A Pragmatic Democratic Guide
to Local Elections

Kaylee Kuehn’s family has lived in the 24th for four generations, and she grew up in Sequim. A former teacher of high school math, history, and government, she went on to work inside the legislature, where she learned what it actually takes to move a bill from idea to law.

Her campaign is about affordability, plain and simple: the cost of housing, utilities, groceries, and childcare, alongside fully funding public schools and shoring up the rural infrastructure the Peninsula depends on. She’s blunt about the squeeze working families feel, doing everything right and still watching the basics drift out of reach.

In a crowded field, Kuehn stands out as the practical, common-sense choice. She talks about listening across divides and finding shared ground at a time when that’s rare, and she keeps the focus on what working families actually need: lower costs, good local jobs, healthcare, and well-funded schools that work.

As a young mom and a former teacher, Kuehn isn’t describing someone else’s problems. She’d bring a working family’s perspective and a results-first approach to a seat that needs both. Kaylee Kuehn is the right choice for the 24th.

Endorsements include State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, the Washington State Labor Council, the Washington Education Association, AFSCME Council 28, the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington, the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Moms Demand Action, Washington Stonewall Democrats, and FairVote Washington. 

Michael Shepard has a track record of getting big things built. Across three terms as a Port of Bellingham commissioner, elected countywide, he’s worked with cities, tribes, and local industry to grow the economy and bring in good jobs.

He brought the Bellingham Shipping Terminal back to life, landed nearly $20 million in federal money for rail access, and got the stalled Waterfront District moving again, including the Millworks affordable-housing project. He negotiated a landmark sovereignty agreement with the Lummi Nation Chairman and set the port on a path to net-zero emissions.

Shepard is running on the cost of living, affordable housing, schools, and local jobs, and he’s spent years teaching at Western. Retiring Senator Sharon Shewmake is backing him, along with County Executive Satpal Sidhu, Sheriff Donnell Tanksley, and Lummi Nation Chairman Tony Hillaire.

Endorsements also include former Governor Jay Inslee, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, Deputy Majority Leader Manka Dhingra, State Senator Liz Lovelett, and 42nd District Representatives Alicia Rule and Joe Timmons.

Osman Salahuddin got to Olympia and went to work. Appointed to the seat in early 2025 and elected that November, he’s the youngest member of the Legislature and the only South Asian in the House. He grew up in Redmond, the son of immigrants. His mom’s a special-ed teacher and his dad runs a small business. He studied neurobiology at UW and worked as a researcher at Fred Hutch and UW Medicine before joining the Redmond City Council. Today he’s pursuing a law degree at UW while serving in the Legislature.

In short order he’s built a real record. He wrote bills to toughen sentencing for rape that results in pregnancy, to put trained clinicians on behavioral-health crisis calls, to let workers use sick leave for immigration hearings, and to give students a real vote on the board that runs the state’s community colleges.

Salahuddin is focused on the cost of housing, access to healthcare, and well-funded schools. We recommended him last cycle, and he’s more than justified that support. For a lawmaker barely two years in, he’s already shown he can move bills that matter, and he’s earned a full term of his own.

Endorsements include Governor Bob Ferguson, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, the Washington State Building & Construction Trades Council, LiUNA Laborers Local 242, the Washington State Nurses Association, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, and One America Votes.