ALLIANCE FOR GUN RESPONSIBILITY VICTORY FUND ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS FOR 2019 PRIMARY ELECTION

Twenty-eight candidates across Washington State receive endorsements for their championship of gun violence prevention 

SEATTLE, WA – Today, the Alliance for Gun Responsibility Victory Fund announced its endorsement of 28 candidates for the 2019 primary election. More candidates sought an endorsement from the Alliance than ever before.

“Washingtonians deserve elected leaders in local offices statewide who support stronger gun laws and represent their values,” said Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. “Last year, Washington voters elected the first gun responsibility majority in Olympia. As a result, 10 commonsense gun violence prevention laws were passed during the legislative session. Local races are so important because we need to make sure we have champions at every level of government to ensure those laws are implemented effectively,” said Hopkins. “We also need leadership at the local level that is committed to funding research along with community-centered program work to interrupt and end cycles of violence.”

The mission of the Victory Fund is to provide accurate information to the public and our growing list of supporters about candidate positions on issues related to gun responsibility and gun violence prevention. Leadership on gun violence prevention matters, and the Alliance has set a high-bar for receiving endorsement. The Victory Fund historically only awards sole endorsements in races. Candidates were asked to complete a questionnaire and participate in an interview with Victory Fund staff before receiving an endorsement.

“If we want to make our schools and communities safer, we need to have champions on the school board as well,” said Stephanie Ervin, Political Director at the Victory Fund. “We’re excited to announce our first-ever school board endorsements. Carin Chase, Rory Graves and Liza Rankin all have strong records of advocating for gun violence prevention and we know they will make this issue a priority if elected.”

In 2018, the Victory Fund helped elect 67 candidates up and down the ticket, at every level of government. Overall 84 percent of our endorsed candidates are now serving in elected office.

To learn more about the Alliance’s support for each candidate, click here.

The full list of 2019 endorsed candidates is:

• Liz Lovelett, State Senate, 40th Legislative District
• Jeanne Kohl-Welles, King County Council, District 4
• Joe McDermott, King County Council, District 8
• Mike Nelson, Edmonds, Mayor
• Angela Birney, Redmond, Mayor
• Ben Stuckart, Spokane, Mayor
• Breann Beggs, Spokane City Council President
• Jeremy Barksdale, Bellevue City Council, Position 3
• Janice Zahn, Bellevue City Council, Position 5
• Lisa Anderson, Bellingham City Council, 5th Ward
• Sofia Aragon, Burien City Council, Position 6
• Alicia Crank, Edmonds City Council, Position 5
• Susan Paine, Edmonds City Council, Position 6
• Laura Johnson, Edmonds City Council, Position 7
• Jamila Taylor, Federal Way City Council, Position 5
• Katherine Festa, Federal Way City Council, Position 7
• Wendy Weiker, Mercer Island City Council, Position 3
• Lisa Herbold, Seattle City Council, District 1
• Tammy Morales, Seattle City Council, District 2
• Dan Strauss, Seattle City Council, District 6
• Jim Pugel, Seattle City Council, District 7
• Lori Kinnear, Spokane City Council, District 2
• Karen Stratton, Spokane City Council, District 3
• Keith Blocker, Tacoma City Council, Position 3
• Kristina Walker, Tacoma City Council, Position 8
• Carin Chase, Edmonds School Board, District 1
• Rory Graves, Edmonds School Board, District 3
• Liza Rankin, Seattle School Board, District 1