the expansion of Medicaid. She has explicitly declined to endorse a full overhaul of the U.S. health care system stating "I don't think it’s realistic to expect that we’re going to create an entire public system, and then tell everyone they have to give up their current system to go into it." 2018 U.S. House candidacy After months of speculation, Brown announced her candidacy for United States House of Representatives on August 31, 2017. She challenged Republican incumbent Cathy McMorris Rodgers in Washington's 5th congressional district, which has not had a Democratic representative since former House Speaker Tom Foley lost reelection to George Nethercutt in 1994 during the Republican Revolution. During a December 20, 2017, town hall, Brown opposed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Republican-supported legislation which had been passed earlier that month, which lowered personal and corporate tax rates, and repealed the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act. McMorris Rodgers, as the Chair of the Republican House Caucus, was one of the major proponents of the legislation. Brown criticized the bill, saying it was unfairly beneficial to wealthier Americans, increased the deficit, and forced tax cuts to programs such as health care and agriculture. In the August blanket primary, Brown received 45.36% of the vote to 49.29 percent for McMorris Rodgers. As of early August 2018, Brown had raised about $2.4 million and McMorris Rodgers had raised about $3.8 million for their campaigns. In the November general election, Brown was defeated by McMorris Rodges, garnering 45.26% of the vote to McMorris Rodgers' 54.74%. This was the best showing for a Democrat in the district in over two decades. Though she had been mentioned as a potential candidate for Mayor of Spokane in 2019, she denied she had any intention of running. Personal life Brown married Spokane City Council policy adviser Brian McClatchey on October 9, 2017. The two had met in 2010 while campaigning for Spokane Mayor Mary Verner's re-election campaign. Brown has one child from a previous relationship. References External links Washington State Senate - Senator Lisa Brown (D) 3rd Legislative District archived official WA State Senate website Project Vote Smart - Senator Lisa J. Brown (WA) profile Follow the Money - Lisa Brown 2006 2004 2000 1996 1994 1992 campaign contributions 1956 births Living people State cabinet secretaries of Washington (state) Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives University of Colorado