EDMONDS, Wash. — We are about a month away from the primary election where voters will determine the top two candidates to advance in many races.
One of the biggest contests is the race for governor, which has 28 candidates. According to the public disclosure commission, Democrat Bob Ferguson has raised nearly $8 million so far. Republican Dave Reichert has raised nearly $4 million.
Both candidates spent the Fourth of July campaigning at the Edmonds 4th of July Parade.
"It is July Fourth. We value our freedoms here in Washington state. Reproductive freedom. Freedom to marry who you love,” said Bob Ferguson, the state's current Attorney General.
"Take public safety which we are communicating out as a top issue for this campaign. Washington state literally ranks 50th per capita in the number of law enforcement officers we have. Look, that is unacceptable. We need to do a better job of getting law enforcement officers to help keep our communities safe all across the state,” said Ferguson.
"The number one issue I hear all the time is public safety, public safety, public safety,” said Dave Reichert.
Reichert has a 33-year law enforcement career. He served as the U.S. representative for Washington's 8th Congressional District.
"The first thing is enforce the laws, right,” Reichert said. “We are in an upside-down world. We blame victims, and we excuse criminals for their actions. There has to be accountability. There has to be responsibility."
"I think it is time now to have a small business owner in the governor's office so that we have a different mentality of how we run our state agencies,” said Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Mullet, a small business owner who spent the last 12 years as a state senator.
Affordability is among Mullet’s top issues.
“I think people have the same anxiety my wife and I have which is that their own kids won't be able to afford to raise their own families in the area that they were born and raised and they love more than any other place in this country. This is our challenge as democrats is that we have to get this right,” said Mullet.
"Really it comes down to economics. I don't want to say it is surprising because it shouldn't be, especially in the Puget Sound area. It is unaffordable,” said Republican gubernatorial candidate Semi Bird.
Bird said he wants to utilize third-party audits of all state programs "so we have an idea of exactly where the money is going."
"Our gambling tax, our liquor tax, our marijuana tax. All these taxes we collect, but we continue to spend rather recklessly. We need to bring fiscal accountability back to Olympia," said Bird.
Along the parade route, voter Michele Miller welcomed the mix of the marching bands and campaigning candidates.
"I think it is important to really get to know the person, look into the background, find out what their past history is,” said Miller. "It is so important that everybody get out and vote."
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