Antony Barran For Congress in 2026

Antony Barran: GOP Business Leader Championing Limited Government

From boardrooms to boat docks, I’ve built businesses, created jobs, and raised a family. Now I’m fighting to restore the American Dream and put government back in its proper place. Oyster farmer, entrepreneur, father, problem solver - a citizen candidate. I’m not a career politician. I’m a husband, father, entrepreneur, and oyster farmer who has spent more than 35 years starting, growing, and leading businesses across the country. From Fortune 250 boardrooms to oyster beds on Willapa Bay, I’ve built organizations that created thousands of jobs and delivered hundreds of millions in economic impact. No matter the setting, my focus has always been the same: results, accountability, and empowering people to succeed. Today, Cora, my wife, and I run Willapa Wild, one of America’s most environmentally responsible oyster farms, alongside our son Richard. It’s hard, honest work. The kind of work that reminds me every day how much small businesses matter and how easily government can either help or get in the way.

Why I’m running

I’m stepping forward not because I wanted a new career, but because Washington, D.C. has forgotten who it’s supposed to serve. Politicians write rules that bury small businesses in paperwork, weaken the middle class, and strip opportunity from the very people they claim to represent. I know what it takes to build something real from the ground up, and I know how to fight for people who feel like government has stacked the deck against them.

In Congress, I’ll focus on:

• Cutting red tape for small businesses
• Rebuilding the middle class
• Investing in housing and infrastructure
• Returning power to the people of Southwest Washington

This campaign isn’t about politics. It’s about restoring the American Dream for Southwest Washington: cutting red tape, rebuilding small business, investing in housing and infrastructure, and returning power where it belongs: with the people.

“This campaign isn’t about politics. It’s about people — families, workers, and small businesses who deserve a government that has their back.”

Together, we can restore the American Dream for Southwest Washington.

An Oyster Farmer Fighting to Restore the American Dream

Antony Barran for Congress: Empowering Small Businesses in WA-03

Not a Career Politician. A Citizen Candidate. Oyster Farmer — Built Willapa Wild into one of America’s most sustainable oyster farms, proving hard work and innovation beat government overreach. Entrepreneur — 35 years creating thousands of jobs and delivering hundreds of millions in economic impact — from Fortune 250 boardrooms to Main Street small businesses. Citizen Candidate — Running for Congress to cut red tape, restore the American Dream, and return power to the people of Southwest Washington.

Now let me tell you why I’m running.

I’ve Built Businesses. They’ve Built Roadblocks. For more than 35 years I’ve started, grown and led businesses: From Fortune 250 Boardrooms to oyster beds on the Willapa Bay. I know how hard it is to hire and grow when politicians keep piling on regulations and paperwork. While they’ve built careers in politics, I’ve built jobs, opportunity and accountability. 35+ Years of Experience — leading companies and creating opportunity across industries. Thousands of Jobs Created — not by government programs, but by hard work and enterprise. Hundreds of Millions in Impact — delivering results that strengthened communities and families.

Government Should Do a Few Things Well

Like Making Housing Affordable

When government holds back on the basics - roads, sewer systems, homeownership - it stands in the way of opportunity WA-03 includes Opportunity Zones that allow smart investors to defer or even eliminate capital gains tax. Let’s use that power to build housing where it’s needed most—not lining investor pockets, but helping first-time buyers secure homes. Our government has become a maze of red tape, regulations, and out-of-touch policies that hurt the people doing the work. It’s time for a new approach — one that puts small businesses, working families, and local communities first.

My Plan:

• Incentivize duplex and triplex building in Opportunity Zones for first-time owners.
• Require developer accountability—homes stay owned by families, not flipped to investors.
• Pair federal OZ benefits with streamlined permitting and reduced fees.

You don’t need a career politician to make housing work. You need someone who builds.

Safe Communities. Secure Borders.

Government’s first responsibility is to keep its people safe…in our neighborhoods and at our borders. I’ll always stand with law enforcement, first responders, and the families they protect. Too often, politicians in Washington talk tough but fail to deliver the resources or respect our communities need. I believe in secure borders and rational immigration — policies that work for families, for workers, and for businesses. And I’ll fight against the drug trafficking and crime that are tearing at too many of our towns. This isn’t about politics. It’s about responsibility. Washington needs to stop the excuses and start doing its job.

Education Should Prepare Kids for Life - Not Politics

Every parent deserves a voice. Every student deserves real-world skills. I’ve built businesses for decades, and I know what happens when schools fail our kids. They graduate without the tools they need to succeed — while parents are pushed to the sidelines. We need schools that teach reading, math, and science — and give students paths into trades, technology, or higher education. We should be preparing young people for life and work, not pushing them into political fights. I’ll fight for an education system that reflects the values of families, respects parents’ voices, and equips students to thrive in the real world.

Change doesn’t start in D.C. It starts here with us. I can’t do this alone. Team 1655 is our movement: 1655 voices, each talking to one neighbor a day. Together, we’ll reach every single person in Washington’s 3rd District. Not with ads or noise, but with real conversations. This campaign isn’t about politicians. It’s about people. And it only works if we do it together.

Barran for Congress: Reviving the American Dream in SW Washington

Government should do a few things well — and leave the rest to the people. I’m running for Congress to restore the American Dream by cutting red tape, rebuilding small business, investing in infrastructure, and returning power to the people of Southwest Washington. Too many politicians talk about protecting the American Dream. Few understand what built it in the first place: small business growth, safe neighborhoods, and the infrastructure that connects us. Southwest Washington doesn’t need more slogans. We need action. Our district has doubled in size, our towns are struggling to grow, and our roads and bridges are dangerously behind.

Here’s how we fix it:

🟥 GROWTH: Rebuilding the Middle Class Starts with Small Business

Small businesses create nearly two-thirds of all new jobs in America, yet Washington, D.C. treats them like second-class citizens. Overregulation, limited access to capital, and rising costs hit them hardest.

• Cut red tape and regulatory costs that hit small businesses 36% harder than large corporations.
• Expand access to loans and capital programs.
• Create tax incentives for startups and rural entrepreneurs.
• Invest in trade education and apprenticeships for next-generation jobs.

When small businesses thrive, the middle class grows. If we want opportunity in every corner of our district, Washington must be a partner — not a barrier.

🟦 SAFETY: Support Law Enforcement. Restore Public Safety.

No community can thrive if families and business owners don’t feel safe. Yet Washington State ranks dead last in the nation in police staffing, with violent crime up more than 12% in five years.

• Fully fund local law enforcement and community policing.
• Remove legal barriers that prevent officers from doing their jobs.
• Increase federal grants for training, recruitment, and mental health support.
• Crack down on organized retail theft and drug trafficking.

Safe neighborhoods aren’t negotiable — they’re the foundation of strong communities and strong economies.

🟨 TRANSPORTATION: Modern Infrastructure for a Growing District

Our district spans 210 miles along the Columbia River, yet we have only four bridge crossings. Since the I-205 bridge opened in 1982, our population has exploded to nearly 800,000 — but our infrastructure hasn’t kept up.

• Invest in new bridge crossings to ease congestion and support freight.
• Upgrade deteriorating roads to handle today’s commercial traffic.
• Streamline permitting to speed critical projects.
• Secure federal funding for fast-growing districts like ours.

Infrastructure is more than roads and bridges — it connects people to opportunity, keeps communities safe, and powers long-term growth.

🟩 HOUSING: Restoring the American Dream of Homeownership

Owning a home has always been central to the American Dream, yet today’s first-time buyers face crushing barriers. Skyrocketing prices, limited supply, and competition from private equity firms have pushed too many working families out of the market. In Southwest Washington, the shortage of affordable homes isn’t just a family problem — it’s an economic problem. Without housing, we can’t grow our workforce, attract investment, or keep young people in our communities.

We must:

• Expand supply with smart incentives.
• Encourage the construction of duplexes and triplexes in Opportunity Zones, while ensuring they go to first-time buyers instead of Wall Street firms.
• Prioritize working families. Limit federal housing incentives for private equity purchases that drive up costs and price out residents.
• Cut red tape. Streamline permitting and zoning requirements so builders can deliver homes faster and at lower cost.
• Reform federal lending rules. Make it easier for first-time buyers to qualify for mortgages with fair terms.

Washington should help families put down roots — not make homeownership a privilege for the few.

🟪 EDUCATION: Every Path Should Lead to Opportunity

Education should prepare young people for real life — not just test scores. Yet in Washington State, families too often feel like they’re stuck with a one-size-fits-all system that doesn’t reflect their values or prepare their children for tomorrow’s economy. College isn’t the only path. Our district needs strong trade schools, apprenticeships, and community-based programs that open doors to good jobs and self-reliance. Parents also deserve a voice in what their children are taught, free from top-down ideology.

We must:

• Invest in trade and apprenticeship programs that connect education to real-world jobs.
• Protect parental rights in education — parents should know what’s being taught and have a say.
• Expand local control and choice, ensuring schools serve families and communities first.
• Secure fair federal funding so rural and small-town schools aren’t left behind.

Education is about preparing the next generation to succeed — whether they go to college, learn a trade, serve their community, or start a business.

🔔 Conclusion: A Mission That Matters

The American Dream doesn’t need to be reinvented. It needs to be reignited — by putting our focus back on what works: local businesses, safe neighborhoods, and the infrastructure that helps families and communities grow.

That’s the mission.

That’s what I’m fighting for. And I hope you’ll fight for it with me.

Reigniting the American Dream: Jobs, Freedom & Citizen Leadership

Barran for Congress: Platform & Priorities

Reigniting the American Dream for Small Business, Working Families, and a Freer Future

Where I Stand on the Issues

I believe government should do a few things well and leave the rest to the people. Here’s how I’ll fight to restore the American Dream — issue by issue.

Small Business & Jobs

• Cut red tape and unnecessary regulations that stifle small business growth.
• Expand access to loans and capital for rural entrepreneurs.
• Create tax incentives for startups and family-owned businesses.
• Invest in trade education and apprenticeships to build tomorrow’s workforce.

Public Safety

• Fully fund local law enforcement and community policing.
• Remove legal barriers that prevent officers from doing their jobs.
• Increase federal grants for training, recruitment, and mental health support.
• Crack down on organized retail theft and drug trafficking.

Infrastructure

• Invest in new bridge crossings across the Columbia River to reduce congestion.
• Upgrade roads and freight corridors critical to small business and trade.
• Streamline federal permitting to cut delays and costs.
• Secure federal funding for rural broadband and digital access.

Housing

• Incentivize duplex and triplex construction in Opportunity Zones for first-time buyers.
• Block private equity firms from dominating local housing markets with federal subsidies.
• Reform lending rules so working families can qualify fairly for mortgages.
• Cut permitting red tape to lower the cost of new housing.

Education

• Protect parental rights in education and curriculum transparency.
• Expand apprenticeships, trade schools, and STEM pathways.
• Secure fair federal funding for rural and small-town schools.
• Support school choice and local control.

Veterans & Military Families

• Ensure veterans receive timely healthcare and benefits.
• Expand job training programs for veterans transitioning to civilian life.
• Increase mental health resources and suicide prevention initiatives.
• Modernize VA facilities and cut bureaucratic wait times.

Immigration & Border Security

• Secure the border with effective enforcement and modern technology.
• End loopholes that encourage illegal immigration.
• Create a rational, legal immigration process aligned with American values.
• Stop exploitation of migrant workers that hurts citizens and legal immigrants alike.

Energy & Environment

• Promote an “all of the above” energy strategy — natural gas, nuclear, hydro, and renewables.
• Cut burdensome regulations that punish rural industries.
• Incentivize conservation through market solutions, not federal overreach.
• Invest in infrastructure that balances energy independence with environmental stewardship.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Balance the budget by cutting waste, fraud, and duplicative programs.
• Begin paying down the national debt to restore the strength of the dollar.
• Audit federal agencies for efficiency and accountability.
• Oppose new taxes that burden working families and small businesses.

Healthcare

• Increase transparency in healthcare pricing and insurance costs.
• Expand access to rural healthcare services.
• Cut bureaucratic barriers for doctors and nurses.
• Protect Medicare and Social Security from cuts while reforming inefficiencies.

Constitutional Rights

• Protect the Second Amendment and the right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms.
• Defend free speech, religious liberty, and parental rights.
• Limit federal overreach into local communities.
• Ensure due process and fairness in the justice system.

Conclusion

This platform is simple: empower people, not bureaucrats. By cutting red tape, supporting small businesses, and investing in the basics — safety, housing, education, infrastructure — we can restore the American Dream and put power back where it belongs: in the hands of the people.

—Antony Barran

Candidate for Congress, WA-3

Why I Believe We Will Win!

The Path to Victory

1. The Fundamentals Are in Our Favor

Washington’s 3rd District is rated R+3, meaning more Republican voters are registered here than Democrats. By all accounts, this should be a Republican-held seat. But for two consecutive cycles, we’ve lost it. Why? Because we’ve run the wrong kind of campaign for the voters who live here. This district leans moderate. Voters care about inflation, transportation, job growth, energy policy, and the rising cost of living. These are economic and operational concerns—not ideological ones. They want someone who understands business, knows how to solve problems, and won’t waste time on partisan theater.

This is where our campaign begins.

2. I Bring What the Last Candidate Couldn’t

Joe Kent is a patriot with an honorable record of service. His personal sacrifice, including the tragic loss of his wife, commands respect from all of us. But his background is in military and geo-political affairs—not business. Because of that, he ran a campaign focused on foreign policy and ideology. That ceded the economic conversation to the incumbent, who used it to position herself as a moderate and win over swing voters.

That won’t happen this time. I’ve spent my life in the private sector. I’ve built companies from the ground up. I understand the pressures facing small businesses and working families because I’ve lived them. I know how to operate in the real world—and how to bring that experience to Washington, D.C.

3. We’re Running This Campaign Like a Business

This is not a vanity project. It’s a mission with a strategy and an execution plan. We’ve built a campaign grounded in data, messaging discipline, and ROI. We are consumer marketers—not career political consultants. We understand how to earn attention, build trust, and move people to action. We’re using tested tools: audience segmentation, A/B messaging, digital targeting, conversion tracking. The same techniques used to build billion-dollar brands. Our budget is lean. Our team is accountable. And our focus is results. Translation for donors: Your money isn’t going into a black hole of TV buys and D.C. consulting fees. It’s being deployed with business logic and performance metrics.

4. We’re Building the Ground Game No One Else Has

Campaigns love to talk about grassroots. We’re building one. It’s called Team 1655: Voices of the 3rd—a volunteer network with one voice for every 265 voters in the district. Each member commits to reaching 10 Voters per week. We will be spreading the message on a 1:1 basis. We’re not renting attention through ad buys. We’re earning trust, county by county, block by block, voter by voter. This isn’t theory. It’s action. We’re building a scalable, peer-driven field operation that reaches real voters where they live, work, and worship.

This is how we win.