The Office of the Governor is a state’s most prominent and high-profile position. The governor appoints heads of departments, agencies and institutions that execute and enforce the laws of the state of Washington, signs bills into law from the state legislature and has the power to veto. The governor also has the power to pardon individuals and convene extra legislative sessions in extraordinary circumstances, and chooses appointees to fill vacancies that occur midterm for certain elected positions, such as judges. Gov. Jay Inslee has held this four-year office since 2012 and is not running for reelection. This position has been held by Democrats since 1985. This is a partisan race.
Related reading:
With Inslee out, candidates are lining up for Washington governor (Cascade PBS)
Washington governor’s race will be a close one, poll finds (Cascade PBS)
For most Washington voters, the governor’s race is just beginning (Cascade PBS)
The Office of the Governor is a state’s most prominent and high-profile position. The governor appoints heads of departments, agencies and institutions that execute and enforce the laws of the state of Washington, signs bills into law from the state legislature and has the power to veto. The governor also has the power to pardon individuals and convene extra legislative sessions in extraordinary circumstances, and chooses appointees to fill vacancies that occur midterm for certain elected positions, such as judges. Gov. Jay Inslee has held this four-year office since 2012 and is not running for reelection. This position has been held by Democrats since 1985. This is a partisan race.
Related reading:
With Inslee out, candidates are lining up for Washington governor (Cascade PBS)
Washington governor’s race will be a close one, poll finds (Cascade PBS)
For most Washington voters, the governor’s race is just beginning (Cascade PBS)
Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, started his legal career in Spokane and was sworn in as Washington’s 18th Attorney General in 2013. As Attorney General, Ferguson successfully blocked a travel ban directed at Muslim-majority countries by President Donald Trump; won $1.2 billion from opioid companies for their role in Washington’s opioid epidemic; and obtained a Washington Supreme Court ruling against a florist who refused to sell flowers to a same-sex couple. According to his campaign website, Ferguson says public safety is his top priority, saying he would hire more law enforcement personnel and cited his opioid company settlements that were directed toward treatment and first responders. Ferguson is running on a platform that includes keeping special interests accountable, protecting the environment and addressing public safety by combating gun violence and arresting offenders who violate the terms of their parole. Endorsers include governors Jay Inslee and Chris Gregoire, U.S. senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, dozens of labor groups and Native nations, local Democratic Party groups and other local officials.
Bob Ferguson PDC link
Bob Ferguson campaign website
Bob Ferguson State Voter Guide
Related reading:
Washington governor’s race sparks stricter campaign-finance rule (Cascade PBS)
Attorney General Bob Ferguson on using his platform to pursue justice (Cascade PBS)
A Conversation with Bob Ferguson (Cascade PBS)
AG Ferguson to Trump: Travel ban is still unconstitutional (Cascade PBS)
Seattle judge blocks Trump's immigration ban (Cascade PBS)
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, started his legal career in Spokane and was sworn in as Washington’s 18th Attorney General in 2013. As Attorney General, Ferguson successfully blocked a travel ban directed at Muslim-majority countries by President Donald Trump; won $1.2 billion from opioid companies for their role in Washington’s opioid epidemic; and obtained a Washington Supreme Court ruling against a florist who refused to sell flowers to a same-sex couple. According to his campaign website, Ferguson says public safety is his top priority, saying he would hire more law enforcement personnel and cited his opioid company settlements that were directed toward treatment and first responders. Ferguson is running on a platform that includes keeping special interests accountable, protecting the environment and addressing public safety by combating gun violence and arresting offenders who violate the terms of their parole. Endorsers include governors Jay Inslee and Chris Gregoire, U.S. senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, dozens of labor groups and Native nations, local Democratic Party groups and other local officials.
Bob Ferguson PDC link
Bob Ferguson campaign website
Bob Ferguson State Voter Guide
Related reading:
Washington governor’s race sparks stricter campaign-finance rule (Cascade PBS)
Attorney General Bob Ferguson on using his platform to pursue justice (Cascade PBS)
A Conversation with Bob Ferguson (Cascade PBS)
AG Ferguson to Trump: Travel ban is still unconstitutional (Cascade PBS)
Seattle judge blocks Trump's immigration ban (Cascade PBS)
After spending eight years as King County Sheriff, Dave Reichert entered national politics in 2004 after he was elected as a U.S. representative of Washington’s 8th Congressional District, a politically split district that includes parts of Pierce County and King County’s Eastside as well as parts of rural Chelan and Kittitas counties. After Reichert decided not to run for an eighth term in 2018, Democrat U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier flipped the seat blue. During his time in Congress, Reichert served on the Ways and Means Committee and at times voted differently than the majority of his Republican colleagues, such as when he opposed a GOP health care bill in 2017 and voted to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” bill allowing for LGBTQ+ U.S. military service members to express their sexual orientation without being discharged. However, his refusal to hold public town halls with voters while President Donald Trump was in office incurred criticism for being closed off to the voices of constituents. According to his campaign website, Reichert says his background in law enforcement, including 25 years with the King County Sheriff’s Office and two decades chasing the high-profile Green River Killer, has given him a strong belief in the need to address high crime rates in the state. Other priorities include addressing Washington’s rising cost of living, creating jobs and supporting public schools. Endorsers include dozens of county sheriffs, outgoing U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-WA5, former Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward and other local officials.
Dave Reichert PDC link
Dave Reichert campaign website
Dave Reichert State Voter Guide
Related reading:
Former Sen. Mona Das and Rep. Dave Reichert join crowded WA races (Cascade PBS)
Raul Garcia drops WA governor bid after Dave Reichert announces run (Cascade PBS)
Dave Reichert
After spending eight years as King County Sheriff, Dave Reichert entered national politics in 2004 after he was elected as a U.S. representative of Washington’s 8th Congressional District, a politically split district that includes parts of Pierce County and King County’s Eastside as well as parts of rural Chelan and Kittitas counties. After Reichert decided not to run for an eighth term in 2018, Democrat U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier flipped the seat blue. During his time in Congress, Reichert served on the Ways and Means Committee and at times voted differently than the majority of his Republican colleagues, such as when he opposed a GOP health care bill in 2017 and voted to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” bill allowing for LGBTQ+ U.S. military service members to express their sexual orientation without being discharged. However, his refusal to hold public town halls with voters while President Donald Trump was in office incurred criticism for being closed off to the voices of constituents. According to his campaign website, Reichert says his background in law enforcement, including 25 years with the King County Sheriff’s Office and two decades chasing the high-profile Green River Killer, has given him a strong belief in the need to address high crime rates in the state. Other priorities include addressing Washington’s rising cost of living, creating jobs and supporting public schools. Endorsers include dozens of county sheriffs, outgoing U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-WA5, former Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward and other local officials.
Dave Reichert PDC link
Dave Reichert campaign website
Dave Reichert State Voter Guide
Related reading:
Former Sen. Mona Das and Rep. Dave Reichert join crowded WA races (Cascade PBS)
Raul Garcia drops WA governor bid after Dave Reichert announces run (Cascade PBS)