When the two men vying to be Washington’s next governor debated last week in Seattle, Republican Dave Reichert seemed rattled and unprepared, stumbling through answers and unable to respond to Democrat Bob Ferguson’s criticisms.
Even Reichert’s appearance – no jacket, no tie – signaled to some that he might not be taking this endeavor seriously.
Wednesday, when they met again in Spokane, the former congressman came in a suit and tie, and with his talking points ready.
“A Democrat House, a Democrat Senate working together with, yes, a Republican governor. Mind-blowing, right?,” he said in his closing comments to the audience in Fox Theater. “We can show the country what it means for a divided state like Washington to come together to fix what’s broken, change what’s wrong and do what’s right.”
His closing offered a contrast to Ferguson, the state attorney general, who followed and sought to cast himself as the reformer who would change the culture of government in tackling the myriad challenges facing the state, on issues ranging from crime to housing costs to education.
“You had a chance to hear two very different visions for the state of Washington,” Ferguson said. “I have never been satisfied with the status quo. We need a governor who is a change agent, at the same time a governor who will defend our core freedoms.”
For Reichert, it was a stronger performance. Whether it’s enough to change the direction of his campaign is unclear.
Ferguson hammered Reichert for past positions on issues like abortion and climate change that could hurt the GOP contender’s appeal with the moderate voters he would need to win.
And Democrats have had a lock on the job for 40 years, winning every gubernatorial election since 1984.
Ferguson won last month’s statewide primary with 44.9% of the vote followed by Reichert with 27.5%. At this stage, Ferguson has raised twice as much money as Reichert and recent statewide polling shows him with a comfortable lead among voters.
As he tries to gain traction, Reichert is zeroed in on Ferguson’s tenure as attorney general, seeking to tie him to policies put in place by retiring Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee and the Democratic-controlled Legislature – policies he says are to blame for residents’ concerns about public safety and higher costs of living.
The winner of the Nov. 5 election will be Washington’s first new governor in 12 years.
The debate, hosted by the Association of Washington Business and Greater Spokane Inc., was likely the final time the two men will share a stage in this election.
Here are three notable takeaways.
Agreement on abortion
Ferguson contends abortion is the most critical difference between he and Reichert, who voted while in Congress to ban most abortions after 20 weeks. He assails his opponent for voting in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood.
On Wednesday, given a chance to question each other, Ferguson asked Reichert to explain to the women of Washington state why he wanted to unravel the state’s reproductive freedom laws.
Reichert said he doesn’t and he won’t. “I will protect your rights ladies. You have the right to make that choice.”
Later, each said they support the laws on the books regarding abortion, including the state’s stockpiling of the abortion drug, mifepristone.
DEI
Reichert was asked what guidance he would give to the executive branch’s Office of Equity in light of growing opposition to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives in government, schools and businesses.
“We all need to treat each other with respect and dignity. Do we really need a curriculum to teach people how to relate to each other, be kind to each other, respect each other no matter what color, race, creed or religion,” he said. “I don’t agree with DEI but do agree with treating people with respect.”
Ferguson seized on those comments, pointing to remarks by Reichert opposing marriage equality.
“You talk about treating everybody with respect. You said marriage is only between a man and woman, and I’m sorry, but that stings for LGBTQ Washingtonians. And I want those individuals to know that they have a choice of a governor who supports their freedom to marry the person they love,” he said.
Reichert responded sharply, saying Ferguson lied about his position.
“I happen to believe a marriage is between a man and a woman. That’s my faith,” he said. “You have the right to choose who you love. I am not going to impose my religion on you.”
Donald Trump never came up
Throughout the first debate, Ferguson worked tirelessly to tie Reichert to former president Donald Trump, who is this year’s GOP presidential nominee.
He mentioned Trump so often that Reichert – who would publicly declare he would not vote for Trump or the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris – snapped: “You’re obsessed with Donald Trump. I’ve moved past that.”
On Wednesday, Ferguson didn’t bring up the former president.
How are the campaigns spinning it?
“The contrast on the other side of the stage was hard to miss, as anti-choice Congressman Dave Reichert struggled for the second week in a row to explain his repeated votes for banning abortions while in Congress,” Bayley Burgess, Ferguson’s campaign manager said in a statement after the debate. “No matter what he says to mislead voters, the recordings of Reichert behind closed doors speak for themselves: he supports Trump and loves Trump’s policies, he supports a national abortion ban, and he doesn’t believe climate change is man-made.”
Jeff Harvey, a senior political advisor to Reichert, said: “Bob Ferguson lied, deflected, and spread fear to hide from taking responsibility for the failures of the status quo, which he supports, over the last 12 years since he’s been Attorney General. Voters are fed up and are demanding change. They know we literally can’t afford another four years of the same failed policies that have made the state of Washington one of the most expensive states to raise a family… It’s time to break up the status quo. Bob Ferguson won’t do that. Dave Reichert will.”
– By Jerry Cornfield
Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence.
It would be nice if we could have a calm and reasoned discussion of this, free of hyperbole and invective. I’m a confirmed Democrat who wishes we might have a balanced state government and some change in the direction of dealing rigorously with crime, and the idea of a Republican governor balancing the inevitable Democratic legislature is appealing. But I will NOT vote for the side with the most name-calling and quasi-hysterical rhetoric. Help me decide, and don’t yell!
I’m an independent seeking a balanced state government. It’s frustrating because politics has become so polarized, resembling a team sport, that I doubt a former governor like Dan Evans could be elected in today’s climate. In 1988, Dan Evans, the former Governor of Washington, appeared in a memorable television commercial during a Senate campaign. In the ad, he wore hip waders and accused his opponent, Mike Lowry, of “mudslinging” against the incumbent Republican Senator Slade Gorton. Although, I didn’t always agree with Gordon, to his credit he played a crucial role in bringing Major League Baseball back to Seattle.
I watched the debate last night Nathaniel. I was already convinced but last nights debate totally convinced me that I will be voting for Dave Reichert. I didn’t see hysterics I saw someone standing up for themselves and asking citizens to look for themselves at his voting record on these issues. I thought Ferguson was the one who tried so hard to accuse accuse and accuse some more. Dave Reichert voted to support abortion in this state. He just thought 20 weeks thats 4 months was better but he accepts the 5 month 24 weeks that WA chose. He supports people coming from other states to have an abortion and he supports women in all ways. He supports rights and he believes in protection for all and will see to it that proper steps are taken to deal with all offenders. He wants to change laws that allow open drug use and he wants to make those drugs once again illegal. It has nothing to do with pharmaceutical companies and suing them ha it has to do with changing some laws and getting proper facilities to help people. Ferguson well I could say a lot but at Nathaniels request I will keep it civil. I typically vote Democrat also Nat. I will do so in the National Election but WA is desperate and sinking fast.
Dave Reichert also supports our LGBTQ community and everyones right to Love who they love and marry who they choose. I would need to see info about why trans was mentioned by Ferguson accusing Reichert. Was there a law or a wanted law that in some way promoted dislike or was it a program or want for money for surgeries etc? What was that about? Anyone know? Seattle was destroyed and is still having issues many issues and Mr Walz was given a hard time for waiting 3 days to call the National Guard in Minnesota, Minneapolis. 3 days. That was fine but our Governor never called, never allowed anyone to stop what was supposed to be a peaceful assembly into the adverse possession of a city. The major destruction that they are trying to change now. I believe that Bob F is a buddy with Inslee and I think he will continue with his policies. I don’t hate our Governor everyone has a right to their ideals but he has gone way too far with his ideals. I like Reicherts’s idea of not putting the cart before the horse. It doesn’t work that way. It never has and it never will. Want people helped all people. Be nice, be accepting, be fair. Our government started this affordable housing that isn’t affordable game remember that.
Well said, Deborah. Nathaniel, I’m an Independent, which to me means giving each candidate the opportunity to win my vote. I find it disheartening how many just see the letter after a candidate’s name and vote because it’s either a “D” or an “R”. In my particular case , I more often vote democrat, although that is becoming more and more difficult, especially in the state of Washington. Bob Ferguson has made so many poor decisions in his tenure that I will not vote for him. For me, it’s Reichert or write in. I briefly worked with Sheriff Reichert when he was with King County. I remember being very impressed with the way he carried himself and the fairness with which he treated everyone, including the person who was being investigated. I’m leaning toward voting for him because of my experience, and also because he has clarified that he does not support Trump (supporting Trump would be an instant disqualifier), and he does support the LGBTQ community and a woman’s right to choose. Just my two cents (as well as that of my partner, so I guess it’s four cents).
Thank You Annon, I hope you and your partner have a good weekend. We just celebrated our 44TH wedding anniversary on the 10 of this month. It was lots of fun. We stayed home and had some amazing steaks and giant baked potatoes and Fresh green beans with toasted almonds. Later we had presents and banana cream pie. If ya haven’t I hope you all make it 44 years too. We lived together for 5 years before taking the walk into a park by a river and exchanging our self written vows. If ya can make it this long its really good to have that someone to grow old with. I wish that for you. I don’t know you or how old you are or anything but it doesn’t matter just love your partner and be respectful. XO to you. Deb. That love if nurtured and laugher is frequent is worth more than anything in these conversations.
Happy belated anniversary, Deborah, and thank you for your well wishes.
Reichert voted for Trumps agenda 92% of the time, We need to move forward, not back.
Bob Ferguson has done more for the people of Washington State than any AG in the country.
He has a solid track track record of accomplishment.
A reasoned thinker that looks at the big picture to solve our problems. Go to the websites of the two candidates and see the depth of the plans they have. Ferguson has details, Reichert has Trumpian statements like he can fix the crime, without any solid details of how he would do it. It’s all tough talk.
Our problems are very complicated, we need a leader who can assemble the brightest people we have to solve them. Ferguson has repeatedly shown he is the guy to do it.
The data shows Republicans have no real answer on crime.
I agree with Gary 100%. Reichert’s and Trump’s views are a little too complementary for my tastes. How and why a former policeman wouldn’t totally reject Trump after Trump’s cult members brutally assaulted Capitol Police with American flag staffs is beyond my comprehension (it’s on real honest video taken as it happened, all you have to do is watch it). You either respect our American Democratic institutions or you don’t. You know, like the Constitution and not trying to over throw it in a Coup because you lost an election. You can’t have it both ways, Dave, but I guess you can try. You might luck out, but I doubt it.
“In 2004, responding to calls for service in Washington D.C., Reichert ran for and won election to Washington’s 8th Congressional District covering large parts of King and Pierce Counties. Reichert would go on to win every race for Congress, including presidential years where the District backed the Democratic nominee. Reichert quickly rose through the ranks and became the sixth freshman representative in history to be named chairman of a subcommittee when he led the Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee. He would later become a senior member of the most powerful panel in Congress – the Ways & Means Committee – where he worked to keep taxes low as chairman of the Tax Subcommittee, helped improve our nation’s foster care system as chair of the Human Resources Subcommittee, and became chairman of the Trade Subcommittee where he championed free-trade agreements critical to over 248,000 jobs in Washington State. Reichert was an unequivocal leader when it came to preventing violence against women, child safety, supporting first responders, and showed an independent streak in protecting Washington’s environment and natural resources. After leaving Congress in 2019, Reichert responded to a modern-day humanitarian crisis by working throughout Central America to combat human trafficking. Reichert has also been instrumental in helping law enforcement across the country obtain Rapid DNA, a technology that provides a full DNA profile in just 90 minutes.” –From Reichert’s campaign website.
Deborah – you need to give proper attribution. This is lifted word for word from Reichert’s website, and besides no attribution, can hardly be credited as non-partisan or objective. Without attribution, this is plagiarism.
Reichert has done some good things in his tenure.
But his voting record is not aligned with what the people of Washington need now.
His votes for the environment are only 15%, gun control 0%, women’s rights 25%.
87% of his votes were for the wealthy, 92% of the time he voted against the middle class.
So no matter what he says in public, if we look at the hand in his pockets it’s not us.
This info is easy to find; http://politicsthatwork.com/voting-record/Dave-Reichert-400660
As a voter, I pride myself on listening to both candidates in order to make an informed decision. I do not rely on news reports and snippets or sound bites played on the news stations. I fully support Dave Reichert. I believe he truly wants to fix Washington, and I think he will be able to work with all politicians regardless of their party affiliation. Let’s all give him a chance. My take on Ferguson, he’s a temperamental bully. He is not what I want in the Governor’s office.
I’m with you Dawn. I’ll be voting for Reichert.
Voting for Ferguson simply because I dislike Trump would be counterproductive. Cutting off my nose to despite my face. Reichert is the obvious choice for the future of Washington state.
I looked at many sites and I did read both Reichert and Fergusons web pages. That is what Reichert said we should do so I did. Now for Teresa?? I did not intend to do anything wrong. Since I pulled the info from other places like the things about his help with human trafficking wasn’t part of his statement nor was the DNA info. It might be there but I didn’t CandP from there. So If I need to change something and say like right here that yes I watched the debates both I also looked at their statements. And right here I will say ok I give credit to both Reichert and Fergusons web pages for the information. I can’t put it up there with my apparent mistake so I will let Teresa decide the proper thing to do. Next time I will write the words myself and not C and P for anything. Sorry about that folks and Thank you Nathaniel I sincerely appreciate it. I honestly didn’t know. But I do believe it and I am still voting for Reichert as I think he is the answer for the good of our entire state of WA. I do not support Trump. I have never supported Trump as frankly…Well I better not say anything hahahaha Have a great time watching the Seahawks tomorrow.:)
I just added the attribution to your earlier comment.
Thank you to Teresa. You are great! Thanks to all for your help and I will try to do the C and P on the sites and include the attributions. Deb.
I would not for a minute doubt your integrity and good intentions. They are both clear to anyone who reads your various posts, but attributions really are necessary for clarity and fairness.
BTW – it’s pretty easy when you copy and paste to include the website link.
Got it. Thank you for your kind words and letting me know Nathaniel. I appreciate it very much. XO
I gather many folks are voting for Reichert because they think our state government is too Liberal and he will somehow fix that or at least counter balance that. I guess he could veto lots of things Conservatives think are too Liberal but it is quite likely he will get over ridden anyway unless he brings lots of Conservative Legislators into office with him. I don’t think he will be a disaster or anything like Trump will be but I also don’t think he will succeed if he does win, which is unlikely.