Washington state AG Bob Ferguson wins governor’s race

KITSAP, Wash. — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson will become the state’s next governor after defeating former congressman Dave Reichert, according to a race call by The Associated Press.

In Tuesday night’s report, Ferguson — a Democrat — earned just more than 56% of the statewide vote, or 1.43 million votes to Republican challenger Reichert’s 1.08 million. Ferguson will be Washington state’s first new governor in more than a decade, replacing Gov. Jay Inslee who has served since 2013.

Ferguson was first elected as the state’s attorney general in 2012, and won reelection in 2016 and 2020. His gubernatorial campaign centered on issues such as the environment, combating the opioid epidemic, civil rights, and expanding access to affordable health care, among other issues.

He made national headlines in 2017 after he challenged the Trump administration’s travel ban on majority-Muslim countries.

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“I am honored that Washingtonians have chosen me to fight for them,” Ferguson said in a statement on social media Tuesday night.

“We won by building a massive grassroots coalition, including more than 110,000 individual contributions,” Ferguson added. “We relentlessly traveled across the state to build support and listen to the hopes and concerns of Washingtonians. Those conversations will guide me as your Governor.”

Ferguson ran against Reichert, a former seven-term congressman, Air Force Reserve veteran and longtime police officer. In the state’s crowded nonpartisan primary earlier this year, Ferguson received 44.9% of the vote and Reichert placed second with 27.5%. 

Contributing: Rachel Barber, USA TODAY