The RHA PAC & Washington Elections

With the dust settling from the year’s legislative session, election and fundraising season is now in full swing. For readers who are not aware, RHAWA has its own political action committee, or “PAC.” Ours is aptly titled RHA PAC. The RHA PAC over a multitude of years has raised and donated money to help elect candidates to every level of office across Washington state. The most important protection for our industry involves electing and building relationships with politicians who understand the importance and value of the rental housing industry. RHA PAC works to elect candidates who recognize rental housing as a valuable asset to communities, share a strong commitment to allowing rental housing to function as a market-based industry, and a willingness to work with the rental housing industry toward the common goal of providing safe and healthy housing.

About RHA PAC

Every year, the RHA PAC sends out questionnaires to interested individuals running for elected office. Our questionnaire contains many prompts regarding opinions on ways forward for rental housing policy, housing supply, and other regulatory matters for the local and state levels. If an individual is interested in filling out an RHA PAC Questionnaire for consideration, reach out to me at chjalseth@RHAwa.org. Once we receive a complete questionnaire, we will perform a brief candidate interview where we discuss some of their answers and then decide whether the RHA PAC believes this candidate will align and pursue pragmatic housing policy that makes sense for everyone.

The RHA PAC endorses a small handful of exemplary candidates each year, but even if an endorsement is not received, our Voter’s Guide will help suggest candidates that we believe will move rental housing policy in a positive direction.

During this entire process, the RHA PAC will also donate money to various campaigns to assist with their outreach and marketing, to give a helping hand in their campaigns.
  • Yard signs
  • Mailers
  • Food for volunteers
  • Website upkeep

All these things cost money, and to run an effective campaign, candidates rely on donations so they can spend the majority of their time knocking on doors and connecting with voters in their area. RHA PAC also holds fundraisers throughout the spring and summer for our officially endorsed candidates.

2025 Primary and General Elections

The odd-year elections usually fall by the wayside for many voters. Voter turnout is usually around half of, say, a presidential election. I urge our readers to stay involved even in the off-year elections. These are the years when many important local positions are filled that will affect your community directly. This year, Washington has a huge number of city and county council races, a multitude of mayoral races, and a few extremely important state senate special elections. With how close the vote count was on the rent control bill this year in the senate, a few extra votes could change the entire trajectory of housing legislation.

If we want to change housing policy in Washington for the better, we require the election of lawmakers who will go to bat for our industry and will stand up and say no to policy that, while it may have a feel-good message on the surface, will result in less and more expensive rental housing.