Today Washingtonians for Ethical Government, a nonprofit campaign and government watchdog organization, filed a complaint with Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) concerning violations of the Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) by conservative political action committee Let’s Go Washington and right-wing political content creator and advertiser Brandi Kruse.
The PDC carries out FCPA rulemaking and interprets and enforces campaign finance and disclosure laws found in Title 29B RCW and WAC 390. “Political advertising” includes any mass communication used for the purpose of appealing, directly or indirectly, for votes or for financial or other support or opposition in any election campaign pursuant to WAC 390-05-290.
According to the complaint, there have been at least 159 instances of political advertising by commercial advertiser Brandi Kruse on behalf of Let’s Go Washington in support of its two 2026 ballot initiatives: IL26-638 and IL26-001. Let’s Go Washington also failed to report at least two instances of in-kind contributions in the form of Kruse’s appearances at political rallies and likely in-kind contributions from one of Brian Heywood’s other organizations, Project 42 and Future 42.
Pam Stuart, Communications Liaison for Washingtonians For Ethical Government, explained what’s at stake:
I am personally outraged at the hateful language, falsehoods, and tactics Kruse and Let’s Go Washington use to push these initiatives, but that’s not why we are filing this complaint. Washingtonians For Ethical Government is requesting an investigation into Brian Heywood’s group, Let’s Go Washington, for flagrant disregard for state laws meant to provide transparency and build trust in our political system.
This isn’t the first time Heywood’s group is accused of breaking the law. Let’s Go Washington was fined $20,000 in 2024 for violating campaign finance laws, and now they are at it again.
Let’s Go Washington and right-wing “influencers” like Brandi Kruse are instigating distrust in government and driving voter apathy, something we cannot afford at a time when democracy in America is under assault.
Under Washington State law, the public has the right to know that the information they are hearing or seeing is actually political advertising, who is paying for that advertising, and how much was paid.
More than 150 times, Kruse provided political advertising that urged voters to sign Let’s Go Washington’s initiative petitions, appealed to voters for support, attacked groups opposed to the initiatives, acted as a spokesperson for the campaign at political rallies and events, and otherwise advertised Let’s Go Washington, IL26-001, IL26-638, and Brian Heywood on her platforms.
Let’s Go Washington hid Kruse’s political advertising from the public, in violation of state law, and must be held accountable. If the PDC decides that these activities fall under the Fair Campaign Practices Act’s media exemption, then we will be calling on them and legislators to update our rules and laws to reflect the current state of online creator advertising, and to improve transparency in political advertising for Washington voters.
Kruse charges other advertisers – such as roofing, insurance, and real estate businesses – to promote their interests to more than 800,000 followers across her multiple platforms.
According to a report by the Center for Democracy & Technology: “Political actors spent tens of millions on creator-driven messaging in 2024… public reporting suggests that political influencers are commonly paid by campaigns, political committees, and via independent expenditure.”
Undisclosed political advertising via podcasts, content creators, and influencers is a growing transparency and accountability issue. Advertiser spending on podcasters and influencers is expected to reach $13.7 billion in 2027, and that includes tens of millions spent by political campaigns, candidates, and dark money groups on podcasters and social media influencers to promote their interests. Political advertising on influencers has become so commonplace that in 2023 California passed rules requiring content creators to disclose their political advertisers on their posts and in their podcasts.
PDC staff will have ninety days to review this complaint and decide if they should investigate further. If so, they will then refer the case to the commission for a hearing.
About Washingtonians For Ethical Government
Washingtonians For Ethical Government is a nonprofit serving as an open government and campaign finance watchdog for the Evergreen State, promoting full and timely compliance with Washington’s public disclosure laws and ethics rules.
