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Dear Issaquah Community, I wanted to express heartfelt gratitude to everyone who voted for me, believed in my campaign, and believed in its purpose and values. While I did not win, I hope I demonstrated that politics should be much less performative and much more substantive—meaningfully engaging with the difficult issues that impact our community, even when that means taking stances on complex trade-offs and highlighting the gap between who we say we want to be as a communit

Fellow candidates, Election Day is finally here, and I want to take a moment to wish you all the very best. I know today carries both excitement and anxiety—the culmination of months of hard work and deep commitment to our community. At this most local level of government, I still choose to believe that we are first and foremost neighbors, equally and deeply invested in the wellbeing of our community, not our ambitions. Regardless of who wins, I hope their success becomes our

I feel I have expressed this sentiment countless times in recent months. What weighs on me constantly is the growing callousness, the cruelty of privilege, and the cruelty of indifference. So many American families are one crisis away from losing everything—their homes, their next meal, any foothold they have. SNAP benefits have been cut. Food banks are at capacity. 42 million people who rely on food assistance face an impossible choice, while 6.7 million women and children o

Two deeply troubling issues weigh on me today. At their root, they are perversely connected: they concern how we treat those we deem “others” in our country and the perilous, callous, inhumane road this administration is leading us down. At a recent town hall, I mentioned that one thing keeping me awake at night is the rapidly shrinking distance between many American families and economic destitution, homelessness, and hunger. The continued government shutdown—the second long

Children, parental love, families, faith, and health should never be weaponized to enforce laws. That is not who we are, nor who we should aspire to be. To prey on a parent’s love and deepest fears—or to exploit anyone seeking healthcare or spiritual solace—is fundamentally un-American. This is not a defense of unauthorized immigration. It is an appeal to conscience. Immigration is a complex issue and a legitimate concern for any sovereign nation, but our response must be mea

These 85 pages gather reflections written since January, born from moments when questions of law, democracy, and human dignity felt especially urgent. Ideas and arguments recur throughout—mirroring the relentless attacks on our democratic institutions under the persistent claim that the legitimacy of power can substitute for the legitimacy of norms and the Rule of Law. While they will eventually be systematized into a book, for now they also serve as a record of the chaotic a

I am deeply grateful, proud, and humbled to see my name on the ballot to serve the City of Issaquah. I'm running to strengthen our city's sense of community—building better social support structures and more welcoming, inclusive third places that remind us we are not alone, that we are threads in a common fabric. I'm also focused on the larger challenges we face: transit and transportation, energy independence and sustainability, affordable housing, and preserving our public

Grateful to Issaquah City TV and the City of Issaquah Government for giving all candidates a voice in this election. I’m excited to share my vision and values for our wonderful community. Please visit the link below to learn more about my platform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq9DdJmYCGA Here is a transcript of my speech: Hello, my name is  Diogo Magalhaes , and I’m honored to be running for Issaquah City Council. As a first-generation immigrant and a proud U.S. citizen I

Grateful to The Kiwanis Club of Issaquah , the AAUW , and the City of Issaquah - Government  for hosting such a thoughtful Candidate...

"Law is being subordinated to politics, and rules to rulers." When legitimacy becomes a function of power rather than norms, democracies...

I'm so grateful for this opportunity to connect with our community and share my values and vision for our beautiful city. As someone who...

Thank you to The Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce for hosting such an important candidate forum! It was a valuable opportunity for...

Vision: Biking as Essential Infrastructure In an ideal community, biking serves three critical roles: practical transportation ,...

As an avid biker and hiker, I understand firsthand how transformative well-planned active transportation can be for communities. My...

Neighborhoods are the fundamental building blocks of civic engagement and social resilience. They act as crucial intermediaries between...

🇺🇸 This 4th of July in particular, I would like to thank those who, facing possible retribution and increasing threats, still...

INTRODUCING MY CAMPAIGN FOR CITY COUNCIL POSITION 5 TO OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS   June 26, 2025   Dear Community Leader,   I'm writing to...

Protecting Our Public Lands While Addressing Housing Affordability                 A False Premise to a Real Crisis The Senate Committee...

There is already far too much money in politics. Over $15 billion was spent on Congressional and Presidential elections in 2024 by...

Our campaign is now on Instagram ! Follow us on the campaign trail, meet Anise, our cat mascot and campaign boss, and see pictures of...