The Nov. 5 election offers King County residents a chance to weigh in on local officials and policies, in addition to the big names at the top of the ballot. For many agents, that means choosing pro-real estate nominees.
To help, Seattle King County REALTORS® (SKCR) published its list of endorsed candidates. To earn an endorsement, candidates scored at least 80 (of a possible 100) on the association’s candidate questionnaire, which covered topics like Washington’s low housing supply, zoning and land use, homelessness and rent control.
Nationally, SKCR backs U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, the Democratic incumbent, as well as Rep. Suzan DelBene for District 1, Rep. Kim Schrier for District 2 and Rep. Adam Smith for District 3. Those three representatives are also Democratic incumbents. The association made no endorsement in the District 7 race between Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Democrat, and Republican Jeb Brewer.
At the local level, SKCR’s endorsements represent a mix of Republicans and Democrats across the board, mainly incumbents. For state senator, the association endorses Democratic incumbent Sen. Derek Stanford in District 1; Chad Magendanz, a Republican and former state representative, in District 5; and Republican Rep. Keith Goehner in District 12.
Within the Washington House of Representative, SKCR endorses the following:
District 11
Rep. David Hackney, Position 1 (incumbent Democrat, running unopposed)
Rep. Steve Bergquist, Position 2 (incumbent Democrat)
District 12
Rep. Mike Steele, Position 1 (incumbent Republican)
District 13
Rep. Tom Dent, Position 1 (incumbent Republican)
Rep. Alex Ybarra, Position 2 (incumbent Republican)
District 30
Rep. Kristine Reeves, Position 2 (incumbent Democrat)
District 32
Rep. Cindy Ryu (incumbent Democrat)
District 33
Rep. Tina Orwall, Position 1 (incumbent Democrat)
Rep. Mia Gregerson, Position 2 (incumbent Democrat)
District 34
Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (incumbent Democrat)
District 43
Andrea Suarez (Democrat)
District 45
Rep. Roger Goodman (incumbent Democrat)
Rep. Larry Springer (incumbent Democrat)
District 47
Rep. Chris Stearns (incumbent Democrat)
District 48
Rep. Amy Walen (incumbent Democrat)
As for the Seattle City Council, SKCR endorses one of two candidates running, current member Tanya Woo, a Democrat.
SKCR also urges members to vote “Yes” on the Lake Washington School District Levy, the Issaquah School Modernization and Construction Bond and the Kent School District Capital Projects & Technology Levy.
The referendum on initiative I-137, which would fund affordable housing through taxing employers whose workers make over $1 million per year, will appear on the February ballot.