Our endorsement for the Washington Senate 43rd District is Hannah Sabio-Howell! Sabio-Howell has advocated and organized for the rights of working-class and marginalized people in our state. A Queer Filipina woman, she is looking to unseat Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen. Although she has not held office and is still relatively new to the political scene, her policy platform and campaign has tapped into the frustrations of younger people struggling to get by in the district. The popularity of her candidacy, we believe, also represents a broader shift in the priorities voters have for their elected officials.

Without a doubt, the race for the 43rd District Senate seat has been one of the most contentious of this election cycle so far. As the historical LGBTQIA+ newspaper in the community, we recognize the weight and significance our endorsements hold for our readers and the race as a whole, given the two very qualified candidates (a Gay man and a Queer woman). 

Sen. Pedersen has served the 43rd District for almost 20 years, first as a member of the House of Representatives (starting in 2007), then as its senator since 2013. During his tenure, Sen. Pedersen, as an openly Gay elected official, has been a pioneer in instituting pro-LGBTQIA+ policies, including statewide domestic partnerships and marriage equality, antidiscrimination laws, adoption rights, and now Transgender protections. That kind of record is hard to come by, especially in this day and age, and he 100% deserves all the credit for what he has achieved for our community. 

But as times change and the struggles everyday people face evolve, so too must our politicians. That is essentially what Sabio-Howell is offering to voters in the 43rd: a chance at representation by somebody who is firmly rooted in progressive grassroots and labor organizing.  

In her career, Sabio-Howell hasn’t been afraid to challenge large corporations and stick up for everyday people. In 2024, when the Seattle City Council (under Sara Nelson) looked to undo protections for food delivery workers, DoorDash alone spent $1 million in lobbying. As communications director for Whole Washington, Sabio-Howell and her organization were able to preserve those protections. Additionally, she and her organization were able to spearhead a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights that closed loopholes on labor standards for agricultural and domestic work (a remnant from the New Deal). 

Although relatively new to the political scene, she has been able to accrue a substantial amount of individual grassroots donations (claiming $52,000 by the end of the campaign’s first month), and so far, through campaigning, she has inspired a significant number of young people to get civically involved — an important element that shouldn’t be understated. 

Voters today are demanding more from their politicians (especially those who label themselves progressive). One demand is whether a candidate accepts or refuses corporate donations. During Sen. Pedersen’s last campaign in 2022, the biggest donors to his campaign committee were Boeing and Amazon (according to OpenSecrets). And over the last several years, he has accepted thousands of dollars from others corporations, like DoorDash, UnitedHealthcare, and Microsoft, among others. Politicians who accept money from corporations are often more inclined to support policymaking that benefits their donors over everyday people. And the refusal to take money from corporate PACs and special interests is one of the main elements drawing people to Sabio-Howell’s campaign. 

Sen. Pedersen’s constituents (particularly those who are younger and working-class) have shown great discontent with their circumstances as of late. Perhaps he isn’t solely to blame for what 43rd District residents have been going through these past few years — skyrocketing housing and healthcare costs, an influx of LGBTQIA+ refugees without resources, massive layoffs, and anemic job growth — but if people feel as though their representatives aren’t doing enough to address their (very real) plights, then they start to look for alternatives. 

The Millionaires Tax, Sen. Pedersen’s most recent accomplishment, won’t see funds begin to roll in until 2029; however, people and the programs they rely upon are suffering the consequences of both federal and state funding cuts right now. He may have his eye on the grand scheme of statewide governance, but in the process, he has unfortunately lost touch with the everyday experiences of constituents. And regardless of intentions, people are not happy with the status quo — plain and simple. 

We believe Sabio-Howell would offer those in the 43rd District who are discontent a progressive champion and the shake-up of the status quo they are seeking, similar to the election of Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson over former mayor Bruce Harrell. We also have no doubt that she would be just as much of a proactive LGBTQIA+ advocate (as well as for many other marginalized groups!) in the Senate. 

The loss of Sen. Pedersen would have implications to the balance of Queer power in Olympia. As current Senate majority leader, another member (most likely a less progressive and less LGBTQIA+-friendly one) would take his place — and that is an important consideration. But, that shouldn’t completely overshadow the needs of the constituents that call the 43rd their home. 

Vote Sabio-Howell.