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Endorses Fortunato
The race
One state Senate seat is at stake in Washington's Senate District 31, for a four-year term. The incumbent, Phil Fortunato (Republican), is seeking re-election. Washington uses a top-two primary: the two highest finishers advance to the general election regardless of party, which is why some districts below show two candidates of the same party and no candidate of the other. The confirmed general-election roster, per Ballotpedia — Washington State Senate elections, 2026 (roster strength: compilation (Ballotpedia)), is: Tamara Stramel (Democratic Party); Phil Fortunato (Republican Party).
The candidates, claim by claim
Tamara Stramel (D), nominee. Tamara Stramel appears on the confirmed general-election roster for this district (Ballotpedia general-election table, accessed October 25, 2026). No detailed voting-record, biography, or signature-claim file for this candidate was verified at this sourcing depth, and none is invented here.
Pros: A willing nominee giving the district's Democratic voters a choice on the ballot. Cons: No documented break with the Democratic Party toward this publication's values was located in the compiled record — no Manchin-test break. In the Senate, a Democratic organizing vote is heavy: it carries chamber control and the judicial pipeline with it. The flaw, plainly: Enabler class, not extremist — a reliable party-line vote, which is the standing reason the exception for a Democrat is not earned here.
Phil Fortunato (R), incumbent. Phil Fortunato is the incumbent for this seat, marked (i) on the Ballotpedia general-election table, and appears on the confirmed general-election roster (Ballotpedia general-election table, accessed October 25, 2026).
Pros: The Republican incumbent/nominee with a service record in the compiled file; aligned with the values this publication exists to advance. Cons: No proven flaw meeting this publication's standard was located in the compiled record. The flaw, plainly: None proven was located in the compiled record.
OUR CALL
We endorse Phil Fortunato (R). The Republican carries a service record in the compiled file and no proven flaw was located; the Democratic alternative does not pass the Manchin test on any record located — and in the Senate, that organizing vote is the heaviest one on this ballot.
For the complete Election 2026 breakdown — every race, claim by claim — see the full coverage on our website.
Vote early. Research your candidates. Choose the best moderates, whatever their party — no extremism from either side. And encourage your friends and family to do the same.
Sources
- Ballotpedia — Washington State Senate elections, 2026 — general-election roster, incumbency markers, and ballot-status notes (roster strength: compilation (Ballotpedia)) — http://ballotpedia.org/Washington_State_Senate_elections,_2026
- Record gaps: no detailed legislative voting record, campaign-finance figures, or biographies beyond the offices and facts printed above were verified for the candidates in this district at this sourcing depth; no district-level competitiveness rating was published in the sources consulted except where a sourced note is printed in the race section above
- Standing check: no pedophile-association material meeting the proven standard (knowing association with or defense of a convicted pedophile) was located for any candidate on this ballot
Result pending. No verified call (Associated Press or official) as of November 4, 2026. This page will be updated when the race is called or certified. The original article above is unchanged.
AI-assisted article — but the sources are human, and the facts are very real.
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