sam reed and other republicans in washington organized a symposium to discuss the future of the republican party in the state in 1969. the event, branded the cascade conference, ultimately became an annual meeting. in 1990 attendees of the cascade conference organized the mainstream republicans of washington as a permanent advocacy group. in 2002 the republican main street partnership and the mainstream republicans of washington announced a working partnership "to recruit, promote and support quality moderate republicans for elective office in washington state and nationwide."