Why Vote For Chandler torbett

Because he has the right experience for right now. Elected experience is not the only experience that prepares someone to lead. Chandler Torbett’s professional and lived experience has prepared him to address the challenges facing Washington’s 45th Legislative District, from affordability and education to healthcare, technology, and government accountability, in a way that elected experience alone could not have. 

Here’s what makes Chandler uniquely prepared to deliver:

Independently recognized as the strongest choice. Chandler is the only candidate in this race endorsed by The Seattle Times Editorial Board. After evaluating the candidates, the board concluded that “Torbett showed a greater affinity for what’s best in Olympia” and identified him as the candidate best positioned to address affordability with urgency and pragmatism.

Real healthcare-system leadership experience. Chandler has not merely advocated for better healthcare, he has helped lead a healthcare system. As general counsel for a Tribal healthcare organization serving an underserved community, he worked through the legal and operational challenges involved in delivering care. He understands how policy decisions affect patients, providers, and communities and where government must do better.

Technology and AI expertise the Legislature needs now. As a tech attorney at Amazon, Chandler understands how artificial intelligence is transforming employment, education, privacy, consumer protection, and public services. He can help Washington shape these changes proactively instead of reacting after the consequences have already arrived.

A housing agenda focused on results. Chandler’s housing plan addresses the barriers that make homes so expensive to build: slow permitting, unnecessary costs, restrictive rules, and a lack of accountability for results. He supports more ADUs, greater density where it makes sense, faster and more predictable permitting, and measurable housing-production goals.

A personal understanding of what public investment can make possible. Chandler grew up in a working-class family in rural Oklahoma, attended public schools, and became the first person in his family to attend law school. As a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, he saw firsthand how strong communities and effective public institutions can change the course of someone’s life. That experience continues to shape his commitment to opportunity, education, healthcare, and responsible government.

Independent, practical leadership. Chandler will bring urgency to the affordability crisis, strengthen public schools, prepare Washington for the opportunities and risks of AI, and demand greater accountability for taxpayer dollars. He is willing to challenge the status quo when it is not producing results.

The question in this race is not simply who has held elected office before. It is who has the judgment, practical problem-solving experience, relevant experience, urgency, and independence to meet this moment. Chandler Torbett is that candidate.