Join us for the 2026 Cascade Conference!

May 29 - May 31st, 2026

Hilton Garden Inn

Issaquah, Washington

The cost of conference registration is $199. We’re also proud to offer special discounted rates for military members and students. Registration includes Friday reception hors d’oeuvres; Saturday continental breakfast, boxed lunch and dinner buffet; and Sunday continental breakfast.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an unforgettable gathering of Mainstream leaders and community members from across the state.

The room block at the hotel is sold out.

The Cascade Conference is SOLD OUT! If interested in attending, please email Erin at erinm@washingtonmainstream.org to be added to the waitlist.

Keynote Speakers

2026 Program Agenda

In November 2024, John Rodgers defeated an incumbent progressive to become the 85th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. In addition to Rodgers winning his race, Republicans also picked up 19 seats in the Vermont House of Representatives and 6 seats in the Vermont State Senate, breaking Democrat supermajorities in both chambers. They also re-elected Republican Governor Phil Scott with 70% of the vote. These victories are even more remarkable due to the fact that in the very same election, Kamala Harris, and Bernie Sanders received over 60% of the vote in the State of Vermont. Join us as Lt. Governor Rodgers explains how the Republicans in Vermont were so successful in a state that is just as blue, or even bluer than Washington.

Spencer Cox has served as Utah’s governor since 2021. He is a former chair of the National Governors Association. Governor Cox is renowned for championing “disagreeing better.” He has regularly spoken out against the political polarization in our nation. He was asked to speak to the Cascade Conference regarding moderation, bipartisanship, and civility in politics. He also will speak about why Washington mainstream Republicans should be optimistic about our political future. He will answer questions for fifteen minutes after speaking.

subject to change

Friday, May 29th

4:00 - 6:00 PM - Check-in, Hilton Garden Inn Issaquah hotel lobby

6:00 PM - Welcome Reception

7:00 PM - Conference Kick-Off - Deanna Martinez - Mainstream Board Chair

7:15 PM - 4th District Congressional Debate, Introduction by Nick Timm, Okanogan County Commissioner

· Moderated by Scott Greenstone

· Amanda McKinney, Yakima County Commissioner

· Matt Boehnke, State Senator

8:15 PM - Conference program ends at hotel location

8:45 - 11:00 PM - “Can you beat Sam Reed and Rob McKenna at Trivia?” Hosted by Sam Reed and Rob McKenna

Formula Brewing, 1875 NW Poplar Way, Issaquah, WA 98027

Saturday, May 30th

7:30 – 8:45 AM – Continental breakfast available outside meeting room

8:45 AM - Welcome and Pledge of Allegiance - Deanna Martinez, Mainstream Board Chair

9:00 AM - “Unlocking Housing Supply: Common Sense Paths to Lower Costs” Panel

· Moderated by Snohomish County Councilmember Nate Nehring

· Representative April Connors

· Representative Deb Manjarrez

· Neil Strege - Vice President of the Washington Roundtable

· Lieutenant Governor of Vermont John Rodgers

10:00 AM - Break

10:10 AM - Supreme Court Presentation - Tim Kovis, Full Court Press

10:40 AM - “Public Safety, Business, and Affordability” Panel

· Moderated by Michelle Bennett

· Ann Davison - Former Seattle City Attorney

· Gregory Cobb - City of Union Gap Administrator (Previous Chief of Police)

· Derek Sanders - Thurston County Sheriff

· Kory Hahn - Business owner

11:40 AM - Lunch

1:10 PM - First Supreme Court Candidate Presentation - Dave Larson

1:30 PM - “A Debate on Tariffs: Weighing the Cost & Benefits to Washington”

· Moderated by Tacoma Port Commissioner JT Wilcox

· Todd Myers - Washington Policy Center (anti-tariffs)

· Mark Chamberlain - CEO of LKD Aerospace (pro-tariffs)

2:30 PM - Break

2:40 PM - Second Supreme Court Candidate Presentation - David Stevens

3:00PM - “Will the Last Business Leaving Washington Turn Out the Lights?” Panel

· Moderated by former Mainstream Chair Mike Vaska

· Joe Fain - Bellevue Chamber of Commerce

· State Representative Travis Couture

· Kerri Lonergan-Dreke - owner of Lombardi’s Restaurants

· Rob McKenna – Former Attorney General

4:00 PM - Third Supreme Court Candidate Presentation - Scott Edwards

4:20 PM - Afternoon Break

6:00 PM - Bar opens, live auction bid number pick up

6:30 PM - Dinner, Awards

7:15 PM - Dinner Program - John Rodgers, Lt. Governor of Vermont

8:00 PM - Live Auction Begins

9:30 PM – Last call for the bar

Sunday, May 31st

7:30 – 8:45 AM – Continental breakfast available outside meeting room

9:00 AM – Welcome and Announcements - Deanna Martinez

JT Wilcox: Presentation of the Andy Hill-Maryann Mitchell Award to State Representative Mike Steele

9:15 - 9:30 AM - Initiative to Repeal the Income Tax - Steve Gordon

9:30 - 10:00 AM – “How Our State Is Going to Return to Purple: Washington’s History of Party Realignment and a Diagnosis of the Current Situation” Presentation

· Former Secretary of State Sam Reed and Former Attorney General Rob McKenna

10:00 AM - “Our Best Ideas for Taking Washington in a New Direction” Panel

· Moderated by Rob McKenna

· Paul Graves - Enterprise Washington

· Mariya Frost - The Roanoke Conference

· Paige Thibaut - The Washington Policy Center

· Kaitlin Vintertun - Project 42 & League of Our Own

· Beth Swanson - Capturing the Center and Building Coalitions

11:00 AM - Breakout Discussions and Reports

Facilitators: Rose Gunderson, Patti Mann, Elizabeth Doll, Chad Magendanz, Tom Ranken, Erik Smith, Rep. Mike Steele, Rep. Sam Low, Rep. Skyler Rude, Corey Gauny, Anthony Hemstad, Ramona Leber, Sen. Ron Muzzall, and Anthony Mixer.

11:30 AM – “Where Do We Go From Here?” and Farewell Remarks - Jim Waldo and Deanna Martinez