Phil Fortunato

Republican | Washington

Candidate Profile

Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Phil Fortunato


Party

Republican


Election Year

2026


Election

Primary


Race

State Senator, Dist. 31


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Phil Fortunato websites
Phil Fortunato phones
Phil Fortunato email
FacebookXLinkedIn

EDUCATION

Rutgers U Cook College, New Brunswick, NJ, 76

WORK & MILITARY

Small business, Owner, 1973-2026

AFFILIATIONS

Knights of Columbus, Past GK & Former DD, 30

Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

47th District State Rep, 1999-2000

31st District Senate, 2017-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

31st District State Rep, 2014-

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

ENDORSEMENTS

OTHER (2)

Association of Washington Business AWB

Associated General Contractors of Washington AGCW Build PAC

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (17)

Michelle Caldier (2025)

Dave Reichert (2024)

Maia Espinoza (2024)

Ron Muzzall (2024)

State Republican Party Organizations (2024)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (27)

Carolyn Crain (2024)

Jeanette Burrage (2024)

Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2024)

Michael Baumgartner (2024)

Mike Padden (2024)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (7)

International Fire Chiefs Association (2022)

Service Employees International Union (2022)

American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (2018)

International Brotherhood of Teamsters (2017)

Retired Firefighters of Washington (2017)

OTHER INFORMATION

Phil Fortunato's grade from pro-marijuana group, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

In this interview from 2022, Phil Fortunato discusses many views, including his stance on abortion.

Phil Fortunato proposed a law to categorize student athletes by chromosomal makeup.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Strongly Agree

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

Not viable pregnancy such as tubular pregnacy

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Disagree

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Strongly Agree


ECONOMY

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.

Strongly Disagree

Rich people already pay a disproportionate percentage of the tax generated. Additional taxes on wealthy disincentivizes charitable contributions and drive people out of state.

The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.

Strongly Agree

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

Zero Based Budgeting 25% of the state budget every biennium Promote the Productivity Board which gives bonuses to state employees which come up with ways to save taxpayer money. Revamp the collective bargaining process to be more transparent. Taxpayers should be allowed to see what is being bargained away.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

Keep the Government out of Religion not Religion out of Government


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Neutral

We need to know what are the most common reoccurring illnesses to be able to adjust what is considered for High Risk Pool coverage. Separating out High risk illnesses to be covered by government subsidies would reduce overall health care costs for everyone else.


NATIONAL SECURITY

With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.

The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny.

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Yes, they are an important ally in the region

Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.

Strongly Agree


IMMIGRATION

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

We need to revamp our immigration policy to be more selective in who are allowed in. When my relatives immigrated to the US from Italy in the early 60s, they had to have a sponsor with the promise of employment and not take any government programs.

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Strongly Disagree


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Agree

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Strongly Agree


VALUES

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Strongly Agree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Strongly Agree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am the chair of the Catholic Caucus and host a Catholic Mass every week at the Capitol. I take my faith very seriously and it influences how I cast my vote, First God, then District, lastly my preference.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree


EQUALITY

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Agree

I ran multiple bills opposing transgender men in woman's sports and in private spaces.


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Hydro, nuclear and natural gas


ABOUT YOU

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

No

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

NO

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Very Conservative


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

Need enhancements to reporting to the instant check system to prevent people who are ineligible, mentally ill, felons, dishonorable discharges, from obtaining firearms. There should be no restrictions on law abiding citizens for purchasing firearms, ammo or magazines.

If you are not already receiving our emails, stay up to date with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.

I agree to receive text messages at the phone number provided.