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Dennis Ellis
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Dennis Ellis (Republican Party) is running in a special election to the Washington House of Representatives to represent District 48-Position 1. He is on the ballot in the special general election on November 4, 2025. He advanced from the special primary on August 5, 2025.
Ellis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2025
See also: Washington state legislative special elections, 2025
General election
Special general election for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1
Incumbent Osman Salahuddin and Dennis Ellis are running in the special general election for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Osman Salahuddin (D)  | |
| Dennis Ellis (R) | ||
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Special nonpartisan primary for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1
Incumbent Osman Salahuddin and Dennis Ellis defeated Ranga Bondada in the special primary for Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 on August 5, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Osman Salahuddin (D) | 62.8 | 15,467 |
| ✔ | Dennis Ellis (R) | 28.8 | 7,087 | |
 | Ranga Bondada (D) | 8.3 | 2,057 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 36 | ||
| Total votes: 24,647 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ellis received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dennis Ellis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ellis' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My diverse career includes working as an Alaska commercial fisherman, five years of honorable service in the U.S. Air Force, earning my BBA from Gonzaga University, and nearly a decade in construction learning business operations. I've founded or co-founded businesses in construction, manufacturing, and consulting, earned my Master of Science in Finance from Seattle University, and spent 11 years as a financial analyst with The Boeing Company.
This varied experience has equipped me with skills in finance, management, service, and strong work ethic that make me uniquely qualified for public office.
Today, I work full time, serve as chair for LD48 Republicans, and am running for State Representative Position No. 1 in Legislative District 48. I will bring a fresh, conservative perspective to combat failed policies of ever-increasing taxes, bigger government, and more control over our daily lives. Instead, I will focus on protecting individual liberties and serving the people of our district.- Stop the Tax-and-Spend Agenda: The Democrat-controlled legislature just passed the largest tax increase in Washington's history, adding $4.3 billion in new taxes on businesses, financial assets, and technology services. Since 2011, Washington has more than doubled tax collection while inflation increased by less than half that rate. These higher taxes on gas, utilities, sales, and property disproportionately hurt working families and drive businesses away. Meanwhile, families struggle with rising costs while receiving declining services. LD48 needs leaders who understand that government should make life better, not harder. I've built businesses, managed budgets, and know what works. Together, we can restore fiscal responsibility.
- Fix What's Broken: Education, Infrastructure, and Public Safety: Despite spending nearly $20,000 per student, over 50% fail to meet grade-level standards. Washington ranks 35th nationally in graduation rates. Our roads remain in poor condition despite having the nation's third-highest gas tax. Sound Transit has racked up $50 billion in cost overruns in just five years. Policies that limit law enforcement have made communities less safe. Washington has the nation's lowest number of officers per capita at just 1.35 per 1,000 residents. We spend over $1 billion annually on homelessness programs, yet the crisis worsens with a 23% increase from 2020-2023. It's time for accountability and results-driven leadership.
- Restore Constitutional Rights and Government Accountability: Government overreach during COVID and ongoing attacks on constitutional freedoms threaten the rights our founders guaranteed. Too often, government operates in secrecy with little input from the people it serves. Decisions get made behind closed doors, tax dollars disappear into inefficient programs, and elected officials lose touch with their constituents. This lack of accountability breeds waste, corruption, and policies that don't work for working families. As Republicans, we historically protected individual rights against government tyranny. LD48 deserves transparent, accountable leadership that respects your constitutional rights.
"Red Handed" by Peter Schweizer exposes how foreign influence and corruption have compromised American institutions. Schweizer's meticulous research demonstrates the importance of transparency and accountability in government, showing what happens when officials operate without proper oversight. This directly relates to my platform on government accountability and the need for competitive bidding instead of no-bid contracts.
"Lies My Government Told Me" by Dr. Robert Malone reveals how government agencies can mislead citizens when they operate without transparency. Citizens deserve honest, transparent government that respects their intelligence and their freedoms.
The greatest challenge is unwinding the massive tax burden imposed on hardworking citizens and businesses. The Democrat-controlled legislature just passed the largest tax increase in Washington's history, driving businesses away and making life unaffordable for working families.
We must also remove the fear that government instilled in citizens during COVID, including the overreach and mandates imposed by the governor and unelected bureaucrats. Government overreach during this period revealed how quickly constitutional rights can be trampled when officials operate without accountability or transparency. Restoring trust requires respecting individual liberty and constitutional limits on government power.
The homelessness industrial complex represents another major challenge. Despite spending over $1 billion annually, homelessness increased 23% from 2020-2023. The "Housing First" model has created an entire industry whose funding depends on maintaining the problem, not solving it, while enabling addiction rather than addressing root causes.
Our education system is failing students despite massive spending. We spend nearly $20,000 per student with only half reaching the classroom, yet over 50% fail to meet grade-level standards and Washington ranks 35th nationally in graduation rates.
Infrastructure remains broken despite having the nation's third-highest gas tax. Sound Transit alone has racked up $50 billion in cost overruns in just five years, while our roads deteriorate and projects run years behind schedule.
Public safety continues declining with Washington having the nation's lowest number of law enforcement officers per capita at just 1.35 per 1,000 residents. Policies that prioritize criminals over victims have made communities less safe.
I have no desire to be a career politician. Like George Washington, who voluntarily stepped down after two terms and returned to Mount Vernon, I believe in the principle of citizen service. Washington established the precedent of peaceful transfer of power and embodied the ideal of the citizen-servant who serves the republic then returns to private life. My military oath to defend the Constitution is for life, and I will continue to uphold that sacred commitment as a private citizen long after my legislative service ends. I am running because Washington is at a crossroads and I am worried for the future of our children and grandchildren. My goal is to serve LD48 effectively, implement real solutions to the problems we face, and then return to private life where I can continue contributing to my community through business and service.
What transpired during COVID exposed the dangers of unchecked executive power. Governor Inslee maintained emergency declarations for 975 days, exercising unprecedented control over citizens' lives through lockdowns, mask mandates, vaccine requirements, school closures, and business shutdowns. All far-reaching policies were made behind closed doors by the executive branch without meaningful legislative oversight, public input, or democratic debate.
Washington is one of only a handful of states with no reasonable limit on emergency powers. While other states require legislative approval after 60 or 90 days, Washington allows the governor alone to determine when emergencies end. Current law gives the governor two types of emergency powers: prohibitions that last indefinitely until the governor chooses to end them, and law suspensions requiring legislative extension after 30 days.
Republican legislators introduced bills in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 to restore balance by requiring legislative approval for extended emergencies, but Democrat leadership repeatedly blocked these reforms. They were comfortable giving the executive branch a blank check to make policy during declared emergencies.
The homelessness crisis exemplifies this problem. Washington spends over $1 billion annually on programs, yet homelessness increased 23% from 2020-2023. The "Housing First" model has spawned an entire industry of nonprofit organizations, consultants, and service providers whose funding depends on maintaining the problem, not solving it. This approach enables addiction rather than addressing root causes, while taxpayers see no meaningful results despite massive spending.
We must fundamentally change how government operates. I support mandatory audits of nonprofits and contractors to ensure funds reach people, not administrative overhead. We need competitive bidding instead of no-bid contracts to the same organizations. Government should track outcomes, not just dollars spent, measuring how many people achieve independence rather than simply maintaining programs.
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.
Other survey responses
Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Ellis completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
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Candidate Washington House of Representatives District 48-Position 1 |
Footnotes
