Category: Press Releases

CAMAS, WA – The Lewallen for Congress campaign today announced that Leslie has endorsed Donald Trump in the Republican Presidential primary. 

Leslie Lewallen, a Camas City Council Member and candidate for WA-03 gave the following statement regarding her endorsement of Donald Trump: 

“I truly believe that primaries are a crucial component of our electoral system, and to curtail that process only serves to disenfranchise the voters. I commend President Trump for requesting the RNC to allow the process to play out, and giving the people the right to decide who will represent them. That is a model that every state party should take note of and implement within their own elections. With President Trump winning all of the early contests, it is clear he is the nominee of our party. For the sake of our country, it is time for Republicans to consolidate and focus our efforts on defeating President Biden in November!” 

Leslie is a strong supporter of the primary process, believing they are good for the party and help forge stronger candidates, better policies and better outcomes for our country. In January, shortly after the New Hampshire primary, the Republican National Committee (RNC) wanted to officially name President Trump their presumptive nominee. At that time, Trump declined their offer, explaining on Truth Social that for the sake of the party the RNC should not follow through with their plan, but instead allow the primary process to play out and make him earn the nomination “the old fashioned” way. One month later, President Trump has done what no other non-incumbent has done in modern political history: decisively win all four early nominating contests.

At this point, the voters have had the opportunity to make their voices heard, and there is no longer a clear path to the nomination for any other candidates. It is time to unite as a party, and rally around the Presidential candidate who will get this country back on track after four disastrous years under Joe Biden’s leadership. 

President Biden’s approval ratings sit only one point higher than Jimmy Carter’s at this same point in his Presidency; and nine months later Carter lost his reelection to President Reagan. Under President Biden’s leadership, Americans have experienced chaos at the border with 7.2 million immigrants crossing illegally into this country. That is more than the populations of 36 states! Additionally, in 2022, #Bidenomics contributed to the worst inflation in a generation; with the lingering effects in the form of high prices still crushing American families. Finally, despite bragging on the campaign trail about his years of foreign policy experience, President Biden has proven himself an ineffective leader on the world stage which has only emboldened our enemies and led to destabilization in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. America cannot afford four more years of chaos. Therefore, it is time for Republicans to unite and ensure that in January of 2025 there is a new leader in the White House! 

To learn more about Leslie, click here. 

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CAMAS, WA – Last Friday, Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez made a drastic departure from her normal cavalier attitude regarding the situation at our southern border. With the release of her new bill, “Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act,” she seeks to both rehabilitate her image and assert a new commitment to maintaining a secure border while supporting our allies.

This new Marie Gluesenkamp Perez will come as a shock to those who follow her positions on the border and foreign policy. Last year, she participated in an interview on Pod Save America where she downplayed the situation at the border, claiming “nobody stays up at night worrying about the southern border.” More recently, the Congresswoman emphasized that she ran for Congress to get a right-to-repair bill passed, not to fix foreign problems like bringing peace to the Middle East.      

Leslie Lewallen, a Camas City Council Member and candidate for WA-03 made the following statement concerning Representative Perez’s new priorities: 

“Rep. Perez has had a huge change of tune on the border lately – it must be an election year! I guess she realized that the border was, in fact, keeping people awake at night. However, any border bill that doesn’t stop the flow of illegal migrants through some sort of physical or electronic barrier isn’t enough. Additionally, WA-03 needs a leader who is able to recognize a threat and act immediately to address it – not one who waits until an election year to prioritize our national security!”

Leslie has been an outspoken advocate for securing the border, addressing our broken immigration system, and curbing the flow of fentanyl that is decimating Washington communities.  

To learn more about Leslie, click here. 

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“I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT WE WILL WIN”

CAMAS, WA – Yesterday, the Chronicle released the second half of its wide-ranging profile on Leslie Lewallen, Camas City Council Member and Republican candidate for Washington’s Third Congressional District. In this installment, Leslie was candid about the pregnancy complication that almost cost her her life, and why she feels like the conversation around abortion needs to change. Leslie also made the case for why 2022 was Joe Kent’s best shot and why WA-03 needs a new leader with a proven track record of winning to take on Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

Leslie Lewallen says abortion discussion needs more focus on compassion

By: Julie McDonald, The Chronicle

. . . “I’m running right now because we should never have lost the seat,” said Lewallen, 49, an attorney and Camas City Council member. “If we lose the seat again, we could lose it forever. And this seat could determine whether Republicans keep the majority in the House of Representatives.”

. . .Lewallen described the freshman Democratic incumbent as a “tax-and-spend liberal.”

“She seems to go on all these victory tours about how much more money she’s spending when we have a $34 trillion debt right now,” Lewallen said. “That’s not helping the American people by spending more money. What we need is somebody that can come in and start making these cuts right away. Because I want a better America for my children and my future grandchildren. And the way that we’re spending money right now, it’s not sustainable.”

Lewallen, who said she’s been open about her occupation and financing, described herself as personally pro-life while allowing exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.

“But I do think the narrative and the conversations around this subject need to change,” she said. “We need to be more compassionate.”

With her fourth child, Lewallen nearly died. The baby flatlined.

. . . She’s glad it didn’t come down to saving her life or the baby’s, but it could have.

“Given what happened to me, my heart goes out to other families who have these situations that really impact the way that they view this issue,” Lewallen said.

She also recalled . . . suffering a miscarriage during her second trimester. Her baby’s heartbeat stopped but the baby didn’t pass on its own, so she needed a D&C, or dilation and curettage surgical procedure.

. . . During the 2022 campaign, when Gluesenkamp Perez said she had a miscarriage that required an abortion, Lewallen grew infuriated with her conflating a D&C with an abortion, which stops a beating heart.

“Miscarriage is vastly different than an abortion, and I found it offensive,” Lewallen said. “It was a slap in the face to a lot of women who have really struggled with a miscarriage and had to have a D&C. But she purposely said abortion, and I didn’t like that.”

. . . “So I’ve been faced with a lot of these questions and a lot of these tough decisions that women have to face,” she said, adding that the abortion narrative offends her. “I think we really need to help women and their needs. The shame needs to be lifted from a lot of things.”

. . . “I’m giving people an alternative,” she said. “Like I said, Joe ran and lost in 2022. That was his best shot. He’s going to lose again, given the history. We need to pick somebody that’s a fresh new face with a proven track record of winning, that has the resume and the knowledge of the local issues that can hit the ground running and actually work to fix things. I want to go there, fix the problems, hop on a plane and get back to my family. I’m not there for performative politics.“I would never have entered this race if I didn’t think I had a clear path for victory. And I am absolutely certain that we will win.”

To learn more about Leslie, click here.

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CAMAS, WA – In case you missed it, Leslie Lewallen discussed what sets her apart in the race for WA-03 and what inspired her to get involved in local politics. Leslie has never been one to sit on the sidelines. Her track record proves that she knows how to win and how to advocate for the needs of her community.

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez doesn’t share the concerns of Washingtonians and is only in office to push through progressive policies. Just last week, Portland issued a state of emergency to address the opioid crisis, and Clark County has seen a 500% increase in overdoses from 2018-2022, yet Perez claimed that “nobody stays awake at night” worried about the border.

“As a mother of four, I constantly am talking to my children about drugs and about drugs being laced with fentanyl. I’m lying awake at night, so I don’t know why she isn’t,” said Lewallen in the interview.

When elected, Leslie will make securing the border and stopping the flow of fentanyl a top priority. This is in sharp contrast to Perez, who voted against the Secure the Border Act only months after being elected to Congress.

Leslie continues to build a strong campaign for Congress. She was ranked one of the top ten contenders for Congress in the 2024 election, and was endorsed by Winning for Women, Tiffany Smiley, and a number of local leaders who understand that Leslie will bring the change the state needs.

Click here to read the full article.

To learn more about Leslie, click here.

CAMAS, WA – In case you missed it, Winning for Women PAC endorsed Leslie Lewallen for WA-03 as the clear choice to beat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Lewallen has been listed as a key candidate to win the toss-up seat and is endorsed alongside a number of influential women around the country.

“These women are rising stars who will add to the record number of Republican women in the House of Representatives. With a razor-thin majority in the House, flipping these seats is critical to holding and expanding our majority,” said Danielle Barrow, Executive Director of WFW PAC. “We are excited to help ensure they have the resources they need as they work to secure their primary and general election victories.“

Winning for Women PAC is an organization that exists to empower women and provide them with the tools they need to be elected to public office. Candidates endorsed by the PAC show a strong commitment to economic freedom and national security, and the endorsement proves that they have a clear pathway to victory.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of Winning For Women PAC,” said Leslie Lewallen, candidate for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. “I am a fifth generation Washingtonian, wife, and mother of four who got tired of sitting on the sidelines during COVID. I am forever grateful for Winning For Women’s encouragement and support to run for office and fight for the country I love.“

This endorsement is another in a growing list that signals significant momentum for the Lewallen camp. While Marie Gluesenkamp Perez votes against the interests of Washingtonians, Leslie Lewallen will cut costs and secure the border.To learn more about Leslie and her endorsements, click here.

CAMAS, WA – Today, Heidi St. John, founder of Faith That Speaks, public speaker, author, and podcast host endorsed Leslie Lewallen for WA-03. This announcement is a clear indication that local leaders are unifying around Lewallen as the candidate that will win.

“I have spent most of my adult life in SW Washington, and as almost everyone who has been here as long as I have can attest, things have changed-but generally, not for the better. The Washington I raised my children in bears little resemblance to the Washington my grandchildren are growing up in. Like you, I have witnessed a massive cultural shift in values in both our state and our nation. We have strayed far from the principles of faith, family, and freedom that made our nation the most prosperous nation on earth.

We were once a nation that leaned on the words “In God We Trust.” Not anymore. The Democrats took prayer out of classrooms, courtrooms, and corporate spaces. Let me ask you: how’s that working out?

I was raised in a community where my parents were the decision makers until I turned 18. Parental authority was only questioned in cases of abuse or neglect. Not anymore. Now, parents who question the perverse material being pushed on kids via our schools are labeled “domestic terrorists” and routinely shut out of the classroom. I started my business in part because I saw thousands of moms like me who are struggling to protect their families from this rising woke culture that we know in our bones is poisonous.

As a mom of four, Leslie Lewallen shares my concern for our families. Fentanyl streams in from our southern border killing our children by the thousands each year. As a former prosecutor, Leslie knows the danger of the Biden administration’s failure to secure our border. Border security should be a no-brainer. A non-partisan issue. But sadly, it’s not. MGP voted against securing the border, now fentanyl overdoses are the leading cause of death in people ages 10-19 years old.

This cannot stand. We need new leadership to represent SW Washington in Congress. Like me, Leslie wants to return the people to the driver’s seat and see the size and scope of an ever-intrusive government shrink. The result of limited government? More freedom for the people. Leslie is a limited government advocate and understands government solutions are not the answer.

It’s time we get our country back on track.

Leslie Lewallen is a lifelong Washingtonian who has experience in leadership in SW Washington. That matters. Like me, she knows there is no better fighter for our children than their parents. She saw how these policies were hurting her kids and refused to stay on the sidelines. We need people in Congress like Leslie who understand our problems are rooted in a rotting culture and are willing to take the necessary action to right our ship before it sinks.

Leslie is the right candidate for this race and I’m honored to endorse her as she works to bring common sense and limited government back to Congress.”

Heidi St. John and her husband Jay reside in Battle Ground, Washington and have seven children together and soon to be five grandchildren. St. John has homeschooled all her children. She is the co-founder of the Vancouver-based Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center. Heidi conducts a weekly nationwide Bible study that connects women across the country. She also has written nine books and speaks to audiences around the nation on issues related to faith and culture. Heidi’s work as the founder of the women’s organization Faith That Speaks can be found here. Her books can be found everywhere books are available.

Leslie Lewallen issued a response to the endorsement:

“Heidi St. John is a fierce advocate for her children and for women all over the nation. Her trailblazing leadership in our community is an essential voice of reason amidst thundering chaos. I am honored to have her support in this campaign”

The Lewallen campaign continues to receive endorsements from a dynamic group of supporters from every walk of life and background- demonstrating, yet again, that Leslie is the best candidate to represent the diverse voters of Southwest Washington. While Marie Gluesenkamp Perez actively votes against the interests of WA-03 constituents, Leslie Lewallen will fight to show voters that there is a better path forward.

To learn more about Leslie, click here.

CAMAS, WA – Last week, Washington state Democrats authored a bill that demands “person first” language when referring to violent sex offenders. Liberal lawmakers in the state have reported that this bill is one of their top priorities for the year, and it perfectly encapsulates all that’s wrong with the Democrat party: soft-on-crime policies that amplify the rights of the criminal over the victim coupled with political theater intended to distract voters from the real issues facing the Evergreen State.

Democrats are notorious for taking soft-on-crime stances and endangering the lives of everyday citizens. From allowing an open border to supply opioids to American neighborhoods, to reducing sentences for criminals dealing and possessing drugs in the midst of an opioid overdose crisis, Democrats seem to want Americans to suffer.

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has been at the forefront of damaging policies. She voted not to secure the border and was quoted saying that “nobody stays awake at night” thinking about the drug abuse epidemic sweeping the state. Perez is clearly out of touch with the needs of Washingtonians since drug overdose fatalities increased 500% in Clark County alone.

“This is precisely why I am in the race for WA-03: Washington Democrats have lost sight of the goal,” said Leslie Lewallen, in a statement. “Guided by Portland Progressive Perez who wants nothing more than to be accepted into ‘The Squad’, Democrats in the Evergreen State are allowing their out-of-touch political goals to guide their policymaking and Washingtonians bear the brunt of their gamesmanship. This bill would effectively undermine the atrocities committed against survivors of sexual assault and give perpetrators the ability to endanger more innocent lives. It’s time to put an end to Perez and Washington Democrats’ sidestepping of the real issues and bring solutions to WA-03!“

Just as concerning is the fact that Democrats believe changing the label of sex offenders should be their top priority. Instead of addressing the homeless crisis, opioid deaths, failing education system, rising crime, or affordability in the state, they want to make criminals feel better about their crimes. Lewallen will bring sanity to Congress and set an example for Washington state lawmakers to follow. 

To learn more about Leslie, click here.

CAMAS, WA – On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in the case Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. This ruling has the potential to strike a major blow to the scope and authority of federal agencies, which would be a win for Americans whose lives are increasingly regulated by the bureaucratic state.

Leslie Lewallen, former prosecutor and candidate for Congress, who has been advocating for two decades to rein in the reach of the federal government, issued the following statement regarding yesterday’s oral arguments:

“Americans across the country are being held back by burdensome regulations and bureaucratic red tape from the federal government that is coming out of their bottom line! Overturning the Supreme Court’s 1984 ruling in Chevron is the victory that every American needs when it comes to stopping big government. When I get to Congress, it will be my top priority to cut the size of our federal agencies and return out country to a more limited form of government. The Chevron doctrine has effectively led to a fourth branch of government: the administrative branch. However, the members of this branch, unlike the ones established by our Founding Fathers, are not elected by the people, receive very little oversight, and have contributed to a rapid expansion of Executive power beyond what our Constitution envisioned. These agencies have used their power to make the border worse, undermine our police officers, slow down our economy, and dumb down our education system. In fact, Chief Justice Roberts, in his 2013 dissent in City of Arlington v. FCC, wrote ‘. . . the danger posed by the growing power of the administrative state cannot be dismissed.’ Indeed, it cannot. Should the Supreme Court choose not to reverse this terrible precedent, then when I get to Congress, I will do everything in my authority to curb the power of these unelected bureaucrats in Washington D.C..”

At the heart of Loper is a precedent set in 1984 by the Supreme Court in the case Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. In its ruling, the Court held that, while government agencies must adhere to clear legislative directions from Congress, when Congress has not expressly spoken to a specific question, it is within the agency’s power to act “based on a permissible construction of the statute,” and that deference should be afforded to those agencies’ translation of the law.

In the forty years since the Chevron doctrine entered the judicial lexicon, the United States has seen an exponential growth in the number of federal agencies supporting the Executive Branch. Accompanying that growth is an ever-increasing number of federal regulations that, thanks to Chevron, receive the same treatment as laws passed by Congress. In fact, according to Forbes, in 2023, President Biden’s agencies implemented 3,018 new rules. Meanwhile, Congress only passed 27 bills that became law last year. Federal agencies pass more rules that govern American’s day-to-day lives than Congress.

At issue in Loper, is one such rule that requires private fishing companies to pay the salaries of federally mandated observers who are required to accompany the vessels out to sea in an effort to prevent overfishing. Congress never authorized the agency in question to levy fees against the fishing companies, the total amount of which approaches 20% of their revenues. The Court is being asked to either overturn Chevron or “clarify that statutory silence concerning controversial powers expressly but narrowly granted elsewhere in the statute does not constitute an ambiguity requiring deference to the agency.”

Lewallen has been a strong advocate for limited government both as a prosecutor and on the Camas City Council; and she will continue to hold Democrats accountable for their expansion of federal power when she goes to D.C. as the Representative for WA-03.

To learn more about Leslie, click here.

CAMAS, WA – Today, Tim Hein, a Camas City Council Member, endorsed Leslie Lewallen for WA-03. The announcement is another significant endorsement for the Lewallen campaign, as Leslie continues to build a broad base of support across Washington state.

“Politics today are marked by tribalism which makes accomplishing any meaningful legislative victories difficult. We need elected leaders who are willing to work together in a non-partisan way to best serve their constituents. I have had the pleasure of working with Leslie on the Camas City Council and have been impressed by her ability to seek common ground to accomplish our work on behalf of the city. I have no doubt that Leslie will take this same approach with her as the next Representative for Washington- 03!” said Hein on announcing his endorsement.

Tim Hein graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree and then went on to earn a Master’s in Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University. After serving for six years as an active duty officer in the Army, he went on to serve for 25 years in Executive Leadership positions for numerous medical device companies. Tim served for 17 years as a member of the Camas Planning Commission while also being involved with the Camas Education Foundation and the budget committee for the School District Superintendent. Tim and his wife have two sons, both graduates of Camas High.

“Sometimes the hardest place to garner support is in your own hometown,” said Lewallen. “which makes Tim’s endorsement even more meaningful. I’ve been fortunate to work closely with Tim as a fellow Camas City Council member. I have seen his dedication to our community and his commitment to working with all Council members, regardless of ideological background. He is passionate about delivering results for the residents of Camas and ensuring our town is positioned to grow in the coming years. Tim’s example of finding common ground and working for the good of his constituents is one I look forward to emulating when I get to D.C. to represent the voters of Southwest Washington.”

The Lewallen campaign continues to receive endorsements from a dynamic group of supporters from every walk of life and background- demonstrating that Leslie is the best candidate to represent the diverse voters of Southwest Washington. While Marie Gluesenkamp Perez actively votes against the interests of WA-03 constituents, Leslie Lewallen will fight to show voters that there is a better path forward.

To learn more about Leslie and her endorsements, click here.

CAMAS, WA – On Friday, January 12, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. This welcomed announcement comes as Western cities like Portland, Seattle and San Francisco are being crushed by escalating numbers of homeless individuals and an accompanying increase in crime, drug use and public health risks.

City of Grants Pass v. Johnson stems from an earlier decision in the case Martin v. City of Boise in which the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment prevented cities from criminally prosecuting individuals for sleeping outside when shelter space was unavailable. Following Martin, the City of Grants Pass attempted to rework their camping ordinances in a way that accommodated the Ninth Circuit’s ruling but still allowed them to address the growing homelessness in their area. In response, the Ninth Circuit struck down the new ordinance, and refused the city’s request for a rehearing before the entire Ninth Circuit bench. Grants Pass then appealed their case to the Supreme Court of the United States, asking the Court to definitively rule on whether or not enforcement of anti-camping laws really constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment” as defined under the Eighth Amendment.

The impact of the Ninth Circuit’s ruling on the nine states under its jurisdiction has been staggering as they struggle to address growing homelessness in their major cities. In 2018, the year Martin v. Boise was handed down, roughly 30 out of every 10,000 people in Washington were experiencing homelessness. Five years later, that number ballooned to 36 out of every 10,000 people for a total of 28,036 individuals experiencing homelessness in 2023. Washington now has the sixth highest rate of homelessness in the country.

Leslie Lewallen, Camas City Council Member and candidate for Congress, hailed the high court’s announcement with the following statement: “I am thrilled that the Supreme Court has granted certiorari to City of Grants Pass v. Johnson after they refused to take up Martin v. City of Boise in 2019. Martin v. Boise was a terrible decision, handed down by three, Democratic judges on the 9th Circuit. It has paralyzed cities’ efforts to adequately address the growing homelessness crises in an effective but compassionate manner. It is my ardent hope that through this process the Supreme Court will ultimately strike down Martin v. Boise.”

Lewallen has been a strong advocate for addressing the homelessness crisis on the Camas City Council and will continue to hold Democrats accountable for their inaction.

To learn more about Leslie, click here.