Leadership Blog

In the News

The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Workers vs. Woke – Sen. John Braun on what Republicans really stand for when it comes to working Washingtonians

Published on September 11, 2025
Senate Republican Leader John Braun breaks down Washington’s labor policies—from public union influence to wage mandates—arguing for worker-first reforms rooted in conservative principles without the progressive spin. [TRANSCRIPT]  
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AUDIO: Schoesler opposes possible release of Kevin Coe, Spokane’s ‘South Hill Rapist’

Published on September 05, 2025
A state senator is outraged that Washington might let the ‘South Hill Rapist’ walk free. Tracy Ellis reports.
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The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Fairness in Sports, Food Access, and Forest Stewardship: A Triple Challenge for Washington

Published on August 21, 2025
Senator John Braun discusses fairness in girls’ sports, Kroger store closures tied to regulations and theft, and the need for responsible forest management to protect public lands and rural economies in this episode of The Elephant in the Dome. [TRANSCRIPT]
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The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: It’s the Economy: Housing, Tech, & Taxes in Turbulent Times

Published on August 12, 2025
Senator John Braun unpacks Washington’s economic challenges—from housing shortages and tech industry tensions to energy concerns and historic tax hikes. What’s driving the downturn, and what can be done? ‘It’s the economy stupid’ in this episode of The Elephant in the Dome Podcast. [TRANSCRIPT]
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AUDIO: Hair-on-Fire” Politics: Sen. Braun Slams Medicaid Fearmongering & Budget Bloat on Lars Larson Show

Published on July 30, 2025
Sen. John Braun joins The Lars Larson Show to explain Medicaid reforms and critique Washington’s budget, healthcare taxes, and carbon program—calling for accountability and an end to political fearmongering.
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News Categories

News from the Caucus

April 21, 2023
Mark Schoesler

Schoesler says Democrats’ passage of anti-firearm bills won’t deter criminals

State Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued this statement after Democratic majorities in the Legislature passed House Bill 1240, which would ban the sale of semi-automatic weapons in Washington, and House Bill 1143, which would prohibit someone from buying a firearm from a dealer unless the buyer has passed a background check and has completed a...
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April 17, 2023
Senate Republican Caucus

Bill to expand standard for vehicular pursuit “simply not enough,” says Senate Republican Leader

 OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun today provided the following comments after the Senate’s narrow passage of legislation that is a half-step toward letting law-enforcement officers engage in vehicular pursuits in more situations than Washington law has allowed since 2021. Senate Bill 5352 was passed with a 26-22 vote, representing the mixed feelings about the bill on...
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March 22, 2023
Senate Republican Caucus

Democrats ‘gaslight’ those calling for police pursuit reform

Members of Legislature’s majority blame police, alleged ‘misinformation’ from Republicans for interest in rolling policy back to ‘reasonable suspicion’ standard   OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following comments in response to accusations by a House Democrat that the public’s interest in reforming the current police pursuit law is a result of lies...
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February 09, 2023
Senate Republican Caucus

Sen. John Braun’s weekly leadership update – week 6

  Watch: Police pursuit and drug possession remain top concerns for Senate Republicans as we try to convince Legislative Democrats to grant hearings for the bills that would remedy some of these issues.
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September 30, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Shorter sentence for man convicted in brutal car crash is terrible result of war on public safety, senators say

Robert Jackson was among 3,000 prisoners released in earlier Department of Corrections fiasco OLYMPIA – Resentencing of a man who got life without parole after he killed his girlfriend in a bloody 2015 car crash is a travesty that illustrates the terrible human consequences when the Legislature goes “soft on crime,” Republican senators say. Robert...
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August 08, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Where is the ‘equity’ for victims of crime?

— August 8, 2022 It was apparent then, and is even more apparent today: The 2021 legislative session really pushed our state in the wrong direction. Governor Inslee and others who longed for a state income tax finally got their way. Hard drugs were essentially legalized. Even worse, it was done in a way that...
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April 15, 2020
Mark Schoesler

Schoesler statement on announcement of West Coast governors’ pact

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued this statement in response to Monday’s announcement by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and California Gov. Gavin Newsom that they have an agreement on a shared vision for reopening their states’ economies and controlling COVID-19 into the future. “If Washington shares a vision with...
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