OLYMPIA, Wash. — He's running against Democrat Patty Murray for the U.S. Senate.
"Gridlock has paralyzed Washington, D.C. Our debt is $18 trillion. We're about 30 days away from another government shutdown and I decided instead of talking about it I want to do something about it," Vance said.
But Vance has had praise for Murray in the past, calling her a "lawmaker's lawmaker" plus "tough and experienced.
While Murray won praise for her budget work with Republican Paul Ryan, Vance says they didn't reduce the $18 trillion debt.
Still, Murray defeated a long line of top tier Republicans to win four terms in the Senate.
"To be a serious candidate you got to have some holy water sprinkled on you from Washington, D.C. that says let me right you big checks. That's not going to happen," he said.
In fact Dotzauer thinks the battle to reelect Murray will help other Democrats too.
"She'll run a very strong campaign that will have down-ballot significance for other Democrats in Washington state."
Chris Vance calls himself the "underdog," but doesn't agree that he's a long shot.