I-1433 opponents are flooding legislative races with cash

RunForTheMoney.org has tracked $1.8 million (and counting)

The following is from Working Washington:

OLYMPIA (Oct. 26, 2016) — A new analysis of political campaign spending in Washington state reveals the same lobbying groups and political funds that are opposing Initiative 1433 to raise the minimum wage have already invested a massive $1.8 million in state legislative elections, much of it through “Independent Expenditure” funds with misleading names like “Community Progress,” “Good Government Leadership Council,” and even “Working Families” — which, even in the world of politics, is a startlingly cynical name for a group funded by minimum wage opponents.

It’s all spelled out with faces, names, and dollar amounts at a new website from Working Washington: RunForTheMoney.org.

As detailed on the site, anti-minimum wage groups and the political funds they back have already invested large amounts of money in more than a dozen key State Legislative races:

●  $369,056 backing Chad Magendanz in the 5th Legislative District (Issaquah, Carnation, Snoqualmie)

●  $363,580 backing Lynda Wilson in the 17th Legislative District (Vancouver, Clark County)

●  $214,579 backing Steve Litzow in the 41st District (Bellevue, Mercer Island)

●  $188,436 backing Teri Hickel in the 30th District (Federal Way, Auburn, Des Moines)

●  $127,446 more behind Linda Kochmar for the other House seat in the 30th District (Federal Way, Auburn, Des Moines)

●  $126,665 backing Jesse Young (26th Legislative District – Bremerton, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor)

●  $114,662 backing Janice Huxford (44th Legislative District – Mill Creek, Snohomish, Lake Stevens)

●  $92,930 backing Barbara Bailey (10th Legislative District – Stanwood, Whidbey Island, Camano Island)

●  $80,099 backing Steve O’Ban (28th Legislative District – Lakewood, Dupont, University Place)

●  $47,375 backing Paul Graves (5th Legislative District – Issaquah, Carnation, Snoqualmie)

●  $44,157 backing Jim Walsh (19th Legislative District – Aberdeen, Longview, Raymond)

●  $38,927 backing Ramiro Valderrama (45th Legislative District – Kirkland, Duvall, Woodinville)

And more…

The more you know about the interests funding a candidate, the more you know what to expect from them. So voters across the state are asking: how high will the spending go by Nov. 8… and what returns might these groups be expecting on their investment?

Working Washington is a statewide workers organization that fights to raise wages, improve labor standards, and change the conversation about wealth, inequality, and the value of work. Learn more at