Are you running for office in King County and seeking labor’s endorsement?
Candidates seeking MLK Labor’s endorsement (or recommendation for endorsement in statewide or legislative races) are required to participate in our endorsement process. Many of our affiliated unions have their own individual processes, for which you need to contact them directly. A list of local unions can be obtained from the Washington State Labor Council, which has a list of unions statewide on their website.
MLK Labor endorses candidates for municipal and judicial races in King County. If you are a candidate seeking an endorsement for the current election cycle, please contact Katie Garrow at 360-580-7534 to schedule an interview and to request a COPE questionnaire.
Completed questionnaires for statewide and federal races should be returned to April Sims, Political and Strategic Campaign Director of the Washington State Labor Council.
The Committee on Political Education (COPE) will conduct interviews in some races. Our Executive Director will conduct phone interviews in other instances. The COPE consists of the MLK Labor’s Executive Board and representatives from our affiliated organizations.
Once all interested candidates for any given office have been considered, the MLK Labor Executive Board will consider input from other COPE members and make a recommendation for endorsement. This recommendation requires a 2/3 vote of the Board. Endorsements are based on the candidate’s voting record, their viability and attitude, and their completed questionnaire. All candidates must complete a COPE questionnaire and participate in our process in order to be considered for endorsement.
Any recommendation made by the Board will be forwarded to the MLK Labor delegate body. Delegates meet monthly and recommendations for endorsements to WSLC (or endorsements, in the case of local races) may be made only at these meetings. It requires a 2/3 vote of the delegate body to confirm an endorsement recommendation made by the Board.
Any motion for endorsement made from the floor of the meeting without a recommendation from the Board will be brought back to the delegate body at the subsequent meeting. Once an endorsement has been made, no further interviews will be held in that race, except in extenuating circumstances, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.