Latest news with #EthanBrunton
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
15-year-old Chehalis resident launches campaign for Washington governor
Jul. 29—He's not old enough to obtain a driver's license, but one Lewis County resident wants to take the state in a different direction. Ethan Brunton, a 15-year-old from Chehalis, Washington, has announced a bid to run for governor in 2028. If elected, the teenager would be the youngest governor in state history, and among the youngest to hold public office in Washington. But that doesn't faze him. Instead, Brunton sees his youth as a benefit in the race. "Although experience is great, what I have is more energy, potential and courage, which I think Washington state is ready for," Brunton said. "I believe that fresh energy and new energy will be a great benefit in the long run." While he's ineligible to hold office, Brunton turns 18 in March 2028, months before the filing deadline for the 2028 election. Brunton is one of a few who has announced his interest in running in 2028. Gov. Bob Ferguson, who was first elected last November, has not yet said whether he intends to seek re-election. Interested in politics for several years, Brunton said he was inspired to run after the 2025 legislative session, during which lawmakers adopted billions of dollars in new taxes to balance a budget deficit totaling multiple billions of dollars. "I said, 'Enough,' " Brunton said. "I launched this because I'm tired of watching politicians ignore us." A Republican, Brunton said he leans conservative, though he identifies as more of a moderate. If elected, Brunton said he would focus on public safety and law enforcement. "My main goal would be to fully fund law enforcement and attack the fentanyl crisis head-on," Brunton said. "My second priority would be to work on affordability, housing and small businesses and transportation. I'm here to fix what's broken." As for the politicians Brunton looks up to, Brunton cited former presidential candidate and current Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Vice President JD Vance. "He's also young and has great leadership," Brunton said of Ramaswamy. "I have learned a lot from those two." Since announcing earlier this month, Brunton said he has received a mostly positive response. "A lot of public outreach, especially in Lewis County, has been very positive," Brunton said. "The energy is great." "(My parents have) been skeptical but supportive." Brunton said he would not plan to run for re-election and would instead opt to serve in the military after his time in Olympia is over. "I don't want to be a career politician at all," Brunton said. While uncommon, it's not unheard of for a teenager to serve in public office. Brunton wouldn't even be the youngest elected official in state history. Lilian Hale, the stepdaughter of 19th District Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, a U.S. Marine Corps reservist, temporarily served in his place during the final day of the 2024 legislative session while McEntire completed mandatory service. Hale was sworn into the role on her 18th birthday, the minimum age to hold public office in the state. "No one will ever beat her for being the youngest representative in this body," Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, said as he welcomed Hale to the House. "The best anyone could ever do is tie her by beginning their service on their 18th birthday." Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chehalis teen officially announces candidacy for governor
Jul. 18—In American politics, being older and more experienced is often an advantage, with older politicians often edging out the younger competition. One young man from Chehalis sees things differently. Ethan Brunton, 15, officially announced his candidacy to be the next governor of Washington on Wednesday, July 16. For the event, Brunton gave a short speech in the conference room of the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library where he pitched himself as young, bold and "grounded in truth." During the speech, he first addressed his age. While the young political hopeful is not yet eligible to take up residence in the Governor's Mansion, he will turn 18 just in time for the 2028 election. He said he sees his youth as an asset, noting his energy and disconnection from mainstream political establishments. "I'm done waiting for change, so I'm stepping up," Brunton said. "Age doesn't define leadership; conviction does." Brunton outlined his political platform, focusing his talking points on public safety, education and financial accountability and promising to fully fund the police, roll back government regulation and fight and advocate for the everyday worker and family. Brunton delivered his speech with vigor and passion and made sure to give the event an air of patriotism, flying an American flag and asking attendees — which included just two Chronicle journalists — to stand for the national anthem to start off the event. Brunton faces a few major obstacles as a gubernatorial candidate, with possibly the most significant being his age. While what he says about energy and new ideas stemming from his youth may be true, his young age also means he cannot yet accept campaign donations or participate in local elections as an active voter. Brunton has also yet to develop a local following. Brunton's campaign announcement comes early enough in the political cycle to give him plenty of time to keep working at it. The political hopeful has three years still to hone his skills, build his following and decide exactly what he plans to offer Washington state as a candidate for governor.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chehalis boy, 15, charts course for Governor's Mansion -- in four years
May 23—In four years, Chehalis resident Ethan Brunton hopes to become the youngest governor in U.S. history. At the age of 15, he is not currently eligible to run for governor, but he will turn 18 just in time to register for the 2028 primary election. Brunton said he will announce his candidacy to the community for the first time publicly on July 16 during a campaign speech at the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library. The speech will be the first of a series of appearances he hopes to make in the area at public locations such as the library. That's partly because, as a minor, Brunton cannot legally accept campaign donations. However, Brunton sees his youth as a strength, not a weakness. Echoing a call from many politicians before him, he notes that he is not a career politician but rather a community member looking to serve. To those who wonder about his age or question the experience of someone so young, Brunton said results should matter more than age and that the current powers-that-be are not delivering those results. "Experience means nothing without results. We've seen the same political system fail over and over again," Brunton said. "I'm willing to work harder and smarter than anyone. Young people often feel ignored in politics ... I want to give them a real voice in that aspect and have someone relatable in office. As a teenage politician, representation for younger generations is baked into his campaign, a stark contrast from much of American politics. The average age of this year's U.S. congressional members is 58, and the last two U.S. presidents to take up residence in the White House were 78 on the day of their inaugurations, with president Trump being 70 on the day of his first inauguration and 78 on the day of his second. President Trump is the oldest president elected in U.S. history, with former President Biden holding the record previously. Along with leveraging his youth to his advantage, Brunton plans to run as a Republican and on a platform largely in line with the party's priorities. His goals, he said, are to address the housing and fentanyl crises along with lowering the tax burden on average Washingtonians. Brunton pitches himself as a youth with a deep passion for public service and leadership. The student has worked as a volunteer for Timberland Regional Library and currently does work with a local nonprofit that he preferred not to name. If Brunton were to be elected, he would not only be the youngest governor in state and U.S. history, he would follow the legacy of young people being elected in the state of Washington, with many of them coming from the state's southwest region. Most recently, 18-year-old Lilian Hale, R-Cathlamet, became the youngest person to serve as a Washington state legislator last year when she was sworn in as a proxy for her stepfather, Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, during the 2024 legislative session. Just a few years earlier, a legislator from Ferndale, Simon Sifzek, became the youngest ever Washington State senator in 2022 when he was appointed to the position by the Whatcom County Council after the death of Sen. Doug Erickson. Sifzek was 22 years old when he was sworn in and served as the senator for Washington's 42nd Legislative District for the 2022 legislative session. Even earlier, Chehalis attorney and prominent member of the community J. Vander Stoep was elected to the Washington state House of Representatives in 1980 at the age of 23, becoming, at the time, the youngest ever member of the state's lower house.
