The News Tribune endorses: Our picks for US House and Senate races in WA
Election endorsement season is a long haul for The News Tribune Editorial Board. Between the primary and general elections, we spend hours meeting with candidates in races big and small, all in an effort to help voters decipher their ballots and make informed decisions.
Over the last few weeks we’ve issued endorsements in a number of local races, covering everything from state House and Senate races to contested battles for Tacoma Municipal Court. These candidate interviews (and the editorial board conversations that ensue) tend to be grounded in the issues that impact Pierce County voters in their neighborhoods and communities, far removed from the circus of national politics.
Sometimes, though, the noise and money and heightened tenor of the big races create the most confusion and distraction for voters. It’s easy to simply vote along party lines — and many do — but making informed choices requires more time and effort.
With that in mind, here are The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements in the U.S. House and Senate races Pierce County voters will find on their ballots.
Derek Kilmer for U.S. House of Representatives in WA’s 6th Congressional District
Washington’s 6th Congressional District stretches from Pierce County to the Olympic Peninsula, including Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Bremerton and most of the Kitsap Peninsula.
Since 2013, Democrat Derek Kilmer has represented the district in the U.S. House of Representatives. And over nearly a decade, the policy wonk originally from Port Angeles who grew up to follow in the footsteps of Norm Dicks has done so with success and distinction, earning a reputation as one of the most effective and dedicated elected officials in Congress.
This year, Kilmer once again earns our strong endorsement. His familiar challenger in the race, Republican Elizabeth Kreiselmaier, declined an invitation to participate in The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement process, as she’s done in the past.
Kilmer’s accomplishments in Congress are many, and most have been achieved through sleeves-rolled-up bipartisanship, which is an encouraging mark of distinction in the deeply divided world we live in. Through his work with the Congressional Puget Sound Recovery Caucus and the Climate Solutions Caucus, Kilmer has championed responsible environmental protection. Drawing on his local chamber of commerce background and his experience growing up in a region with a heavy military presence, he’s been a champion for small business and local veterans. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, he’s secured significant investments in his district — whether it’s money for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard or affordable housing on Hilltop. And through his involvement with the Bipartisan Working Group in D.C., Kilmer has earnestly worked to cure what ails government — the dysfunction that prevents progress and cooperation.
Simply put, Kilmer is everything a lawmaker should be.
There’s little question he’s earned a sixth term.
Kim Schrier for U.S. House of Representatives in WA’s 8th Congressional District
During the primary The News Tribune Editorial Board chose the two candidates we believed were best suited to face off in the general election in the race for U.S. House of Representatives in Washington’s 8th Congressional District: Democrat Kim Schrier and Republican Reagan Dunn.
Schrier was our clear favorite at the time, based on her track record and her stance on issues like reproductive rights and her support for improving and expanding the Affordable Care Act. And since Dunn failed to advance in August, bested by more hardline conservative candidate Matt Larkin, our choice now is a simple one:
Schrier is far and away the best pick for voters in the 8th Congressional District. No elected leader is perfect, and there are certainly reasons to be frustrated by the current state of the nation, but Schrier is the only candidate on the ballot with the experience and common sense to effectively represent the people of Washington in the halls of Congress.
After spending roughly two decades working as a pediatrician, Schrier boasts an intimate knowledge of the country’s healthcare system — and its many flaws. She’s supported efforts to to reduce the cost of insulin, and is currently the only female doctor in Congress, giving her an important voice in any discussion of women’s healthcare.
Earlier this year, Schrier told The News Tribune Editorial Board that she’s supported tangible steps to tamp down on the rising cost of living — like a bill she sponsored intended to stop price-gouging by oil companies — and considers “bringing down the cost of goods, inflation, gas prices and crime” top priorities.
Voters in the 8th District would be wise to re-elect Schrier.
Marilyn Strickland for U.S. House of Representatives in WA’s 10th Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland is a familiar face in Tacoma. The former two-term mayor is one of the most capable and accomplished local elected officials in the city’s history.
But in 2020, Strickland was elected to Congress – in a district that also includes much of Thurston County. Even if her heart still resides in the City of Destiny, she now has constituents from Puyallup to Yelm and Tumwater, and her job is to represent all of them.
Surprising exactly no one on The News Tribune Editorial Board, it’s a task Strickland has taken to with skill and aplomb over the last two years. She’s established herself as an up-and-coming powerhouse in D.C., and again earns our endorsement this year.
Raised in a military family — the child of an African American father and South Korean mother — Strickland is the kind of leader who intimately understands how the South Sound ticks. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she’s been a champion for Joint Base Lewis-McChord and our region’s veterans, as well as on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where she’s secured millions of dollars for important local projects.
Strickland’s challenger in the race is Republican Keith Swank, who touts a background in the military and law enforcement. While we appreciate Swank’s love of country and his eagerness to serve, he’s simply no match for Strickland’s experience and acumen.
“It’s urban, it’s rural, it’s suburban, it’s diverse in every possible sense of the word,” Strickland told The News Tribune Editorial Board of District 10. “I have the experience and the know-how to serve the entire community.”
Patty Murray for U.S. Senate
You’ve seen the incessant ads on TV. You’ve heard all the attacks. Now it’s time to vote in one of the most watched races in the state.
After spending the last three decades in Congress, there are those who say it’s time for Patty Murray to go. Don’t listen to them. Not only has Washington’s very first female senator become one of the most powerful and influential lawmakers in the nation, she’s done so while at the same time putting her local constituents first.
Murray’s resume of accomplishments are too long to list. Just in recent years she’s secured funding for drought resilience in Washington and money to keep childcare facilities open during COVID 19. She’s pushed for the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand benefits to same-sex couples and helped to funnel federal money into local affordable housing projects.
During an endorsement meeting with The News Tribune Editorial Board, Murray said she’s particularly proud of two recent victories in D.C. — passage of the Pact Act, which expands VA benefits to veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins while serving our nation, and passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, which will invest billions of dollars in the coming years to help with the domestic production of semiconductors.
They’re just two examples of the effective leadership that again earns Murray The News Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement.
“I get up every day to fight for my constituents across Washington State, to bring their values and priorities to everything I do in the nation’s capital,” Murray said. “I value the people of Washington state and their stories, and I’m proud to be their voice in the United States Senate.”
Murray’s challenger is hard-charging Republican Tiffany Smiley, who fancies herself a political outsider and made a name for herself advocating for U.S. military veterans, like her husband, who was blinded by a suicide bomber while serving in Iraq. While there are many things to admire about Smiley, she’s clearly outmatched in this race. Her campaign may resonate with fellow Republicans and those angry about the direction of the country, but her approach hints at her limitations as a candidate. To be an effective member of Congress – as Murray has been since 1992 — it takes a whole lot more than simply putting your opponent’s name in front of complicated problems like crime and inflation
Murray is far and away the best candidate in the race.
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. We do not endorse in uncontested races. For questions, email matt.driscoll@thenewstribune.com.
This story was originally published October 22, 2022 at 5:00 AM.