Lisa Brown
A candidate for U.S. Representative, Congressional District 5 in the 2018 Washington Primary Election
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) | 57,318 | 47.52% |
| Lisa Brown (D) | 56,793 | 47.09% |
| Dave Saulibio (T) | 2,873 | 2.38% |
| Jered Bonneau (R) | 2,698 | 2.24% |
| Kari Ilonummi (R) | 931 | 0.77% |
Related Coverage
Lisa Brown calls results of close poll with Cathy McMorris Rodgers ‘nothing but good news’
Down six points to the incumbent Republican, Democratic challenger Lisa Brown said she was encouraged by the results of a poll of likely Eastern Washington voters, particularly Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ approval rating below 50 percent.
Congressional candidate plans shooting event; underdog Senate challengers speak in Spokane
“Come on out, bring your firearms and your family and let’s talk of freedom and have a blast shooting some targets,” Jered Bonneau wrote in Facebook promotion for his “Shooting with the Candidate” event, which features a photo of the bearded 31-year-old posing with a Kalashnikov rifle in a room draped with “Don’t Tread on Me” flags.
What they said: Poll respondents weigh in on McMorris Rodgers, Brown and Trump
President Donald Trump looms large in the minds of likely Eastern Washington voters choosing between U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and challenger Lisa Brown, according to interviews conducted with poll participants this week.
Poll suggests bruising race for Congress between Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Lisa Brown
With Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District split over the job President Donald Trump and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers are doing, her 2018 race against Democrat Lisa Brown could be close and bruising, a new poll suggests.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers campaign reports record-breaking fundraising to start 2018
The congresswoman is trading fundraising boasts with Democratic challenger Lisa Brown. Ahead of final filings, the Republican congresswoman reported raising more than $800,000 for her re-election during the first three months of the year.
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.”