Lisa Brown
A candidate for U.S. Representative, Congressional District 5 in the 2018 Washington General Election, Nov. 6
Party: Democratic
Age: 67
City: Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Robinson High School in Illinois in 1974. Graduated from the University of Illinois in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Graduated from the University of Colorado in 1986 with a doctorate in economics.
Work experience: Chancellor of Washington State University Spokane from 2013-17. Associate professor of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University from 2001-2012. Assistant and associate professor of economics at Eastern Washington University from 1981-2001. As a young adult, worked in fast food restaurants and bookstores, as well as a summer working at the Marathon oil refinery where her dad worked. Formerly served on the boards of YWCA, Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners, Greater Spokane Incorporated, the University District Public Development Authority and Innovate Washington.
Political experience: State Department of Commerce from 2019 to early 2023. Ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2018, losing to U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Elected as a state representative for the 3rd Legislative District, serving from 1993-96. Elected a state senator of the 3rd District, serving from 1997-2012. Served as Senate Majority Leader from 2008-2012.
Family: Married to Brian McClatchey. Has one adult son and one grandson.
Political donations: Reported raising about $464,000 as of Oct. 16, including major donations from the Washington state Democratic Central Committee, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, unions including the Laborers International Union of North America Local 238, and the Denny Heck for Congress campaign. Other notable contributors include former Spokane Mayor John Powers.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) | 175,422 | 54.76% |
| Lisa Brown (D) | 144,925 | 45.24% |
Related Coverage
Soon-to-be voters sit down with McMorris Rodgers
Spokane Valley residents had several questions on budget reform, tariffs and health care for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers on Friday afternoon during a town hall event.
Lisa Brown reports raising $1 million; Cathy McMorris Rodgers draws big crowd
Both women vying to represent Eastern Washington in Congress touted their campaigns’ enthusiasm this week, with Lisa Brown crossing a fundraising threshold only two of her Democratic predecessors have matched in recent years and Cathy McMorris Rodgers claiming record crowds at her campaign kickoff events in the district.
Congressional candidates Brown, Bonneau talk health care, gun control at Pullman town hall
Two of the three congressional candidates vying to represent Washington’s 5th Legislative District, Democrat Lisa Brown and Republican Jered Bonneau, disagreed on health care and gun control, but found common ground on immigration reform in a Pullman public forum Thursday.
Spokane County GOP weighs gun raffle at annual fundraiser; Chaffetz to speak
The Spokane County GOP is considering whether to continue raffling guns as part of its annual Lincoln Day fundraiser, said Stephanie Cates, chairwoman of the party.
Republican enters race for Congress against McMorris Rodgers, Brown
Jered Bonneau has been homeless, rallied for the Bundy family in their standoff with federal officials and will now run under the GOP banner for Eastern Washington’s congressional seat. “I think that we have a very politically stagnant district,” the 31-year-old mental health technician at Eastern State Hospital said in an interview Tuesday, a little less than two weeks after filing to unseat Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. “Cathy’s not a bad person. She’s actually a pretty good person. A lot of people like her, she’s very personable. But there’s just this stagnant political feel about what’s going on right now.”
Where they stand: McMorris Rodgers and Brown on gun control, background checks
Both Lisa Brown and Cathy McMorris Rodgers support bans on bump stocks, but some of their positions on other gun issues are significantly different.
Stevens County GOP, amid criticism from Democrats, pulls gun auction from event featuring Cathy McMorris Rodgers
The Stevens County Republican Party halted plans to raffle a semiautomatic rifle at an event where Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers was scheduled to speak next month after outcry from her Democratic opponent.
Democratic poll lauded by Lisa Brown; Cathy McMorris Rodgers team skeptical
A poll commissioned by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has Lisa Brown running neck-and-neck with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers in the race for Eastern Washington’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. McMorris Rodgers’ campaign team called the results “bogus” and noted they were reported by a Democratic source.
Where they stand: Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Lisa Brown split on the wall, refugees and family migration
As the fate of roughly 700,000 children of undocumented immigrants living in America is debated on Capitol Hill, prompting the closure of the federal government last month, the two candidates for Eastern Washington’s seat in Congress offer up their views on immigration policy.
With passage of budget deal, bills sponsored by McMorris Rodgers become law
On a busy day in Congress Tuesday, three bills sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers won the support of the House. Friday morning, President Trump signed two of those bills into law as part of a long-awaited budget deal.