Trump Endorsed
WA-03 primary: 1st place
2dBraun’s win probability rose about 10 points in the last hour, and recent coverage still frames WA-03 as a competitive race where Braun is the leading Republican challenger to Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.
61%7%
WA-03 primary: 1st place
$26.1K
AUG 8, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age59 years old (Jan 16, 1967)
GenderMale
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LocationWashington
BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of Washington — B.S. (electrical engineering)
Notable personal detailsJohn Eric Braun is a Republican politician and business executive serving in the Washington State Senate representing the 20th Legislative District, and he has served as Senate Republican Leader since late 2020. He has worked as an executive in the emergency-vehicle manufacturing business Braun Northwest. He attended the University of Washington and later earned graduate degrees at the University of Michigan. He has also been a candidate for U.S. House in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle.
SourcesShowHide
leg.wa.goven.wikipedia.orgsos.wa.govcookpolitical.comnrcc.orgjohnbraun.src.wastateleg.orgcascadepbs.orglines.comgovprofiles.comwashingtonmainstream.orgpdc.wa.govwashingtonstatestandard.comelectionline.orgco.cowlitz.wa.uswsada.org8d1851c0-7e92-4d0a-89c4-7df9de648108.filesusr.comthefreedomindex.orgvotebraun.comnewsmax.comkuow.orgtvw.orgthedailyworld.comspokesman.comsrc.wastateleg.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgapp.leg.wa.govkiowacountypress.nettheolympian.comx.comking5.comopb.orgchronline.comkgw.comnews.ballotpedia.orgoregonlive.comnwprogressive.orgcamaspostrecord.comblackchronicle.comkvi.cominstagram.comcolumbian.comindianacapitalchronicle.comthereflector.comfacebook.comfec.govballotready.orgsenate.govhistory.house.govclerk.house.govgovinfo.govdocquery.fec.govstrickland.house.govgluesenkampperez.house.govlda.senate.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports limiting new or higher income taxes and advancing property-tax relief and other tax reductions; has backed requiring supermajority votes to raise taxes and criticized recent proposals to tax high earners as harmful to the state economy. Emphasizes fiscally conservative approaches to budgeting while supporting targeted reforms such as property tax changes enacted during his time in the legislature.
Healthcare
John Braun emphasizes reducing government spending and cutting waste in federal budgets while supporting faster access to care for veterans and more behavioral-health and detox capacity; his campaign priorities do not propose expanding large public programs. His legislative record includes voting against HB1392 (a 2025 bill to raise Medicaid provider rates via a new assessment), indicating opposition to that form of Medicaid expansion or increased Medicaid funding.
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Immigration & Border
John Braun emphasizes stronger border security and supports immigration enforcement measures. He has stated he will work to “keep our border secure” and has expressed approval of President Trump’s actions on immigration enforcement.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
John Braun has expressed that “fewer abortions should be a common goal” and has voted against legislation expanding insurance coverage of abortion and contraception. His legislative record includes votes and sponsorships tied to parental-notification and other abortion-related measures that align with supporting restrictions on abortion access while allowing some exceptions. Public scorecards and advocacy groups rate him unfavorably on abortion-rights measures, reflecting a record of supporting restrictions rather than codified unrestricted access.
Climate & Energy
Opposes aggressive state climate regulations and the governor’s climate agenda, emphasizes protecting jobs and affordable energy, and criticizes carbon-pricing/Climate Commitment Act-style policies while supporting fossil-fuel development and lower energy costs.
Public Safety & Guns
John Braun has opposed recent Washington state assault-weapons ban proposals and voted against at least one such measure, while emphasizing support for law enforcement and skepticism that the ban would reduce gun violence. He has said he is open to a range of solutions to address mass shootings but argued the specific bill would not achieve the intended results and raised constitutional and legal concerns.
Latest Insights
Polls
Emerson College
30%20%10%0%
26%
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
WA-03 primary: 1st place
Endorsers of John Braun for WA-03 primary: 1st place
Donald Trump
Public figure
Donald Trump endorsed John Braun for Congress in Washington's 3rd District.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$2.0M
$1.5M
$1.0M
$508.8K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$2.0M
$1.1M
$930.6K
$49.0K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- News