Washington voters have a right to know who is paying to influence their votes.
The Public Disclosure Commission’s September 23rd dismissal of our complaint against Let’s Go Washington leaves serious questions about that right unanswered.
In its letter declining to keep the matter open and investigate further, PDC staff called it a “close case” and warned Let’s Go Washington that professional services provided for its benefit must be reported, whether paid for by the campaign or by someone else.
Those unresolved questions deserve a closer look. Let’s Go Washington invited influencer Brandi Kruse to speak at its February rally and advertised her appearance.
PDC staff confirmed that she has charged Republican Party organizations for some speaking engagements. Her website also lists Brian Heywood’s Future 42 among its advertisers. PDC staff’s decision to stop investigating does not establish whether any payment connected to Future 42 supported her work on behalf of Let’s Go Washington’s initiatives. That question merits further examination. Voters deserve a clear accounting when paid political work benefits a campaign.
By her own admission in a series of tweets, Kruse is not a journalist. She calls herself a commentator. But she’s more than just a commentator. She’s an influencer and an unregistered commercial advertiser.
Influencers play a substantial role in shaping political debate. As a recent New York Times report on paid political creators illustrates, voters increasingly encounter political messages through voices they follow and trust. Washington’s Fair Campaign Practices Act must keep pace. California has already adopted disclosure requirements for paid influencer posts. Washington should strengthen its rules and laws so voters can keep following the money and track what influencers are active in state politics.
