers, clearing the pathway for the 2,000 student workers at Western Washington University who organized and joined UAW as UAW 4929. Saldaña is running for King County to have an impact on some of the biggest issues close to home: affordable housing, affordable childcare, and expanding public transit. Saldaña’s organizing experience and knowledge of labor law are critical in a time where workers need to fight the billionaire class and creatively address the affordability crisis. Saldaña has been consistent in upholding her values as an organizer and labor champion. Vote Saldaña for King County Council District 2!
Jorge Barón – King County Council District 4
Jorge Barón is the incumbent King County councilmember representing King County District 4. He has a proven track record for showing up for non-citizen members of our community, for example by leading the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project for 15 years before becoming a councilmember. As a councilmember, he has continued this line of work by co-sponsoring policy to strengthen protections for immigrants and refugees in King County. One of the highest priorities of UAW members in this current political moment is protecting our non-citizen colleagues, and having Jorge as a councilmember again will help us do that. Given Jorge’s track record and alignment with our local’s priorities, we support him continuing his role as councilmember. Vote Barón for King County Council District 4!
Teresa Mosqueda – King County Council District 8
Teresa Mosqueda has been a consistent champion for UAW members in King County — as a Seattle City Councilmember, she led a work session highlighting the impacts of discrimination and harassment experienced by postdocs at UW during our first postdoc contract fight. As a county councilmember, she has led the council on growing and expanding union jobs and holding employers accountable, building more affordable housing and transit infrastructure, and strengthening public health. Given Mosqueda’s record of actively and consistently supporting labor and her deep commitment to advancing member priorities at the county level, Mosqueda is unequivocally the right choice for re-election to this seat. Vote Mosqueda for King County Council District 8.
Chris Roberts – King County Assessor
While UAW members continue fighting to implement progressive revenue in Washington, property taxes remain a significant source of public funding. Chris Roberts is committed to equitable, transparent property assessments, and understands how housing policy, climate action, and tax policy all shape our lives as working people. We especially value his proven dedication to uplifting Indigenous voices in policy decisions through his work at the National League of Cities. We’re proud to support this former UAW 4121 member for local office. Vote Chris Roberts for King County Assessor!