Capitol Credentialing Debate Continues in Washington State

Lawsuit over media access to state legislature remains unresolved

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:53am

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A debate over media credentialing at the Washington state Capitol continues, with a group of independent and conservative journalists suing the state legislature and the Capitol Correspondents Association (CCA) over denied press credentials. A federal judge recently denied a request for a temporary restraining order, ruling the legislature and CCA were within their rights to deny the credentials, but the plaintiffs say they will continue to litigate the case.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between traditional media outlets, advocacy journalists, and state governments over access and credentialing for the Capitol press corps. It raises questions about press freedom, the role of media organizations in credentialing their peers, and how to balance transparency in government with concerns over misinformation.

The details

In March 2025, the CCA, a group of journalists covering state politics, officially stopped advising the Washington State Legislature on media credentialing. However, the CCA continues to hold significant influence through its established guidelines. In early 2025, the CCA denied press credentials to two journalists - Brandi Kruse and Jonathan Choe - because they were not considered 'bona fide journalists' under the CCA's criteria. This led to threats of legal action. In early 2026, the legislature denied permanent press credentials to several independent and conservative journalists, including Kruse, Choe and radio host Ari Hoffman, prompting a lawsuit from the Citizens Action Defense Fund claiming First Amendment violations. A federal judge recently denied the plaintiffs' request for a temporary restraining order, ruling the legislature and CCA were within their rights.

  • In March 2025, the Capitol Correspondents Association officially stopped advising the Washington State Legislature on media credentialing.
  • In early 2025, the CCA denied press credentials to journalists Brandi Kruse and Jonathan Choe.
  • In early 2026, the legislature denied permanent press credentials to several independent and conservative journalists.
  • On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge David Estudillo denied a request for a temporary restraining order from the plaintiffs.

The players

Capitol Correspondents Association (CCA)

A group of journalists covering state politics in Washington that previously advised the legislature on media credentialing, and continues to hold significant influence through its established guidelines.

Brandi Kruse

A podcaster who was denied press credentials by the CCA in 2025 for not being considered a 'bona fide journalist'.

Jonathan Choe

A reporter who was denied press credentials by the CCA in 2025 for not being considered a 'bona fide journalist'.

Ari Hoffman

A radio host who was denied permanent press credentials by the Washington state legislature in 2026.

Citizens Action Defense Fund (CADF)

A group that sued the Washington state legislature and CCA, claiming the denial of press credentials to Kruse, Choe and Hoffman violated their First Amendment rights.

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What they’re saying

“I mean, you have this organization that's set up … that's working for the government to provide guidelines, and then those guidelines are used by the House to exclude other members of the media. And when those guidelines are challenged in the state action, instead of jumping on the side of the media, they're defending excluding other members of the media. That seems really odd. And then they're covering the story. You know, it's good they disclosed it.”

— Jackson Maynard, Executive Director and lawyer, Citizens Action Defense Fund

What’s next

The plaintiffs say they will continue to litigate the case until they either prevail or exhaust all legal options, with the goal of getting their clients the access they are entitled to as members of the press.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between traditional media outlets, advocacy journalists, and state governments over access and credentialing for the Capitol press corps. It raises important questions about press freedom, the role of media organizations in credentialing their peers, and how to balance transparency in government with concerns over misinformation.