It’s one of the biggest state Senate races in WA. There’s only 1 viable candidate running
It’s one of the most important races in the state.
Don’t believe us? Just follow the money.
Across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington’s 26th Legislative District — which includes parts of Pierce and Kitsap counties, from Gig Harbor to Bremerton — the showdown pitting state Senate incumbent Emily Randall, D-Bremerton, against Jesse Young, R-Gig Harbor, is shaping up to be a real doozy. Between them, Randall and Young have raised more than $700,000, almost evenly, making it one of the most expensive races in Washington. In the background, the distribution of power in Olympia potentially hangs in the balance; even if Republicans don’t completely erase Democratic majorities in the House and Senate this year, they’re fixing to come close.
In 2018, Randall was elected amid a blue wave unleashed in large part by opposition to former Republican President Donald Trump. Now, with President Joe Biden’s approval rating in the tank and the impact of economic inflation taking its toll, Democrats in swing districts like Randall are fighting for their political lives.
To be certain, there are plenty of reasons for voters, particularly in more rural areas, to take issue with the Democratic majority in Olympia. From crime and public safety to homelessness and the increasing cost of housing, there’s room for robust debate over the current direction of the state, and the policies we need to move everyone forward.
Still, let’s be equally clear: Randall — who earns The News Tribune Editorial Board’s strong endorsement — is the only viable option in this race, regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum. Young has proven himself unfit to lead, time and time again, and the other Republican in the three-person primary, David Crissman, appears to be running a less-than-serious campaign.
That’s not a statement we make lightly, but it is one we offer with unwavering conviction, given the stakes — and most of all Young’s troubling history in the legislature. His tenure in office includes time spent promoting COVID-19 vaccine conspiracies, repeatedly violating legislative ethics standards and making life miserable for staffers. We could go on.
Young declined the opportunity to participate in The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement process, accusing the board and the newspaper of bias and unfair treatment.
Crissman, for his part, also declined, telling The News Tribune that he was “disinclined to spend two thirds of an allotted interview listening to my competition bloviate” — making his excuse decidedly better.
Randall, who will turn 37 shortly before the general election in November, is a former healthcare advocate and community organizer who grew up in South Kitsap, giving her a valuable perspective on the district and the challenges it faces. The first person in her family to earn a college degree — a B.A. from Wellesley in Massachusetts — during her time in the legislature Randall has established herself as a champion for progressive efforts to expand and improve diversity, equity and inclusion across the state and policies that improve the lives of people living in rural communities like hers, including lowering Tacoma Narrows Bridge tolls and the cost of prescription drugs.
To her credit, Randall has also proven comfortable bucking the party line when necessary. Last session she successfully passed a bill that sought to increase development in rural parts of the state by incentivizing the construction of large warehouse projects. Ultimately, Governor Jay Inslee vetoed most of it. As Joseph O’Sullivan of Crosscut reported, the rebuke led Randall to say that her party’s leadership and the governor are “not always in touch with the needs of Washingtonians outside of King County and the I-5 corridor,” surely echoing the sentiments of many of her constituents.
If Randall secures another term in the state Senate this year, we would urge her to hold onto her independent streak — and even flex those muscles more often. Now, more than ever, we need elected officials willing to question the status quo.
What we don’t need — in any shape or form — are leaders who harbor the kind of blatant, self-serving disregard for the truth that Young has built a career on, no matter how frustrated some voters might feel.
News Tribune election endorsements reflect the views of our Editorial Board and are written by opinion editor Matt Driscoll. Other board members are: Stephanie Pedersen, News Tribune president and editor; Jim Walton, community representative; and Pamela Transue, a community representative who serves during election season. The Editorial Board operates independently from the newsroom and does not influence the work of news reporting and editing staffs. We do not endorse any candidates who do not interview with us. For questions, email matt.driscoll@thenewstribune.com.