Earlier this week, we shared that Let's Go WA received a large donation from a shadowy new player on the right. Today we have some clarity on exactly where that money comes from. Also, Gov. Ferguson has a new proposal to address #affordablehousing.

Our Re-Wire Policy Conference may be over, but that doesn't mean we're done talking about. One of the biggest takeaways from the conference? 2026 may be the year #WAleg seriously considers imposing an income tax in WA. Also, how federal cuts to the ACA will impact the uninsured rate in WA.

#WAleg isn’t in session yet, but fights are already forming. State liability costs have exploded, and the self-insurance fund is now in the red. Failure at DCYF is just one piece of the story. Also, the Sunshine Committee is underfunded and largely ignored. What happens when next? We dive in.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is looking to #waleg to increase the budget aimed at Juvenile Rehabilitation. Existing facilities are too full, so lawmakers are looking for a way forward. Also, WA is leading the way in the EV market, but what does the future hold? We dive in.

Seattle’s new progressive mayor has business leaders on alert. We look at what they’re watching as Wilson prepares for her new role. And statewide, the Attorney General is weighing a major shift to public-records rules. Here’s what you need to know. #waleg #seattle

Looks like Seattle is joining NYC with a progressive mayor. We dive into the campaign. Also, Airbnb & Friends are bringing a money gun back to #waleg over a tax hike on short-term rentals. We dive in. washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/its-starti...

Ballots are in. Votes are being counted and while initial results might change in the coming days, we have some early breakdowns to share from the #SeattleMayor race to four #waleg races and some local races we had our eye on. We dive in washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/wilson-tra...

Power plays, PAC money, and abortion politics collide in the 33rd. We break down the late-game fight for this key WA seat. Also, some Observer news and recommended reading. #journalism

Ballots are due in a week which means big money is being spent on the state's most watched races. We break it down. Also, debt collectors are on notice as the Supremes hear a case related to overdue medical bills. #washingtonstate #election

If you're living in an area with a hot race this November, expect to see a lot of political communications heading your way. We break it down - the races to follow and how much they're spending. Also, new numbers released by the state DCYF has some grim numbers around incarcerated youth. #wastate

Here at the Observer we pride ourselves on our obsession with campaign cash: who has it, where it's going and why it matters to you. To make it easy on you, we've put together a roundup. Also, a weed battle is raising eyebrows in Olympia. #wastate #waleg

The PAC behind Incumbent Harrell in the #Seattle Mayor race comes out swinging. Their warchest is at least five times bigger than the PAC behind Wilson. What's this mean? We dive in. Also, Fergson courts labor with an executive order and more campaign cash tracking. #wastate

We are officially in the hardball phase of the Seattle Mayor race as the PAC behind Katie Wilson dropped an attack on incumbent Harrell. But that's not the only mayor race we're tracking, Tacoma is looking at an open Mayor race between Councilman John Hines and former Councilman Anders Ibsen.

It's that time of year where money starts moving as we're less than a month out from the November 4 election. $125,000 enters the race for King County Executive and Katie Wilson get's $75,000 from Protec17. Also a look at the dueling profiles on Katie Wilson. We dive in. #waleg

Remember when we said spending in the state Senate race in the 26th district would get out of hand? Prepare yourselves, independent spending is coming. Also, a plot to fix a real estate fight and better news for foster families. We dive in.

The PAC behind Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is growing a sizeable war chest as some of the regions richest citizens line up to donate. Though Katie Wilson still seems to be the favorite according to one source. We have the details. #seattle #washingtondtate #mayorrace

Cowardice is the word we'd use to describe Cascade Public Media's Cascade Public Media's decision to kill off the newsroom formerly known as Crosscut, throwing more than 15 journalists out onto the street. What happened and what does it mean? We dive in. #journalism

The state's safety net for tenants is fraying. With an increase in eviction filings, the state is struggling to keep up. We dive in. Also, the MLK Labor Council divided their support in Seattle's Mayor race. washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/a-looming-...

Money is flowing in the race for Seattle Mayor - including money going to PACs supporting Incumbent Mayor Harrell and challenger Katie Wilson. We track the details so you don't have to. washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/harrell-pr...

ICYMI: For $10,000 you could join Gov. Ferguson at an upcoming Seahawks' game. Where's the money going? That would be to the Democratic Governors Association, a dark money PAC who throws their weight behind Democratic governors. We dive in. washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/a-really-e...

ICYMI: For $10,000 you could join Gov. Ferguson at an upcoming Seahawks' game. Where's the money going? That would be to the Democratic Governors Association, a dark money PAC who throws their weight behind Democratic governors. We dive in. washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/a-really-e...

We're back. Did you miss us? We know those tracking how political money moves throughout our state did. We dive into how Microsoft is funding leg races and also the return of Let's Go Washington. washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/mostly-mic... #waleg

Being a first time lawmaker is tough, more often than not you watch your bills die. However, there are exceptions and we’re diving into them. #waleg

Seattle voters made a bold move last week, but maybe not the one you expected. They renewed the levy funding the city’s democracy voucher program. We dig into what it means + share some recommended reading: washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/democracy-...

A small group of us did our civic duty and turned in our ballots for the August primary, and an even smaller number of us have had our votes counted. So while we await additional vote counts, here's some early takeaways for you. washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/early-prim...

We got some primary polling for you. First a poll on Gov. Ferguson's approval rating and second a poll on the Seattle Mayor's race. Also, an update from the Senate Housing Committee as they try to turn WA into a home-building factor. #wastate #augustprimary

Two Seattle races are seeing independent money fly as the Aug. 5 primary draws near. We dive into the Mayor's race and Dionne Foster's challenge to Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson. Also, updated numbers on what Trump's Big Beautiful Bill will cost the hardest-pressed Washingtontonians.

What's the most closely watched race in WA this year? It has to be the dem-vs-dem showdown between Sen. Vandana Slatter and Rep. Amy Walen for the 48th leg district. We dive in, also an update on Amazon and Medicaid dollars. #washingtonstate #independentjournalism #waleg

Providence, one of the largest healthcare systems in Washington, was back in court to challenge a 2024 decision that found the healthcare giant was underpaying its staff. We dive in. #healthcare #washingtonstate

What happens when counties encourage sprawl and cities get stuck with the bill? A turf war north of Bellingham has lawmakers eyeing change. We dive in. #washingtonstate #bellingham #journalism

ICYMI we did a dive into one of the state's less appreciated costs: overtime pay. It's one of the state's trickiest expenses to budget around, so we did the research so you don't have to. #washingtonstate #overtimepay #journalismthreads #waleg

The race for #KingCounty executive is heating up and it looks like a two-horse race between Claudia Balducci and Girmay Zahilary. We dive into the money and ads behind the campaigns. Also, some recommended reading. #washingtonstate #racewatch

ICYMI because of America’s birthday: Real transparency from the Supremes doesn't seem to be a goal of theirs as they shield state labor negotiations from public records. but wait. Isn't that our tax dollars? Also, you can expect gas prices to increase thanks to a new gas tax hike. #waleg

The math isn't mathing when it comes to legal weed in Washington. We dive into a recent report from RAND that shows a decrease in profit for weed - but what's causing it? We dive in. #weed #washingtonstate

The Seattle Mayor race is heating up with unlikely challenger, Joe Mallahan, launching a new website against Mayor Bruce Harrell. If Mallahan's name looks familiar, that's because he is - he ran for mayor in 2009. We dive into the race and share some recommended reading. #washingtonstate #journalism

Out-of-state #homeownership has increased in Washington state with some of our more desirable locations going to those with deep pocket books. Also, AG Brown sues a California property manager. We dive in washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/washington... #washingtonstate #waleg

Gov. Ferguson put the progressive left on edge, and yet, when push comes to shove he's embraced the left as the final #waleg budget package gets his signature. Also, an updated student bill of rights and permit-to-purchase gun control gets the green light. #journalism #wastate

Why did sixteen school superintendents write a veto request to Gov. Ferguson? We dive in. Also, Gov. Ferguson continues his bill signing frenzy with signatures going to a recycling revamp, a lot-splitting bill, cash for cops (sort of), the right to fix your gadgets, and more. #waleg #k12 #wastate

A lot of money is already flowing for November 2025 and we have the details, including a look at the race for King County Executive and Constantine's war chest. Also, Gov. Ferguson signed four bills in honor of the late Sen. Bill Ramos. #washingtonstate

Gov. Ferguson issued his second veto of the year, removing emergency language from Senate Bill 5351. The Governor is also planning a bill-signing jaunt to the eastern side of the state. Speaking of bill-signing a number of housing bills were approved this week. We dive in. #waleg

As Gov. Ferguson plays a will-he-won't-he game with the various bills awaiting his signature, we dive into the history of the veto and which governors used their pen the most. Also, key takeaways from the filing deadline and a look at a new law targeting speeders. #waleg #ferguson #veto

The Legislative Ethics Board recently investigated House Business Chair, Rep. Amy Walen, whose day job raised some eyebrows for the fate of an auto bill. We dive in. Also, will he or won't he? The power of the veto pen is now Gov. Ferguson's who has 20 days to approve or veto bills passed by #waleg

One surprise of this #waleg session was the death of an accountability bill that would protect consumers and punish bad actors. What happened? We dive in. Plus it's filing week - we'll be monitoring who steps up for the nine open leg seats. #wastate #journalism

And who lost this #waleg session? To name a few: landlords, garbage haulers, main street, property-poor school districts and nonprofits. We dive in #washingtonstate #statebudget #budgetseason

So who won this #Waleg session? We dive into the big winners coming out of this session, but to give a preview of who's coming out on top: state employees, billionaires, affluent school districts, gun control advocates, and gun control advocates. #journalism #wastate

Despite a massive budget deficit, Public Education advocates started the #waleg session pushing for billions in new funding for #K12education. What they got was way less. What happened? We dive in.

#Waleg is out for the year. Fee hikes, more cops, last-minute details - we're breaking it all down. Today focuses on the choice decisions and consequences of the deal. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll look at the winners and losers. #budget #wastate #independentjournalism

Two major progressive priorities are heading for the finish line: unemployment benefits for strikers and a compromise cap on rent increases. Also, tax increases are headed for Ferguson's desk. We dive into the nitty gritty. #waleg #journalism #legsession #wastate

The House passed an updated Education funding package that could widen the education gap between districts in our state. Also, a politically dicey vote on the B&O tax and some additional bill action including an update on the “Tesla tax.” #waleg #washingtonstate #k12funding

Washington's Recovery Navigator Program, which is a lifeline keeping people struggling with addition off the streets and out of jail, is on the chopping block as #waleg looks to make budget cuts. We dive in. Also, a look at some tax revisions from Senate Dems. #wastate #journalism