In a majority-Republican county, new ideas about American democracy signal a growing move towards far-right extremism. Steve Breithaupt, Vice President of the Walla Walla County Republican Party, is “all in” for the new guard.
Among the top issues for Breithaupt and the Walla Walla GOP are fighting transgender athletes in school sports and securing the southern border. Endorsing debunked conspiracy theories, Breithaupt revealed a stark picture of what the next four years may look like under a Republican supermajority.
Responding to concerns about extremist views expressed by the GOP, Breithaupt was adamant that civil rights groups like the ACLU were “almost Marxist.”
“A man is a man, a woman is a woman, we just want the truth,” Breithaupt said. “I don’t see how that would undermine democracy.”
One of the people Breithaupt supports is Matt Walsh, a self-described “theocratic fascist” who is on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Extremist Files watchlist. In 2022, Matt Walsh spread a conspiracy theory about the death rates of transgender individuals.
“The stuff about the trans murder rate, how trans people are murdered more than anyone else at an alarming rate, there’s an epidemic of anti-trans murders. All of that – it’s a flat-out lie,” Walsh said.
In a follow-up conversation with The Wire, Breithaupt insisted that neither Walsh nor the GOP were extremist.
In 2022, the Human Rights Campaign reported that narratives like those pushed by Walsh are “inextricably linked.”
Breithaupt also said immigration was a central issue for many of the voters of the Republican Party in Eastern Washington. Breithaupt alleged that ‘unvetted illegal immigrants’ have been causing drug related problems here and elsewhere.
“This sentiment reflects national trends, where over 80 percent of Republican voters rank immigration as a very important issue in the election, a sharp rise from 2020. Trump’s promise to deport illegal immigrants and take stricter law and order measures contrasts with Harris’s focus on social equity and climate-conscious investment policies,” Breithaupt said.
Education emerged as a central issue in Breithaupt’s commentary. He spoke about the frustrations of parents in Eastern Washington, particularly around the perceived overreach of the Department of Education (DOE) and limited school choice options.
“The money should follow the student,” Breithaupt said.
Breithaupt advocated several times for dismantling the Department of Education. He stated that certain ‘inappropriate’ topics, particularly those surrounding gender and non-binary awareness, are not welcomed by parents in Eastern Washington.
“[Parents] would rather prefer being in control of and knowing what is being taught in schools, and do not vouch for the democratic approach to altering the education system and including topics not meant for young people,” Breithaupt said.
Dismantling the DOE is a key tenet of Project 2025. Breithaupt declined to comment on whether he or the Walla Walla GOP endorse the Heritage Foundation funded toolkit which the ACLU has condemned as “a roadmap for how to replace the rule of law with ring-wing ideals.”
The Washington chapter of the ACLU declined The Wire’s request for comment.
President of the Walla Walla Valley Education Association Keith Swanson expressed concern at Breithaupt’s calls for defunding the DOE.
“Many people don’t understand the purpose of the federal role in public education. Aren’t schools primarily run by the states? In fact, roughly 10 percent of our education funding comes from the federal government and much of that goes to high-poverty schools and serves students with disabilities,” Swanson said.
For Swanson, the idea of defunding the DOE is particularly alarming in a county that already struggles with socio-economic inequality.
“Keep in mind that the biggest gap we see in Walla Walla is related to the socio-economic background of our students, and our special education funding statewide and locally is already underfunded,” Swanson said. “We could use more of these supports, not less.”
When asked about Republican Congressman-elect Michael Baumgartner (WA-5), Breithaupt highlighted his relatability and practical approach as key reasons he resonates with voters in Eastern Washington.
“He’s a young father … he strives to treat all people fairly, regardless of nationality, background, talents, looks [or] religion,” Breithaupt said.
In 2012, Baumgartner came under fire for telling a reporter to “go f–k yourself” after being asked about his stance on abortion rights. Baumgartner also emailed the reporter a picture of him in Afghanistan holding heavy weaponry.
Baumgartner did not respond to The Wire’s request for comment. In Walla Walla, where opposition candidate Carmela Conroy received over $13,000 in individual donations, voters will have to wait until January to see the new District 5 Congressman’s policies in action.
