The Sunday Observer: Public-sector labor brings the $$$

Plus: Party money is off compared to 2020, and some recommended reading

We’ve been perusing the top-spending political action committees’ recent filings with the Public Disclosure Commission, and there’s one big takeaway: Public-sector labor unions are bringing dominant amounts of political cash to the table this year.

Leading the scene is New Directions PAC, which is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the Democratic majorities in the Legislature. It has spent about $1.4 million this year so far, mostly to influence a handful of close races where Democrats were considered either vulnerable incumbents or promising challengers. Here’s an example of the kind of stuff the money was spent on before last month’s primary:

This campaign against Republican challenger Linda Kochmar helped first-term incumbent Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Federal Way, finish first in the primary with 54 percent of the vote. Kochmar got less than 37 percent, which makes Wilson look strong headed into November.