Chad Magendanz
Republican | Washington
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Chad Magendanz
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 5
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, BS, 1989
Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA, MA, 2021
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Navy, LT (O-3), 1985-97
Microsoft, Program Manager, 1994-04
Jetstream Software, Design Lead, 2004-18
Voter Science, Dir. of Product Development, 2017-18
Bellevue School District, CS Teacher, 2019-
AFFILIATIONS
Kiwanis Club of Issaquah, Treasurer, Executive Board, Washington State PTA
Legislative Chair, WA School Director's Association, Legislative Committee
National School Board Association, CD 8 Coordinator, Stand for Children
Team Leader, League of Educaiton Voters, Key Advocate
TEALS, Computer Science Teacher, American Legion
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 2013-17
Issaquah School Board, 2008-13
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Senate, 2016
Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2024
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Senate Republican Campaign Committee
OTHER (2)
Mainstream Republicans of Washington
Snohomish County Republican Party
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (15)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2024)
State Republican Party Organizations (2024)
Cascade PAC (2023)
Reagan Dunn (2022)
Washingtonians Action PAC (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (33)
Debra Blodgett (2024)
Doug Basler (2024)
Carmen Goers (2022)
Family Policy Institute of Washington (2022)
Jeremie Dufault (2022)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Rodney Tom (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Employment for All (2016)
National Association of Elementary School Principals (2016)
Service Employees International Union (2016)
Sheet Metal Workers International Association (2016)
Washington Electric Vehicle Advocacy PAC (2016)
OTHER INFORMATION
Chad Magendanz in an article in The Columbian discussing why he is running for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Per Initiative 120, elective abortions are allowed up to fetal viability. I respect the will of the people, but personally feel that viability is too subjective and would prefer a set term limit of 12 weeks, which is the same as most European countries.
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Agree
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I believe the free market will set wages more optimally than government mandates, which often have unintended consequences. Policies such as these create deadweight loss, an economic principle that reduces overall societal economic welfare.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Temporary restrictions on religious gatherings can be enforced during public health emergencies, but they must be applied neutrally and not disproportionately target religious activities.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
Businesses work best when both parties enter the contract willingly.
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.
C
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Jacobson v Massachusetts established that states have the power to enforce vaccination requirements for the greater public good, even if it infringes on individual liberty. Subsequent rulings have upheld vaccination mandates for the public sector.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes, they are an important Middle East ally and both our countries are founded on the same Judeo-Christian values.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
I was the prime sponsor in the House for the charter schools fix and fought to ensure funding followed the student as a lead negotiator in the McCleary school funding remedy.
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Strongly Agree
U.S Supreme Court ruled “parents have a fundamental right to direct the care, custody, and control of their children” and goes on to say that “the government shall not interfere with this right unless and until a parent is proven unfit.”
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Disagree
It's important that we recognize the difference between religious marriage and civil union, which is basically the legal aspect of marriage. I believe the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment requires the state to recognize civil unions without regard to gender.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I grew up with strong Judeo-Christian values attending the oldest Unitarian Church in the United States west of the Hudson River.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Disagree
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. The idea that our nation is systemically racist, as promoted by DEI and CRT ideology, is misguided. There's always more work to do, of course, but we've made steady progress on ensuring equal opportunity in this country over the past 150 years. Now that these programs have taken hold of our schools, however, it seems we're moving backwards. Children are taught that they're victims or oppressors and new policies are adopted that actively discriminate based on race.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
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
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
A & C
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear (and I'm a former nuclear submarine engineer and graduate of the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute Energy Policy Planning Program)
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
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Government serves as mechanisms for enforcing laws, maintaining order, and promoting the welfare of their citizens. They should only provide services that are impractical to be provided through the free market (and even those can often be provided through public-private partnerships and privately-run utilities).
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?
Lean Conservative
I consider myself a strong fiscal conservative who leans Libertarian on social issues.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Enforce existing laws that restrict use of firearms by criminals. minors and the mentally ill.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
I'm a teacher and an expert marksman medal from my 12 years of military service. I have a CCL in two states...and yet I'm not even allowed to bring my pocket knife onto school grounds. I would keep any firearm safely locked in my classroom, but would be prepared and trained to protect them with lethal force, if needed.
