NEWS: Baumgartner to address Mainstream Republicans at Yakima conference May 30
For immediate release: Contact:
May 19, 2025 Deanna Martinez – (509) 760-3608
Baumgartner to address Mainstream Republicans at Yakima conference May 30
Mainstreamers to meet in Palm Springs of Washington for annual Cascade Conference
Congressman Michael Baumgartner will be featured speaker Friday, May 30 at the annual conference of the Mainstream Republicans of Washington in Yakima.
Baumgartner, a rising star in Washington politics, is the state’s newest Republican member of Congress. Baumgartner, a former state senator and county treasurer from Spokane, was elected in 2024 from Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District to fill the seat vacated by Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Baumgartner will offer a freshman’s perspective on life in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 119th Congress.
The Mainstream Republicans of Washington are meeting at the Yakima Convention Center for their Cascade Conference May 30 to June 1. The annual conference, held since 1969, highlights emerging issues in Washington politics and candidates and policymakers on the Republican side of the aisle. A registration link for this year’s conference is here.
“The Cascade Conference gives us a chance to celebrate our party’s mainstream values and the people who champion them,” said Deanna Martinez, MRW chair and member of the Moses Lake City Council. “Our focus is on winning elections in Washington state. In the last election, Republicans scored gains everywhere but Washington. An off-year like this one is a good time for us to consider ways to broaden our appeal to Washington voters.”
This year’s conference will pay special tribute to two prominent Washington Republicans who died this past year, former Governor and Senator Dan Evans, and former Secretary of State Ralph Munro. The two elder statesmen were among founders of the Cascade Conference and played a prominent role in Mainstream Republicans of Washington.
Conference presentations include a discussion of recent survey data from pollster Stuart Elway and a luncheon address from Greg Lane, president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, regarding just-passed rent control legislation in Olympia and other developments affecting affordable housing in Washington state. Former Secretary of State Sam Reed will discuss his new book, “Mr. Mainstream.”
Off-year candidates participating in this year’s program include Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, running for state Senate in the 26th Legislative District; Rep. Sam Low, R-Lake Stevens, who serves concurrently on the Snohomish County Council and is running for re-election to that position this year; former Rep. Chad Magendanz, candidate for Senate in the 5th Legislative District; and Rep. Mike Volz, R-Spokane, who has been appointed to the county treasurer’s seat vacated by Baumgartner and who will stand for election in fall.
Other presentations include panel discussions on education, agriculture, grassroots organizing, Democratic overreach in Olympia and opportunities for Republican gains.
The event will be covered by TVW, the state’s public affairs TV network. For more information about the conference, visit the Mainstream Republicans of Washington website at www.washingtonmainstream.org.
ATTENTION REPORTERS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: In response to media requests, here are highlights of the conference program for planning purposes --
Friday, May 30th
7:00 PM – Conference Kick-Off – Deanna Martinez – MRW Board Chair and Moses Lake Councilmember; Introduction of Candidates
Video Message from Congressman Dan Newhouse, 4th District
7:30 PM – Perspective from a Freshman Member of Congress
Congressman Michael Baumgartner, 5th District
8:15 PM – A Conversation With and About Mr. Mainstream, Sam Reed, hosted by former State Senator Luke Esser
Saturday, May 31st
8:45 AM – Welcome – Deanna Martinez, MRW Board Chair and Moses Lake Councilmember
9:00 AM – Presentation – Polling: The Road Ahead, by Stuart Elway
10:00 AM – Panel - What is there to be hopeful about as a Republican in Washington?
Panelists - Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor - candidate for state Senate, 26th Legislative District; Rep. Mike Volz, R-Spokane – candidate for Spokane County Treasurer (appointee, serving concurrently); Moderator - Rep. Sam Low, R-Lake Stevens, candidate for re-election to Snohomish County Council (serving concurrently)
11:05 AM – Panel - Education
Panelists - Randy Hayden – Darrington School Board member; Sen. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, ranking Republican member of Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee; Moderator - Chad Magendanz – former state representative and currently candidate for state Senate, 5th Legislative District
12:05 PM - Memorial Reading of Mia Love Letter
12:15 PM - Lunch
1:15 PM – Presentation - Housing/Rent Control Update, by Greg Lane – President, Building Industry Association of Washington
2:00 PM – Memorial Salute to Ralph Munro
2:30 PM – Panel - Past, Present, and Future of Agriculture in Washington
Panelists - Jon DeVaney – President, Washington Tree Fruit Association; Manuel Imperial - Wapato Farmer; Michelle Hennings – President, Washington Wheat Growers Association; Leslie Druffel - Director of Community Outreach, The McGregor Company; President, Center for Sustainability and Working Rivers; Rosella Mosby – President, Washington State Farm Bureau; Moderator - Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco
3:30 PM – Panel - Olympia’s Policy Crisis: Taxes, Spending, and Crime (oh, my!)
Panelists - Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia; Paul Graves – President, Enterprise Washington; Rep. Chris Corry, R-Yakima; Moderator - Rep. Suzanne Schmidt, R-Spokane Valley
6:30 PM – Dinner, Awards
7:15 PM – Dinner Program - Honoring Governor and Senator Dan Evans
Sunday, June 1st
9:00 AM – Panel – Re-engaging with the Grassroots
Panelists - Dave McMullan - Pierce County Republican Party Chair; John Jay - Former candidate for Clark County Council; Former Rep. Luanne Van Werven - League of Our Own; Moderator - Corey Gauny - Thurston County Republican Party Chair
10:30 AM – Conference ends