Senator John Braun was first elected to the Washington State Senate in 2012 to represent Southwest Washington’s 20th Legislative District, which includes most of Cowlitz and Lewis counties along with parts of Clark and Thurston.

John is leader of the Senate Republican Caucus and a member of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, the Labor & Commerce Committee, and the Housing Committee.

He was the lead budget writer and negotiator while chairing the Senate budget committee in 2017 when he sponsored the state’s 2017-19 operating budget. His work led to historic investments in the state’s public education system and property tax reform aimed at providing full state funding for basic education and a property tax reduction for 73 percent of state residents. He also sponsored and worked to pass the College Affordability Program in 2015, which included the first-ever tuition cut at state colleges and universities.

John is president of Braun Northwest, a family-owned company in business since 1986. The firm specializes in building emergency vehicles.

Prior to his business career, John served on active duty in the U.S. Navy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington and master’s degrees in business administration and manufacturing engineering from the University of Michigan.

He and his family reside on a small farm in rural Lewis County, outside Centralia.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Member, Providence Centralia Hospital Community Board
Member, Centralia College Foundation Board
Former Member, Timberland Regional Library Board of Trustees
Former Member, Enterprise Washington Board of Directors
Former Member, National Association of Manufacturers President’s Council
Former Member, St. Joseph School Commission
Former Member, Centralia Youth Soccer Board