FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: GREG CHENEY
360-356-7555
contact@electgregcheney.com

BATTLEGROUND, WA – Today, Republican State Representative Greg Cheney announced that he will seek to run for the Washington State Senate to continue his work serving constituents and focusing on common-sense legislation for the people in the 18th Legislative District.  Cheney’s announcement comes as State Senator Ann Rivers shared that she will not seek another term in the Legislature.

“For more than a decade, District 18 has had thoughtful leadership, willing to work across party lines to solve problems, and working to ensure that our community has a voice in Olympia,” Cheney stated. “As I complete my freshman term in the House of Representatives, I hope to carry that spirit and my own record of constituent-focused service into the State Senate to ensure my neighbors have a representative who focuses on the issues that impact them most.”

Since being elected in 2022, Cheney’s focus has been key issues facing Clark County residents, including addressing mental health and homelessness, working to stem rising crime and drug proliferation, promoting job creation and workforce development in higher education, increasing transparency in the justice system and in elections with better campaign finance rules.

Cheney has also been aggressive in working with District 18 legislative colleagues and community leaders to drive home infrastructure dollars from the state budget to Clark County.  These funded projects representing over $100 million in tax dollars being returned to the community serve to create jobs and address real needs in the County.

“In Olympia, I learned quickly that if you don’t speak up and advocate strongly for your community, all the state project dollars get funded to Seattle and other parts of the state.  I wasn’t going to leave a legislative session without pushing hard to bring our share of state tax dollars back to our district,” said Cheney.

He noted that budget allocations he and his seatmate worked to direct to Clark County included projects like increasing funding to construct the I-5/179th interchange, address repairs to the BG Reservoir, help construct a 54-bed children’s behavioral health facility, and fund community projects ranging from health care facilities to local park facility improvements.

“Serving in the legislature, listening to neighbors, and advocating their needs is how we meaningfully improve the lives of the people we represent.  The type of projects I was able to help deliver and the body of legislative policy work I was able to pass is reflective of the approach I’ve used to advocate for my district – with common sense, thoughtfulness, and basic decency.”

Cheney also said he was proud of where he stood up and successfully stopped bad legislation from becoming law. “The fact is, there are ideas that get pushed in Olympia that will harm Clark County residents, like a statewide income tax. In a time of record inflation, my neighbors can’t afford one more cost coming at them,” he said.

In his Senate race, Cheney said his focus will be continuing to work to lower property taxes so people on fixed income can age in place; ensuring access to mental health treatment so people can live their fullest lives, and advocating for safer communities, including working for stronger penalties for criminals who repeatedly flout the state’s firearm laws and other criminal statutes.

“For our community, it all comes down to livability. That means affordability, quality schools and parks, high-paying jobs, roads in good repair, and crime off our street.  If I’m returned to Olympia as our next State Senator, those livability issues will be the core focus of my legislative work,” Cheney stated.

Cheney will be running against Democrat Adrian Cortes, whom he has known personally for a long time. “Campaigns are about ideas, and I look forward to an election where Adrian and I thoroughly discuss ideas and solutions, while also representing the very best debates during this political season.  Voters deserve thoughtful, honest elections.” 

When he is not serving during legislative sessions, Cheney, who grew up in the district, is a practicing attorney, and is married with two sons. 

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