Tackling the Cost of Living
Washington is suffering through a historic affordability crisis fueled by reckless spending in Olympia. The 2025–2027 biennium budget has exploded to approximately $80 billion—more than double the $33 billion budget when Governor Christine Gregoire left office in 2013. Even Gregoire has sounded the alarm, warning that Democrats have lost all control over state spending. This pattern of fiscal irresponsibility has led to the largest tax increase in our history and the imposition of an unconstitutional state income tax. Today, Washington ranks as the 5th most expensive state to live in, with costs rising faster than anywhere else in the nation. Home ownership is now the 5th least affordable in the country, requiring a staggering $151,000 annual income to buy a home. One in four renters are forced to spend over 50% of their income on housing, while we rank as the 7th most expensive state for older adults due to skyrocketing rents. Brad Bender will demand accountability and restore fiscal sanity. He promises to rein in out-of-control spending, stop new tax hikes, and fight for real relief for working families, renters, and seniors in the 38th District.
End Learning Loss Now
Our education system is in a state of emergency. Education remains the largest component of the 2025–27 biennium budget with K–12 receiving $33.6 billion – up 7% from the previous biennium budget. This massive investment includes $900 million in additional funding for Special Education and $1.3 billion for teacher and staff salary increases. Yet, despite this spending, university professors are sounding the alarm: students are graduating without the ability to read, comprehend basic sentences, or perform fundamental math. In Washington, a staggering 50% of students do not meet grade-level standards in English language arts and 59% fail to meet standards in math. This learning loss is a crisis for every path—from the university-bound to those entering the trades. Our future electricians and plumbers must be able to read regulatory codes, and every citizen needs math for daily life. We must stop making this a partisan issue and admit the learning loss is real. To fix it, every reform must be on the table, from student-direct funding to total fiscal and teaching accountability. Brad Bender will demand results for students, not systems, and support the real reforms needed to get our kids reading, doing math, and ready for the workforce or college.
Kids Belong to Parents, Not the State
The bond between parent and child is sacred, yet increasingly, bureaucrats in Olympia seek to wedge themselves into the center of the family unit. Brad Bender believes that parents—not the state—must have the final authority over their children's education and major medical decisions. Brad will stand firm against any policy that undermines the fundamental rights of fathers and mothers.
Transparency in our schools is not optional; it is a necessity. Brad will lead the charge to ensure that curricula are open to parental review and that classrooms remain focused on academic excellence rather than ideological indoctrination. By defending parental rights and promoting transparency, Brad will ensure that Washington families remain the primary architects of their children’s futures.
Issues Facing Washington State
Washington families are being squeezed by rising costs, rampant crime, learning loss, and visible homelessness across our neighborhoods. Brad’s data-driven plan for the 38th District demands real results, strict accountability, and measurable change to restore our state's future.
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Stronger, Safer Communities
Washington is the state most impacted by retail theft, suffering 48% more crime than expected and ranking 3rd worst in the nation for stolen goods. In 2021 alone, retailers saw a staggering $2.7 billion loss, draining $603 million from state and local tax revenues. With larceny theft incidents now the second-highest per capita in the country, the safety of our neighborhoods and the viability of our local shops are at a breaking point. Despite these facts, Olympia recently cut $500,000 from the supplemental budget—funding intended to expand a highly effective law enforcement pilot program in Snohomish, King, and Spokane counties. Brad Bender will end this cycle of neglect by fully backing our law enforcement and restoring the vital anti-theft programs that were stripped of funding. He is committed to investing in officer recruitment, retention, body cameras, and advanced training to keep our streets secure. By passing laws that prevent crime and stand firmly with victims, Brad will ensure that our community is a place where families thrive and criminals are held accountable.
Homelessness
Washington State has budgeted approximately $1.8 billion in its 2025–27 biennium budget for homelessness, averaging $900 million per year—a staggering 28% increase from the previous biennium. Despite this record spending, our streets remain in crisis because the current “housing first” model fails to address the root causes of the problem. We must replace this failed approach with a “pathway to housing” that demands accountability. This pathway will prioritize immediate housing for those displaced by financial hardship or domestic issues, ensuring they get the stability they need. However, for homeless individuals battling mental health challenges and drug addiction, the pathway to housing must begin with mandatory treatment. These individuals cannot resume a meaningful life without first obtaining essential health care. A roof alone is not a cure for addiction or mental illness. Brad Bender will end the cycle of enabling despair and ensure that your tax dollars fund a recovery-first strategy that delivers public safety and real, clinical results.
Relief for the Seniors Who Built WA
Washington consistently ranks as one of the top 10 most expensive states for older adults in the nation, with many retirees forced to spend 30% to 50% of their total income just to keep a roof over their heads. In the 38th District, fixed-income seniors are being hit the hardest as property taxes, rent, and healthcare costs rise faster than Social Security adjustments. Brad Bender will work to further reduce property taxes on primary residences for qualifying seniors. He is committed to lowering cost pressures that drive up daily expenses, ensuring every senior can live with the security and dignity they deserve. Brad's plan is simple: stop the tax squeeze and protect those who contributed most to our state.