The Working Families Party is supporting several local races in the King County general elections so it’s important to know who they are. (WFP) is an unabashedly progressive group which started in New York in 1998, and is continuing its rapid growth by targeting left-leaning United States metro areas. For its 2023 Washington debut, the New York-based political party has been pouring money into multiple Burien, SeaTac, Seattle and Highline Schools-Director races, effectively creating a “progressive candidate slate.”
But what do they stand for? Who comprises the Working Families Party? Most importantly, what do they expect from “Their Candidates” once they are voted into various elected offices?
According to their own website, the Working Families Party is “building a multiracial, multigenerational, and feminist movement of and for working people to transform our country.” Additionally, they hope to make our nation work “for the many, not the few.”
How bad can it be? We are All working families, right?
If you are wondering why “for the many, not the few” sounds familiar, this rallying cry has been the pinnacle of the Socialist Workers Manifesto of various Labour parties over the years. But is Marxist-based Socialism, focused heavily on the ideals of welfarism, what Burien, SeaTac and Highline voters seek in their elected leaders?
According to Wikipedia, the Working Families Party ideology is labeled as Social Democracy, Progressivism, Democratic Socialism and Left-wing populism. It began with former members of the New Party, as well as advocacy groups such as ACORN and Citizen Action of New York. As an added bonus, the Communist Party is also an avid supporter.
To gain faster traction, the expanding party frequently “cross-endorses” with progressive Democratic candidates, as we now see in the Seattle Metro area, including Burien, SeaTac and Highline.
This is an interesting strategy because they view the “political system [as] rigged to favor the two-party system”, yet the WFP has no issue with piggybacking on a progressive Democratic or union-supported candidate. Apparently, the WFP aligns with the Democrat Party when it is convenient and in their self-interest. But hold on…
When one of “their candidates” wins, where does the elected official’s allegiance lie? With endorsements and copious funding from partisan, special interest groups (unions, PACs, political parties), it is unlikely they will vote against their supporters’ interests. But aren’t they supposed to vote for the best interest of ALL constituents? City council and school are supposedly nonpartisan contests, after all.
As Burien and nearby cities see more progressive tenets seep into candidate platforms, traditional Democrat voters will have a decision to make. Will they opt for the hard-left, or will they perhaps lean towards the center, maybe even checking “yes” for an occasional “Independent” candidate who may offer a less-funded, but more balanced vision for our community. November 7th will tell.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell where a candidate stands on the issues, however, thanks to endorsements from the Working Families Party… figuring out their priorities just got a whole lot easier.
Take a look at your local governance boards: city councils and Highline School Board. Are they functioning as you would like? If you like the status quo, below are the WFP-endorsed candidates.
If you want something different, vote accordingly.
For 2023, the MLK Working Family Party endorses the following candidates:
Highline Schools:
- Carlos Ruiz
- Stephanie Tidholm
Burien City Council:
- Patricia Hudson
- Krystal Marx
Seatac City Council:
- James Lovell
- Elizabeth Greninger
- Damiana Merriweather
King County Council, District 8:
- Teresa Mosqueda
Many people have been led to believe their vote doesn’t matter, but it does, especially in “off-year,” local elections where the results can be decided by just a few dozen votes. Remember, this is your community and this is your choice.
Check out the candidates, research their supporters and endorsements, then VOTE by November 7th!
