I never thought I’d run for office.
I didn’t come from deep pockets or have personal wealth. I didn’t have a long list of wealthy donors in my phone. Like so many people in our city, I paid rent, carried student loan debt, and worked full-time. Running for office felt out of reach. Then Democracy Vouchers changed everything.
When Seattle voters passed the Democracy Voucher Program, it sent a powerful message: You can run for office without spending your days dialing for dollars. Local government can reflect the people who live here, not just those who can afford to bankroll their own campaigns. That bold choice by voters made