In contrast to our 32 "No-Brainer" endorsements—including endorsements for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and state supreme court candidate Charlie Wiggins and against Tim Eyman's I-1053—here are endorsements in races where we feel voters have little choice but to check the box for these folks, whether it's because they're the lesser evil, or because their opponents are blah, or in one case, because they're running unopposed.

State Rep., Position 1, District 37: Sharon Tomiko Santos

Santos, a six-term representatives from Southeast Seattle, voted against overturning Tim Eyman's I-960 (requiring a two-thirds majority to raise taxes), opposed transit-oriented development (density around light-rail stations), and voted "Nay" on charging a sales tax on junk food.

For what it's worth, Santos has supported restrictions on firearms sales, supported funding for education, supported a graduated income tax, and been an outspoken backer of immigration reform. She also---unlike half her Seattle colleagues ---voted against the infamous tunnel cost overruns provisions.

But thanks to  her progressive-turns-into-NIBMY-populism turn, we'd like to see her draw a strong challenger in the future, but for now, we recommend a vote for Santos.

State Rep., District 43, Position 2: PubliCola picks Frank Chopp


House Speaker Frank Chopp is excessively concerned with assuaging Republicans and moderates in his caucus at the expense of representing his progressive district (or leading the charge on a broader progressive agenda for the Democrats). We like his support for low-income housing; we wish he was as passionate about other basic Democratic issues like tax reform and taking on big business.

However, Chopp---as usual---lacks a credible challenger (he's opposed, for the second time in two years, by Republican Kim Verde).

State Rep., District 47, Position 1: PubliCola picks Geoff Simpson

Frankly, we wish Simpson---who was charged this year with assault against his ex-wife, the second time in two years he has been accused of domestic violence---had stepped aside and let another Democrat run in his place. Even if Simpson's ultimately exonerated, the multiple assault charges have sullied his reputation beyond repair; by staying in the race, Simpson is likely handing his seat to his Republican challenger, Mark Hargrove---a conservative R who has signed a ridiculous pledge to never raise taxes if he's elected.

We're sticking with Simpson because he's been one of the most vocal liberals in the legislature, particularly on environmental and transportation issues. In the last two years, he's been a strong supporter of transit-oriented development, light-rail expansion across I-90; and the Growth Management Act.

Standing up for progressive values, Simpson also voted against the House budget this year because of the cuts to human services.

US Rep., Congressional District 5, PubliCola Picks Cathy McMorris Rodgers

As you might have guessed from our endorsements, the members of PubliCola's editorial board are Democrats. As such, we're not impressed by incumbent Republican McMorris Rodgers' takes on Don't Ask Don't Tell (she wants to wait until the US is no longer in a war), illegal immigration (she wants to seal the borders), abortion (she's anti-choice---even voting to grant embryos 14th-amendment equal protection rights), gay rights (she voted against protecting gays and lesbians from job discrimination), the environment (she routinely opposes bills that would protect the environment, including investments in renewable energy), and health care (she called Obama's health care reform bill a "prescription for disaster.")

Still, we think McMorris Rodgers (who is, by the way, the highest-ranked Republican woman in House leadership) does a stand-up job representing her conservative district.

And her opponent, organic farmer Daryl Romeyn, is not credible.

State Sen., District 47, PubliCola picks Claudia Kauffman

Senate Democrats have identified incumbent Kauffman as a leader on early learning---touting her work as on the senate education committee. To us, that reads as an election-year construct to boost a legislator who hasn't been especially active or been a leader in her party. (In fact, Kauffman routinely votes with Republicans, opposing junk-food taxes to pay for education and health care and opposing efforts to overturn Tim Eyman's I-960, which made it all but impossible for the legislature to raise taxes).

Yeah, yeah, we know she needs to lean conservative to get reelected in her swing district, but making room for her dissident votes (as the caucus tried to do on the budget in a gambit that went awry when Sen. Margaret Haugen voted against the budget forcing Kauffman to vote 'Yea') isn't getting much in return.

She also supported impeaching Bush: Yawn.

However, Kauffman's opponent, Republican Joe Fain, wouldn't be an improvement. Currently chief of staff to elusive Republican King County Council member Pete Von Reichbauer, Fain led the effort to make King County offices "nonpartisan"---a Trojan-horse initiative that allows Republicans to avoid the GOP label in a largely Democratic county. He also plays dirty politics---running a biased "poll" blaming Kauffman for raising taxes and calling her, falsely, a lobbyist for Native American tribes.

On balance, we support Kauffman.

For all our endorsements, including our original batch of 32 "No-Brainers," click here.