NPI releases 2006 endorsements for federal and statewide office

The Northwest Progressive Institute is pleased today to officially release its endorsements for federal and statewide office. On our endorsements page you'll find our statement on each endorsement as well as a link to the website of each endorsed candidate. The special preface to the endorsements for federal office is worth reprinting here, and is as follows:

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.

And now, here's a summary of our endorsements:

• U.S. Senate: Maria Cantwell
• U.S. House, 8th Congressional District: Darcy Burner
• U.S. House, 4th Congressional District: Richard Wright
  
• U.S. House, 5th Congressional District: Peter Goldmark
  
• U.S. House, 1st Congressional District: Jay Inslee
• U.S. House, 2nd Congressional District: Rick Larsen
  
• U.S. House, 3rd Congressional District: Brian Baird
  
• U.S. House, 6th Congressional District: Norm Dicks
  
• U.S. House, 7th Congressional District: Jim McDermott
  
• U.S. House, 9th Congressional District: Adam Smith
• State Supreme Court: Susan Owens (previously endorsed in primary)

Justices Gerry Alexander and Tom Chambers were also previously endorsed in the primary, along with Judges Penoyar, Becker, and Quinn-Brintall, but they are unopposed in the general election, as their races were decided last month.

And a reminder that we have already released our positions for statewide intiatives on this November's ballot. Those positions are:

• Initiative 920 - A resounding NO
• Initiative 933 - A resounding NO
• Initiative 937 - YES

See our 2006 ballot measures page for more information, including our rationale, the official description for each ballot measure, and links for additional information.