$50 Could Help Save Your Business. Here's How

If you have been paying attention to what is happening across Washington over the last few decades, you already know the answer to the question this article is going to ask. The political environment for independent housing providers in this state has become more hostile than at any point in recent memory. Statewide rent control. Local ordinances creating extreme notice periods. An Attorney General's office that is treating housing providers as enforcement targets first and policy partners second. Every legislative session, every city council meeting, and every ballot initiative brings a new threat to the way our members operate their businesses.

That is why the RHA Political Action Committee exists, and it is why I am asking every member reading this article to make a contribution today.

What the RHA PAC Does

The RHA PAC is a non-partisan political action committee that exists for one purpose: to elect lawmakers who understand rental housing, who are willing to look at data instead of soundbites, and who are committed to working with the rental housing industry to find real solutions to Washington's housing challenges. The committee endorses candidates on both sides of the political aisle. Every candidate considered for endorsement completes a detailed questionnaire, and many sit down for in-person interviews with RHA PAC members. The endorsement process is rigorous, and the goal is straightforward: to identify the moderate, data-driven legislators and local officials who will work with us rather than against us.

It is also important to understand what the RHA PAC is not. Membership dues do not fund the RHA PAC. Every dollar in the committee's account comes from voluntary contributions made by individual members who have decided to invest in the political future of this industry. That is what makes the RHA PAC a true grassroots vehicle — and it is also why participation matters so much.

Why This Matters Right Now

It is easy to look at the legislative environment in Washington and feel discouraged. But here is what most members do not realize: the RHA PAC has been making real, measurable progress, and the wins have been bigger than most people give it credit for. When statewide rent control was on the brink of passing in the Washington State Senate in 2024, it was stopped because of one moderate Democratic vote in the right place at the right time — Senator Annette Cleveland of the 49th District. That vote did not happen by accident. It happened because the RHA PAC has spent years cultivating relationships with moderate legislators who understand that crushing rental housing supply is not a solution to a housing shortage.

In short: when our PAC is well-funded, our industry has a voice in the rooms where decisions get made. When it is not, we are spectators while other people decide our future.

Why Every Donation Matters

A lot of members, particularly our smaller housing providers, look at a request to donate to a political action committee and assume it is not for them. They picture six-figure checks from a large entity and conclude that their $50 or $100 will not make a difference. That assumption is completely wrong, and it is one of the most important misunderstandings I want to correct.

The average donation to the RHA PAC is $50 to $100. The committee's strength does not come from a handful of large donors. It comes from broad, deep participation across our membership. Hundreds of small contributions that together fund competitive campaigns, voter outreach, and the long-term relationship-building that produces moderate election outcomes in key moments. When a thousand members donate $50 each, that is $50,000 in our column. That is the math that wins elections.

If you are donating for the first time, start small. If you already donate regularly, consider bumping your contribution up a tier this year. The opposition is not slowing down. Local city councils continue to push further restrictive policies. Statewide rent control is already on the books and the AG is enforcing it aggressively. The political pressure on our industry is not going to ease up on its own, and the only way to push back is to have the relationships, the candidates, and the campaigns in place to do it.

How to Contribute

Donating is easy. You can contribute online by visiting rhawa.org/products/pac, where you will find donation tiers ranging from PAC Supporter to PAC Champion. You can also mail a check directly to RHA PAC, PO Box 31103, Seattle WA 98103. For questions or to discuss an alternate contribution amount, you can reach me at (206) 905-0609 or email me at dbannon@rhawa.org.

The Bottom Line

Your membership in RHAWA gets you a seat at the table. Your contribution to the PAC keeps the table standing. The challenges facing this industry are not abstractions, and the stakes for our members have never been higher. If you have ever wondered how you can do something tangible to defend your business, your investment, and your future as a housing provider in Washington State, this is it.

Donate today. Bring a fellow member into the fold. And let us keep building the political infrastructure that has defeated harmful legislation before, and will do it again — but only if we are funded and ready when the moment comes.