WASHINGTON, USA — Almost two weeks after the race was called by KING 5, Republican gubernatorial candidate Dave Reichert released a concession statement on Tuesday morning.
Reichert lost the election to Democratic nominee and Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who has secured over 55% of the vote per the latest counts from the secretary of state.
“After two weeks of counting, nearly every vote has been tallied and we have come up short. Congratulations to Bob Ferguson. I was blessed throughout this effort by a loving supportive family, my campaign team and thousands of dedicated hard-working volunteers. Thank you all, you inspired me and others across the state. You gave us hope that we can turn this upside-down world right-side up. I want to extend a very special thanks to all who believed in our message of protecting the most vulnerable, extending a helping hand to those in need of drug counseling and mental health therapy, making life more affordable and providing a quality education for our children," reads part of Reichert's statement.
A former U.S. representative and King County sheriff, Reichert served with the King County Sheriff's Office for 33 years before being elected to Washington's 8th Congressional District in 2004. He left Congress in 2019.
“This campaign for a government built on the heart of a servant and integrity in Washington state has never been about me—it was about you. For every voter that has felt left behind by 40 years of one-party rule, for the father who lost his son to fentanyl, for the single mother who is struggling to pay her rising utility bills, for the business owner who shut their doors because they couldn’t afford another break in, and for the cop that’s been abandoned by politicians: I ran this race for you.
“While this race did not go as planned, I don’t want you to lose hope. I urge you to join me in keeping the hope and staying the course. We must continue to vote and be proud of our values, even if they look different than the majority of our state. And remember: there will always be more that unites us than divides us.”
The governor is elected to a four-year term and is the chief executive officer, making appointments for state positions, including state agency directors. The governor also has the power to sign or veto legislation and submit budget recommendations and reports to the Legislature.
KING 5's Kipp Robertson contributed to this report.