SEATTLE (AP) 鈥� Washington state's longtime attorney general and a former sheriff known for his work hunting down the are vying to become the next governor of a Democratic stronghold that hasn鈥檛 had an open race for the state's top job in more than a decade.
Democrat Bob Ferguson, who has served as attorney general since 2013, will face former U.S. Rep. in Tuesday鈥檚 primary election, in a race that has featured weeks of intense sparring between the two front-runners in a field of more than two dozen candidates.
Ferguson has framed Reichert, a Republican, as a two-faced candidate whose more moderate rhetoric during this campaign does not align with statements he has made in private or his actions in Congress. Meanwhile, Reichert has painted Ferguson as a candidate who wouldn鈥檛 change anything about the state, while providing a continuation of 鈥渙ne-party rule.鈥�
In a state with a reputation as solid Democratic territory that hasn鈥檛 had a Republican governor in nearly 40 years, any conservative candidate faces an uphill battle. But polling shows Reichert not far behind Ferguson and the race is considered competitive.
Under the top two vote-getters in each of Tuesday鈥檚 races advance to the November election, regardless of party. Experts predict a Ferguson and Reichert matchup in November.
Military veteran Semi Bird also is a key figure in the race after being endorsed by the Washington State Republican Party. But he has become a polarizing figure amid accusations of , as well as a in 1993 for putting his father's name and social security number on a credit application. Bird said he has not been convicted of a crime since then and regrets what he did.
Democrat Mark Mullet, a state senator from Issaquah, also has garnered attention as a moderate candidate who would bring the perspective of a small business owner.
The success of a Republican candidate in the governor's race will depend on their ability to build crossover appeal to independent voters and moderate Democratic voters, said Sandeep Kaushik, a Democratic political consultant with Sound View Strategies.
鈥淭he only way a Republican can win a statewide race in Washington state is if they convince voters in the middle of the state, who lean blue, that they鈥檙e a different kind of Republican and willing to meet those voters halfway, willing to break with MAGA, break with the Republican Party,鈥� he said. 鈥淩eichert has done none of that, so far as I can see.鈥�
The campaign between Ferguson and Reichert has consistently focused on abortion. Ferguson鈥檚 team often references Reichert鈥檚 history of voting for a nationwide starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy as evidence of him being 鈥渨ildly out of touch with the majority of Washingtonians.鈥�
Abortion has long been legal in Washington until viability, a determination left up to the judgement of a health care provider, and after that in cases where the pregnant individual's health or life is threatened.
Reichert has pushed back on Ferguson鈥檚 characterization and said his only plan for the state鈥檚 abortion law if elected governor is to enforce and support it. He accused Ferguson of trying to scare women into not voting for him.
Reichert said as governor he would prioritize public safety, referencing his 33 years, including two terms as sheriff, at the King County Sheriff鈥檚 Office and the dozens of sheriffs who have endorsed him.
He was the first King County detective assigned to the case of the Green River Killer, named for the waterway where the first bodies were found in 1982. Gary Ridgway, who killed 49 women, was arrested and convicted in 2003 during Reichert鈥檚 second term as sheriff.
Reichert said he also would focus on curbing homelessness, as the Seattle area has one of the . He suggested moving people from the streets to state-owned land, including McNeil Island, where a facility for sexual predators is located.
鈥淵ou tell me which one is more ridiculous: Living under a freeway in tents or maybe making a nice, warm, comfortable place on McNeil Island or Evergreen College,鈥� he told The Associated Press.
Ferguson was endorsed by state Democratic leaders, including U.S. Senate Pro Tempore Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee, the longest serving governor in office in the country, who is not seeking a fourth term. Ferguson points to his record as attorney general, including reaching multimillion-dollar settlements with major and standing up to former President Donald Trump.
But Republican state Rep. J.T. Wilcox said people in Washington state may be looking for a major leadership change after three terms of Inslee.
鈥淧residents usually leave office not at a high point, but at a point when people are sort of ready for them to be gone,鈥� Wilcox said. 鈥淚 think that that may have happened a little bit with Gov. Inslee. Twelve years, people feel like, 鈥極K we鈥檝e had all this, I鈥檓 getting tired of all the same rhetoric, maybe it is time for a change.鈥欌��
Washington is a vote-by-mail state and many voters have already cast their ballots before Election Day.
Hallie Golden, The Associated Press
