The Legacy Podcast

Rep. Stephanie McClintock represents Washington's 18th legislative district in Olympia. She's a conservative Republican, a mom, and a working professional who never planned on a political career.

In this episode of the Legacy podcast, she shares how a stay-at-home mom with a volunteer habit ended up in the state House. We talk about growing up as the daughter of an LAPD narcotics detective, serving on the school board, and why committee work matters more than floor speeches. She also explains how she works with colleagues across the aisle, what's broken in how Washington funds education, and why she wants to keep her kids in the state.

We close on legacy: what a life well spent looks like, and what she hopes her family remembers.

From the Factory Floor to the Senate Floor John Braun for Congress.

"In a submarine, you don't waste space. In manufacturing, you don't waste a dollar. In government, we shouldn't waste your money either."

Follow Andrey on socials: https://linktr.ee/andreybolokhovskiy

Vist John Brauns website for more information: https://www.votebraun.com/

Donate to his campaign: https://secure.anedot.com/john-braun-for-congress/donate

Over the course of his service, Braun held six commands in the submarine force and with U.S. Combatant Commanders, rising to the rank of Captain (O-6). His final assignment was as Director of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force Reserve Component, leading the reserve element of the entire submarine force. Along the way he earned dual master's degrees — an MBA and a Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering — from the University of Michigan in 1999.

When Braun wasn't in uniform, he was on the factory floor. After graduate school he returned to Braun Northwest as General Manager and Vice President in 1999, then became President in 2006, growing the company to 350 employees working in a 128,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Chehalis. The company builds custom emergency vehicles — ambulances, fire rescue, mobile intensive care, SWAT, hazmat, bomb disposal, and prisoner transport vehicles — serving fire, EMS, and law enforcement agencies across the western United States, Hawaii, and Alaska. Every vehicle is custom-built to the customer's specifications and sold direct, with no dealer network. Braun Northwest is one of Lewis County's largest private employers.

Braun was first elected to the Washington State Senate in 2012, representing the 20th Legislative District — most of Lewis County plus parts of Cowlitz, Clark, and Thurston counties. He quickly earned a reputation as a detail-oriented budget hawk. By 2014 he had been elected Deputy Republican Caucus Leader and received the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award.

His signature achievement came in 2015 with the College Affordability Program — the first and largest cuts to public university tuition in the nation. In 2017, as chairman of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, he led the 2017–19 state operating budget that achieved full state funding for basic public education under the McCleary mandate, while delivering property tax reforms that reduced taxes for 73 percent of Washington residents.In December 2020, his colleagues elected him Senate Republican Leader, the top Republican in the state Senate. He was unanimously re-elected in 2024.

As leader of the caucus, Braun has been the most prominent Republican voice against the Democrats' tax agenda — opposing the 2021 capital gains tax, fighting the $12 billion 2025 tax package (the largest in state history), and leading floor opposition to the 2025 income tax, warning that once the door was opened it would inevitably expand to all residents.He has also championed bipartisan causes that struggled to get traction in the House — including legislation to create criminal penalties when children are harmed by fentanyl exposure (passed the Senate bipartisanly four years running), reforms to juvenile rehabilitation facilities, and charity care protections for small and rural hospitals.

John and Marlo have been married more than 37 years. They live on a small farm in rural Lewis County. They have four adult children, three of whom have served or are currently serving as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps.