WSNA PAC interviews dozens of state candidates for endorsement in 2026

This year, nearly 300 candidates have registered with the Secretary of State to run for the state legislature, and the WSNA Political Action Committee (PAC) Board of Trustees is interviewing dozens of candidates seeking WSNA PAC endorsement.  

Staff and the PAC Board work diligently to be transparent and consistent throughout the endorsement process. While not all candidates apply for endorsements, all are invited to do so. 

We post PAC endorsements on a rolling basis, leading up to the primary and the general election.

What does that process look like?  

Outreach to candidates 

In election years, WSNA reaches out to all state legislative campaigns for candidates who have registered with the Public Disclosure Commission as soon as the legislative session ends. Candidates are provided with information on how to apply for the endorsement, along with the deadline for endorsement consideration, which this year was extended from May 8 to May 15. 

After the Secretary of State filing deadline, WSNA staff collect all candidate names and contact information through the Secretary of State website. We then reach out to any candidates who weren’t on the PDC list and invite them to participate in endorsement process.

Your WSNA PAC Board of Trustees spends significant time thoroughly reviewing legislative voting records and candidate questionnaires and interviewing and vetting candidates in a fair and consistent manner.  

Voting records are key criteria 

The WSNA PAC is committed to supporting candidates, regardless of political party, who support nursing and labor issues. Voting records are a very important part of that conversation. Understanding how lawmakers show up for nurses through their voting is critical to the advancement of the nursing profession as it relates to policy and politics.  

WSNA’s legislator voting records are based on our priority bills (such as Nurse Title Protection in 2026) for the legislative session, as well as other bills we have publicly supported through testimony, sign-on letters, and other means of advocacy.  

Other factors considered include a candidate’s viability, ability to raise funds, and whether they knock on doors to talk to constituents. 

See current and past legislator voting records in our Advocacy toolkit.

Expedited endorsement 

Candidates who have had a 100% WSNA voting record over the past two years are eligible to be reviewed by the PAC Board for an expedited endorsement, meaning that they do not have to send in a questionnaire or take part in an interview. 

Candidates who do not have a 100% WSNA voting record or who do not have any voting record must apply by completing a questionnaire and attending an interview with the WSNA PAC Board of Trustees. 

First round of endorsements completed 

The first round of announced WSNA PAC endorsements is often comprised of those who received an expedited endorsement. 

Your PAC Board then vets and interviews multiple candidates each week until they have interviewed every candidate who submitted a questionnaire by the deadline. An endorsement in a particular race is made only after the PAC Board has interviewed all candidates in the race who applied for an endorsement. 

Having the endorsement of WSNA PAC tells voters that the No. 1 most trusted profession for more than 20 years supports their candidacy.  

Running list of endorsements 

The list of endorsements is updated regularly. The goal is to conclude all interviews by the end of June. 

For questions about which races WSNA PAC weighs in on, the criteria reviewed for determining endorsements, and more, see our WSNA PAC page.

Candidates endorsed by WSLC

The Washington State Labor Council held its Committee on Political Education Convention on May 16, in which they endorsed candidates. See WSLC endorsements.