One thing has become very clear to me while talking with people across our district:

This is not just about politics, it is about people trying to build stable lives in a state they love.

Behind every discussion about taxes, budgets, housing costs, or government spending is a real person making difficult decisions:

• a young family wondering if they can afford to stay here
• a retiree worried about rising expenses
• a small business owner struggling to keep doors open
• a nurse working overtime while costs continue climbing
• a parent concerned about public safety and affordability
• a tradesperson wondering why it feels harder to get ahead despite working harder than ever

These conversations matter because they reveal something deeper than frustration, they reveal a growing disconnect between government policy and everyday life.

Many people feel leadership in Olympia increasingly measures success by the size of programs, budgets, or legislation passed rather than by whether life is actually improving for the people paying for it, and if it is being used for the intended purposes.

That perception, whether fully accurate or not, matters because trust in government depends on people believing their leaders understand the realities they face every day.

And right now, many people do not feel understood.

I have spoken with lifelong Democrats frustrated by affordability.

Republicans frustrated by taxation.

Independents frustrated by political division.

And many people who no longer identify strongly with either party because they simply want practical leadership focused on results rather than ideology.

What I hear most often is not extremism, it is exhaustion.

People want:

• accountability
• affordability
• transparency
• safer communities
• responsible budgeting
• economic opportunity
• and leadership willing to listen before acting

They want leaders who understand that every tax increase, every fee, every regulation, and every policy decision has real-world consequences for working families and local businesses.

And they want government to remember something simple; the money government spends belongs to the people who earned it.

That means stewardship matters.

Priorities matter.

Transparency matters.

Representation matters.

Washington has extraordinary strengths:

• innovation
• natural beauty
• strong communities
• talented workers
• entrepreneurial spirit
• world-class industries

But long-term success depends on maintaining a state where working families, retirees, entrepreneurs, and future generations can realistically afford to live, work, and thrive.

That requires thoughtful leadership, not leadership driven by political theater or partisan talking points; instead, leadership grounded in listening, service, accountability, and practical solutions.

As this campaign continues, I will keep doing what I believe matters most:

Getting out into the community.

Talking with people.

Listening carefully.

And making sure the voices of ordinary residents are not lost in the noise of politics.

Because ultimately, government should not exist to serve itself.

It should exist to serve the people.

—

Resources for Independent Review

• Summary of Legislation: The House Office of Program Research and the State Courts compiled comprehensive overviews. These reports track how 1,953 introduced bills were handled, noting that 433 pieces of legislation ultimately passed into law. You can review the full House Summary of Legislation for end-of-session bill outcomes.
• Budget Reports: Facing a projected budget deficit, lawmakers enacted a $77.8 billion operating budget, a $15.5 billion transportation budget, and a $7.5 billion capital budget. Detailed breakdowns for all funds and agencies are available on the Washington Fiscal Information dashboard.
• State Agency Reports: Multiple state departments released their official 2025 legislative reports covering specific sectors. For example, the Washington Department of Commerce published specialized assessments on affordable housing, sustainable maritime fuels, and low-energy assistance available via the Commerce Legislative Reports portal.