Yakima doctor Raul Garcia announces campaign for governor
Raul Garcia, a doctor in Yakima, is also running for governor in 2020.
SEATTLE – Raul Garcia became one of the few Republicans to announce a run for governor of Washington on Friday.
Garcia, a doctor in Yakima, made the announcement at Seattle’s Kerry Park. He joins a short list of people who have officially announced they will run for office in 2024.
Garcia, who describes himself as a moderate, is also running in 2020. However, Democratic incumbent Jay Inslee was re-elected for a third term.
Garcia’s announcement of his candidacy follows Inslee’s decision not to seek a fourth term. The governor said he made his decision after thinking “very long and carefully” about not running for re-election.
Following Inslee’s announcement, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said he was exploring the idea of running in the 2024 gubernatorial race.
“I’ve never been afraid to take on big challenges and I’ve never forgotten who I’m fighting for,” Ferguson, a Democrat, said in a video.
A few days later, Commissioner for Public Lands Hilary Franz, a Democrat, announced she would run for governor.
Franz said Washington is facing “urgent problems,” including climate change, a housing crisis and income inequality.
Inslee said he hasn’t made any decisions about who he can endorse to follow him as governor.
Other Republican candidates include: James Daniel, Laurel Khan, Kristin Schuler, Martin Wheeler and Misipati Semi Bird.
