attorney general bob ferguson He speaks to reporters as a 2024 gubernatorial election campaign launch event begins in Seattle, Saturday, September 9, 2023. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)
On Friday, Bob Ferguson's number of candidates running to become Washington's next governor increased to three.
A conservative Republican activist threw the campaign into turmoil by fielding two Democratic candidates with the same last name as the party's leading candidate at the last minute.
One of the newcomers, one from Yakima and the other from Graham, will share the Aug. 6 primary vote with Attorney General Bob Ferguson. A total of 30 candidates filed for the race.
Political conservative Glenn Morgan, who has a knack for embarrassing elected Democrats and their progressive allies, concocted this ruse to confuse voters and was immediately rejected by the attorney general's camp. caused a backlash.
Mr. Morgan said he had been in contact with some of the 53 Washington residents named Bob Ferguson, and that the case had been in the works for some time.
“Not all of them want their name associated with someone running for governor,” he says. The decision to file a lawsuit on their behalf was “pretty impulsive,” he said, and he had to scramble to raise money to cover the $1,982.57 in legal fees for each of the Fergusons. Told.
Mr. Morgan provided few personal details. Bob Ferguson, of Yakima, is a former state employee and Graham said he is a military veteran. Morgan said the two men have no political experience but share a distaste for the state executive with the same name.
Attorney General Ferguson declined to comment Friday.
former Governor Christine Gregoire A statement on behalf of the campaign called the last-minute filing a “highly deceptive and potentially illegal” effort to mislead voters.
“This is nothing short of an attack on our democracy,” said Gregoire, a former attorney general who served as governor from 2005 to 2013.
Mr. Morgan countered that Mr. Ferguson's only dishonesty was that he campaigned as someone who would strengthen public safety, “when everything he has done in office has made people safer.”
The next big move is in the hands of Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.
Typically, in partisan elections, the ballot includes only the candidate's name and preferred party.
under State Law, If two or more candidates apply for the same office with names that are confusingly similar to voters, information can be added to the ballot to distinguish them. No additional information will be provided for other candidates.
Mr. Hobbs must decide what additional language to add. Profession is one example he considers. A decision is expected to be made late Monday, after the deadline for candidates to withdraw.Meanwhile, state election officials Set voting order On Fridays, a random number will be drawn. Bob Fergusons, who arrived late, would be listed second and third on the ballot. The Attorney General came in 13th place.
The article “Three Bob Fergusons run for governor, strange people take turns” originally appeared in the Washington State Standard.