This week, the Seattle Metropolitan Election Committee (SEAMEC) announced their endorsements for the state's primary election. Ballots will be mailed to voters on July 18 and must be returned by August 5, either by mail or in person.

Current SEAMEC Endorsements are as follows:

Openly LGBT incumbents with strong pro-LGBT voting records: Marco Liias, State Senator, District 21; Laurie Jinkins, State Representative, District 27; Jamie Pedersen, State Senator, District 43; Jim Moeller, State Representative, District 49.

Incumbents with extremely strong voting records on LGBT issues: Derek Stanford, State Representative, District 1; Luis Moscoso, State Representative, District 1; Bob Hasegawa, State Senator, District 11; Pat Sullivan, State Representative, District 47.

State senators who supported marriage equality who have not stood for reelection until this year: Maralyn Chase, State Senator, District 32; Karen Keiser, State Senator, District 33; Sharon Nelson, State Senator, District 34; Jeanne Kohl-Wells, State Senator, District 36; Andy Hill, State Senator, District 45; Joe Fain, State Senator, District 47.

In 2012, SEAMEC took the unprecedented step of endorsing every legislative candidate who voted for the historic Marriage Equality Act in the State Legislature. The endorsements of State Senators Chase, Keiser, Nelson, Kohl-Wells, Hill and Fain follow that policy decision. This is the first year since the legislative vote on marriage equality that these candidates have faced the ballot.

SEAMEC has just completed its round of questionnaire intake and oral interviews for candidates who will appear on the Primary Ballot in King County. Steering Committee members and volunteer interviewers are currently pouring over the results and rating candidates. After the review and rating process, further endorsements may follow, and more may be released pending the results from the Primary.

The 2014 SEAMEC Primary Candidate Ratings will be released prior to the ballots being mailed on July 18. SEAMEC has been interviewing, researching, and rating political candidates on LGBT issues since 1977.

Courtesy of SEAMEC

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