Overview

• Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Republican former US Representative Dave Reichert debated key statewide issues in their first gubernatorial face-off.
• Reichert made headlines by stating he would not vote for either Trump or Harris in the upcoming presidential election, distancing himself from Trump.
• Both candidates emphasized their tough-on-crime stances, with Ferguson proposing a $100 million grant for local police and Reichert advocating for stricter penalties for youth and drug-related crimes.
• Ferguson attacked Reichert’s anti-abortion record, highlighting his past support for restrictive abortion legislation, while Reichert struggled to defend his position.
• Ferguson was criticized for not providing clear answers on several topics, including the impact of the Climate Commitment Act on gas prices and plans for transportation infrastructure.