Brian Dansel

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Brian Dansel
Member of the Washington Senate
from the 7th district
In office
December 6, 2013 – January 24, 2017
Preceded byJohn Smith
Succeeded byShelly Short
Personal details
Born
Brian Ross Dansel

(1983-04-02) April 2, 1983 (age 42)
Republic, Washington, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationWalla Walla Community College (AA)

Brian Ross Dansel (born April 2, 1983)[1] is an American politician, political advisor, and current member of the Ferry County Board of Commissioners. Before that he was a Special Assistant to the United States Secretary of Agriculture in the Trump Administration. He was previously a Republican member of the Washington State Senate from the 7th Legislative District.[2] Dansel won the seat in the 2013 election, in which he defeated appointed senator John Smith, and was sworn in on December 6, 2013.[3]

In a letter to the Washington State Office of Governor dated January 24, 2017, Dansel resigned as senator for the seventh district and vacated his seat after accepting a position with the Trump Administration as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture.[4] In early November, he returned to Washington state to be the director of the state's USDA Farm Service Agency.[5]

In 2023, he became a Ferry County Commissioner.[6]

Washington State Senate

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Dansel represented Douglas, Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, and Stevens Counties, along with portions of Grant and Spokane Counties.[7] An earlier redistricting proposal from 2021 would have divided Okanogan County between the 7th and 13th districts.[8]

Elections

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In 2013, Dansel ran against incumbent Republican senator John Smith. On November 5, 2013, Dansel defeated Smith with 54% of the vote.[9]

During his campaign for state senate, Dansel received the endorsement of the Washington Education Association and a $500 contribution from the Spokane Committee on Political Education, a political action committee under the AFL-CIO.[10][11] Smith claimed that Dansel was a "tool of unions" throughout the campaign. Dansel responded by asserting that "he'll listen to anyone, whether they agree with him or not."[12]

Washington State Senate special election from the 7th District, 2013
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian Dansel 18,873 54
Republican John Smith (Incumbent) 16,324 46

2024 congressional run

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On February 10, 2024, Dansel announced that he would be a candidate for the United States House of Representatives to succeed Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who is not seeking reelection.[13] On April 19, his campaign was endorsed by the Washington State Republican Party during the State convention.[14]

On August 6, 2024, Dansel lost the primary, placing in a distant fifth with 11% of the vote.[15] He promptly announced his retirement from politics, and deleted his Twitter account.

References

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  1. ^ "State FSA leader to ranchers: Have faith in Trump". Capital Press. June 8, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "2013 election results". Washington Secretary of State. November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  3. ^ "Dansel to serve in both Republic and Olympia". omakchronicle.com. December 17, 2013. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  4. ^ "Dansel Resignation" (PDF). seattletimes.com. January 24, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  5. ^ Jenkins, Don (November 6, 2017). "Ex-senator returns to head USDA office in Spokane". Capital Press. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  6. ^ "Ferry County Government".
  7. ^ Adopted Legislative District 7 (PDF) (Map). Washington State Redistricting Commission. 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Johnson, Natalie (October 6, 2021). "New maps could change Okanogan County leadership". Methow Valley News. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "November 5, 2013 General Election, Legislative District 07". Office of the Secretary of State. November 26, 2013.
  10. ^ "WEA Voters' Guide". Washington Education Association. June 8, 2013.
  11. ^ "Washington state GOP endorses Brian Dansel for Congress". The Spokesman-Review. April 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "In Washington Senate 7th District race, mud and money fly". The Spokesman-Review. October 27, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  13. ^ "Who is running for McMorris Rodgers' open seat, and who won't say | the Spokesman-Review".
  14. ^ "Washington state GOP endorses Brian Dansel for Congress". The Spokesman-Review. April 19, 2024.
  15. ^ Hobbs, Steve (August 22, 2024). "Canvass of the Returns of the Primary Held on August 6, 2024" (PDF). Secretary of State of Washington. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 6, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
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