Chris Vance (politician)
Chris Vance | |
|---|---|
Vance in 2020 | |
| Chair of the Washington Republican Party | |
| In office March 14, 2001 – January 28, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Don Benton |
| Succeeded by | Diane Tebelius |
| Member of the King County Council from the 13th district | |
| In office January 1, 1994 – March 28, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Les Thomas |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 31st district | |
| In office January 14, 1991 – December 31, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Ernie Crane |
| Succeeded by | Les Thomas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 1, 1962 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2017–2025) |
| Spouse | Ann Vance |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Western Washington University (BA) |
Christopher M. Vance (born May 1, 1962) is an American politician who served two terms on the Metropolitan King County Council and is a former member of the Washington State Legislature. Vance is former chair of the Washington State Republican Party. He and his wife Ann raised their son and daughter in Auburn, Washington and now live in Sumner, Washington. Vance ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate, losing to Democratic Senator Patty Murray in the 2016 election by 18 percentage points.
In September 2017 he announced that he had left the Republican Party and had become an independent. Vance was briefly leader of the Forward Party in Washington State until his resignation, he was replaced by Krist Novoselic.
Since the 2016 election Vance has been a leader in the "Never Trump" community of current and former Republicans. He currently considers himself "a Republican exile." Vance now has a leadership role with advocacy group, Our Republican Legacy, which is working to return the GOP to traditional conservative principles.