The general election this cycle to replace retiring Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) will feature Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D-WA) and former Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA).
The two were the highest vote-getters in Tuesday’s open primary featuring dozens of candidates, which means they’ll faceoff one-on-one in November in a state that’s a Democratic stronghold and has been absent a GOP governor for nearly 40 years.
Nonpartisan election forecasters give the upper hand to Ferguson, but the open seat is still expected to be competitive in light of Inslee not seeking a fourth term.
The Associated Press called the race at 11:15 p.m. Eastern with just over half of the votes tallied. Ferguson led with just under 47% to Reichert’s roughly 27%. The next closest candidate was at just 9%.
Reichert is the former King County sheriff credited with the arrest and conviction in 2003 of the serial killer known as the Green River Killer, or Gary Ridgeway. Ridgeway killed 49 women, the first bodies of which were found dumped in the Green River in 1982.
Ferguson has served as attorney general of the Evergreen State since 2013 and is endorsed by top Democrats, including Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), third in line to the presidency as the Senate Pro Tempore.
The legacy left by Inslee, 73, is likely to center on his stature as a climate warrior who’s led the charge on implementing some of the nation’s most progressive policies to slash emissions. His 2020 presidential campaign branded himself as the climate change candidate.
Under Inslee, Washington instituted policies and target dates to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2045, and 100% of new light- and medium-duty vehicles sold to be electric by 2035.
“During a decade of dynamic change, we’ve made Washington a beacon for progress for the nation. I’m ready to pass the torch,” Inslee said in his retirement announcement last year.
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The race between Ferguson and Reichert has largely focused on access to abortion, not unlike many other heated elections across the country. The two have also sparred over their public safety plans amid concerns from voters about crime.
The other primary contenders the two successfully fended off on Tuesday included Democratic state Sen. Mark Mullet and military veteran and Republican Semi Bird.
