A message from Dan Johnson | 42nd LD House Candidate

When you’re ahead of a Democrat in the polls, they call you racist.

Or sexist.

Or both.

Guess what? I’m ahead in the polls.

I’m not a politician. I’m a regular person just like you. I decided to run for office because I was frustrated at the direction our state was going, with rising crime, and taxes going through the roof. Let me be the first to say, if I have ever said something that offended another (and I’m sure I have), or caused anyone pain, I am sorry. I want to stand beside you and build you up and offer a hand of help and protection. That is truly my heart. As I say on my campaign signs, I am “right there with you.”

I inappropriately compared pandemic mandates to the Nazi's treatment of Jewish people. At the time I wrote that I was deeply frustrated by the Governor’s mandates that were destroying small businesses and livelihoods. Looking back the post trivialized the darkest time in human history and that doesn’t reflect my values.

This week I was attacked by my opponent for a photo he found online from 2016. I was part of a volunteer security detail (because of my military background with security and logistics) for a political rally in Lynden where then-candidate Donald Trump was attending. He posted a photo of me and candidate Trump and went on to say that I am an insurrectionist and a danger to American democracy.

Later in the week, I was ambushed by a reporter who asked me, “Why did you make racist and sexist posts on social media?” I told him I wouldn’t participate in any interview that started out “Why are you a racist?” Respected, unbiased journalists don’t do that. Political hit men do that.

As all this was happening, the Washington State Democratic Party injected $85,000 into my opponent's campaign. They are already putting that funding to work to attack my character with calls, emails and more.

In the past, I haven’t always been careful about everyone’s feelings when I’ve reposted things on social media. As your next representative, I understand that to effectively represent you I must be cognizant of the effect my words have.

Let me be clear, over the years I am sure I have posted things on social media that were politically hyperbolic or things that were comedic, but NOTHING that was intended to be racist or sexist.

At the end of the day, this election isn’t about social media posts from years ago.