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Brian Dansel
Brian Dansel (Republican Party) was a member of the Washington State Senate, representing District 7. He assumed office on December 6, 2013. He left office on January 24, 2017.
Dansel (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Washington's 5th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on August 6, 2024.
Dansel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Brian Dansel earned a high school diploma from Republic High School. He earned an associate degree from the Walla Walla Community College.[1]
Committee assignments
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Dansel served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Senate Accountability & Reform |
| • Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development, Vice-Chair |
| • Government Operations and Security |
| • Natural Resources & Parks, Vice-Chair |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Washington's 5th Congressional District election, 2024
Washington's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 top-two primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Washington District 5
Michael Baumgartner defeated Carmela Conroy in the general election for U.S. House Washington District 5 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michael Baumgartner (R) | 60.6 | 240,619 |
 | Carmela Conroy (D)  | 39.3 | 156,074 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 593 | ||
| Total votes: 397,286 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Washington District 5
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House Washington District 5 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Baumgartner (R) | 27.5 | 55,859 |
| ✔ | | Carmela Conroy (D) | 18.3 | 37,227 |
 | Jacquelin Maycumber (R) | 13.6 | 27,717 | |
 | Bernadine Bank (D) | 11.9 | 24,111 | |
 | Brian Dansel (R) | 10.8 | 21,983 | |
 | Ann Marie Danimus (D) | 5.6 | 11,306 | |
 | Jonathan Bingle (R) | 3.7 | 7,510 | |
 | Rene' Holaday (R) | 3.0 | 6,180 | |
 | Rick Flynn (R) | 2.4 | 4,822 | |
 | Matthew Welde (D) | 2.1 | 4,183 | |
 | Bobbi Bennett-Wolcott (D) | 1.1 | 2,336 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 175 | ||
| Total votes: 203,409 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)
- John Guenther (R)
- Jody Spurgeon (R)
- Terri Cooper (R)
Endorsements
Dansel received the following endorsements.
2014
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for 25 districts in the Washington State Senate took place in 2014. A blanket primary election took place on August 5, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 17, 2014. Incumbent Brian Dansel (R) and Tony Booth (R) were unopposed in the primary. Booth was defeated by Dansel in the general election.[2][3][4]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Brian Dansel Incumbent |
72.2% | 32,702 | |
| Republican | Tony Booth | 27.8% | 12,612 | |
| Total Votes | 45,314 | |||
2013
Dansel won election in the special election for Washington State Senate District 7. The election was for the remaining year of Bob Morton (R)'s term. John Smith (R) was selected to fill Morton's vacancy for the 2013 legislative session. Dansel advanced in the Republican Primary and August 6 and defeated incumbent John Smith (R) in the special election, which took place on November 5.[5][6][7]
| Washington State Senate, District 7, Special Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Brian Dansel |
53.6% | 18,873 | |
| Republican | John Smith Incumbent | 46.4% | 16,324 | |
| Total Votes | 35,197 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Brian Dansel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dansel's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
In this race, I am the clear, true and proven America First candidate. Don’t just take my word for it, look at my record. I am the only candidate endorsed by the Washington State Republican Party and the Republican Parties of Spokane, Franklin, and Pend Oreille Counties.
As an appointee in President Trump's U.S. Department of Agriculture, I tirelessly fought for our ranchers, farmers, and growers. I also successfully fought to protect private property rights against big government. When I served my neighbors as a State Senator, I was consistently rated one of the most conservative members of the State Senate. I voted against the gas tax increase and sponsored a law allowing rural counties to opt-out of the big government Growth Management Act. As a Ferry County Commissioner, I have a strong record of fighting for rural Eastern Washington.
More than ever, we need a proven conservative to fight for us in Congress. I will stand with President Trump, secure the border, fight inflation, cut wasteful spending, and fully back the blue. I will stand up to special interests and always put the Constitution and Eastern Washington first. If you send me to Congress, I will work tirelessly to deliver real results for the people of Washington's 5th District.- On day one, I will lead the charge to secure the border. Since President Biden took office, we have seen the situation at our borders turn into a full blown crisis, especially at the southern border. Under the Biden administration, we have seen nearly 2 million illegal immigrants evade border patrol. Border patrol has apprehended hundreds of known gang members and hundreds on the terror watch list. Further, enough fentanyl has been trafficked across the border to kill every American several times over. I will fight to finish the wall, to fully fund the U.S. Border Patrol, and to enforce our immigration laws.
- Over the last four years, working Americans have been crushed by Joe Biden's economy. We have seen the cost of living skyrocket due to out of control spending, overburdensome regulation, and an avalanche of anti-small business policies coming out of Washington D.C. From groceries, to gas, to housing, prices have soared and people in our district have struggled to make ends meet. Small business owners continue to struggle to get ahead. In Congress, I will fight to lower taxes on hard working Americans, slash wasteful spending, cut red tape, and promote policies that allow small businesses to thrive. I will work with President Trump to bring back the historically strong economy we had so that Eastern Washington can prosper.
- In Congress, I will always put Eastern Washington first. I will fight for every man, woman, and child in our district, not for special interests. I got into politics because I saw how much my community was being hurt by out of touch politicians who put their interests over the people they are supposed to represent. I have always voted for what is right for my district, no matter the pressure or what is popular. In the State Senate, I voted against the gas tax increase even as most Republicans voted for it, including one of my opponents. I voted against giving state funded tuition aid to illegal immigrants, even as one of my opponents skipped the vote. I will always listen to my constituents, and will always put people above politics.
I am very proud that I am not a career politician. I was a small business owner in Ferry County before I saw the damage being done to my community by out of touch politicians and I decided to run for office. I am also very proud that I have a rock solid voting record which voters can trust. When I was in the State Senate, I was consistently rated one of the most conservative Senators by CPAC. I authored major legislation which protected the property rights of people living in rural Washington counties. In President Trump's Department of Agriculture, I had a proven record fighting for American farmers, ranchers, growers, and producers. I also had a record defending property rights and cutting wasteful spending.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Dansel’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Proven Leader and People's Advocate Brian Dansel was born and raised in Republic, Washington, to a contractor and an elementary school secretary. He credits his upbringing in a rural, working-class family as the foundation for his entrance into politics. Having witnessed firsthand how someone with the right character can give voice to many who would otherwise be overlooked by the political process, Dansel was motivated to make a difference. Elected as Ferry County Commissioner in 2010, Dansel served in that role for a full term until he was elected to the Washington State Senate, representing the 7th Legislative District. A pivotal moment in Dansel’s legislative career was his success in passing a bill that allowed smaller counties the option to opt out of the Growth Management Act. This move protected private property rights for his constituents and showcased his effectiveness as a voice for the people he represents. In 2017, Dansel was appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as an advisor at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Economic Council. Dansel advocated for policies such as fair trade, increased timber harvest on federal lands, and decentralization of decision-making to the local level. He provided crucial advice on forest plan revisions at the Forest Service and contributed to the development of the 2018 Farm Bill. Subsequently, Dansel was appointed as the State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency, where he tirelessly advocated for ranchers, wheat farmers, crop farmers, fruit growers, and dairy farmers. One of Dansel’s proudest moments during his tenure was his involvement in saving the LeClerc Creek Grazing Allotment—a multi-generational allotment threatened by federal government plans to repurpose the land, which would have rendered the rancher’s operation obsolete. Dansel intervened and successfully prevented this outcome, demonstrating his commitment to advocating for his constituents’ interests. Dansel concluded his career in the Trump Administration as the Pacific Northwest Regional Director of the USDA, overseeing three agencies in a six-state region. His approach to this role was distinct—he sought to build a team comprising individuals not solely from government backgrounds but also from the private arena, individuals with deep roots in their communities and a track record of success. Dansel aimed to bridge political divides and deliver optimal results for the people of Washington State’s 5th Congressional District. [8] |
” |
| —Brian Dansel's campaign website (2024)[9] | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Washington scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2017
In 2017, the Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 9 through April 23. There were also special sessions. The first special session was April 24 through May 23. The second special session was May 23 through June 21. The third special session was June 21 through July 20.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the state’s business community.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to home building industry issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on firearm policies.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against WSLC's position.
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 64th Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 11 through March 10. The legislature held a special session from March 11 to March 29 to pass a supplemental budget.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 64th Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 12 through April 24. The legislature was in special session from April 29 to May 28, May 29 to June 27 and June 28 to July 10.[10]
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 13 to March 14.[11]
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 14 to April 29.
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Missed Votes Report
- See also: Washington House of Representatives and Washington State Senate
In March 2014, Washington Votes, a legislative information website, released its annual Missed Votes Report, which provides detailed missed roll call votes on bills for every state legislator during the 2014 legislative session.[12] The 2014 regular session included a total of 515 votes in the State House and 396 in the State Senate, as well as 1,372 bills introduced total in the legislature and 237 bills passed. Out of all roll call votes, 90 individual legislators did not miss any votes. Three individual legislators missed more than 50 votes.[12] Dansel missed 2 votes in a total of 396 roll calls.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate U.S. House Washington District 5 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 9, 2024
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2014 Candidates Who Have Filed," accessed May 20, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "August 5, 2014, Official Primary Results," accessed August 5, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Official general election results, 2014," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ spokesman.com, "Colville-area farmer named to succeed Morton," January 4, 2013
- ↑ wei.sos.wa.gov, "State candidates in lot order," accessed August 5, 2013
- ↑ spokesman.com, "Incumbents survive their primary challenges," August 7, 2013
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Dansel for Congress, “Home,” accessed July 20, 2024
- ↑ Multi State, "2015 State Legislative Session Dates," accessed July 13, 2015
- ↑ StateScape, "Session schedules," accessed July 23, 2014
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Washington Policy Center, "2014 Missed Votes Report for Legislators Released," March 18, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Washington State Senate District 7 2013-2017 |
Succeeded by - |
