Jason Call (Washington)

Jason Call (Green Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Washington's 2nd Congressional District. He lost in the primary on August 6, 2024.

Call completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Call is the campaign manager for Jill Stein's 2024 presidential campaign.^[1]

Biography

Jason Call was born in San Bernardino, California. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington in 1994, a bachelor's degree from the College of Santa Fe in 1999, and a graduate degree from the University of Washington Bothell in 2004. His career experience includes working as a commercial building inspector, public school math teacher, field representative, and union activist. As of October 2023, Call was affiliated with Whole Washington and the Green Party.^[2]^[3]

Elections

2024

Washington's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Washington District 2

Incumbent Rick Larsen defeated Cody Hart in the general election for U.S. House Washington District 2 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rick Larsen (D)	63.8	263,750
	Cody Hart (MAGA Republican Party)	35.9	148,167
	Other/Write-in votes	0.3	1,303

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 413,220
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Washington District 2

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House Washington District 2 on August 6, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rick Larsen (D)	48.1	106,276
✔	Cody Hart (MAGA Republican Party)	19.8	43,637
	Leif Johnson (R)	10.6	23,340
	Daniel Miller (R)	5.3	11,781
	Joshua Binda (D)	4.8	10,497
	Devin Hermanson (D)	4.3	9,578
	Jason Call (G)	3.5	7,787
	Edwin Stickle (D)	3.5	7,692
	Other/Write-in votes	0.1	197

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 220,785
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Washington District 2

Incumbent Rick Larsen defeated Dan Matthews in the general election for U.S. House Washington District 2 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rick Larsen (D)	60.1	202,980
	Dan Matthews (R)	39.8	134,335
	Other/Write-in votes	0.2	608

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 337,923
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Washington District 2

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House Washington District 2 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rick Larsen (D)	45.8	100,631
✔		Dan Matthews (R)	17.0	37,393
		Jason Call (D)	14.6	31,991
		Cody Hart (MAGA Republican Party)	10.1	22,176
		Bill Wheeler (R)	4.2	9,124
		Carrie Kennedy (R)	4.0	8,802
		Leif Johnson (R)	2.5	5,582
		Jon Welch (Conservative Party)	0.8	1,699
	Submit photo	Brandon Stalnaker (R)	0.6	1,366
	Submit photo	Doug Revelle (Independent)	0.4	927
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	161

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 219,852
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Call's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Washington District 2

Incumbent Rick Larsen defeated Timothy Hazelo in the general election for U.S. House Washington District 2 on November 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rick Larsen (D)	63.1	255,252
	Timothy Hazelo (R)	36.7	148,384
	Other/Write-in votes	0.2	962

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 404,598
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Washington District 2

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House Washington District 2 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rick Larsen (D)	48.5	120,694
✔		Timothy Hazelo (R)	14.9	37,104
		Jason Call (D)	13.9	34,537
		Tim Uy (Trump Republican Party)	9.9	24,613
		Cody Hart (R)	5.7	14,255
		Carrie Kennedy (R)	3.6	9,069
	Submit photo	James Golder (R)	2.1	5,343
	Submit photo	Kari Ilonummi (R)	1.2	2,889
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	284

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 248,788
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Jason Call completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Call's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a lifelong progressive activist on issues of war and peace, the environment, healthcare, education, and labor solidarity. I'm a former math educator with 18 years experience teaching in public high schools. I've been involved in activism and electoral politics since 1989. I have been a strong supporter of progressive presidential candidates like Dennis Kucinich and in particular Bernie Sanders, as well as local and state candidates who support truly progressive policy. I ran for this seat in 2020 and 2022 as a Democrat, both times coming 3rd, but with over 30k votes both times. I have chosen to leave the Democratic Party as neither corporate owned party is serving the American people at this point and the economy and environment are in catastrophic chaos. A fierce and unwavering progressive voice is needed. Think of an American Clare Daly. In my personal life, I'm married, have 2 kids, one a HS Senior and one in College. I play the bass guitar and sing in a rock band, and I'm a homebrewer.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Addressing the climate emergency, sustainable/renewable energy, eliminate fossil fuels
Single payer universal healthcare, eliminate for-profit health insurance
Corporate money out of politics, overturn Citizens United, public campaign financing

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

- Environment/Climate Emergency (Green New Deal and more)

- Universal Healthcare (Medicare For All)
- Labor Solidarity (Increase Min Wage / Eliminate Union Busting / Overturn Taft-Hartley / PRO/RUN Acts)
- Foreign Policy / International Cooperation / Reducing Military Spending
- Racism / Criminal Justice Reform / Reparations for ADOS
- Federal Legalization of Cannabis / Expunge and Release
- Guaranteed Housing / Housing First
- Indigenous Rights / Sovereignty (particularly in regards to oil pipelines and water rights)
- Tuition Free Public College / Eliminate Student Debt
- End Corporate Corruption / Public Campaign Financing
- Ensure Reproductive Freedom (Codify Roe / Eliminate the Hyde Amendment)

- Expand Rail Systems and Public Transit

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Nina Turner. Cornel West. Eugene Debs. Clare Daly. Lula. Evo Morales. Salvador Allende. Emma Goldman. Dave Grohl. There are a lot of people I look up to and admire. The common thread is that they all speak up for the masses and against the oligarchy that seeks to suppress the masses. Even Dave Grohl. Often they do it at great personal and professional risk. I believe without people who are willing to take risks in the defense of the general public, we all become subjects to concentrated power and wealth.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Anything by Michael Moore. He is an American hero.

Also, if you listen to the punk band Bad Religion, their lyrics pretty much sum up my political philosophy.

Watch the 2006 documentary The Corporation.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, transparency, compassion, effective communication. One of the advantages of running a campaign that takes no corporate PAC money is that I am able to say exactly what I think and what I'll stand for. Listen to most elected officials speak to issues, and they'll dodge and weave so as not to upset their corporate donors or some particular interest group, and they often willfully misrepresent themselves. If I am elected, it will be precisely because I speak to policy without regard to losing a particular sector of support. I can't be all things to all people, so I will focus on the things I truly believe in and hopefully the voters in my district will be amenable to that. Communication with voters about what I stand for, and why I would take certain votes, is crucial. Voters may disagree with a position, but if it can be communicated with honesty they may understand it as a position of principle and integrity.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honesty and Integrity.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Serve the best interests of the public, NOT corporations or the ownership class. We've had too much of that and it's why the economy and environment are in freefall.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A legacy of justice. That people knew I was someone who could be counted on to speak my mind and fight for principles of justice at every opportunity. I don't think there's much more to say about it, I hope it speaks for itself, and that it is represented in my platform.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that I remember with clarity was the assassination of John Lennon. I remember my mother's reaction in particular. She was British and actually had known the Beatles as she grew up in Manchester and was a server in a nightclub they used to play in before they got big. She was devastated. I was 9.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked for Godfather's Pizza during the summer between my senior year in high school and my freshman year in college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I can't pick a single favorite, so I'll list three. The first is The Little Prince. It's a story of pure innocence and love. I cry every time I read it. The second is more obscure - Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse. It was one of our readings during my junior year in high school. A story about innocence, youth, maturing, love, societal constraints, religious dogma, and personal fulfillment. It had a profound impact on me at a time of personal self discovery and also at a time when a good friend committed suicide. I've read it a few times since (including within the last year), and it still moves me in the same way. The third is a book that I just read (or listened to on Audible, which was the better way to go since it was the author reading) and has become my new favorite for this time in my life - Sand Talk by Australian aboriginal author Tyson Yunkaporta. Subtitled "How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World", I truly believe that we need to start thinking about how indigenous societies lived in relation to each other and the natural world. It is a paradigm shift in mindset from the colonial 'growth model' thinking that we are all raised with. If we are to survive as a species, we must re-adapt society to the real constraints of our world.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Galadriel

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

You've Got Another Thing Coming - Judas Priest

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Divorce and co-parenting

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

I don't believe that the US House of Representatives is "special" or unique. It has legislative powers as do other worldwide legislative bodies. I believe in the balance of powers between the 3 branches. But the US House is an institution that is currently for sale to the highest bidder, Democrats and Republicans alike. This is why I am running my campaign with No Corporate PAC money. Having an unbought and unbossed Congress is the only way to effectively serve the country. We have a perpetual state of purchased perversion in Congress and its why the US public does not trust Congress and rates is so abysmally. I believe we can do much better, and seek to lead by example.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. I often say, "Look around you and see what the professional politicians have done to the place." Most politicians are groomed within a party system and are supported by the party to continue the status quo. It's why we see the rate of incumbent returns and why we see so little movement on needed policy. We're at a point in the history of the country and the world where we're going to experience dramatic climate impacts on people's lives, the economy is clearly dysfunctional, we are being over policed, and military spending is out of hand. We need fresh perspectives that simply won't come from professional politicians.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Climate Change and everything that is coming with it. As I write this, NYC is flooding. I believe we are going to have unprecedented hard times with food production, climate refugees (including domestic refugees as parts of the US become unlivable), and I very much worry that the coming societal shifts will cause the ownership class to tighten up protection of their own resources at the expense of the majority. It will probably lead to increased policing and surveillance, and we will need to be increasingly vigilant against expansion of authoritarianism.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

No. I believe it should be a 4 year term. Current representatives are stuck in a cycle of continual campaigning that I do not believe it is effective.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I have mixed feelings on this still. Until we get campaign finance reform and public funding, I'm not sure it really matters. I think we have to get the dinosaurs out, but without public financing of campaigns, there's very little guarantee they'll be replaced with someone better, just someone younger but still bound to the oligarchy. I lean in favor because I'm weary of the current faces.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Bernie Sanders and Paul Wellstone

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

As I've recently started canvassing district events, I had a long conversation with a member of the local Amhara community. Ethiopia has long been in a state of civil strife, and the current iteration of factional conflict has the Amhara population in a state of brutal oppression by the current government. It's one of the situations where historically nobody in the various factions (5 or so) have been blameless, so there's an element of back and forth over the years. But there are factions that are seeking peace and cessation of hostilities, and ultimately that is the goal. Of course, I learned that many of the arms supplied to the region have come from the United States and Turkey, and that the United Nations and Amnesty International do not appear to be prioritizing or highlighting this particular crisis, which is what the local Amhara community is trying to do, to have some US State Department intervention in securing ceasefire. I am promoting awareness of this conflict on my social media.

Tell us your favorite joke.

How do you catch a unicorn

U-neak up on it

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Truthfully, no. Bipartisanship tends to be bad, and typically doesn't even happen unless the corporate ownership of both parties are greenlighting legislation. As a progressive, I think it's important to hold the line on policy principles. I'd be willing to be a sole YES/NO vote on a bill if it meant that I was voting on the principles that I campaigned on. George Carlin said to beware of bipartisanship, it means that some greater than usual deception is taking place. I'm here to fight for people and justice, and my voting record will reflect that. To be clear, this does not mean I am opposed to compromise or bipartisanship on its face, but I don't believe they are intrinsically necessary or desirable or should be a default position.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Since the Green New Deal and aligned legislation will require substantial and historic "wartime" investments (and I mean actually substantial, not 5% of the military budget somehow being historic or sufficient), yes we will need the spending power. Medicare For All however saves a substantial amount of money. I believe we need to tax the wealthy, but not because we "need their money" to pay for stuff, but because vast wealth inequality is inherently undemocratic. We have the money to pay for the things we need, and where we really get in trouble with overspending is corruption (commonly, 'pork'), which is often promoted by lobbyists in the bills they submit to Congress. If we cut out the corrupt "bloated and wasteful" spending, and focus on the things that are actually needed and will bring a general benefit to the economy, we can actually have good things like free college, single payer healthcare, and affordable housing. Those are investments that don't require we rack up trillions in national debt. Wise spending doesn't mean a "balanced budget", which is another way to say austerity. It means making sure human needs are met. That's the spending I want to see.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

I think everyone is tired of partisan clownery in regards to investigations, and I think both major parties are guilty of it. But if there's legitimacy to suspicion of criminal conduct, then investigations should take place.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Green Party of Washington
Seattle Green Party

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Call’s campaign website stated the following:

“

About

My name is Jason Call. I have a 30-year history of progressive activism. I am a husband, father, a former public school math teacher, musician, and progressive activist. Over the last few decades, I have stood up for working class values around war, healthcare, education, and our environment.

In 2023, I left the Democratic Party and became a Green. As an ecosocialist, my principles have always aligned with the Green Party, yet I believed I could only make a real difference as a Democrat.

I am running for Congress because here in Washington state, a supposed bastion of progressivism, it's high time that our district be represented by someone who values people and planet over profit.

I served as an elected representative to the Washington State Democratic Central Committee from 2016 to 2020, elected as part of the “Bernie-wing” by fellow local progressives. I introduced — and passed — progressive resolutions and platform amendments on reasonable firearms control, rejection of health insurance and pharmaceutical PAC money, opposition to Democratic Party blacklisting of progressive vendors, and housing justice. I was a founding member of the Separation of Church and State Caucus and the Economic Justice Caucus, and was a member of the Environment and Climate Caucus and the Progressive Caucus.

I learned quickly how the established leadership of the Washington State Democrats moved to silence and stymie the growing progressive movement within the party. Indeed, many newly-joined progressives inspired by Bernie Sanders left after realizing the same. The sad truth is that the Democratic Party, like the Republicans, is owned and controlled by Wall Street and the War Machine, no matter how progressive they claim their values to be.

I previously ran for this office in both 2020 and 2022. In 2020, I earned almost 36,000 votes — three times the number garnered by any prior progressive challenger to the sitting incumbent since he was elected in 2000. We did this with no corporate money, no access to Democratic Party voter data, no organizational endorsements to speak of aside from Our Revolution and a handful of local Democratic Party dual endorsements from County and Legislative Districts. Just a dedicated team of volunteers and a shoestring budget of barely $50,000. We came within striking distance of second place.

In 2022, we were better organized, better funded (over triple that of 2020), had more volunteers, and more endorsements that included two sole endorsements from the Island County and San Juan County Democrats. While we came in third place again, we actually increased the progressive share of the Democratic and left-wing vote, even though we earned fewer total votes! If we had had the same share of the left-wing vote in 2020 that we had in 2022, we would have made the general ballot. Unfortunately, redistricting made the electorate more conservative with the addition of the whole of Skagit and Whatcom counties including rural, Republican-dominated areas.

In this election cycle let’s see what progressives can make happen with a seasoned candidate who has already had some success with the electoral system in Washington’s Second Congressional District. We ran on a solid platform of environmentalism, labor, healthcare, anti-war, education, and supporting the rights of all historically marginalized people. A platform that aligned then, as it does now, with the Ten Key Values that define the Green Party. Our message resonated strongly as a message of justice. The transition is an easy one.

Will those Democrats who supported me in 2020 and 2022 still support me in 2024?

Will my transition to the Green Party give people who do not feel represented by the corporate duopoly a reason to show up?

Will the youth vote be inspired by a candidate who truly speaks to preserving a livable and just future for them?

It all remains to be seen. A Republican will not win this seat. And an establishment Democrat will not challenge the incumbent. Change in Washington state can only come from the left.

I have always believed that good government is possible, and I truly believe the adage that we do not inherit this planet from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. The Four Pillars of the Green Party — Peace, Ecology, Social Justice, and Democracy — are what we must continue to focus on for a brighter future for all humanity.

Solidarity! ^[4]

”

—Jason Call’s campaign website (2024)^[5]

2022

Jason Call completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Call's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a lifelong progressive activist on issues of war and peace, the environment, healthcare, education, and labor solidarity. I'm a former math educator with 18 years experience teaching in public high schools. I've been involved in activism and electoral politics since 1989, more formally in local Democratic Party politics since 2003 when I campaigned for Howard Dean. Since, I have been a strong supporter of presidential candidates like Dennis Kucinich and in particular Bernie Sanders, as well as local and state candidates who support truly progressive policy. I recently spent 4 years on the Washington Democrats State Central Committee where I helped rewrite the platform to be the most progressive it has ever been, and also ran for state party chair in 2018. In my personal life, I'm married, have 2 teens (one a first year college student), play the bass guitar and sing in a rock band, and make my own beer and mead.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Addressing the climate emergency, sustainable/renewable energy, eliminate fossil fuels
Single payer universal healthcare, eliminate for-profit health insurance
Corporate money out of politics, overturn Citizens United, public campaign financing

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

- Environment/Climate Emergency (Green New Deal)

- Universal Healthcare (Medicare For All)
- Labor Solidarity (Increase Min Wage / Eliminate Union Busting / Overturn Taft-Hartley)
- Foreign Policy / International Cooperation / Reducing Military Spending
- Racism / Criminal Justice Reform / Reparations for ADOS
- Federal Legalization of Cannabis / Expunge and Release
- Guaranteed Housing
- Indigenous Rights / Sovereignty (particularly in regards to oil pipelines and water rights)
- Tuition Free Public College / Eliminate Student Debt
- End Corporate Corruption
- Ensure Reproductive Freedom (Codify Roe / Eliminate the Hyde Amendment)

- Expand Rail Systems and Public Transit

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, transparency, compassion, effective communication. One of the advantages of running a campaign that takes no corporate PAC money is that I am able to say exactly what I think and what I'll stand for. Listen to most elected officials speak to issues, and they'll dodge and weave so as not to upset their corporate donors or some particular interest group, and they often willfully misrepresent themselves. If I am elected, it will be precisely because I speak to policy without regard to losing a particular sector of support. I can't be all things to all people, so I will focus on the things I truly believe in and hopefully the voters in my district will be amenable to that. Communication with voters about what I stand for, and why I would take certain votes, is crucial. Voters may disagree with a position, but if it can be communicated with honesty they may understand it as a position of principle and integrity.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A legacy of justice. That people knew I was someone who could be counted on to speak my mind and fight for principles of justice at every opportunity. I don't think there's much more to say about it, I hope it speaks for itself, and that it is represented in my platform.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that I remember with clarity was the assassination of John Lennon. I remember my mother's reaction in particular. She was British and actually had known the Beatles as she grew up in Manchester and was a server in a nightclub they used to play in before they got big. She was devastated. I was 9.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I can't pick a single favorite, so I'll list three. The first is The Little Prince. It's a story of pure innocence and love. I cry every time I read it. The second is more obscure - Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse. It was one of our readings during my junior year in high school. A story about innocence, youth, maturing, love, societal constraints, religious dogma, and personal fulfillment. It had a profound impact on me at a time of personal self discovery and also at a time when a good friend committed suicide. I've read it a few times since (including within the last year), and it still moves me in the same way. The third is a book that I just read (or listened to on Audible, which was the better way to go since it was the author reading) and has become my new favorite for this time in my life - Sand Talk by Australian aboriginal author Tyson Yunkaporta. Subtitled "How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World", I truly believe that we need to start thinking about how indigenous societies lived in relation to each other and the natural world. It is a paradigm shift in mindset from the colonial 'growth model' thinking that we are all raised with. If we are to survive as a species, we must re-adapt society to the real constraints of our world.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. I often say, "Look around you and see what the professional politicians have done to the place." Most politicians are groomed within a party system and are supported by the party to continue the status quo. It's why we see the rate of incumbent returns and why we see so little movement on needed policy. We're at a point in the history of the country and the world where we're going to experience dramatic climate impacts on people's lives, the economy is clearly dysfunctional, we are being over policed, and military spending is out of hand. We need fresh perspectives that simply won't come from professional politicians.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Term limits are a difficult question. There are some advantages to institutional knowledge in the right hands. If a good representative is termed out, there's no guarantee that they would be replaced with someone as good. The influence of corporate money actually works against that. However, we have to have confidence in the public that they have the capacity to assess needs and make good choices. Ultimately corporate money clouds everything, regardless of term limits. I think it's reasonable that 6 terms (12 years) as a House Rep and 2 terms (12 years) as a Senator should be a standard, and an individual could move from House to Senate for a max of 24 years in Congress.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Truthfully, no. Bipartisanship tends to be bad, and typically doesn't even happen unless the corporate ownership of both parties are greenlighting legislation. As a progressive, I think it's important to hold the line on policy principles. I'd be willing to be a sole YES/NO vote on a bill if it meant that I was voting on the principles that I campaigned on. George Carlin said to beware of bipartisanship, it means that some greater than usual deception is taking place. I'm here to fight for people and justice, and my voting record will reflect that. To be clear, this does not mean I am opposed to compromise or bipartisanship on its face, but I don't believe they are intrinsically necessary or desirable or should be a default position.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Jason Call completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Call's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an antiwar/progressive activist, former HS math teacher, husband & father. I've been active in electoral politics my whole adult life. I am a DSA member and my political views are to the left of the establishment Democratic Party. I believe good government is possible, but only when people are inspired to be involved. I oppose imperialism both at home and abroad. I oppose the corporate takeover of our government. I believe in union jobs and a living wage. I believe in people over profits. I believe that the timeline for reversing the climate emergency is shorter than people realize and that we must act immediately. I believe that education and healthcare are human rights. I believe that when we invest in people everyone benefits. I oppose the militarization of police. I oppose the war on drugs and believe that all drugs should be decriminalized and addictions should be treated as health concerns, not criminal issues. I oppose policies of militarism and endless war. I am running my campaign with grassroots people power. I have pledged to take no corporate PAC money, now or ever. I support Bernie Sanders and the progressive movement. Together, we will win.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Medicare For All. The National Improved Medicare For All bill is the most cost effective and comprehensive way to deliver healthcare to all residents of the US as a HUMAN RIGHT.
Climate Change is real, it is caused by human activity, and it is essential that we change our energy infrastructure NOW to eliminate fossil fuel emissions. Solving this issue ten years from now will be too late.
Campaign Finance Reform and getting money out of politics is essential if we are to have a government that works for all people.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

- Healthcare (Medicare For All); people need to know that the M4A bills are vast improvements over the current Medicare system. No premiums, no copays, free at the point of service. Dental, Vision, Hearing care are covered. Long term care is covered. It is universal and comprehensive.

- Climate Change; climate change is the greatest threat to humanity. The timeline for solving and implementing solutions is extremely short, and once we pass the tipping point, there is no going back. We are close, and we must act now to change our energy systems to sustainable and renewable energies.
- Reducing military budget and military presence. The military is the world's biggest polluter, and our imperialist policies have created more enemies than they have defeated. We need to stop interfering in other nation's politics on behalf of corporate resource extraction.
- Affordable housing is a human right. I support federal investments in affordable housing in order to eliminate homelessness.
- College and post-secondary trade schools and training should be tuition and fee free. This is an investment in our people should be universal and will benefit everyone.
- I believe that unions benefit all workers, and I support many avenues to increase union membership and strengthen the power of unions. I oppose Right to Work legislation.

- I oppose the militarization of police and support better screening and training for police so that there is better community representation.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Bernie Sanders. Nina Turner. Cornel West. AOC. Rashida Tlaib. Ilhan Omar. Krystal Ball. Cesar Chavez. Evo Morales. There are a lot of people I look up to and admire. The common thread is that they all speak up for the masses and against the oligarchy that seeks to suppress the masses. Often they do it at great personal and professional risk. I believe without people who are willing to take risks in the defense of the general public, we all become subjects to concentrated power and wealth.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Anything by Michael Moore. He is an American hero.

Also, if you listen to the punk band Bad Religion, their lyrics pretty much sum up my political philosophy.

Watch the 2006 documentary The Corporation.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty and integrity.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honesty and Integrity.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Serve the best interests of the public, NOT corporations.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I was part of releasing this country from the stranglehold of corporate corruption and subservience. That I helped get Medicare For All passed. That I helped save the country and planet for the climate crisis.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember when John Lennon was killed. I was 9.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked for Godfather's Pizza during the summer between my senior year in high school and my freshman year in college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse. I read it in high school and it was a coming of age story that always stayed with me.

And The Little Prince.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I don't know that I would want to BE this person, but this is a character that I feel is my muse in many ways - RP MacMurphy from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Jack Nicholson's best role about someone continually fighting systemic idiocy and oppression. Not the most morally straight character, understood, but the attitude of Mac is somewhat ingrained in my own personality, as people who know me would attest.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Suffer" by Bad Religion.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Divorce and co-parenting.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

I don't believe that the US House of Representatives is "special" or unique. It has legislative powers as do other worldwide legislative bodies. I believe in the balance of powers between the 3 branches. But the US House is an institution that is currently for sale to the highest bidder, Democrats and Republicans alike. This is why I am running my campaign with No Corporate PAC money. Having an unbought and unbossed Congress is the only way to effectively serve the country. We have a perpetual state of purchased perversion in Congress and its why the US public does not trust Congress and rates is so abysmally. I believe we can do much better, and seek to lead by example.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily, but I believe it's important for people to have a basic understanding of the powers of government and what can and can't be done.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Climate Change. The healthcare issue is of great national importance, and is at the top of my list of policy objectives, but I believe we the bigger and more important fight will be to restructure our energy systems to reverse rising temperatures. I'm not optimistic that we can do it, but we must try. Humanity has no future if we don't change the way we produce and consume energy. Unfortunately the forces allied against that change are only interested in short term profits and give no thought to future generations.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I would gladly serve on any committee, but my passions would be Education/Labor, Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Reform, and Ways and Means.

If you are a current representative, why did you join your current committees?

N/A

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

No. I believe it should be a 4 year term. Current representatives are stuck in a cycle of continual campaigning that I do not believe is effective.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I have mixed feelings. On the whole I think its a good idea.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

Let me be clear: I am not supported by party leadership. Current party leadership and the way the DNC and DCCC/DSCC operate is all about big money and nothing to do with effectively serving the public. I do not believe everyone with a D behind their name is a good or effective representative. I would seek substantial reforms in how the party operates. I am all about effective policy to serve the public. I believe that if we are honest with the public about policy, we will win their support. I do not believe in misdirection and obfuscation. I do not believe that current party leader is either honest or effective.

My whole campaign is about demanding better. That's why I am challenging a sitting Democrat from the left.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Bernie Sanders.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Everyone I know and everyone I talk to has a story - either their own story or someone close to them - about how the current healthcare system in this country has underserved them. The current healthcare system literally kills people for profit. It killed my mother, and its on its way to killing my sister.

I believe that health insurance companies should quite simply be abolished. They are parasitic. They serve no purpose other than to generate profits from suffering. I will seek this, on behalf of all of the people they have denied care to.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Jason Call campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Washington District 2	Lost primary	$69,556	$62,171
2022	U.S. House Washington District 2	Lost primary	$185,456	$185,951
2020	U.S. House Washington District 2	Lost primary	$58,267	$52,607
Grand total			$313,279	$300,730
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

Jill Stein 2024 presidential campaign

See also: Jill Stein presidential campaign, 2024

Key staff members

See also: Jill Stein presidential campaign staff, 2024

The table below shows a partial list of national campaign staff members, including the campaign manager, senior advisors, political directors, communications directors, field directors, and the national press secretary. They are presented alongside their positions in the campaign, their most recent positions prior to the campaign, and their Twitter handles. To recommend additions, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

See also: Presidential election campaign managers and key staffers, 2024

Jill Stein presidential campaign national staff, 2024
Staff	Position	Prior experience	Twitter handle
Jason Call^[6]	Campaign manager	Candidate, Washington's 2nd Congressional District election, 2022	@ CallForCongress
Kelly Merrill^[7]	Deputy campaign manager	Deputy Field Director, Protect Maine Elections	@gaiatribute

External links

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Candidate

U.S. House Washington District 2

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Stein's campaign website, "Jill Stein files FEC complaint against CNN for violating corporate contribution rules and coordinated communications with Trump and Biden campaigns. Seeks injunction against upcoming debate."June 20, 2024
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 5, 2022
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 1, 2023
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Call for Congress, “About,” accessed July 19, 2024
↑ Stein's campaign website, "Jill Stein files FEC complaint against CNN for violating corporate contribution rules and coordinated communications with Trump and Biden campaigns. Seeks injunction against upcoming debate." June 20, 2024
↑ Facebook, "Jill Stein on July 8, 2024," accessed August 22, 2024

[show]

Washington's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Maria Cantwell (D)

Patty Murray (D)

Representatives

District 1

Suzan DelBene (D)

District 2

Rick Larsen (D)

District 3

Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (D)

District 4

Dan Newhouse (R)

District 5

Michael Baumgartner (R)

District 6

Emily Randall (D)

District 7

Pramila Jayapal (D)

District 8

Kim Schrier (D)

District 9

D. Adam Smith (D)

District 10

Marilyn Strickland (D)

Democratic Party (10)

Republican Party (2)

[1] Stein's campaign website, "Jill Stein files FEC complaint against CNN for violating corporate contribution rules and coordinated communications with Trump and Biden campaigns. Seeks injunction against upcoming debate."June 20, 2024

[bio-2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 5, 2022

[3] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 1, 2023

[quotedisclaimer-4] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[5] Call for Congress, “About,” accessed July 19, 2024

[6] Stein's campaign website, "Jill Stein files FEC complaint against CNN for violating corporate contribution rules and coordinated communications with Trump and Biden campaigns. Seeks injunction against upcoming debate." June 20, 2024

[7] Facebook, "Jill Stein on July 8, 2024," accessed August 22, 2024

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	v • e State of Washington Olympia (capital)
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Jason Call (Washington)

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Washington District 2

Nonpartisan primary election

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2022

General election

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2024

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