Washington parents are suing to take back their constitutional rights after Democrats repealed the state’s Parents’ Bill of Rights.

Parents Sue Over “State Knows Best” Law

A new lawsuit in Thurston County challenges House Bill 1296 — the law that wiped out the parental transparency protections passed overwhelmingly just last year. The suit, filed by the Citizen Action Defense Fund, argues that Democrats in Olympia crossed the line by giving the state more power over children’s education while shutting parents out.

Initiative 2081 had guaranteed that parents could be notified about medical or counseling decisions involving their kids. HB 1296 replaced those guarantees with vague OSPI policies that let schools decide when parents are “safe” to inform — effectively putting bureaucrats between families and their children.

The lawsuit says the law violates both state and federal constitutions by denying parents access to information, infringing on religious freedom, and breaking Washington’s single-subject rule.

“This isn’t about politics — it’s about boundaries,” said Paige McElwrath of CADF. “The government doesn’t get to decide which parents deserve to know about their own kids.”

If successful, the case could restore the parental rights Washington families fought for — and deal a major blow to Olympia’s growing habit of putting ideology ahead of parents. Read more at Seattle Red.

Democrats Desperate to Keep Their “Supermajority Supermess” Afloat

One of Washington’s most expensive and closely watched races is heating up in the 26th Legislative District, where Republican Rep. Michelle Caldier is taking on Democrat Sen. Deb Krishnadasan for a seat that could decide control of the state Senate. Krishnadasan, appointed to replace Emily Randall after her D.C. promotion, is now learning that voters expect more than word salad and buzzwords when asked tough questions—like whether criminals who use drugs should face jail or treatment.

Caldier gave a clear answer. Krishnadasan gave… a “public-private partnership.” Three times. Even the Tacoma News Tribune took notice, endorsing Caldier and noting that flipping the seat could end Democrats’ supermajority stranglehold—a development they say “would be a good thing.”

Caldier, a decade-long legislator with a reputation for independence, says Krishnadasan’s so-called moderation is pure theater—Olympia leadership lets her skip the bad votes when they can spare her, but she’ll “get squeezed like a little bitty grape” when party bosses need her.

Democrats, meanwhile, are panicking. With over $1.45 million in outside spending to defend their Senate turf, they’re throwing every attack they can muster. But the contrast is clear: Caldier represents the people; Krishnadasan represents the machine. And voters in this purple district might just decide they’ve had enough of one-party rule dimming the state’s future. Read more at Center Square.

Chad Magendanz Takes Aim at Olympia’s Spending Spree

Republican Chad Magendanz, a computer science teacher and former state representative, is running to flip Washington’s 5th Legislative District Senate seat and finally hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete on Olympia’s “progressive” spending frenzy. His goal? End the Democrat supermajority that’s been taxing, regulating, and social-engineering the state into a cost-of-living crisis.

Magendanz blasted incumbent Sen. Victoria Hunt for being a rubber stamp for Democrat leadership, calling her “the biggest party-line voter in 34 years” of district history. In contrast, he touts himself as the most independent candidate in the race—someone who actually reads the bills before voting on them.

He’s warning voters that if Democrats expand their majority to two-thirds, they’ll push through constitutional changes and a state income tax—permanently killing Washington’s tax-free advantage.

Magendanz says families are already paying the price for Olympia’s arrogance: the highest CPI increases in the nation, record gas prices “by design,” and a transportation budget where 70% of funding goes to transit that serves only 8% of trips. His message is simple: government shouldn’t be engineering people out of their cars—or their paychecks.

In a district that leans purple, Magendanz came within a few points of victory last time. This year, he says, it’s “well within reach.” And for frustrated voters watching their bills rise as Democrats chase utopian experiments, that’s good news indeed. Read more at Seattle Red.

Democrats’ “Clean Energy Future” Looks a Lot Like the Dark Ages

A new state-commissioned report confirms what anyone paying an electric bill already knows: Washington’s Democrat-led energy agenda is steering the Pacific Northwest straight into rolling blackouts. The E3 analysis warns that by 2026, the region will face a massive nine-gigawatt power gap—about the entire demand of Oregon—thanks to the Left’s obsession with shutting down reliable energy while forcing everyone to plug in.

Former Gov. Jay Inslee and his green disciples banned gas cars, crippled natural gas generation, and cheered plans to rip out the Lower Snake River dams—our best source of clean, steady hydropower. Meanwhile, wind and solar “solutions” vanish during winter storms, when people actually need heat.

You can’t electrify everything while dismantling the grid that powers it—but try telling that to Democrats who think physics bends to politics. The E3 report spells it out: we’d need to build four to five times more power generation each year than we ever have just to keep the lights on. Spoiler alert—it’s not happening.

When the outages come, expect the usual finger-pointing: the weather, “Big Oil,” maybe even “climate change itself.” But make no mistake—this isn’t an act of nature. It’s an act of Democratic governance. Read more at Seattle Red.

Washington’s Debt Pile: $143 Billion and Counting—But Democrats Still Want More

Washington’s total state and local debt has hit a staggering $143 billion, landing the Evergreen State in the top ten most indebted in the nation, according to the Reason Foundation. That’s about $18,500 per person—a hefty bill for taxpayers already squeezed by inflation, high housing costs, and Olympia’s insatiable appetite for spending.

Despite years of record tax collections, Democrats have managed to spend themselves straight into a projected $2 billion budget shortfall by 2026. How? By growing government at twice the rate of inflation and population combined—state spending has ballooned 116% over the last decade.

Even Reason Foundation’s analysts were stunned: Washington’s pension funds are in good shape, but the state is drowning in long-term borrowing. Instead of using strong revenues to pay down debt, Democrat lawmakers doubled down on “investments” in bloated programs and pet projects.

Now, with the bills coming due, the usual playbook is on the table—more taxes, more debt, and more excuses. Governor Bob Ferguson’s budget proposal drops in December, and if history’s any guide, it’ll include plenty of “creative revenue options.”

Translation: brace yourself, taxpayers—Olympia’s credit card is maxed out, and you’re the one stuck covering the minimum payment. Read more at Center Square.

Washington’s Ferry Fiasco: All Aboard the S.S. Incompetence

Island County’s GOP is hosting a community forum on November 13 in Freeland to tackle the disaster otherwise known as Washington State Ferries. Locals have had enough of endless cancellations, skyrocketing costs, and “green” upgrades that break down faster than a Seattle City Council promise.

PAC chairman David Adams says Whidbey Island residents depend on the ferries for work, medical appointments, and family commitments—but reliability has sunk right along with accountability. Businesses are teetering, tourists are frustrated, and island economies are starting to feel the collapse.

Panelists from the Governor’s office, WSF, and state legislators will field questions—though commuters might prefer they start with an apology. After all, the state’s billion-dollar ferry mess is yet another example of Democrats overpromising, overspending, and underdelivering—leaving taxpayers stranded at the dock. Read more at Seattle Red.

Sound Transit’s $34 Billion Boondoggle Comes with a 1% Tax Hike

Sound Transit just voted—without a single word of discussion—to raise property taxes again for King, Pierce, and Snohomish County residents, tacking on another 1% next year. Why? To help cover a jaw-dropping $34.5 billion in cost overruns from the perpetually delayed Sound Transit 3 projects.

Voters approved the 2016 ST3 package under the illusion that the agency could manage money responsibly. Eight years later, the “transit revolution” is bleeding cash faster than a Seattle budget meeting. Sound Transit says the hike is “necessary” to keep projects on schedule—translation: taxpayers are footing the bill for bureaucratic mismanagement.

The new levy will raise an extra $6.8 million next year, bringing in $183 million in property tax revenue. The average King County homeowner will pay about $220 a year just for Sound Transit’s share—on top of already sky-high property taxes, inflated by years of Democrat spending sprees.

Even more insulting? The Board didn’t debate it. Fifteen members, one vote, zero accountability. But don’t worry—Sound Transit says it only makes up 1.8% of your total bill. Apparently, they think that makes it okay. Read more at Center Square.

Seattle’s “Compassion” Costs $30 Million

Longtime Little Saigon property owner Dennis Chinn is suing the City of Seattle for $30 million, saying Democrat-led homelessness policies torched his family’s investments—literally. His 2.5-acre Asian Plaza on South Jackson went from a $21 million sale in the works to a burned-out shell after years of encampments, crime, and city neglect. Chinn says the city’s failed “humanitarian” approach devastated a largely immigrant business community and amounted to an unconstitutional property grab.

City attorneys, of course, say he’s just upset about “policy disagreements,” while Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office insists crime is technically down—though the boarded-up storefronts and lost livelihoods tell a different story. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.

Donate Today

Please consider making a contribution to ensure Shift continues to provide daily updates on the shenanigans of the liberal establishment. If you’d rather mail a check, you can send it to: Shift WA | PO Box 956 | Cle Elum, WA 98922

Forward this to a friend.  It helps us grow our community and serve you better.

You can also follow SHIFTWA on social media by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

If you feel we missed something that should be covered, email us at [email protected].