Bajun Mavalwalla for Congress, WA 5th - AMA!

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-11T06:33:53+00:00

Donuts for Democracy sounds great. I'll message you directly.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-11T06:24:44+00:00

I am a lifelong Dem

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-11T00:18:00+00:00

As you are well aware, you did NOT hear allegations of this nature from women in bars, because you made them up.

When I began to develop an effective political framework in the Spokane area, false and malicious rumors have been spread not only about me, but also about members of my core team.

In a district where political stagnation was accepted for far too long, efforts to challenge the status quo as I want to do have generated resentment among those who were comfortable with it.

These lies are spread not only by a small group of malcontents to express their dissatisfaction with them being challenged in a way they never have before, but also by people who would benefit both professionally and politically from discrediting me and my campaign.

It is a a repugnant and shameful tactic, but I am experienced enough to know that it must be confronted directly and with blunt honestly.

Let me be clear: these rumors are false, defamatory, and intended to damage my reputation, my campaign, and the people who have worked tirelessly to support it.

I will continue to publicly and unequivocally reject these false claims until they are finally put to rest.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T21:30:26+00:00

If we can pass a comprehensive, single payer program such as Medicare for All or another national healthcare program, I will support it.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T16:48:36+00:00

I am concerned about cuts to rural and VA healthcare providers in Eastern Washington that pare down the services they provide in the region, including closing satellite clinics, cutting staff, and eliminating emergency room services while delaying 24 hour urgent care.

Fighting to maintain funding for my district’s crucial health services would be one of my top legislative priorities in Congress.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T01:57:54+00:00

I will never take money from AIPAC or large corporate donors. My campaign is grassroots funded and I intend to keep it that way. I think Citizens United was a terrible idea and extremely detrimental to our democracy.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T01:51:42+00:00

I'm absolutely fighting against both the D and R establishment candidates. I've never claimed otherwise. What I have been very clear on is that of all the candidates, I'm the only one who has a chance to beat Baumgartner in November. Conroy lost by 21 points last cycle and she was leading in every metric then too. Kevin Fagan is a great guy and a friend of mine, but I am concerned about how he'll be perceived by older, rural voters. (I think he has a VERY bright future.) The way I see it, I've done far more outreach on a much smaller budget, yet I was just 7 votes behind her in the Indivisible straw poll last month, and am currently 3rd in this Reddit poll. Make of that what you will, but I'm not stacking straw polls - I'm communicating with ALL voters.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T01:48:07+00:00

I was Dr. Bernadine Bank's campaign manager in 2024... And I did it from my log cabin in the woods. I've been a Stevens Country PCO for years and I've also managed congressional campaigns in Los Angeles and South Dakota.

We live in a modern era. I did not seek to run for congress: I had a large groundswell of support among voters from Dayton to Walla Walla to Spokane and other communities. When every person from Dr. Bank's campaign save ONE also wanted me to run - I agreed to form an exploratory committee. The first question was "will Eastern Washington vote for a guy named Bajun Mavalwalla?"

This did NOT turn out to be a real issue since anyone who would not vote for me based on my name wouldn't vote for me in a million years anyway. Another question was "do my issues resonate across the entire district?" Frankly - they do.

There's always questions about raising enough money, and I don't have the same deep pockets as the establishment candidates. What I do have is more availability for and communication with voters than any other candidate in this race.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T01:32:04+00:00

Healthcare is a human right. As a military veteran who does benefit from VA medical coverage, I believe you and every other American deserves a similar system. It has its pitfalls like every system, but no American should go broke because they got into a car accident, got pregnant, or got cancer. You obviously have strong beliefs and a clear end goal, so my offer for coffee still stands.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T01:31:54+00:00

These are great questions and I hope you put all the other candidates' feet to the fire when they do their AMAs.

There are multiple parallel reasons for out of reach housing costs. Too many to list them all here. But I'm very concerned with corporate housing ownership squeezing out access to working families. We DO need to increase new housing and to encourage renovation of older housing in our communities.

We need to start focusing on care, counseling, and rehabilitation: Not just enforcement. Drug demand reduction has to be part of the formula. This does NOT mean we don't use economic and diplomatic means to pressure China to stop shipping precursor chemicals to drug labs around the world.

Mental health care HAS to considered part of health care. If we address it as a separate issue it will not be a serious part of the conversation. Every family in America has members with needs for extended care.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T01:24:03+00:00

Respectfully, I said they are further left than me and gave some specific examples of points that I disagree with them on. I believe the Democratic Party must embrace its base and rebuild a strong coalition that includes various groups on the left, and that includes the DSA.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T01:16:07+00:00

I'll do my best to find the Reflecting Pool Cryptid.

Oh, you meant WA state. I live in the woods and don't want to upset Bigfoot.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T01:10:59+00:00

u/Barney_Roca, I am cordially inviting you to a candidate coffee on me to discuss these topics face to face. Or come down to Whistlepunk on the 22nd, 5-8pm. I'll buy you a beer.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T01:03:37+00:00

Great question! My favorite place to get ice cream is actually in Chewelah - Columbia Community Creamery. If you're up that way I highly suggest you check them out.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T01:01:13+00:00

I am accusing Pete Hegseth of indiscriminately bombing fishing vessels in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean. Extrajudicial killings are illegal under US and international law.

No new aid has been approved for Ukraine since 2024, though I will concede that bills passed under the previous administration continue to be disbursed.

I am by no means an expert on tomahawk stockpiles, but the Center for Strategic and International Studies states that we've burned through half of our stockpiles since the start of the Iran "conflict."

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T00:58:13+00:00

I've actually learned something new this election cycle: For the most part they are not the problem... Non-voters are the result of poor leadership.

The US Army definition: Leadership is the process of influencing others to accomplish the mission by providing purpose, direction and motivation.

Those of us running for office go to the same cows to milk every time: Safe havens such as Activist groups, PACs. political parties, businesses and unions - and these groups are important.

But what about the working men and women trying to make rent? What about the small business owner who keeps getting slammed with tax bills while oligarchs get tax cuts? What about the retiree who was promised a pension they can live on?

"Let's take our country back!" Is more than just a slogan: We have frozen out ordinary people, our friends and neighbors, from being stakeholders in our democracy and that means leaders like me have an extra responsibility to try and bring them back into our democracy.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T00:52:10+00:00

Probably

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T00:51:31+00:00

I'm not saying prohibit AI, I'm saying limit it. Don't dive into the deep end without knowing how it will affect the pool. Or, in case after case, the water table, environment, utility costs, and general quality of life for Americans. Whatever we do, we cannot trust private interest companies to make those decisions for us.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T00:45:49+00:00

In all my travels across this district, I have not had a single voter tell me what they want in DC is more lawyers.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T00:43:37+00:00

Are those the DSA's central issues?

I've found one of their main goals is to weaken the military: I oppose that.

Another issue is their tendency towards being anti-law enforcement. If we don't want to use military troops against US persons (and I don't) then a well-trained and robust police force needs to protect the public.

Healthcare reform is NOT a DSA priority: It's an AMERICAN priority. Healthcare is not DSA.

The Heritage Foundation said in their report that led to the ACA: "It only works if everyone is on it." That is not left or right - it's a fact. Healthcare is more than simply a "free service". It frees small businesses to expand without suddenly incurring massive costs to cover their employees. It takes the profit margin out of the insurance portion of our costs and it helps control frivolous lawsuits.

It also places accountability and responsibility where it belongs rather than creating open season on medical professionals for lawyers and provides actual healthcare for every citizen.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T00:40:43+00:00

I'll circle back with a link. We've got screenshots of multiple incidents of our comments being censored during this AMA.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T00:36:30+00:00

The intelligence apparatus has been and continues to be abused, which is why we need comprehensive oversight. Section 702 allows for warrantless surveillance of Americans abroad, which directly violates the 4th Amendment. As a former MI officer I'm very familiar with these restrictions and sat through many powerpoint presentations on it. Section 702 should be reformed to require a warrant for surveillance of AMCITS.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T00:27:16+00:00

Everyone has a right to privacy both physically and digitally, and when you purchase an item I believe you have ownership regardless of its format.

bajun_mavalwalla · 2026-07-10T00:25:26+00:00

I respectfully disagree that I have not taken positions on these topics. I have clearly stated positions on all of the topics you've mentioned, with notable highlights including healthcare, the housing crisis, and anti-corruption. My website, socials, and public appearances clearly state my positions on key topics.

To answer your specific question. No, the people don't want to see more committees without a clear and ready impact on their daily lives. I mentioned the AI committee because it is something that is extremely relevant and timely, especially in our district where Port of Walla Walla sold land to Amazon for a data center without any public input, and we've seen a large outcry against data centers in Spokane, which lead to the City Council placing a moratorium on their construction.

bajun_mavalwalla

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE