Joe Nguyen is fucking killing it. The candidate for Washington Senate representing South Seattle and Vashon Island has expanded his primary vote
"Iâm proud to endorse Joe Nguyen, an exceptional candidate for the Washington State Senate," Jayapal said in a press release Monday. "He is the only candidate in the race who does not take corporate PAC money, and he has been running a strong grassroots campaign that helps engage new and existing voters in the district."
Jayapal's endorsement comes after Nguyen's surprise first place showing in the crowded primary race to fill the empty Senate seat. Braddock was originally the clear front runner in the primary campaign, raising nearly $100,000 in donations and winning endorsements from the Seattle Times, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and six King County councilmembers.
During the primary campaign, Nguyen raised $47,194, less than half of Braddock's campaign funds. But then The Stranger Election Control Board slid into Nguyen's DMs and offered our endorsement of the south Seattle native. Nguyen told me he has also won the endorsement of Lois Schipper, who placed third in the primary.
Nguyen said Jayapal has been an inspiration for his campaign.
"I'm incredibly humbled by her support and will continue our tireless fight to make sure all voices in this district get the representation they deserve," Nguyen said in a text message.
Nguyen was raised in the White Center area and is a first-generation Vietnamese American. Jayapal said in her statement that Nguyen would be the first person of color to represent the 34th Legislative District in Olympia and "one of only a handful of Vietnamese-American legislators across the country."
"Joe would bring to the State Senate his unique personal story of growing up in White Center as a first-generation Vietnamese-American. He is deeply committed to standing up for working people everywhere, from championing Medicare for All to defending immigrant rights and fixing our broken tax system," Jayapal said in the statement.
