2006 GENERAL ENDORSEMENTS: FEDERAL OFFICE
Every year, the Northwest Progressive Institute teams with its Permanent Defense division to produce an endorsements guide for members and supporters.
Among Democratic and nonpartisan candidates, we endorse candidates that we believe best reflect our progressive values. If we endorse Republicans, we look for candidates that are closest to our beliefs, giving the nod to moderates and rejecting extremists, while recognizing that such candidates may not share many of our values, vision, or ideals.
We ask three general questions when evaluating every candidate for endorsement:
- What are the candidate’s qualifications and why is he or she the best candidate?
- What is the candidate’s vision, plan, and agenda for the office they are seeking?
- What other endorsements or support does the candidate have?
With that introduction, here's our 2006 endorsements guide for federal offices on the November general election ballot. >> Return to the Elections Center
Preface
These are troubled times for the United States of America. As much of the rest of the world scorns or despises us for our poor decision making abroad (including the disastrous invasion of Iraq) and aversion to diplomacy, our own population is suffering at home. Families are struggling because Republicans in Washington D.C. are more interesting in rewarding their wealthy friends then giving every American an equal opportunity to succeed and do well. George W. Bush is ignoring our nation's most sacred text in his effort to take executive power to new heights. Republicans in Congress have offered no oversight, no accountability, and no interest in the public good during these last few years of one party rule.
There have been few occasions when our nation needed new leadership as badly as it does now. Washington, D.C. has become horribly polluted by a stinking mess that is Republican domination of all branches of government, including both houses of Congress.
A new direction is needed. But the agenda will not change, there will be no investigations, and no relief unless Republicans are swept out of power. It's time for a change, but change won't happen if the GOP remains the majority party. There's only one way to get out of this living nightmare, and that is to vote Democrat. If you remember nothing else about our endorsements for office, those two words will suffice to guide you in this historic election cycle.
Because virtually every Democratic and progressive organization strongly supports the party's nominees for federal office, we have omitted mentions of other notable endorsements.
U.S. Senate: MARIA CANTWELL
Our Statement: Incumbent Senator Maria Cantwell is almost finished serving her first term in Congress, where she has been an effective voice for the people of Washington State. She has developed a reputation as a hard worker and policy expert. She is by no means flawless (who is?) and her hesitancy to establish a clear position on Iraq early in the campaign created unnecessary tension with grassroots activists. We have been displeased by her votes in favor of so-called "free trade" agreements such as CAFTA.
But despite her faults, Maria Cantwell, like Patty Murray, has been a very good senator. Her tireless work to prevent Enron from ripping off Snohomish County ratepayers has been wonderful. She has worked to expand access to education, ensure we keep our promises to veterans, and secure our ports/borders. She opposes privatization of Social Security, supports Net Neutrality, and wants to set benchmarks for withdrawing from Iraq and bringing our troops home. She is one of the few Senators to have voted against the confirmation of both of Bush's nominees to the Supreme Court (Roberts and Alito). She voted against nefarious Republican legislation such as the infamous bankruptcy and torture/detainee bills.
She has taken the lead in fighting to prevent the Bush administration from gouging Pacific Northwest consumers by stealing revenue from the Bonneville Power Administration to help pay off the federal debt. On environmental issues she has simply been outstanding. She's worked to protect the Endangered Species Act and the Roadless Rule. She marshaled a Senate filibuster that thwarted Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens' plan to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
Cantwell's record proudly speaks for itself. But our Senator isn't focused on her past accomplishments - she's looking forward and articulating her priorities for the next six years. Her opponent is an ex-insurance executive eager to represent his old employer in our nation's capitol and give the Republican leadership another reliable vote for the failed conservative agenda.
That's something we simply cannot afford. We first announced our support for Maria back on March 3rd, 2005, and we're proud to reaffirm our support of her candidacy again now. Reelect Senator Maria Cantwell and send a fighter back to Washington, D.C. who won't be a rubber stamp for the Bush administration.
U.S. House, 8th Congressional District: DARCY BURNER
Our Statement: The membership of the Northwest Progressive Institute has never known or met a candidate more inspiring than Darcy Burner, who in just a year and a half has grown from an unknown first time candidate to a veteran campaigner. In late August 2005, Darcy sought our support in her run for office and amazed us with her knowledge of her district and her plan for winning the race. We were among the first to back her candidacy, and we have never once regretted that decision. Within a few months of launching her bid for Congress, Darcy had recruited an impressive staff and cleared the field of all potential challengers.
Her fundraising has been spectacular and unbelievable. But her grassroots outreach has been even more extraordinary. Darcy has made people a priority, and it shows - the volunteer force her campaign has put together is huge. Darcy is an attractive candidate because she's smart, sharp, and caring. She has a commanding grasp of the issues, unlike her weak minded opponent, Dave Reichert, a Bush, Hastert, Cheney, and DeLay Republican masquerading as a moderate. Reichert has admitted on many occasions that he does what he's told - his friends pushed him into politics and he gets his orders from House Republican leadership.
The people of the 8th District can trust Darcy to represent them with integrity. She has promised to make transparency and openness a huge priority with Darcy's House Rules, an innovative plan for reporting lobbyists' interactions with her office. She supports creating opportunities for everyone, including our children, by fully funding education. She supports reforming health care to make it affordable. Darcy will vote to invest in renewable energy, protect Social Security, and increase veterans' benefits. She'll work to bring our troops home from Iraq, implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, and fight for better port security to make our nation safer - without endangering our civil liberties.
Darcy Burner is the face of a new direction for the 8th District and for America. She is not a placeholder or a vote for a failed conservative agenda. She is a mother and a businesswoman. She is one of us - someone we can place our trust in to serve in Congress with honor. The choice in this race could not be clearer. If you live in the 8th and are able to vote for Darcy, you should not only do so with pride, but implore your neighbors and family to do so as well.
U.S. House, 5th Congressional District: PETER GOLDMARK
Our Statement: Since former Speaker of the House Tom Foley was defeated in 1994 by Republican George Nethercutt, the 5th District has been written off by the establishment as a "safe Republican" district. But rancher Peter Goldmark, an Okanogan native and one of Washington State's most talented citizens, is changing such perceptions. Since he announced his decision to run for office, he has steadily built a powerful campaign to defeat his opponent, incumbent Republican (and freshman) Cathy McMorris. Goldmark's fundraising and grassroots outreach have surpassed McMorris' efforts, surprising many observers.
Goldmark's background is unique and compelling. Born and raised in the district, he graduated from Okanogan High School and went on to study at Haverford College and the University of California at Berkeley, where he received his Ph.D. in molecular biology. In the early 1970s he pursued a postdoctoral fellowship in neurobiology at Harvard before returning to Washington State and the Okanogan to work on his ranch and raise a family.
Goldmark's public service resume is impressive, and includes stints in state government, the Okanogan School Board and the Board of Regents of Washington State University, where he served a term as President. Goldmark runs a small scientific research facility at his ranch and is also well published author. His knowledge of the issues affecting Washington's 5th District is profound. We can count on Goldmark to work for sensible agricultural policies, protect our pensions, vote for fiscal responsibility, and demand investments in renewable energy, including biofuels. We know he'll insist on accountability from the Bush administration and a plan for actually giving Iraq back to the Iraqis. And we know Goldmark won't vote to abandon our promises to seniors and veterans. Cathy McMorris is nothing more than a reliable vote for the Bush agenda and the House Republican cabal. It's time for new leadership and it's time for a change. Peter Goldmark will be an authentic representative for Washington's 5th District.
U.S. House, 4th Congressional District: RICHARD WRIGHT
Our Statement: A small business owner and longtime resident of Washington State's 4th District, Richard Wright is tired of corruption and GOP giveaways to profitable corporations. He's running for Congress to improve our national security without endangering our Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, ensure equal opportunity and good paying jobs, and universal health care. Richard comes from humble roots, having worked in potato sheds, bucked hay, and picked apples, as well as worked in steel mills and on the railroad.
A successful entrepreneur, Wright owns a health care practice that began as one clinic in Moses Lake and now includes eleven in three states. He understands the struggles that middle and low income Americans are going through. And he knows that his constituents are longing for honest and meaningful leadership. His opponent, Doc Hastings, is essentially a tool for House Republican bigwigs, who installed him as Chair of the Ethics Committee. Instead of investigating corruption, the committee, under Hastings' "watch", has sat on its hands as the people's House of Representatives has become an auction house - for sale to the highest bidder.
Richard Wright knows that Republicans in Washington, D.C. have the wrong priorities. He's ready to fight to change them. Whether it's upholding our Constitution, strengthening our economy, or investing in renewable, homegrown energy sources, voters in the Evergreen State's 4th District can trust Richard Wright to put them, and not special interests, first.
U.S. House, All Other Districts: OUR DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMEN
Our Statement: Our six Democratic Congressmen - Representatives Inslee, McDermott, Dicks, Larsen, Baird, and Smith - continue to serve our state admirably and with distinction in the U.S. House. All are appalled by the Republican caucus' willingness to turn a blind eye to corruption, criminal activity, and ethical lapses. All are concerned about the future of our country - our national security, our reputation abroad, our failure to develop alternative and renewable energy sources, and our inability to fund educational programs and ensure equal opportunity for all citizens. None of them are flawless or perfect. But all have undoubtedly earned reelection and are fortunate not to face any serious competition from Republicans.
Democrats will not become the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives unless Democratic incumbents are reelected and Democratic challengers elected. The choice for voters in Washington's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 9th districts is plainly simple: Vote Democrat. |
© 2006 Northwest Progressive Institute.
ELECTIONS COVERAGE
NPI's Elections Center provides the latest news and analysis on local, state, and federal races across the Pacific Northwest.
LIVE ELECTIONS COVERAGE ON ELECTION DAY
RESULTS, ANALYSIS, AND SPECIAL COVERAGE
