Political Ads and Hidden Money: A Closer Look at a Washington Group

A watchdog group, Washingtonians for Ethical Government, has filed a 24‑page complaint alleging that the conservative committee Let’s Go Washington failed to report more than 150 instances of political advertising linked to two statewide initiatives. The complaint claims the committee omitted the value of these ads and ignored in‑kind contributions it allegedly received.

The Contested Initiatives

Let’s Go Washington is behind two measures that will appear on the November ballot:

1. Transgender Participation Ban – would bar transgender girls from K‑12 girls’ sports.
2. Expanded Records Access – would broaden the records parents can request under the state’s “Parents Bill of Rights.”

Allegations Against Brandi Kruse

• Promotions: Brandi Kruse, a popular podcaster and former TV journalist, promoted the initiatives on her digital platforms over 150 times between September 2025 and February 2026.
• Estimated Cost: The estimated cost of those promotions ranges from $345,000 to $1.25 million.
• Content: Her posts included calls for votes, attacks on opponents, and requests to sign petitions that would place the measures on the ballot.

Washingtonians for Ethical Government argues that Kruse’s content is political advertising rather than editorial, citing her large social‑media following and a list of advertisers that includes the right‑wing group Future 42—a Project 42 affiliate led by Let’s Go Washington founder Brian Heywood. The complaint also states that the committee failed to report at least two of Kruse’s rally appearances and in‑kind contributions from Future 42.

Let’s Go Washington’s Response

The committee calls the complaint “baseless,” asserting that:

• Kruse never received money from the group.
• A 2007 Washington Supreme Court ruling protects her First Amendment rights.
  The court ruled that talk‑show hosts who asked for donations during a gas‑tax rollback campaign were not required to report those requests as contributions.

Historical Context

• 2024: The Public Disclosure Commission fined Let’s Go Washington $20,000 for not reporting subcontractor spending.
• 2025: A warning was issued for failing to identify sponsors on some online ads.
• Earlier complaints were dismissed or not investigated.

The PDC will review the new complaint and decide whether to open an investigation.