Favian Valencia

Favian Valencia was born in Illinois. He earned a high school diploma from Davis High School, a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University, a law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law, and a graduate degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. His career experience includes working as an attorney.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Born in Illinois to a loving, migrant, Mexican, Catholic, farm working family. When I was in fifth grade, we settled in Yakima, Washington where I grew up working alongside my parents in the Orchards. This upbringing taught me the value of hard work and respect for dignified work that serves our community. Thanks to my teachers and counselors at Davis high school, I became the first in my family to graduate from high school and went on to college. I graduated from Gonzaga University, and university of Dayton school of law. For the last 15 years, I've been as civil rights attorney in Yakima Washington standing up for people against corporations and government, that abuse their power. As an attorney, I started my own law firm, Sunlight Law, and handle cases in federal and state court at all levels, including the US Supreme Court and the Washington state Supreme Court. More recently, I obtained an executive masters degree in public policy from Thunderbird School of Global management. For the last 3 years, I've been a co-owner, with my mom and my sisters, of Ama Cafe in Yakima--we make the best burrito in town. In my spare time, I'm an ultra marathon runner, and the the host of the Soul Centered Attorney podcast.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Restructure, modernize and shrink government agencies and no more federal taxes for anyone making under $60,000 a year. One of my first bills will be to eliminate federal taxes for anyone making under $60,000 a year. This will result in 3% less tax revenue, which we can make up by modernizing and restructuring government agencies. It will also allow us to cut the IRS workforce by over 20% and save us $4-8 billion dollars a year. The bill will also allow us to update the IRS to be more efficient--For example, it will send us a quarterly post card informing us of how much we owe in taxes instead of us to do hire a tax person and fear an audit. We will require all government agencies to be transparent, accountable and pass their audits.We are the greatest nation in history because of our immigrant community. I will work for fair immigration reform. I stand for secure borders and keeping our community safe. I am against the weaponization of ICE. I will work to refocus ICE on its original intent, which has always been to keep our community safe by going after violent criminals, cartels, and child sex traffickers. We need to streamline the guest worker program to maintain an efficient agricultural workforce. And for our immigrant, law-abiding neighbors who have been here paying their taxes and contributing to our economy, we need to establish a path to citizenship. Our economy depends on their knowledge and their efforts.Transparent, modernized, and accountable government. Political office was never meant to be a career. The founders intended it as a tour of duty — you serve, then you go home. Democracy benefits when new candidates step up with fresh ideas and a direct connection to what people face right now. I stand for term limits, ending self-dealing by politicians, and overturning Citizens United, which opened the door to unlimited dark money in elections. The imbalance is simple: an individual can give my campaign at most $7,000. An anonymous corporation can spend unlimited money on the same race to support the candidate that will return the favor once in office. Dark money can buy politicians. We need to come back to one person, one vote.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Agriculture comes first because it is the backbone of my district. I want farmers to thrive without unnecessary government red tape, with reliable water, resilient supply chains, access to markets, a dependable workforce, modern transportation, and new technology. I am also passionate about energy. I support an all-of-the-above strategy that advances solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear energy. With Hanford and the Columbia Generating Station, our district can help meet the nation’s growing demand for reliable power. Finally, government must listen to the people it serves, bring everyone to the table, and deliver practical solutions.

Campaign websiteValencia's campaign website stated the following:DemocracyDemocracy means the government belongs to the people. Our country works best when leaders respect the Constitution, follow the rule of law, tell the truth, and answer to voters — not to party bosses, lobbyists, corporations, or cable-news politics.Right now, too many politicians benefit from keeping people angry and divided. They treat every issue like a team sport. They raise money off conflict, avoid hard decisions, and blame the other side while ordinary families deal with rising costs, unsafe communities, broken immigration rules, unaffordable healthcare, and a government that often feels too far away. Central Washington deserves better.Protecting the Constitution and Rule of LawOur rights do not come from political parties. They are protected by the Constitution. I believe in free speech, due process, equal protection, religious freedom, privacy, the right to keep and bear arms with common-sense safeguards, and the principle that no one is above the law. Democracy requires both liberty and responsibility. We can protect constitutional rights while still solving real problems.Honest and Accountable GovernmentGovernment should be lean, effective, transparent, and serious about results. We need to modernize our government through audits and accountability. We can cut waste and still protect Social Security. We can reduce red tape and still protect clean water. We can reduce and simplify taxes and still fund essential services. We can support law enforcement and still demand accountability. The goal is not bigger government or weaker government. The goal is better government.Fixing a Broken Political SystemCongress should not be a place where politicians get rich while ordinary Americans struggle.I support banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks, increasing transparency, limiting dark money, reducing corporate influence, supporting term limits, and making sure voters — not lobbyists or party insiders — decide the future of our country.Independent LeadershipI am running as an Independent because I do not believe either party has a monopoly on truth, common sense, or patriotism. Independence means thinking for yourself. It means working with anyone who is serious about solving problems and standing up to anyone who is making things worse. It means answering to the people of Central Washington — not to Washington, D.C.LibertyLiberty means trusting people to live their lives, make personal decisions, speak their minds, raise their families, and build their future without unnecessary government interference. I believe government has an important role: protecting our rights, enforcing the law fairly, keeping communities safe, and making sure powerful institutions do not abuse ordinary people. But government should not control every part of our lives. Liberty requires both freedom and responsibility.Personal FreedomPeople should be free to live their lives, raise their families, worship or not worship, speak their minds, and make personal choices without politicians using those choices as campaign weapons. Government should stay out of our bedrooms and doctors’ offices. These are personal decisions, not political talking points.Women, Families, Doctors, and AbortionAs a Catholic man, I have humility when it comes to life-and-death decisions of a baby and a mother. I am pro-common-sense, I trust women, families, and doctors to make these deeply personal decisions with conscience, compassion, and responsibility — not politicians.Constitutional RightsOur rights do not belong to political parties. I believe in free speech, due process, equal protection, privacy, religious freedom, and the right to keep and bear arms with common-sense safeguards. We can protect constitutional rights and still solve real problems. Freedom To Build A LifeLiberty also means economic freedom. People should be able to start a business, buy a home, work hard, raise a family, and build a future without being crushed by unnecessary red tape, unfair rules, or impossible costs. Government should make it easier for people to succeed — not harder.Independent LeadershipI am running as an Independent because liberty cannot belong to one party. I will defend personal freedom, constitutional rights, and common-sense responsibility. I will work with anyone who is serious about protecting people’s freedom and solving problems for Central Washington.OpportunityOpportunity means that every person should have a fair chance to build a decent life. Too many families in Central Washington are doing everything right and still falling behind. Housing costs are too high. Healthcare is too expensive. Groceries, gas, insurance, and childcare keep rising. Wages are not keeping up. Small businesses are getting squeezed. Seniors worry about retirement. Young people wonder whether they can afford to stay here. Opportunity means we stop accepting that as normal.Healthcare That Works for EveryoneNo family should have to go broke because someone gets sick. No senior should have to ration medication. No rural community should be left behind because care is too far away. I’ll fight to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security; strengthen rural clinics and hospitals; expand mental health care; lower prescription drug costs; and in the long term move toward universal healthcare so every American can get care regardless of job, income, or zip code.Housing Families Can AffordHousing is not just a big-city issue. Families across Central Washington are being priced out, and young people are wondering whether they can build a future here. We need more starter homes, more workforce housing, smarter permitting, and infrastructure that allows responsible growth. We should also push back against Wall Street investors treating family homes like casino chips.Agriculture, Water, and Rural CommunitiesWater is life in Central Washington. We need reliable water infrastructure, modern irrigation, smart storage, conservation, wildfire prevention, and long-term planning. We can protect our farms, support rural communities, care for public lands, and protect the environment without burying people in bureaucracy.Small Businesses and Working FamiliesAs a business owner, I know small businesses do not need more slogans from politicians. They need fair rules, reasonable taxes, less red tape, access to workers, affordable insurance, and a government that understands payroll, rent, supply costs, and the risk of keeping the doors open.Education, Skills, and the FutureOpportunity also means preparing people for the future. That means strong public schools, support for trades and apprenticeships, affordable higher education, career training, and pathways into agriculture, healthcare, technology, construction, small business, and the new economy. Central Washington should not be left behind. We should be helping lead the future.— Favian Valencia's campaign website (July 20, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.