For some candidates in crucial or tight races, we provide in-depth endorsements to explain our reasoning for asking you to support them. This year's general election features some really important labor and education champions we want to return or elect.
LD 10: Clyde Shavers
Clyde Shavers is a Navy veteran who felt a strong responsibility to continue serving by becoming a lawyer and, ultimately, running for office. His experience in environmental law taught him a lot about solving tough problems and making peoples’ lives better, which propelled him into the state House in 2023. He has sponsored a number of bills, including a major funding bill for preK-12 in the last session and bills on clean energy technology, career learning opportunities for students, rural community assistance, and others that provide meaningful, tangible efforts to improve workers’ lives and strengthen our communities. Those actions, coupled with his willingness to embrace the challenges we face and his strong commitment to justice, earned him AFT Washington’s endorsement as a legislator who fights for the same things we do. Stronger communities are built by investing support in communities, and Rep. Shavers has shown his commitment to making those investments.
You can learn more about Rep. Clyde Shavers at https://electclydeshavers.com/
LD 10: Dave Paul
Dave Paul is a long-time educator and champion for our community. He sees the importance of giving all the members of our community the opportunity to achieve their potential and makes it the priority: give students opportunity and support to build a pathway to living-wage jobs and stronger communities. His legislative record reflects this; Rep. Paul is a voice for active-duty military personnel and veterans, an advocate for protecting the environment, a champion for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and the rights of minorities in our state, and intensely committed to the public good of public education. In particular, Rep. Paul has worked to increase access to college and works closely with PreK-12 districts, teachers, and staff throughout the 10th District – all actions AFT Washington supports and that earned Rep. Paul our endorsement.
You can learn more about Rep. Dave Paul at https://votedavepaul.com/.
LD 26: Renee Hernandez Greenfield
An AFT member, Renee Hernandez Greenfield is also a dedicated professional with extensive experience in early childhood education, tribal child welfare, and family services. Her career has been spent supporting children and families, including previously as a manager at early learning centers, overseeing Head Start and Early Head Start programs, as a CPS investigator for the Suquamish Tribe, and currently at the Holly Ridge Center providing individualized speech and language training to children and families. She is committed to community-focused work and has served as an adjunct instructor at Tacoma Community College. She is an outstanding advocate for Washingtonians, and particularly for Washingtonians in underserved and indigenous communities, and AFT Washington is pleased to endorse her for the House; her background in education and family support we think will make her a strong voice in addressing the challenges that face Washington now.
You can learn more about Renee Hernandez Greenfield at https://www.reneeforhouse.com/.
LD 29: Natasha Laitila
Natasha Laitila is a newcomer to Washington state politics, running for her first term in office. She is a native of the 29th District, and notes that growing up and learning in and around that community has grounded her in the values and connections that guide her today. She is running on a broad swathe of progressive policies, including strengthening collective bargaining protections and expanding labor protections for vulnerable workers, investing in equitable funding and school policies that improve student long term outcomes, and protecting reproductive and gender-affirming care for all Washingtonians. For these, as well as her other progressive positions, she has earned AFT Washington’s endorsement, and we are pleased to support her.
You can learn more about Natasha Laitila at https://votenatasha.com.
LD 32: Danica Noble
Danica Noble brings her wealth of experience fighting for working Washingtonians as an antitrust and consumer protection attorney; when she left that role, she became an organizer with a track record of taking on companies that cut corners. Central to her campaign, she is running to make Washington work for working families, address the affordability crisis, appropriately fund strong public schools and affordable child care, and make Big Tech behave responsibly with regards to consumers. In particular, we appreciate that she recognizes that education worker wages must be part of the funding conversation for public schools – without skilled and experienced staff, how can we give our students the education they deserve? Legislators who give consideration to all the nuances of a conversation are incredibly valuable for communities, and for that as well as her policy proposals, Noble has earned AFT Washington’s endorsement.
You can learn more about Danica Noble at https://electdanica.com.
LD 45: Vanessa Kritzer
Vanessa Kritzer has served on the Redmond City Council for 7 years, and has focused her career on building affordable, sustainable, inclusive communities. Her priorities include – at the very top of the list – strong schools and opportunities for every child, which means fully funded public education, supporting youth mental health, restoring cut funding for childcare, parent education, and early learning, as well as bolstering public higher education and strengthening support for education workers. Other elements of her vision of a strong community closely match AFT Washington’s – environmental protection, affordable and livable communities, defense of our rights and our democracy, and more. We are proud to endorse a candidate with such a thorough vision of how we build stronger communities.
You can learn more about Vanessa Kritzer at https://electvanessakritzer.com.
LD 46: Gerry Pollett
Rep. Gerry Pollet is one of the most consistently progressive voices in the Washington State Legislature, capable of turning bold visions into policy wins for working families and our communities. With a background as a public interest attorney, educator, and environmental advocate, Rep. Pollet thrives on expanding opportunity for working people and holding institutions, including the federal government, accountable. He led the effort for the Washington College Grant, which makes college free for low-income students and more affordable for all. He has championed preK-12 public education, including full funding for special education, screening all students for reading disabilities, and working to address outdated plumbing that puts lead in our schools’ water. First elected in 2012, Rep. Pollet does not treat incumbency as a reason to make the easy choices and take the soft path; he has frequently led on issues like environmental justice, affordable housing, progressive revenue, reproductive freedom, and much more even if they were politically hard because they were the right things to push for. He has won AFT Washington’s enthusiastic endorsement for his leadership and principles.
You can learn more about Rep. Gerry Pollet at https://www.gerrypollet.com/.
LD 47: Debra Entenmann
Rep. Debra Entenman knows the power of a supportive community and a quality education to transform lives, and has dedicated her career to ensuring opportunity for others. The path to opportunity that she envisions begins with strong public schools, and includes a growing economy and supports, such as better transportation systems, that make it possible for Washingtonians to achieve their dreams wherever they are found. She also advocates for the inclusion of women’s issues in Greater Seattle and South King County – crucial work that is foundational to successful communities. At the end of the day, her goal is to ensure that all of our voices are heard in Olympia, and that is crucial for us, our students, and our communities. Rep. Entenman’s values and advocacy make her a legislator AFT Washington is pleased to endorse.
You can learn more about Rep. Debra Entenman at https://www.electdebraentenman.org/.