Washington Community Action Network

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, MEMBER-LED ENDORSEMENTS & CANDIDATE VICTORIES:Washington CAN expanded political power through a member-led endorsement process, ensuring that community voices were centered in candidate selection. This process empowered 15 grassroots leaders by developing issue-based candidate questionnaires, focusing on housing, healthcare, workers' rights, and economic justice. Through direct interviews, members engaged with candidates to assess their alignment with WaCAN's priorities. WaCAN played a key role in electing progressive candidates in 2024.These statewide victories included Dave Upthegrove's as Land Commissioner, securing leadership that prioritizes environmental and climate justice and Nick Brown as Attorney General, bringing a strong advocate for justice reform and corporate accountability. At the local level, WaCAN played in instrumental role in electing Alexis Mercedes Rinck's bringing her leadership in budget, policy, and advocacy, strengthening grassroots momentum to Seattle and Deana Knutsen to the Snohomish Hospital Commission seat with Verdant Health, ensuring that healthcare governance reflects the needs of the community.

PACIFIC COUNTY:Pacific County Voices Uniting (PCVU) is a fiscally sponsored project of Washington CAN's that aims to shift, balance, and develop a culture of healthy civic engagement. In a county with large disparities, PCVU is uniting crosscultural and multi-generational demographics to participate in collaborative social movements that increase civic engagement through education, create more reflective representation and build political power. In 2024, through door-to-door canvassing, Community Engagement Organizers knocked on 7,817 doors to Get Out The Vote, an increase of 4,625 doors from 2023. In addition to door knocking, PCVU hosted 5 community-based ballot parties and Community Outreach Navigators helped to distribute over 24,260 pounds of food to Pacific County families through community grants and the organization participated in 3 community festivals throughout the year.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY & POLICY ACTION:Beyond electoral engagement, Washington CAN mobilized supporters to take direct action in policy fights at the local and state level. Our advocacy efforts included: 557 community sign-ins in support of progressive policies, amplifying constituent voices in legislative decision-making; a highly successful lobby day, bringing 97 community leaders to Olympia to meet with legislators and advocate for economic, housing, and healthcare justice; and 87 gig workers mobilized in advocacy efforts to fight for fair wages and workplace protections. Washington CAN also engaged in coalition efforts to advance policy change, including active participation in the Powerbuilding Table, a statewide movement-building coalition that aligns long-term strategies for social and economic justice.