(The Center Square) – A group called Washingtonians for Ethical Government has filed a complaint accusing Let’s Go Washington of failing to disclose political advertising involving UnDivided podcaster Brandi Kruse tied to two 2026 ballot initiatives.
Kruse dismissed the complaint as an attempt to tarnish her “reputation and call my motives into question.”
The complaint filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission centers on at least 159 instances that the group says amount to political advertising in support of Let’s Go Washington’s 2026 initiatives, identified as IL26-638 and IL26-001.
Those initiatives seek to restore parental rights in school notification and protect girls in sports.
The complaint says between September 2025, and February 2026 Kruse repeatedly discussed the initiatives on her podcast but did not report it as an expense or in-kind contribution.
Washingtonians for Ethical Government estimates the value of the posts and podcast segments at between $345,900 and $1.25 million.
The complaint argues that Kruse’s content urged people to sign initiative petitions, promoted support for the measures and criticized groups opposed to the initiatives, and says Kruse should not be exempt from state political advertising rules.
“The state of Washington cannot regulate my speech. There’s a little thing called the First Amendment that, last time I checked, tends to frown on such things,” said Kruse via text to The Center Square.
The Democratic-controlled Washington House of Representatives denied Kruse, along with KVI Talk Show Host Ari Hoffman and the Discovery Institute’s Jonathan Choe, permanent press passes for the 2026 legislative session, however Kruse was granted Senate access to the wings in the final days of the 2026 legislative session.
During a Tuesday press conference with Let’s Go Washington announcing their income tax repeal initiative, Founder Brian Heywood was asked about the PDC complaint.
“This is a socialist progressive group. If you look at who their clients are, it’s every single public union in the entire state,” said Heywood. “The unions are deathly afraid the money trough that has been flowing into their coffers from public employees and what they expect to get from this income tax….they’re afraid it’s going to get cut off. They’re attempting to do a smear campaign.”
“We never paid her [Brandi Kruse] a dime. She believes in this.”
There is precedent in a 2007 case in Washington related to journalists’ speech.
The Washington State Supreme Court ruled in favor of KVI radio hosts John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur, deciding that their on-air endorsements of the 2005 “No New Gas Tax” initiative (I-912) did not constitute reportable campaign contributions.
The ruling protected free speech rights of media figures to discuss political issues, which was seen as a major victory for free speech.
Kruse says she is undeterred by the complaint.
“I am on the right side of history, and in good company. 80% of Americans do not believe boys belong in girls’ sports. I will be redoubling my efforts to protect girls, restore common sense, and fight back against efforts to silence sane voices.”
