State Sen. John Braun, the Republican candidate for Washington’s 20th Congressional District, responded on Tuesday, September 15, to a new television advertisement from Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp‑Perez. Braun says the ad exploits recent workplace accidents, distorts his company’s safety record, and mischaracterizes his legislative votes on safety issues.
Ad claims versus company facts
The ad alleges that a Braun Northwest employee was seriously injured while operating a drill press she had never been trained to use. Braun’s campaign counters that the employee was fully trained on the equipment and that describing the injury as a “maiming” is a gross exaggeration. The company’s Workers’ Compensation Experience Rating, issued by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, shows an exceptional safety record compared with other manufacturers in the state.
State investigation of a fatal accident
The advertisement also references a fatal workplace accident at Braun Northwest. Braun notes that the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries conducted a thorough investigation and found no fault on the part of Braun Northwest. “The loss of our employee was devastating,” Braun said, adding that the company cooperated fully with investigators and that the state did not attribute blame to the firm.
Legislative record on safety
Gluesenkamp‑Perez’s ad claims Braun voted against workplace safety measures. Braun’s campaign disputes that, pointing to his sponsorship of the Washington Logger Safety Initiative, which brings together employers, workers, and the Department of Labor and Industries to reduce serious injuries in logging—a high‑risk industry in the state. Braun also sponsored bipartisan legislation in 2019 establishing firefighter safety best practices, and in 2024 he led a bill expanding firefighter safety funding for culture assessments and training. That legislation passed the Senate 49‑0 and the House 93‑0 before being signed into law.
“Workplace safety isn’t a partisan issue,” Braun said. “I have worked with Republicans, Democrats, employers, workers, and labor officials to develop practical programs that make dangerous jobs safer. I have opposed proposals when they were ineffective or overly burdensome, but I have never voted against safety.”
Comments after the Longview tragedy
The ad also takes four words from Braun’s remarks after a recent industrial disaster in Longview, presenting them as if he were dismissing the deaths of 11 workers. Braun clarifies that his full statement called the deaths “heartbreaking,” honored the workers’ courage, and urged a transparent investigation to prevent future tragedies. He says the ad’s selective quoting is dishonest and uses the tragedy as a political prop.
Campaign focus
Braun emphasized that voters deserve a debate on substantive issues such as taxes, spending, health care, border security, energy, and the cost of living. He warned that while vigorous disagreement is normal in a congressional campaign, candidates must tell the truth and respect the families of injured or deceased workers.
John Braun represents Washington’s 20th Legislative District, which includes parts of Lewis, Cowlitz, and Clark counties. He is seeking to bring his Navy background, experience as a manufacturing business owner, and record on safety to Washington, D.C., as the district’s next U.S. Representative.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
