Educators get out the vote

More than 500 Washington educators gathered in locations across the state to talk to voters about labor-endorsed candidates

FEDERAL WAY, WA (October 28, 2024) — Nearly 150 educators organized with Washington Education Association (WEA) gathered at their union’s statewide headquarters on Saturday to hear speeches by pro-public-education, pro-labor candidates and then fan out to talk with voters. Hundreds more gathered in similar events statewide on the same morning.

In Federal Way, WEA members were joined by candidates for state-wide office, including: Bob Ferguson, candidate for Governor; Chris Reykdal, candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Nick Brown, candidate for Attorney General. Also present was Mary Kusler, National Education Association (NEA) Senior Director of Advocacy.

Educators are door-knocking to turn out voters because “they understand how important it is to have elected officials who put schools first,” said WEA President Larry Delaney. “Down in Vancouver, we even have two WEA members running to join WEA member Rep. Monica Stonier, to help make our voices heard in the Legislature.”

Candidates Adrian Cortes, John Zingale, Deken Letinich, and Monica Stonier pose with volunteers for a rainy group photo before knocking doors to talk with local voters. Photo: Zingale campaign

Those two WEA members are John Zingale and Adrian Cortes, running for House and Senate in the 18th LD, respectively. Along with Deken Letinich, another union member also running in the 18th, these candidates are campaigning on their real experiences as working people, hoping to bring more representation for working families to Olympia.

As WEA members gathered at the Federal Way headquarters, educators and volunteers gathered in Vancouver to hear from Cortes, Zingale, and Letinich. They were also joined by long-time labor champion State Rep. Monica Stonier.

“I can’t wait to represent educators in Olympia and have a partner in the Senate with Adrian,” said Zingale, who teaches history in Vancouver. “Working people in Southwest Washington know that Monica, Deken, and the two of us will stand up and make our voices heard for their interests every day.”

Statewide, members in 10 other locations held similar events on Saturday with nearly 30 candidates speaking and attending. Union members gathered in Bellingham, Bremerton, Everett, Lakewood, Mill Creek, Mount Vernon, Redmond, Spokane, Vancouver, and Yakima.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and educators pose for a photo together before hitting the doors on Saturday. Photo: WEA

Many labor-endorsed candidates joined as guest speakers, including:

• Bellingham: Rep. Joe Timmons, Rep. Alicia Rule
• Bremerton: Emily Randall, Adison Richards, Tiffiny Mitchell
• Everett: U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, Rep. Julio Cortes, Rep. Mary Fosse
• Lakewood (Pierce County): Sen. T’wina Nobles, Rep. Dan Bronoske,
• Mill Creek: Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Rep. April Berg
• Mount Vernon: Rep. Dave Paul, Rep. Clyde Shavers, Janet St. Clair
• Redmond: Melissa Demyan
• Spokane: Rep. Marcus Riccelli, Carmela Conroy
• Yakima: Maria Beltran, Ana Ruiz Kennedy, Chelsea Dimas

With eight days left until Election Day, labor is stepping up GOTV efforts across the state, turning out as many union members to vote as possible. Phone banks are running this week, and union members will gather in Yakima, Kent, and Marysville this coming weekend to talk to union voters about labor’s endorsed candidates.

Union members can sign up to join virtual phone banks or the coming weekend’s walks with the WSLC here.