Why Washington’s Campaign Watchdog Team is Struggling to Stay Afloat

Two spots on Washington state’s Public Disclosure Commission are gathering dust while an important task waits unfinished. This watchdog group makes sure campaign dollars flow through clear pipes—so voters know who is backing each candidate. Yet with filing for the 2026 races opening in just three weeks, half the seats meant to keep campaigns honest sit empty. One spot has been vacant since August; another since July of the previous year. A third member’s term runs out in December. State rules say the governor should have filled these within 30 days, but the clock keeps ticking. Without full strength, the commission can’t set new rules, hold hearings, or resolve cases. At their most recent meeting, they skipped major decisions simply because too few members could show up.This small-but-mighty team came to life back in 1972 after citizens pushed for transparency long before Watergate made headlines. The law they enforce keeps a public ledger of who gives money to whom and what is done with it—from candidates’ own finances to lobbyist footprints. Yet fines keep piling up against groups that miss details: a PAC behind several ballot measures was hit with 20 grand for poorly tracked spending, and an opposing PAC got the same penalty for late disclosures on a seven-figure budget. Some voices argue the governor’s delay is more than a paperwork hiccup. A longtime campaign treasurer filed a recall effort against the governor, calling the empty seats a dereliction of duty. Others shrug—vacancies happen during busy times—but the timing couldn’t be worse. With campaigns about to rev up, there is no margin for a weakened referee. Washington already leads the nation for sunshine laws that let citizens watch the flow of money in politics. When the referees are missing, the game loses its clarity, and that affects every voter.