Poll: Reichert leads Ferguson for Governor

WENATCHEE — A Chelan County gubernatorial hopeful and former King County Sheriff has the most support in a poll on who should replace Gov. Jay Inslee.

In an Echelon Insights poll on behalf of Concerned Taxpayers of Washington, former Rep. Dave Reichert, a Republican, leads Robert “Bob” Ferguson, the Democrat state attorney general by 9 points.

The candidates are the Top 2 in the race to replace Gov. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island. They will be on the Aug. 6 primary election ballot; both are expected to advance to the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

The poll, a survey of 600 registered voters, from March 18-21, used a mix of live telephone calls (30% landline) and text to online (70%), according to the poll’s methodology statement.

The poll found that Reichert, the former King County Sheriff best known for his two-decade pursuit of “Green River Killer” Gary Ridgway, came out ahead of Ferguson, 39% to 30%, on a two-way ballot. Washington has not had a Republican governor since John Spellman left office in 1985.

In another closely watched race, Democratic U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Mount Lake Terrace, polled ahead of GOP challenger Raul Garcia, a Toppenish doctor, by a 44%-36% margin.

The poll also included three initiatives — I-2117 to repeal the so-called Climate Commitment Act, I-2124 to make longterm care taxes optional and I-2019 repealing the capital gains tax.

Overall, respondents favored all three initiatives.

I-2117 was favored by 53% of voters, while 29% were opposed, and 18% were unsure.

I-2019 to repeal the state’s 7% tax on capital gains was supported by a margin of 43% to 38%.

And 65% of voters favored I-2124, compared to 21% opposed, and 14% who weren’t sure.

In addition, a bill passed by the Legislature this session – and signed into law by Inslee – to hasten Puget Sound Energy’s transition away from natural gas to renewable energy sources was not popular with poll respondents.

According to the poll, 78% of Washington voters believe homeowners should have the choice of natural gas, while 11% believe they should not, and 11% are unsure.