Click to open player flyout Click to open player flyout to access more features
Click to open player flyout Click to open player flyout to access more features
Open Modal
kvi_radio_clr-2
Listen Live
Listen Live
Facebook-f

EXCLUSIVE: From Midway to Meltdown — The Real Story Behind the WA State Fair Controversy

State Fair

For most Washingtonians, September means cooler evenings, back-to-school shopping, and one of the state’s most cherished traditions, the Washington State Fair in Puyallup. For me, it’s personal.

When I first moved to Seattle, two local events instantly captured my heart: Seafair and the Puyallup Fair, as we still called it back then. My family would go four or five times each season. I took youth groups there. I went with my father-in-law, with just my wife, with my kids, and even by myself. It wasn’t just about rides or fair food; it was the atmosphere, the mix of rural and urban, families from every corner of the state, the unmistakable sense that this was an event for everyone.

So when I started working for KVI and found out that the station was a partner with the Washington State Fair, it was a proud moment. I’ve been part of event partnerships before, back when I worked in event rentals, I had the bounce house contracts for Seafair. I’ll never forget the first morning I set them up at Genesee Park, hours before the gates opened, watching the inflatables come to life with my company’s name on them. It felt like putting my stamp on something I loved.

Last year, I finally had the same experience at the Washington State Fair. KVI has sponsored Military Appreciation Day for years, but until then, scheduling conflicts kept me from attending in an official capacity. Walking through the gates and seeing the KVI logo at the entrance, then at our booth near the food alley, was a moment of real pride. Friends and listeners sent me pictures from the Fair: “Are you here?” “Will we see you today?” My own son took a photo under the sign with his friends. It felt like being part of the fabric of the Fair itself.

That’s why this past weekend’s controversy hit me so hard.

The Letter to a Pro-Life Group

After returning from my Sabbath offline time, I saw posts from State Rep. Travis Couture (R-Allyn) sharing a June 4 letter from the Fair to the Alliance for Life, a pro-life group that had requested to return as an exhibitor.

The letter acknowledged the group’s application for “reinstatement of participation” in the Fair’s Northwest Connections exhibit this September. But after review, the Fair’s board of directors decided to “uphold” a previous decision to decline the request. It reminded the group that “previous participation in exhibits and attractions at the Washington State Fair does not guarantee continued involvement in perpetuity,” and stated that the exhibit had been “reviewed and evolving to meet our current guests’ interests within the alignment of the Fair’s mission and values.”

Then came the most controversial line:

“The Fair acknowledges that we have different perspectives regarding your booth and its display. We believe that your efforts would be better suited at events that more align with your mission.”

Critics saw this as the Fair admitting that the group’s values, specifically its pro-life advocacy, no longer fit.

In an exclusive interview my show, Fair spokesperson Stacy Van Horne stressed two points: the decision was about location and fit, not ideology, and the wording of the letter was poor.

“We will take full responsibility in how that letter was worded and how it could be misinterpreted,” Van Horne said. “That’s on us. It was never meant to say that what they believe in goes against what we believe in. We’re sorry about that..”

What is Northwest Connections?

Van Horne explained that Northwest Connections is inside the Expo Hall and used to be the Fair’s education building, historically featuring “student performances and school programs.”

In 2019, it was combined with Northwest Outdoors to create “cohesive programming” that now includes archery, ping pong, and informational booths from groups like Catholic Community Services.

“The intent is that it needs to be educational,” Van Horne said. “These booths are free, so of course everyone would love to get in there, but we have to consider what fits the space. Ultimately, some conversations were had, and there was a difference on what is an appropriate display. It just didn’t fit what we felt was family friendly for people who come through that department.”

GOP Pushes Back

In a statement announcing they would skip this year’s Fair, the Pierce County Republican Party said the new rules “prohibit us from offering merchandise for donations to support our work, as well as gathering signatures for citizen-led initiatives.” They called these activities “an important part of our outreach” and said the restrictions “single out and limit the ability of organizations like ours to fully engage with the community.”

To understand the significance, you need to know how political booths at the Fair work. For years, both Democrats and Republicans have been present. The GOP offsets their booth cost by selling hats, shirts, and other merchandise, which can cover $6,000–$9,000 depending on the year, and by sharing the space with initiative campaigns, which chip in funding. Gathering signatures is one of their primary reasons for being there.

The Fair’s official statement to me stressed that the rules, no political merchandise sales and no signature gathering inside marketplace buildings, have always existed and apply equally to all exhibitors. Instead, they said, groups can request space in a “designated free speech area” by the Green Gate. They emphasized that Republicans were not denied space outright and that discussions were ongoing.

Here’s the problem:

  1. These restrictions have never been enforced this way before.
  2. The “free speech area” is in a low-traffic zone far from the main gates.

I’ve been to the GOP booth many times, both in full KVI gear and as just another visitor with my family. The volunteers aren’t aggressive. They’re polite, they offer information, and they ask politely if you’d like to sign something. I’ve had the same experience with other politically affiliated booths, even ones I strongly disagree with.

The GOP has now publicly stated it will not participate this year under the new rules, calling them a restriction on free expression and grassroots engagement. That statement may make it harder to reverse course if the Fair reconsiders.

McMullan’s Account of the Dispute

Pierce County GOP Chair Dave McMullan also joined the show and described how the dispute unfolded. He said the GOP had exhibited for years, paying $15,000 for a booth and buying more than 200 admission tickets for volunteers. They offset those costs by selling political merchandise and collecting signatures for initiatives.

According to McMullan, tensions began at the April Spring Fair when the GOP booth displayed a “Support Your Local ICE Agent” flag and was asked to remove it after a complaint. McMullan complied immediately, but later was told the Fair wanted to meet before approving their fall booth.

At a June meeting, Fair staff raised concerns about some merchandise wording and “trying to eliminate us from doing initiatives at the booth.” McMullan offered to remove anything they deemed controversial.

Weeks later, he received a new contract banning signature gathering entirely and limiting merchandise to “current candidate-specific or issue-specific” campaigns.

“Without [merchandise sales and signature gathering], we can’t afford it,” McMullan said. “It’s not just the cost, it removes the reason people come to our booth in the first place.”

He said follow-up emails went unanswered, forcing the GOP to announce they would not attend:

“I never wanted to attack the Fair. I’m totally pro-Fair, but this is absolutely ridiculous.”

McMullan also emphasized this is about more than his party:

“If I found out the Democrat Party was being shunted out, I’d be down there raising holy hell. It’s not about my party, it’s about the dialogue and exchange of ideas.”

Is there a chance for a resolution?

Frankly, I’d rather see this resolved and the old status quo restored, where Democrats, Republicans, pro-life, pro-choice, and even groups like “Jews for Jesus” (which personally frustrates me) can coexist at the Fair. That’s the way it’s always been.

Because if the Washington State Fair, one of the last great nonpartisan gathering places in our state, becomes another venue where certain viewpoints are quietly edged out, it will lose a piece of what makes it so special. And for me, someone who has loved this tradition for years, that would be heartbreaking.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Recommended Posts

570 KVI © 2025 Powered by OneCMS™ | Served by InterTech Media LLC
Loading...