Community Government
Four candidates challenge freshman Rep. Randall
U.S. Rep. Emily Randall drew four challengers in her bid for a second term in Congress representing Washington’s Sixth District.
Randall, D-Bremerton, won election representing the left-leaning Sixth District — which spans the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas plus Gig Harbor and a portion of Tacoma — in 2024. The former state senator succeeded Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, who retired.
Emily Randall
During that election cycle, voters selected Randall over two other well-established politicians: State Sen. Drew MacEwen and Hillary Franz, the state’s former commissioner of public lands. This time, she faces several challenges with lower public profiles.
The list includes: Brian O’Gorman, an independent from Shelton; Teresa Fox, a Republican from Bremerton; Marcy Jones, a progressive who states no party preference; and Leon Lawson, a “Trump Republican” who has twice run for governor.
All five candidates will appear on the Aug. 4 primary ballot. The top two, regardless of party, will advance to the general election in November.
Gig Harbor Now sent a list of questions to all five candidates on June 29. Their responses have been published below. Some responses have been lightly edited for clarity and formatting.
Leon Lawson
Tell us about yourself and your qualifications.
I am Leon Lawson, a Trump Republican, small business owner, and 35-year resident of Washington’s 6th District. I’ve spent 30-plus years in auto sales and the car scene, built Dogcon Auto, and personally argued 30 pro se hearings in Washington courts fighting government overreach, title fraud, and corruption since 2018. I’m a husband, Christian, and street-level fighter who has taken on the DOL, DCYF waste, and local machine politics. No PAC money — just grassroots and proven results. I’m running to represent working families, not DC insiders.
Leon Lawson
According to recent polling, many Americans are expressing concerns about the affordability of housing, groceries, gas, and other essential items. What policy actions should Congress take to help?
Congress must stop printing money, cut wasteful spending, and unleash American energy production. Drill, refine, and export American oil and gas to lower prices immediately. Pass real permitting reform for housing so we can build more supply. End the war on American farmers and truckers that drives up grocery and gas prices. America First economic policy worked before — it will work again. No more green new deal fantasies that hurt working families in the 6th District.
Congress did not extend federal subsidies for those who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act at the end of 2025. That contributed to historic declines in coverage in Washington state. Should Congress have extended these subsidies?
No. Congress should not have extended them. The ACA subsidies are a massive wealth transfer that distorts the market and keeps premiums artificially high long-term. We need real healthcare reform — price transparency, cross-state competition, and protecting patients with pre-existing conditions without bankrupting the system. Washington state’s coverage drops show the dependency problem these subsidies create.
Do you support the immigration tactics deployed by the Trump Administration, including the expanded use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)?
Yes. I fully support President Trump’s immigration policies, including expanded ICE enforcement. We must secure the border, deport criminal illegal aliens first, and end catch-and-release. Washington’s 6th District working families suffer from wage suppression and strained services caused by unchecked illegal immigration. Legal immigration yes — chaos no.
President Trump signed an executive order in March that attempts to restrict mail-in voting, while repeating false claims about election fraud. Do you support the president’s action?
Yes. I support efforts to secure our elections. Paper ballots, voter ID, same-day voting, and cleaning voter rolls are common-sense protections. I have documented and filed the proof in this state in case number 3:2-cv-05469-BHS The 2020,2022 and 2024 elections exposed serious vulnerabilities. We cannot have confidence in results when mail-in ballots lack basic safeguards. Election integrity is not a conspiracy — it’s a requirement for a functioning republic.
Brian P. O’Gorman
Tell us about yourself and your qualifications.
I have lived in Washington as a child and an adult. I am a former army medic that believes triage can be applied to policy making. I am an independent that believes that the Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same tarnished, fiat-based coin. I am in this race because I am frustrated and believe we need to be the change we need. Since my discharge, I have volunteered with Scouting America, CERT, the VFW, and the AL. I believe Congress is the best way I can continue to help people and continue to serve.
Brian O’Gorman
According to recent polling, many Americans are expressing concerns about the affordability of housing, groceries, gas, and other essential items. What policy actions should Congress take to help?
First off, I need you to understand that the Great Stock Market Crash of 1929 was created by three men, Charles E. Mitchell, who invented margin trading, Albert Wiggin, who invented hedge betting, and Richard Whitney, who stole money from the exchange. They screwed everyone else for their own gain. We are seeing this again. Except now, our government officials are part of it. We need to enforce the emoluments rule so that our leaders cannot make a buck while we are all drowning.
Congress did not extend federal subsidies for those who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act at the end of 2025. That contributed to historic declines in coverage in Washington state. Should Congress have extended these subsidies?
Yes. Both parties have stock in the companies that provide healthcare insurance and both parties receive campaign funds from these companies. Why does it surprise you that the subsidies would be allowed to expire?
Do you support the immigration tactics deployed by the Trump Administration, including the expanded use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)?
No. Either we allow these people to follow the track to citizenship or we deport them. There is absolutely no reason to house human beings in the horrible manner we are.
President Trump signed an executive order in March that attempts to restrict mail-in voting, while repeating false claims about election fraud. Do you support the president’s action?
No. These actions are attempts at disenfranchisement. Pure and simple.
Emily Randall
A spokesperson for Randall’s campaign acknowledged in an email on July 8 that they had received the list of questions from Gig Harbor Now. They did not return them prior to press time or responded to a follow up message sent on July 16.
Teresa Fox
Teresa Fox declined to answer questions from Gig Harbor Now. In an email she wrote that her campaign does not engage with “outlets or organizations that have demonstrated patterns of bias, misinformation, or activities undermining law enforcement and our laws.”
Teresa Fox
Macy Jones
Multiple messages sent to the email listed for Macy Jones’s campaign were not returned by press time.
Macy Jones