2023

First Mile Candidates

102 First Mile Circle members. $375,250 donated to 43 candidates of color across 12 unique counties. 19 powerful leaders elected.

In 2023 we supported more First Mile candidates than any single year prior – a total of 43 candidates of color supported in 12 counties across the state. Ultimately, 19 of our candidates won their races. We couldn’t be more proud of everyone who worked so hard for these wins – the candidates, the campaign managers, the volunteers, and the families of people running who sacrificed so much during the campaign season. There is no doubt that the work we did together mattered deeply.

Wins included:

Building a government that looks like our communities.

  • Han Tran won her race for North Shore School Board. We first met and supported Han through First Mile when she ran for Bothell City Council in 2021. We were thrilled when she decided to stay on the path of public service and announced her decision to run for office again in 2023, winning her seat by 12.87%.

  • Angie Nuevacamina won her race for the Redmond City Council, defeating a 14-year conservative incumbent! Angie led her opponent by an impressive 7.6%. In a moment where Redmond is experiencing continued growth and making decisions about how to plan and accommodate residents of all income levels, we are thrilled to see Angie step into this role as an experienced leader who previously served on the Redmond Planning Commission.

  • Maggie Sanders won her highly competitive Port of Olympia race by less than 1%, with Jasmine Vasavada winning her Olympia Port Commissioner seat as well.

  • In city council races across the state, First Mile candidates won 11 of the 18 races competed in. Other races were lost by narrow margins, such as Manny Rodriguez for Quincy city council who lost by just 11 votes, demonstrating the competitiveness of these candidate’s runs.

First Mile is making a difference.

  • For candidates who won their races, First Mile donations made up between 2.6% to 49% of candidate’s budgets. We know that in small local races in particular, every dollar counts. First Mile’s support helps enable candidates to spend less time fundraising and more time talking to the people in their communities.

"The First Mile Circle has played a critical role in my campaign for King County Council. Because the council district I seek to serve is home to nearly 200,000 residents, reaching out to voters requires a high level of resources and it is daunting for me as a first-time candidate, and as someone seeking to be the first person of color to represent this council district, to secure the financial support needed. First Mile was a crucial boost at the most opportune time and gives me a chance to compete effectively."

— Jorge Barón, candidate for King County Council

Angela Nuevacamina

Redmond City Councilmember

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $17,625
Elected: Y

Anna Saenz

Sunnyside School Board Director, Pos. 4 candidate

Supported in Primary
FM Circle contributed: $5,050
Elected: N

Aurora Flores

Manson School Board Director, Pos. 2 candidate

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $4,080
Elected: N

Betsy Wilkerson

Spokane City Council President

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $38,075
Elected: Y

Cadine Ferguson-Brown

Mason County Superior Court Judge candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $20,125
Elected: N

Carlos Ruiz

Highline School Board Director, Pos. 4 candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $3,550
Elected: N

Charles Adkins

Everett SD002 School Board Director

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $2,200
Elected: Y

Cristina Martinez

Mercer Island SD400 School Board Director

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $1,550
Elected: Y

David Edwards

Woodinville City Councilmember, Pos. 2

Supported in Primary
FM Circle contributed: $2,581
Elected: Y

Davida Haygood

Puyallup SD3 School Board Director, Pos. 5 candidate

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $10,607
Elected: N

Demi Chatters

Everett City Council, Pos. 6 candidate

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $16,031
Elected: N

Dontae Payne

Mayor of Olympia

Supported in Primary
FM Circle contributed: $3,276
Elected: Y

Dulce Gutierrez

Yakima City Council, Pos. 1 candidate

Supported in Primary
FM Circle contributed: $3,500
Elected: N

Erica Conway

Renton City Council candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $7,700
Elected: N

Esteban Herevia

Spokane City Council, Dist. 3, Pos. 1 candidate

Supported in Primary
FM Circle contributed: $7,100
Did not pass the primary

Han Tran

Northshore School Board Director, Dist. 3

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $4,132
Elected: Y

Jaime Stacy

Mead SD354 School Board Director candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $10,150
Elected: N

James Lovell

SeaTac City Councilmember, Pos. 5

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $1,575
Elected: Y

Jamika Scott

Tacoma City Councilmember, Pos. 3

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $23,731
Elected: Y

Jasmine Vasavada

Port of Olympia Commissioner, Dist. 1

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $3,576
Elected: Y

Jorge Barón

King County Councilmember, Dist. 4

Supported in Primary
FM Circle contributed: $10,275
Elected: Y

Judith Martinez

Everett City Council, Pos. 7 candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $13,150
Elected: N

Katherine Festa

Federal Way City Council, Pos. 5 candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $1,675
Elected: N

Linda Hale

Yelm School Board Director, Dist. 5 candidate

Supported in Primary
FM Circle contributed: $2,070
Did not pass the primary

Lucy Madrigal

Mt. Vernon City Council candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $7,580
Elected: N

Maggie Sanders

Port of Olympia Commissioner, Dist. 4

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $26,235
Elected: Y

Manny Rodriguez

Quincy City Council, Pos. 6 candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $4,350
Elected: N

Maria Flores

Olympia SD111 School Board Director

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $2,500
Elected: Y

Maria Iñiguez

Wenatchee School Board Director, Pos. 2

Supported in Primary
FM Circle contributed: $2,935
Elected: Y

Mary Anderson

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge, Pos. 17 candidate

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $20,125
Elected: N

Maya Morales

Bellingham City Council, Pos. 7 candidate

Supported in Primary
FM Circle contributed: $5,500
Did not pass primary

Michelle Gipson

North Thurston County School Board Director

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $1,700
Elected: Y

Natasha Fecteau-Minger

North Kitsap SD400 School Board Director, Dist. 2 candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $4,950
Elected: N

Olgy Diaz

Tacoma City Councilmember, Pos. 7

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $39,521
Elected: Y

Rosa Torres

Pasco School Board Director, Pos. 1 candidate

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $6,195
Elected: N

Sandra Zesati

Sunnyside School Board Director, Pos. 5 candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $1,300
Elected: N

Shellie Willis

Puyallup City Council, At-Large candidate

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $16,740
Elected: N

Soneya Lund

Yakima City Council, Pos. 5 candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $16,055
Elected: N

Stephanie Tidholm

Highline School Board Director, Dist. 1

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $5,951
Elected: Y

Talauna Reed

Olympia SD111 School Board Director candidate

Supported in Primary
FM Circle contributed: $2,700
Elected: N

Teresa Mosqueda

King County Councilmember, Dist. 8

Supported in Primary & General
FM Circle contributed: $4,526
Elected: Y

Toni Jefferson

Ferndale SD502 School Board Director, Dist. 3 candidate

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $4,775
Elected: N

Vicky Frausto

Sunnyside City Councilmember, Pos. 3

Supported in General
FM Circle contributed: $3,250
Elected: Y

Disclaimer

First Mile's community partners develop a slate of recommended candidates for support annually by First Mile Circle members based on the information provided by candidates or otherwise made publicly available during the course of their campaigns. First Mile partners do their best due diligence to ensure candidates hold progressive values. First Mile is not responsible for and does not endorse, guarantee, or warrant any views, opinions, or actions of candidates or elected officials who have received First Mile support. First Mile may remove candidates from the site if, in our sole discretion, we find that pertinent information was withheld during the vetting process.