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Campaign Phone Number
2537921857
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Joe Bushnell is a proud Tacoma native, U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran, and public servant committed to building stronger communities. Born to a refugee mother and a small business owner father, Joe learned the values of hard work, resilience, and service. Elected in 2021 as Tacoma's—and Washington State's—first Cambodian-American Councilmember, he now serves as Deputy Mayor representing South Tacoma, the South End, and East Tacoma. Joe has championed public safety, housing, economic opportunity, youth internships, and support for local nonprofits while remaining active in neighborhood cleanups, tree planting, and Toys for Tots. A graduate of Stadium High School and The Evergreen State College, Joe is committed to creating opportunity for
My top budget priority is to help Washington families access affordable healthcare. With Federal cuts risking up to 300,000 families directly losing coverage, and many more unable to keep up with rising costs, we must act at the state level to move toward universal healthcare for all. I support progressive revenue options, which means asking the wealthiest to pay their fair share. But I also believe that any new revenue should be paired with tax relief to make our system more fair. That means that I support reducing the State’s sales tax that falls on working families and seniors the most.
Washington State has one of the best elections system in the country, and I think that the other Washington would really benefit from looking and listening with an open mind about how we do it. Our elections are fair and accessible. Every signature is matched and is based on proof of eligibility to vote when registering. Voting by mail is safe and secure, and ballot drop boxes are an even more convenient and secure way to return your ballot so you don’t need to worry about it arriving too late. The biggest challenge to our voting system is the lack of confidence instilled by national Republicans seeking to undermine it.
The State Legislature has a really significant hand in addressing public safety, and as Deputy Mayor of Tacoma, I’ve seen how hard it is for our cities and counties to manage without the state doing its part. Largely that falls on the failure of the state to sufficiently support mental health and addiction treatment, as well as the lack of affordable housing that has contributed to homelessness. If the state steps up and does its part to address these issues, then it’ll be easier for local jurisdictions to manage public safety. I’m especially proud of our community-based policing in Tacoma that has made significant improvements in recent years, especially in the Hosmer district.
Of course independent local journalism is incredibly important, and I really appreciate the League of Women Voters for doing this public service to help engage and inform the public about candidates running for office at all levels. We’ve seen the consolidation or closing of local newspapers which is harmful for our community. But I don’t believe it’s the role of the State to directly subsidize or support independent news organizations.
I think that our State has been a model in how to do things right – with an independent redistricting commission. However the national gerrymandering that’s taken place this year penalizes states that are committed to a fair and non-partisan process. My hope would be that we can return to a more normal political process before 2031, but if that doesn’t happen, I’m open to redistricting in WA that will offset national gerrymandering.
As mentioned above, the greatest challenge facing my community is affordability. People are struggling with the rising costs of gas, groceries, healthcare, utilities and local taxes. I think that the State must do more to address this not only by passing universal healthcare for all, but also by fixing our upside-down tax system by asking the wealthiest residents to pay their fair share and reducing taxes on working class families and seniors.
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Campaign Phone Number
2532545654
Biography (max 750 char)
I’m a lifelong resident of the 29th Legislative District running for State Representative because I believe leadership begins with listening. Raised by a Malaysian immigrant mother and a father with Finnish roots, I learned the values of hard work, resilience, and looking out for neighbors. Throughout my career in Washington state government, including serving both chambers of the Legislature, I’ve helped families access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. After knocking on more than 6,000 doors across our district, I’ve heard firsthand the challenges our community faces. I’m ready to fight for affordability, workers’ rights, immigrant families, and to ensure every voice is heard. Your Voice. Your District. Your Fight.
My top budget priorities are affordable housing, strong public schools, healthcare access, safer communities, and infrastructure that keeps pace with growth. We also need to be thoughtful about how we fund these priorities. Many families are struggling with the cost of everyday expenses, and regressive taxes like the gas tax place a disproportionate burden on working people. We need to create a fairer, more progressive revenue system by exploring options such as taxes on luxury goods or capital gains, while also reviewing outdated tax exemptions and incentives to ensure they continue to serve the public interest. Every dollar must be evaluated to ensure it benefits Washington communities.
Public confidence in elections grows when people feel informed, included, and confident that their voice matters. Through my conversations with residents, I have heard frustration from people who want to participate but do not always understand what is on their ballot or worry they may vote against their own interests. We can strengthen civic participation by making election information more accessible through clearer language, expanded language access, and stronger civic education. We also need to engage young people earlier by helping students understand how government works and showing them that their voices matter. When people understand how decisions are made and see a place for themselves in our democracy, they are more likely to participate and advocate for their communities.
Public safety requires shifting from a reactive approach to one focused on prevention, intervention, and collaboration. We must address challenges before they become crises by ensuring residents access the resources and services they need, including mental health care, substance use treatment, housing support, and youth programs. Safe communities are also built by investing in community spaces, neighborhood programs, and access to essential services like grocery stores and healthcare. State government must collaborate with local communities, service providers, and law enforcement to develop solutions that address both immediate safety concerns and the root causes that affect people’s ability to thrive.
A strong democracy depends on people having access to reliable information. Local journalists help communities understand what is happening, hold leaders accountable, and make sure residents’ voices are heard. Washington should support a strong local journalism ecosystem while protecting editorial independence and ensuring communities have access to trustworthy local news. That includes supporting workers’ rights and making sure journalists can organize and collectively bargain. Those protections matter not just for journalists as workers, but because they help them report independently and hold people in power accountable. Media is often called the fourth branch of government for a reason: an informed public is essential to a healthy democracy.
Redistricting should be transparent and centered on communities so people have fair representation. Residents deserve to trust that district boundaries are drawn based on shared needs and experiences, not political interests. For 2031, I support stronger public engagement, greater transparency, and meaningful opportunities for communities to provide input.
District boundaries should reflect the people who live there and, whenever possible, keep communities with shared identities, challenges, and priorities together. We should also continue to find ways to better reach historically underrepresented communities so that all residents have a voice in shaping the districts that represent them. Fair representation starts with a process people can trust.
The greatest challenge facing the 29th District is affordability. Many residents are worried about whether they can continue living in the community they call home. Affordability is not just about housing costs; it also includes access to healthcare, childcare, transportation, grocery stores, and safe community spaces.
The 29th District has many multigenerational households because families cannot afford to live independently while covering the rising costs of care and basic needs. State government has a duty to help create greater economic stability by investing in affordable housing, healthcare access, education, infrastructure, and essential services. Communities that have grown faster than their infrastructure can support need investments to keep families here and help them thrive.
Campaign Phone Number
2532545730
Biography (max 750 char)
Coming from a low-income family that struggled with the impacts of substance use issues and domestic violence, Patrick knows how Olympia can feel so distant but have such a big impact, and he wants to bring our voices closer to what happens in the Legislature. Big changes require big coalitions, and Patrick will draw on his experience as an attorney, policy and legislative affairs advisor, and community organizer to ensure that we address policy in a way that meets working families’ needs. Patrick is proud to be endorsed by our local Democratic parties, the Washington State Labor Council, and many other organizations and elected officials. Patrick lives in South Tacoma with his wife, Katie, a public school teacher, and their dog, Finnley.
My budget priorities relate to solving our affordability crisis, creating more affordable housing, and fully funding our education system. It is important, too, to focus not just on what we’re spending, but how we’re spending it. We need to prioritize early intervention, instead of waiting for problems to get worse and harder to untangle.
On the revenue side, we rely too much on sales taxes, meaning working and middle-class families pay more of their income in taxes, and we have more issues when times are tough. Increasing progressive revenue sources and adding strict accountability standards to our tax exemptions will reduce the burden on working families while ensuring that there are fewer impacts to critical programs when they are needed the most.
We have a safe and secure election system here in Washington. There are high penalties for fraud, and our system of voting allows our local elections officials to audit the results of an election after the votes are counted. I will work to ensure our elections officials have the resources they need to respond to any emerging security risks.
On civic participation, I think we need to do more to show how state-level decisions impact people’s daily lives, and how they can get involved. The decisions in Olympia can feel so distant, and we need an active and engaged strategy that allows all voices to be heard.
We won’t be able to get a handle on public safety issues if we only address the symptoms. True public safety requires addressing the root causes of crime, such as mental health, substance use, and generational trauma, through early intervention and treatment. We need to invest in these strategies at the state level to help support our local governments. We also need to support better re-entry services that give people the tools and community connection they need to fully reintegrate into society.
Additionally, our cities and counties are struggling to fund new caseload standards, and we need to make sure the resources are there to be able to maintain a functioning court system. I will support policy and funding solutions to ensure we create safer communities for everyone.
I am deeply committed to standing with the professionals who provide our communities with reliable news. My appreciation for media and broadcasting is enhanced from my time in college working as the program manager for our campus radio station.
I continue to support local media by showing up in solidarity with newsroom workers, and I recently joined actions to support our local Tacoma News Tribune reporters and photographers during their contract negotiations as they fought for fair pay and quality standards. At the state level, it is critical that we invest in reliable news and information, and I will support policies that do this when elected.
Washington's redistricting process should ensure every community is fairly represented. I support increasing transparency in this process and allowing for more public access to information and opportunities to get involved.
I believe the greatest challenge facing the 29th Legislative District is our severe affordability and housing crisis. Working families are being priced out of the neighborhoods they’ve lived in for years, and seniors are facing harder and harder choices just to keep up with rising costs. State government must fiercely advocate for working families.
To address this crisis, I believe the State must go after hidden fees, tackle market concentrations, stop our data from being used to charge us more for items we need, and expand affordable childcare. We must also do more to lower the cost of housing. I’ll draw on my experience as an attorney, policy advisor working around the Legislature, and community organizer to make sure that we move these policies forward.
