GPWA would like to run a statewide candidate in 2020!
Are you someone who might be up to this task, either as a candidate or a campaign support volunteer?
–> Keep reading and if you see yourself as a potential candidate for any of these positions, please download and complete our Candidate Questionnaire so that we may consider supporting your campaign:
Also, if you would like to volunteer to support a Green Party campaign, please let us know!
Content provided by Noah Martin, South Sound Greens, GPWA Campaign Committee member
There are multiple statewide executive positions up for election in 2020. I have listed most of them here. I particularly believe that GPWA would benefit from running someone for Commissioner of Public Lands, since it is a position that “fits” the Greens’ mission very well and the Democrats who are running are “Green capitalists” from King County who have little appeal in places where the Commissioner of Public Lands’ actions are felt the most like Eastern and Southwestern Washington. In addition, it has directly translatable experience for a race for a conservation district, which are among the most winnable nonpartisan local races for Greens.
Benefits of running a statewide campaign
While GPWA is probably not yet able to win races at the state level, having a statewide candidate has several benefits for the state party:
- Raising key state-level issues that might not otherwise be mentioned in the race
- Linking the party to those state-level issues and leveraging them to grow the party
- “Filling out” the ballot so Greens are not just a top-heavy ticket with a presidential candidate, but are shown to have a real presence in the state
- Building out GPWA’s statewide campaign infrastructure so it can better compete in local races
- Researching policy positions, creating messaging, and collecting voter data that can be built on in follow-up local campaigns.
- Allowing a candidate to build name recognition and a statewide fundraising network before running for local office
Offices up for Election in 2020
Due to limited capacity, GPWA may decide to focus on a single statewide office. However, there are several statewide offices that can have a watershed effect on down ballot races or leverage a particular issue.
Governor — This is the primary executive of Washington State, and it touches pretty much every state-level issue. This would be a particularly good position if someone wants to raise issues that have more to do with the legislature and/or the governor’s legislative priorities, or if there are issues that the Democratic administration needs to be pushed on.
Good qualifying professions: Administrative positions of various stripes, lawyers, workers… Almost any profession can make a case for Governor if the messaging is done right.
Possible Issues: Legislative dysfunction, dam removal, dirty energy, carbon fees, ecosocialism
Local Races that Benefit: Most of them, particularly legislative races
Superintendent of Public Instruction — The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is one of the largest executive departments of Washington State and oversees the execution of education policy. Maintaining education is THE fundamental constitutional duty of the State of Washington, and our current legislators have been making a mess of it. Much of the game of chicken in the legislature every year is around the education budget, which means this position could be a great opportunity to discuss the budget, charter schools, curriculum, child poverty, and other pressing issues in WA.
Good qualifying professions: Teacher, school administrator, childcare worker, pediatrician, artist, school bus driver, and other professions that work directly with children
Possible Issues: Budget, charter schools, curriculum, education conditions, child poverty
Local Races that Benefit: School boards
Secretary of State — The Secretary of State’s primary role in WA is to oversee elections. This is a great position for people with election or administrative experience in general, especially in a high-paced environment.
Good qualifying professions: Election worker, campaign manager, programmer, auditor, public administrator
Possible Issues: Voting reform, election technology, transparency
Local Races that Benefit: All of them, particularly partisan races like County Auditor
Commissioner of Public Lands — The Commissioner of Public Lands is an increasingly important position that is charged with overseeing both the state’s relationships with extractive industries like fishing, logging, and farming and the state’s management of state parks, conservation efforts and forest fires.
Good qualifying professions: Biologist, ecologist, farmworker, firefighter, fisherperson, park ranger, emergency management, surveyor
Possible Issues: Effects of climate change like forest fires, pesticide use, land use, and other ecological issues
Local Races that Benefit: Conservation District boards
Auditor — The State Auditor is charged with overseeing efforts for government transparency and accountability at the state, county, and local levels. This is constitutionally supposed to be the most “independent” position, which makes it a good office for a third party to run for “to keep the fox from guarding the henhouse,” so to speak. Independents tend to perform better running for this position.
Good qualifying professions: Financial analyst, ombuds, journalist, human resources, lawyer, accountant
Possible Issues: Government transparency (particularly Senate Bill 6617 and its subsequent iterations), corruption, partisanship
Local Races that Benefit: All of them, particularly County Assessors and County Auditors
Treasurer — The chief financial officer of the state of Washington. This position is currently held by an incumbent Republican, and Democrats will be hungry to win it back. This means there will probably be more space on the left for Greens to find a niche.
Good qualifying professions: Accountant, financial planner, actuary, worker in the financial sector
Possible Issues: Taxes, the budget, public banking
Local Races That Benefit: City Council and legislative races, County Assessors
Link to the Washington Secretary of State for a list of 2020 State Offices Open for Election:
https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/candidates/offices-open-for-election.aspx
Follow the declared candidates on Ballotpedia:
https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Natural_Resources_Commissioner_election,_2020
https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_gubernatorial_election,_2020
https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Superintendent_of_Public_Instruction_election,_2020
https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Treasurer_election,_2020
https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Secretary_of_State_election,_2020
https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Auditor_election,_2020
https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election,_2020
https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Insurance_Commissioner_election,_2020
https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Washington,_2020
–> If you are interested in running for office with the Green Party, please download and complete our Candidate Questionnaire:
If you would like to volunteer to support a Green Party campaign, please let us know!