OLYMPIA, Wash. — Raul Garcia was 11 when he and his mother escaped from Cuba, first going to Spain before ending up in Florida, and eventually Yakima.
Garcia, now a Central Washington emergency room doctor, wants to take his story to Washington, D.C.
“I don't like what I see outside my door. I don't like the crime. I don't like that our children are not safe,” said Garcia.
The Republican is hoping to keep incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell from winning a fifth term in November.
Garcia knows he is an underdog.
"The numbers are welcome news," Cantwell said in a prepared statement.
KING 5, The Seattle Times and the University of Washington Center for an Informed Public commissioned the poll conducted by SurveyUSA.
Garcia said he is confident the election results will be "a lot closer than those polls show."
He encouraged voters to watch the candidate's debates.
In the August primary, Garcia received 22% of the primary vote while Cantwell got 57%.
Garcia blamed a low turnout and the fact that four other Republicans were on the primary ballot.
“I think that we've gotten to a point in Washington state where I believe that people see what is happening outside our door and want a change,” said Garcia.
Garcia has not endorsed former President Donald Trump. Garcia will not say if he will vote for Trump in November.
“I am going to stay away from the presidential campaign,” said Garcia, “My job as a U.S. senator will be to support whoever gets elected president of the United States, as long as it is supportive of Washington state.”
Garcia said he will not vote in favor of any federal abortion bans.
He said he is representing a state where voters support abortion rights.
“I wouldn't be one of those senators voting to abolish abortion, not only for that reason, but also I'm a physician, and I am not going to handicap the medical profession from performing procedures that could save a life,” said Garcia, medical director at Astria Toppenish Hospital.
If elected, Garcia said his top priority would be the fentanyl crisis. It’s a personal issue for his family.
Garcia said seven years ago his son, Devin, showed up at the doorstep of the family’s Yakima home.
“He was, skinny and homeless and scared and hungry, and he got on his knees and said, ‘Mom, if you don't help me, I'm going to die, because both of my best friends died of fentanyl this week,’” said Garcia.
Garcia said the family got his son into treatment and he’s still in recovery today.
As senator, Garcia said he would push to have Congress pass an “Americans Against Fentanyl Act,” resulting in felony manslaughter charges for fentanyl dealers, and mandatory treatment for those who are arrested battling addiction.
“We need to get rid of the supply, and we need to be harsh with the suppliers,” said Garcia, “Those dealers are purposely trying to kill people.”