Chandler Torbett is attempting to enter politics at a time he believes Washington state is suffering from what he called a “crisis of faith in government.” The Redmond father of three is admittedly a self-styled progressive Democrat who says he’ll pursue policies like expanding universal pre-K. But, he emphasizes, the Legislature too often has failed to ensure state programs deliver results for Washington’s residents. He’s running to change that.
Voters should embrace his solutions-oriented campaign and give his drive for greater accountability a chance by sending him to Olympia to represent the 45th district, covering Kirkland to Duvall and from Woodinville to Sammamish.
Born and raised on the Muscogee Nation reservation in Oklahoma, Torbett said the tribe helped him through law school and to purchase a home — instilling within him “the government’s ability to put people on a better trajectory.” But after he moved to Washington in 2021, he’s watched as legislative investments in education, housing and other areas of state government have failed to improve Washingtonians’ lives and outcomes.
“We’ve got to prove we can use this money wisely,” he told the board.
Torbett said he supported an income tax on those earning more than $1 million a year, pursued by legislative Democrats and signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson. But he echoed The Times editorial board’s concerns throughout the session that the legislation lacked enough tax relief to help everyday Washingtonians wrestling with one of the highest costs of living in the nation.
Torbett also advocated for needed legislation to place consumer protections around emerging AI, bringing a skill set capable of helping the Legislature keep pace with a rapidly changing technology.
Torbett is admittedly the dark horse in the race. His opponent, Vanessa Kritzer, is a proven policy wonk as a member of the Redmond City Council and as executive director of the Washington Association of Land Trusts. But Torbett showed a greater affinity for what’s best in Olympia — regardless of party. He told the board that he believes market-based solutions are sometimes better than government intervention. That’s a stance that might not earn him friends among Democrats, but it’s honest.
When asked where she disagreed with her party, Kritzer waffled and failed to give an answer.
It’s noteworthy that Torbett is seeking to take the seat of longtime Rep. Larry Springer, who is retiring from office this year (Springer has endorsed both Torbett and Kritzer). It is the pragmatist Springer who the editorial board noted in 2024 “still adheres to the virtue that the best bills are crafted with contemplation and compromise and an eye to avoiding unintended consequences.” It is Torbett, not Kritzer, who is a better fit for the district, and in filling Springer’s legacy.
