OLYMPIA — The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission opened a formal investigation into Let’s Go Washington after an initial hearing on August 12, 2026, into allegations that the political action committee failed to report between $345,000 and $1.25 million in in-kind political advertising linked to political commentator Brandi Kruse and host of unDivided. The committee previously faced a $20,000 fine in 2024 related to campaign-finance issues.
In its 24-page complaint filed May 12, 2026, Washingtonians for Ethical Government (WFEG) alleges Let’s Go Washington (LGW) violated RCW 29B.25.090 by failing to disclose the financial value of at least 159 instances of political advertising by Kruse between September 2025 and February 2026. WFEG estimates the value of the alleged political advertising at between $345,000 and $1.25 million which the group claims were never reported as expenses nor in-kind contributions as of the date of its filing. WFEG also alleges additional unreported in-kind support that includes at least two of Kruse’s appearances at political rallies and contributions tied to other Heywood-linked entities.
“Let’s Go Washington and right-wing ‘influencers’ like Brandi Kruse are instigating distrust in government and driving voter apathy, something we cannot afford at a time when democracy in America is under assault,” Pam Stuart, Sammamish City Councilwoman and Communications Liaison for WFEG. “Under Washington State law, the public has the right to know that the information they are hearing or seeing is actually political advertising, who is paying for that advertising, and how much was paid.”
WFEG, according to its website, is a nonprofit that describes itself as a citizen-powered campaign finance and open-government watchdog promoting compliance with the state’s Fair Campaign Practices Act. LGW is a political action committee sponsored by conservative initiative kingpin Brian Heywood, a Redmond hedge fund manager. LGW has backed multiple citizen initiatives in recent election cycles with several victories.
For the 2026 November ballot, LGW has advanced Initiative 26-638, which would require only biological girls to compete in female school sports and bar biologically male students from competing in girls’ athletics; Initiative 26-001, focused on parental rights; and Initiative 26-645, repeal of the state’s new income tax.
The complaint defines “political advertising” under WAC 390-05-290 as any mass communication used to appeal, directly or indirectly, for votes or financial or other support in an election campaign. It catalogs Kruse’s activity across platforms—YouTube, Instagram, X, Facebook and podcasts—reaching an estimated 819,000 followers. Examples in the compliant include alleged explicit and implicit calls for signature gathering on initiatives, promotion of the Let’s Go Washington website, attacks on opponents, and on-air discussion of rallies she attended.
WFEG further argued that Kruse operates as a “commercial advertiser” rather than an exempt journalist or editorial voice. Her website lists paid advertisers that include First Mark Insurance Group, Bulwark Capital Management, Wes Jones & Associates Real Estate, the Rental Housing Association of Washington, Valentine Roofing and Future 42. The complaint describes her “promotional” style as “native advertising”—content that blends with surrounding material and is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission—complete with conversational endorsements of sponsors without clear disclosure of payment.
According to the complaint and supporting documentation, Project 42 is a 501(c)(4) organization on whose board Heywood has served as an officer. Future 42 is described as a subsidiary or related entity that lists Kruse and her unDivided platform as a “Future 42 Ambassador.” Kruse’s site identifies Future 42 as an advertiser, and she has publicly acknowledged selling ads to Project 42. WFEG contends that this relationship creates additional unreported in-kind value flowing to Let’s Go Washington.
The complaint also points that Kruse, a former FOX Q13 reporter, was denied press credentials by the Washington State Capitol Correspondents Association. WFEG also refers to Kruse’s own past statements that she is “not a journalist” but a commentator. The group maintains that even if editorial exemptions under RCW 29B.10.160(2)(d) or WAC 390-05-290 were considered, the volume, reach and commercial nature of the promotions place them outside those legal frameworks.
On July 8, 2026, the PDC notified WFEG that it had opened a preliminary investigation. Let’s Go Washington was asked to respond to specific questions about payments or reimbursements involving Kruse.
In a July 23, 2026, letter, attorney Dan Brady, writing on behalf of Let’s Go Washington, stated that the committee “has not paid Brandi Kruse for any services of any kind,” has not reimbursed her for travel, lodging or other expenses, and is unaware of any contributor who paid Kruse to support the committee.
Brady wrote that Kruse “has never represented to LGW (or to the public that LGW is aware of) that she is or was anything but a journalist” and never indicated her appearances or commentary carried monetary value or an expectation of compensation. Therefore, the committee had “no reason to believe that Ms. Kruse’s public support for LGW ballot measures was anything other than news reporting and/or media editorializing which is specifically exempted from being a contribution.” The response letter also read that LGW had no knowledge of the other commercial relationships of Kruse detailed in the complaint.
Kruse has characterized the complaint as an effort by a “left-wing group” to damage her reputation and free speech and has pointed to a 2007 Washington Supreme Court ruling protecting political commentary by media figures—a ruling the ACLU supported in 2007 and filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case backing the free speech rights of the talk show hosts.
Heywood and LGW have called the complaint “baseless” and “harassment.”
At the August 12 initial hearing the PDC voted to open a formal investigation. PDC staff now have clear statutory and regulatory authority to gather documents, interview witnesses, obtain bank statements, emails, text messages, and issue subpoenas. The Commission may also administer oaths and compel attendance at hearings.
Under WAC 390-37-042 and RCW 29B.60.020, the PDC may refer enforcement matters to the Attorney General’s Office at any time. This includes after a formal investigation has been opened. The decision to refer is made in one of two ways:
- By a majority vote of the full Commission at a regular or special meeting, or
- By the PDC Executive Director with the documented concurrence of either the Commission Chair or Vice Chair.
The Attorney General’s Office can also request that the PDC refer a specific matter to them. When that happens, the Executive Director must respond in writing within two business days.
In a statement on the launch of a formal investigation against LGW, Stuart said she was “happy” that the PDC is taking the complaint seriously.
“Let’s Go Washington hid Kruse’s political advertising from the public, in violation of state law, and must be held accountable,” Stuart released in a statement. “If the PDC decides that these activities fall under the Fair Campaign Practices Act’s media exemption, in spite of the fact that Kruse has repeatedly told the public that she is ‘not a journalist,’ then we will be calling on them and legislators to update our rules and laws to reflect the current state of online creator advertising, and to improve transparency in political advertising for Washington voters.”
In response to the formal investigation, Kruse posted on X: “I have never taken a dime from @letsgowa to support this effort. Nor have I ever been paid to support a candidate or ballot measure. Not one dime. I’m doing it for the girls. And for truth. And because it’s my First Amendment right to support whatever the hell I choose to support with my voice. If anything, it has cost me money. And now, thousands of dollars in attorneys fees. The PDC itself said there didn’t seem to be anything to this complaint since I wasn’t paid. So why are they proceeding?”
Let’s Go Washington issued the following statement to FOX 13 Seattle in response to the formal complaint: “As we have said for months, this is a nothing burger complaint. The PDC’s own team confirmed there was nothing to pursue, but they wanted to keep the case open to see if they could find something. In yesterday’s hearing, the same conclusion was made: there’s nothing here. Baseless claims from serial antagonists are trying to derail the work of telling Washingtonians to vote yes, but we won’t be deterred.”
