Washington state AG and ex-sheriff face off in governor’s race

SEATTLE– Former U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, a two-term sheriff known for helping hunt a prolific serial killer, is seeking to become Washington’s first GOP governor in four decades. But he faces a difficult hurdle in the Democratic stronghold against longtime Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a darling of liberals for his many lawsuits against the Trump administration.

The two candidates have traded accusations of dishonesty for months, especially when it comes to abortion rights, as they fight to lead a state that hasn’t had an open race for its top job in more than a decade.

They are looking for a replacement Democratic Governor Jay Insleethe nation’s longest-serving governor, who declined to seek a fourth term.

Reichert, 74, has struggled to gain broad appeal among independent and moderate Democratic voters — or to gain unified support from the state Republican Party, which backed a rival in the primaries. And now that ballots are being mailed out, his path to victory looks increasingly shaky.

“I think not only has partisanship in the state shifted more toward Democrats over the last decade, but the Republican Party has also become less unified, especially since 2016,” said Cornell Clayton, director of Thomas S. . Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service. “And that hurts the Republican candidates.”

Ferguson, 59, has far outpaced Reichert, raising more than $13 million, while Reichert earned more than $6 million, according to recent state campaign finance data. And during the August primary, Ferguson received about 45% of the vote qualify for the general electioncompared to about 27% for Reichert. Another Republican in that race, military veteran Semi Bird, got about 11%.

Under the state’s primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election.

Throughout the race, Ferguson has leveraged his nearly 12 years as attorney general, during which he gained national attention for repeatedly suing former President Donald Trump’s administration, including filing the lawsuit that blocked Trump’s initial travel ban on citizens of several Muslim-majority countries.

Ferguson also prosecuted three Tacoma police officers for the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who was held face down on a sidewalk while he said he couldn’t breathe. A jury acquitted them of second-degree murder and manslaughter last year.

He and Reichert have each worked to position themselves as candidates for law and order as the state faces a rise in violent crimes. Washington has ranked last in the nation in law enforcement officers per capita for more than a dozen years in a row, according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Both candidates have pledged to deploy more police. Ferguson’s plan includes providing $100 million to help local jurisdictions bring on more officers, including through hiring bonuses. Reichert has said elected officials must show they support law enforcement, including by protecting qualified immunity laws, to recruit more officers.

Reichert has worked at the King County Sheriff’s Office for 33 years, including two terms as sheriff, and has been endorsed by dozens of sheriffs. He helped track down the Green River serial killer, Gary Ridgway, who murdered 49 women and was arrested and convicted in 2003 during Reichert’s second term as sheriff.

The issue of abortion has also been a major point of contention for the two candidates. The procedure has long been legal until its viability in the state, a decision left to the discretion of a healthcare provider, and thereafter in cases where the patient’s health was threatened.

Ferguson has raised on his website the possibility of pursuing an amendment to the state constitution to strengthen protections against abortion. He also frequently references Reichert’s history during his seven terms in Congress during which he voted nationally ban on abortion beginning at twenty weeks’ gestation, as evidence that he was “out of touch with the majority of Washingtonians.”

Reichert has pushed back, saying his only plan for the state’s abortion law is to enforce and support it. “I will protect your rights, ladies,” he said recently debate.

When it comes to homelessness, their plans differ significantly. As the Seattle area sees one of the the highest homelessness rates in the countryReichert has proposed moving people off the streets onto state land, including McNeil Island, where a sexual predator facility is located. During the debate, Ferguson called that “a very unserious proposal for a very serious challenge.” He wants to increase affordable housing, along with mental health and substance use services.

Ballots in Washington State are mailed at least 18 days before Election Day. Washingtonians can also vote in person through an accessible voting center.