There are 11 candidates running statewide for a seat with the U.S. Senate on the Aug. 6 primary ballot.
Of those 11 candidates, five identify as Republican, two as Democrat, two as independent, one as a member of the Socialist Workers Party and one as nonpartisan.
Incumbent Sen. Maria Cantwell has been in office since 2001 and is running for reelection.
Each of the candidates submitted information for the voters’ pamphlet and some candidates submitted responses to a questionnaire sent out by Skagit Publishing.
The following comes from those submissions:
- Mel Ram: Ram lists professional experience as diverse management in the voters’ pamphlet. The campaign platform is built on housing and health care, as well as “the war on the poor” and preventing World War III.
- Raul Garcia: Dr. Garcia has been a doctor of emergency medicine for 25 years and said this election is a chance for people to vote for someone who cares about their best interests.
His voters’ pamphlet statement states serious crises such as fentanyl and the cost of living do not get enough attention.
“Dr. Garcia is the only Senate candidate with a plan to seriously combat the Fentanyl crisis, using a proven approach that targets dealers with prison time, and helps addicts with a robust program of treatment and recovery,” his voters’ pamphlet statement states.
- David Tilton: Tilton is an associate customer project manager from Lake Stevens. He said over the decades he has witnessed the decline in the government’s ability to represent the interest of American citizens and that voting for him could change that.
“I am committed to restoring our government to its rightful place of, by, and for the people,” he said. “The erosion of trust between the government and its citizens stands as the paramount issue for any candidate today.”
- Maria Cantwell: Cantwell has held the seat since 2001 and is running on the platform of affordability, jobs, rights and security.
According to her voters’ pamphlet statement she has helped to cap the monthly insulin cost for those on Medicare, helped develop a new law that bolsters science, technology, engineering and math education, and is fighting to codify abortion rights.
- Chuck Jackson: Jackson is a union marine engineer from La Conner. He said he is running for office because he cares that the younger generation is going to be paying for the ever-increasing interest on the national debt.
Jackson said the single biggest issue for this position is getting elected and gaining enough traction to tackle the debt issue.
- Isaac A. Holyk: Holyk is from Battle Ground and has no political experience. According to his voters’ pamphlet statement, people will be deciding who they want to be as Americans.
“We cannot expect our government to represent everyday Americans if there are no everyday Americans in government at the highest levels,” he said in the pamphlet.
- Henry Clay Dennison: Dennison is a railroad conductor from Seattle and prefers the Socialist Workers Party.
His voters’ pamphlet statement says the recent labor organizing and strike victories may point towards a future away from capitalism.
- Scott Nazarino: Nazarino has 32 years of experience in financial services.
“I will listen to and represent all Washingtonians, not just those with the loudest bullhorns or the biggest wallets,” his voters’ pamphlet statement says.
He will focus on school safety, creating dialogue around the national debt and focus on academics in school.
- Paul Lawrence Giesick: Giesick is a production manager from Arlington and said if elected he will not serve more than two terms.
According to his voters’ pamphlet statement Americans are being forced to become dependent on the government and the middle class is being wiped out.
- Thor Amundson: Amundson is a pro-democracy candidate focused on a variety of issues from irrigation in Eastern Washington and ferry funding, to net neutrality and labor standards for corporations that ship work overseas, according to his voters’ pamphlet statement.
He said in his statement he believes it is time for a next generation of elected officials.
“I believe that without a little more opportunity for the next generation, we cannot have a healthy civilization,” he said.
- Goodspaceguy: Goodspaceguy has been a candidate about 25 times and wants to raise the living standard for workers.
“Let’s reject the Big Government Command Economy that through force and misallocation produces homelessness, wild spending, and poverty,” he said in his voters’ pamphlet statement.
