As Mountain States Policy Center’s Meg Goudy argues, Washington Superintendent Chris Reykdal is putting bureaucratic control and union priorities ahead of students by opposing the federal Scholarship Tax Credit program. The program could unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in donations for tutoring, tuition assistance, technology, special-needs therapies, and other educational support. Yet unless Gov. Bob Ferguson opts in by January 1, Washington families could miss out entirely.

The hypocrisy is hard to overlook. More than 26% of Washington public school students are below grade level in English language arts, and more than 33% are behind in math. Meanwhile, Reykdal is asking for another $2 billion for a public school system already spending roughly $20,300 to $21,900 per student. Apparently, more taxpayer money is always welcome—but additional resources that give families more options are another story.

Goudy estimates Washington could receive between $757 million and $1.5 billion in donations, depending on participation. Other Democratic governors, including New York’s Kathy Hochul, recognize the foolishness of leaving potential education funding on the table. Washington’s education chief, however, insists the state cannot participate in good faith, raising concerns about control over donor-directed funds.

Goudy also questions whose interests Reykdal is really serving. The Washington Education Association and its PACs spent more than $880,000 in outside expenditures during his last two elections, according to state disclosure records. The union opposes the program, even though public school students could benefit from the additional resources. That raises an obvious question: why should families lose educational opportunities because union leaders don’t like a program that gives donors and parents more choices?

Washington’s education establishment has spent years demanding more money while students continue to struggle. Now, when a federal program could bring substantial new support without drawing from state and local budgets, Reykdal wants to shut the door.

Goudy is right to call for a change in priorities. Ferguson should opt in and give Washington students access to these resources. Education policy should serve children—not protect a union-backed status quo that has failed too many of them. Read more at The Center Square.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is facing a serious fight for her political future as Republican state Sen. John Braun challenges her in one of the country’s most competitive congressional races. With polling showing the candidates deadlocked, both parties are pouring millions into a Southwest Washington showdown that could help determine control of the U.S. House.

Perez has raised a hefty $8.8 million but entered October with just $640,000 left in the bank. Braun has raised $3.2 million and had $1.1 million available, giving the Republican more cash on hand heading into the final weeks. Apparently, even millions in campaign contributions aren’t enough to make Perez’s reelection a sure thing.

Outside groups have committed more than $15 million to influence the race, with roughly $11 million spent opposing Perez. Trump-aligned No Going Back alone has spent about $3.9 million attacking her and another $500,000 supporting Braun. Democratic groups have also spent millions trying to derail Braun – that’s just how vulnerable they believe Perez remains.

The stakes are especially high for Democrats: Trump carried the district in all three of his presidential campaigns, yet Perez managed to win the seat in 2022 and defeat Trump-backed Joe Kent again in 2024. Now, with Republicans holding only a narrow House majority and polling showing another tight contest, Democrats are scrambling to protect a seat they cannot afford to lose.

Perez’s campaign manager has complained that Republican outside spending is “obscene,” but both parties are spending heavily to sway voters. House Speaker Mike Johnson is even heading to Washington to rally with Braun.

With Election Day approaching, Perez’s fundraising advantage has not translated into a comfortable lead. Republicans see a real opportunity to flip the seat, and Democrats are spending accordingly. For an incumbent with millions behind her, the race is proving anything but a safe bet. Read more at The Washington State Standard.

A union-backed PAC is targeting five Washington State Supreme Court candidates, warning that conservatives are plotting to “pack” the court. The irony? The group is funded by public employee unions and lawyers who are spending money to influence the very judicial elections they claim are under threat.

Position 5 candidate Dave Larson says the PAC’s mailers mislead voters by suggesting he and four other candidates would threaten reproductive rights, voting rights, worker protections, environmental safeguards, and same-sex marriage. Larson argues judges should apply the law—not serve as political enforcers for whichever special interests have the deepest pockets.

Public Disclosure Commission filings identify the Washington Education Association, SEIU 775, and lawyers among the PAC’s funders. The group invokes conservative efforts to reshape the U.S. Supreme Court as evidence of a right-wing plot in Washington, while Larson says its attacks reveal an effort to keep the state court aligned with a preferred political agenda.

Future 42 founder Sally Poliak disputes the PAC’s claims, saying her organization has not engaged in electioneering for Larson or the other targeted candidates and accusing the group of hypocrisy. The two major unions contacted for comment did not respond before publication.

Apparently, when conservatives organize, it’s a dangerous attempt to “take over” the courts. When union-backed groups spend money attacking conservative candidates, it’s just another day of defending democracy—at least according to the people writing the checks. Read more at The Center Square.

Pierce County’s Charter Amendment 53 would terminate Sheriff Keith Swank’s elected term on January 1, 2027, and allow left-wing County Executive Ryan Mello to appoint his replacement, subject to County Council confirmation. Swank won election in 2024 and is supposed to serve through 2029.

Democrats claim the change would increase accountability, but Pierce County already has a recall process requiring sworn charges and judicial review. Amendment 53 would bypass those safeguards, effectively creating a shortcut to remove an elected official before voters get another say. The Charter Review Commission approved the measure 12-9, adding the early-termination provision at the last minute.

Washington voters overwhelmingly backed elected sheriffs in Pierce County in 2006, and 38 of the state’s 39 counties elect their sheriffs. If voters want a different sheriff, they can make that decision at the ballot box in 2028—not have political insiders engineer an early replacement. Read more at Seattle Red.

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