Western Labor Town Hall: Q&A with 2026 candidates for Washington’s 42nd and 40th districts

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Western Labor Town Hall: Q&A with 2026 candidates for Washington's 42nd and 40th districts

May 8, 2026

The worker unions of Western Washington University invite all Western faculty, staff and students to the Western Labor Town Hall for an evening of Q&A with a panel of representatives and 2026 candidates for Washington's 42nd and 40th districts on Monday, May 18, from 5:30-7 p.m. in Academic Instructional West 204.

While legislators avoided deep cuts to Western's operating budget this session, higher education continues to face a funding crisis that has led to the elimination of vital staff and the dismantling of important programs and student services at Western. Universities are increasingly reliant on tuition revenue, and Western has continued to receive the lowest per-student funding in the state for the past three decades.

Additionally, there are federal attacks on academic freedom and policies that target immigrant and international campus communities. This town hall is an opportunity for Western campus members to voice concerns and ask our representatives how they are going to support Western in the years to come.

In the first half of the event, legislators and candidates will be given equal time to answer one moderator question about public funding for higher education. The second half of the town hall will invite audience members to ask panel members additional questions.

This town hall is organized by Western's worker unions. United Faculty of Western Washington (UFWW, WEA/AFT Local 2084), Western Academic Workers United (WAWU, UAW Local 4929), Public School Employees of Washington (PSE, SEIU Local 1948), and Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE, AFSCME Local 1381).

Email Xi Wang or Cathy Wineinger for questions and event access needs.