2024 Election Recap — Part 1
by Krist Novoselić (November 9, 2024)
There will be a majority coalition in the State House next session. Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidate Shaun Scott won the open seat in Seattle’s 43rd LD.
The DSA believe, “working people should run both the economy and society democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few.” In other words, the goal is the redistribution of wealth.
State socialism won the seat in the 43rd. This victory has been in the works for a while. The DSA had endorsed Scott in his 2019 city council race and openly supported him in 2024.
Scott was also endorsed by outgoing representative Frank Chopp — a powerbroker who served as State House Speaker for many sessions. I had worked with Frank over the years and we always hit it off. I sometimes call him Franjo Čop, as he is a fellow Croatian🇭🇷. About 20 years ago, he invited me to an event receiving a delegation from the Croatian Sabor. We also worked on state voting rights legislation and he was great with proportional representation. Frank retired and passed the baton to Scott, who worked on progressive campaigns and lobbied for nonprofits.
Scott has a lot of political experience and it showed with the campaign he ran. In the primary, he came in a very strong first place among four candidates. The race was his to lose.
Scott’s general election opponent was Andrea Suarez, who won a spot in the Top 2 by narrowly emerging from the primary. She is an activist leading We Heart Seattle (WHS), a privately funded nonprofit doing great work addressing homelessness and addiction.
Suarez has long been atacked by certain “Progressives”. My hunch is they resent the success of a private group with cleaning blight areas. WHS is a secular alternative to faith based efforts addressing homelessness and addiction. Critics don’t like how Suarez cleans encampments, claiming WHS takes the unhoused’s personal property and throws it away. I don’t believe this. (I could write a whole other article, and, for now, only wonder why pathological hoarding is associated with homeless encampments.)
Notwithstanding, the haters made Suarez a villain. The constellation of Seattle’s Progressive press never let up; including The Stranger, who race-baited her. Progressive haters also made videos of destroying Suarez's yard signs.
Suarez had no real political experience. She is a twice elected Democratic PCO, who got labeled as a Republican right off the bat. Before jumping into the race, she accepted a paying keynote speaking gig at a Republican event. When she filed as a Democrat, the GOP disinvited her, and this was news. Andrea is uncompromising and has other associations likely casting doubt on her party affiliation; which hurt in this district.
Andrea ran a public safety focused campaign giving Scott a rough time over his police abolitionist views and radical political doctrine.
Both candidates stated PREFERS DEMOCRATIC PARTY on the ballot. Election returns reveal Suarez unconvincing as a Democrat. DSA candidate Shaun Scott handily rode Washington’s Leftward wave to Olympia.
There is a notable economic dichotomy in the 43rd District. Scott’s base consists of progressive renters in the city’s Capitol Hill area. Election results show an interesting electoral coalition reaching outside of the “renter” economic scope.
Neighborhoods of upscale homes, and downtown condominiums make the district unique, containing some of the most expensive properties in our state. An example of this coalition demographic is City Councilor Tammy Morales. She’s the current voice for the Progressives on the council, who resides in a wealthy area, (In a similar, neighboring legislative district.).
The populist working class, who won nationally the other night, deride coastal economic elites as “Limousine Liberals”. On the other hand, progressive groups like the DSA have set their sites on these wealthy urban dwellers. “Tax the rich!” is the slogan on their march towards Social Democracy.
Election returns in the 43rd show the wealthy urban aligned with the DSA. It appears Social Democracy is coming to Washington; there's much talk about increasing taxes and spending in Olympia and Seattle. This means Shaun Scott and the Democratic Socialists of America really won big — no class struggle needed.
CASCADE PARTY of WASHINGTON
PO Box 28004
Seattle, WA 98118