Ben Christly

Ben Christly is a U.S. Navy veteran, flight nurse, and former small business owner from Southwest Washington running to flip a seat in the state House this fall. From his time serving in the Navy to his current positions as a flight nurse and member of the Clark County Charter Review Commission, Ben has always been passionate about giving back. His campaign is founded on increased affordability, access to health care, and supporting public schools. If he is elected, Ben will be a champion for working families while leading with empathy and integrity.

Republicans have held District 17-Position 1 for more than a decade, but with a strong campaign and support from the DLCC, Ben is in an excellent position to flip this seat and help Democrats expand their majority in the Washington House.

2026 is a historic opportunity to grow Democratic power in the Washington House, where a blue supermajority is just seven seats away. 

Democrats have used their majorities in the Washington House and Senate to pass legislation to address issues including access to affordable housing, rising medical costs, and responsible gun ownership. 

The DLCC has worked closely with Washington Democrats, cycle over cycle, to steadily build a firewall against MAGA extremism. Establishing a supermajority in the Washington House is the next step towards protecting millions of Americans from Trump’s dangerous agenda.

A Democratic supermajority could refer constitutional amendments to the ballot to give voters a voice on key issues like redistricting, without Republican obstruction. Democrats have made amazing progress in Washington, but November’s elections are a watershed moment for the state. Now is the time to rally behind the most competitive candidates running in Washington this year.