Overview
The 36th District Democrats will hold two main endorsement cycles in 2026: one for the August Primary Election, and one for the November General Election.
If you are a candidate, you are welcome to attend any of our membership meetings and give a one-minute introduction to our members. Register for our online meetings. or contact us by email to add you to our agenda!
Current Endorsement Documents
- 36th District Democrats Endorsement Rules (adopted by the membership, updated as needed)
- Endorsement Interview Rules (adopted by the board each year/election cycle; will be adopted in an upcoming membership meeting)
- See also ARTICLE XIII – ENDORSEMENT PROCEDURE in the bylaws.
If you are looking for the King County Democrats Questionnaire, you can find it here: https://www.kcdems.org/candidate-questionnaire/
2026 Endorsement Schedule
| NOW | Candidate Introductions at 36th LD Membership Meetings | Register for our online meeting & reach out to info@36th.org to be added to our agenda or just show up! |
| 4/23 – 5/4 | 36th LD Endorsement Interviews | TBD: email info@36th.org to make sure we send you all the details (otherwise we’ll use PDC data to email candidates) |
| SAVE THE DATE: MAY 7 | Our Cocktails & Candidates Event! | Check back on our website or make sure we have your contact to get the info as soon as we have it! TIME TBD |
| 5/4 – 5/8 | Filing Week | Remember to file! We will make every attempt to include late-filing/declared candidates in our process, but interviews are subject to our endorsement team’s availability, so earlier is definitely better! |
| 5/11 | Primary Endorsement Board Recommendations Meeting | The 36th LD Board will meet, vote, and share their recommendations on endorsements, which will be made at the May Endorsement Meeting. |
| 5/13 | MAY ENDORSEMENT MEETING 7-9pm online (register here) | Our membership makes our endorsement decisions! Candidates are invited to attend as guests and to encourage their supporters who are PCOs or members to come as well. |
| 5/14-6/30 | 36th LD Voter Guide ads available to endorsed candidates | Information on supporting 36th LD literature printing costs via ads in our Voter’s Guide will be provided to all endorsed candidates. Graphic assets due by 6/30. |
| 7/15 | Primary Election In-Person Lit Pickup Membership Meeting; PCOs begin walking/distributing | Our political team will be in contact for coordination and literature info. |
| 8/4 | Primary Election Day! | VOTE! The 36th LD is one of the best Democratic turnout in the state and we have the busiest ballot drop box – hope to see everyone there before 8pm! |
| 8/29 – 9/11 | General Election Endorsement Interviews | Our primary endorsements carry through to the general (except under extraordinary circumstances) but any positions or ballot measures without an endorsement from the primary will have an opportunity to interview. |
| 9/12 | General Election Endorsements Board Recommendations Meeting | The 36th LD Board will meet, vote, and share their recommendations on endorsements, which will be made at the September Endorsement Meeting. |
| 9/16 | SEPTEMBER ENDORSEMENT MEETING 7-9pm online (register here) | Our membership makes our endorsement decisions! Candidates are invited to attend as guests and to encourage their supporters who are PCOs or members to come as well. |
| 11/3 | General Election Day! | VOTE! The 36th LD is one of the best Democratic turnout in the state and we have the busiest ballot drop box – hope to see everyone there before 8pm! |
General Rules
- The 36th District Democrats are only able to endorse candidates for offices whose jurisdiction includes some part of the 36th Legislative District.
- In cases where the race appears on general election ballots but not primary ballots within the 36th District, we will not consider the race until the endorsement cycle for the General Election begins.
- If at least one candidate we endorsed for the primary election makes it through to the general election, we will not consider the race again for the general election cycle.
- To be considered, candidates must identify as a Democrat (except for Judicial candidates), and must fill out a questionnaire with the King County Democrats.
- Once the questionnaire is complete, we will contact you to schedule an interview.
Primary Election Cycle
- Interviews will be held in late April – early May.
- The Executive Board will vote to make a recommendation for an endorsement after all interviews for a given position have been completed. This recommendation is not an endorsement itself but will be the first motion in the meeting.
- The general body will meet on the Wednesday after filing week for our membership meeting to vote on endorsements.
General Election Cycle
- Interviews will be held in late August – early September.
- The executive board will meet after all interviews have been completed to make a recommendation for an endorsement. This recommendation is not an endorsement.
- The general body will meet in our September membership meeting to vote on endorsements.