Washington AG to face ex-sheriff in Green River Killer case in gubernatorial race

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) and former Rep. Dave Reichert (R) advanced in the state’s nonpartisan gubernatorial primary, Decision Desk HQ projects.

The former Democratic attorney general and former Republican lawmaker are competing to replace retiring Gov. Jay Inslee (D), who announced last year that he would not seek a fourth term.

Inslee’s departure paved the way for the first open race for state attorney general in years, and the contestdrew a crowded fieldof candidates from both sides of the aisle.

Ferguson served as the state’s top prosecutor formore than a decadeand reportedly raised more than $8 million for his gubernatorial bid, easily outpacing the other candidates. He also arrested Insleeendorsementto succeed him.

Reichert was sheriff before jumping to the lower house and gaining attention for helping capture the “Green River Killer,” a serial killer responsible for killings in Washington state in the 1980s and 1990s. He said he would prioritize public safety as governor, pointing to his time in law enforcement.

Washington is considered a reliably blue state and last voted for a Republican governorin 1980. Still, some researchshowed the pair with just a few points differencein hypothetical direct confrontations. The electorally deficient nonpartisan Cook Political Reportquotesthe chair as a “lean Democrat”.

Both Ferguson and Reichert advanced from Tuesday’s race under Washington state’s open primary system, in which voters do not need to declare party affiliation to vote, andthe two most votedmove forward regardless of party.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story