Bob Ferguson, the state’s longtime attorney general, is now the only one in the race for governor after two candidates with the same name withdrew from the race on Monday.
The state’s candidate filing week ended on Friday with two more gubernatorial candidates, leading to much chaos and plenty of jokes on social media. Bob Fergusons.
Their participation in the race, orchestrated by conservative activist Glen Morgan, has raised legal and logistical problems, but on Monday, following pressure from Bob Ferguson, the leading Democratic candidate in the race. With the other Mr. Bobs eliminated, the drama subsided.
The attorney general had on Monday urged both men to withdraw by the 5pm deadline for candidates to withdraw, or they could risk it. felony. Surrounded by supporters at Kerry Park in Queen Anne this morning, Ferguson said his campaign sent a cease-and-desist letter to fellow Bob Ferguson over the weekend.
State law states that “It is a felony for a person who has already run for the same office and whose political reputation is widely known to run for office under the same last name with the intent to confuse and mislead the electorate in capital letters.” “Yes.” It concerns the public reputation of previous candidates. ”
A statement posted on Bob Ferguson’s Neighborhood PAC, a website attributed to Graham’s Army veteran Robert Ferguson, said the candidate “faces harassment and legal action if he does not withdraw from the race. ” he said.
“I was publicly labeled a ‘threat to democracy’ by another candidate and his supporters,” the Monday newspaper said. said in a statement. “In typical hypocritical fashion, this other candidate’s actions are a real threat to democracy. “I think it shows that they’re worried that they’re not capable of thinking for themselves.”
The statement went on to say it would be unfair to my family and supporters to have to deal with “high-handed actions by someone who fears direct confrontation with me.”
The second person, Bob Ferguson, is a retired state employee from Yakima who retired late Monday. In a statement to the Seattle Times, he said his “dreams” were “shattered.”
“I had a political platform and policy positions that gave the Democratic Party better options than the state’s lawless state government could provide,” he said. “I am sorry to have been wrongfully denied this opportunity to realize my dream and share it with the public, but I am retired, a widow, and have to pay rent. We could not afford the legal fees required to defeat the enormous threat of states, billionaires, and other wealthy elites who were clearly enjoying themselves.”
Morgan told the Times on Friday that the Bobs wanted to “clear their names.”
Attorney General Ferguson said on Monday that he did not want the other two Bobs to be prosecuted and had “no ill will” towards them. He said he doubted they were aware of the “legal ramifications” of their actions when they ran for office.
“If they don’t do the right thing and make sure they are aware of the legal consequences, we will take more serious action and challenge local prosecutors to do the right thing and pursue further action,” Ferguson said. We have no choice but to ask.” Morning press conference.
He described Bob’s move as an attack on democracy and the electoral system. His campaign is asking the secretary of state to list his and other Ferguson family occupations on the ballot, refer to other Fergusons as “Robert,” and include middle initials or middle names. I was planning something.
He also said the campaign would have requested that the Fergusons be listed on the ballot together. Mr. Ferguson’s other two competitors were scheduled to compete in second and third place, with the attorney general taking the 13th spot in Friday’s draw. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, the attorney general will appear in slot 11 because the other Bobs are absent.
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said in a statement Monday that “voters are not looking for people who pay a candidacy fee just to manipulate elections, but honest people who run for office because they believe in making Washington a better place to live and work.” He is a worthy candidate.” . “Washington’s long history of free and fair elections must be protected and maintained every year and every election cycle.”
A total of 30 candidates ran for governor.
Two of Mr. Ferguson’s leading rivals in the Aug. 6 primary, Republican Dave Reichert and Democrat Mark Mallett, criticized the three-bob strategy in statements Monday.
“I’ve won all nine campaigns to date without any of these games or antics,” said Reichert, a former congressman and King County sheriff. “I do not support any efforts to deceive Washington voters.”
State Sen. Mallett agreed with the rest of the Fergusons that they should leave, calling it an “illegal sideshow” that confuses voters and threatens democracy.
“Thanks to Bob’s efforts to decriminalize dangerous drugs like fentanyl in the 2021 session, we won’t need any shenanigans to beat him in the race,” he said.
But Semi Byrd, a Republican and former Richland school board member who is running for governor, called Ferguson’s “whining” disingenuous and said in a statement posted to X that the attorney general: He goes out of his way to personally violate constitutional rights.” Washingtonians spoke on a myriad of topics. ”
“Bob Ferguson is directly responsible for the ‘destruction of democracy’ in Washington state and must be held accountable through a vote of citizens who are fed up with career politicians and demand positive change and common sense governance.” “It will be.”
The Washington primary election will be held on August 6th, and the top two candidates will advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
