Politics in the Pacific Northwest usually feels like a foregone conclusion. If you've lived here for more than five minutes, you know the drill: Seattle and its suburbs decide everything, and the rest of the state just sorta deals with it. But honestly, the governor's race in Washington that put Bob Ferguson in the big chair wasn't just another blue-wave formality. It was a massive, expensive, and deeply weird showdown that set the stage for the massive budget hole we’re staring at right now in 2026.
People keep asking why we’re debating a "millionaire tax" in the legislature this week. The answer is buried in the 2024 campaign trail. We’re currently living in the "find out" phase of the promises made back then.
The Chess Master vs. The Sheriff
Bob Ferguson didn't just stumble into the Governor's Mansion. He planned it like a chess match. He is an actual chess master, by the way. Twice won the state championship. He approached the governor's race in Washington with that same "think ten moves ahead" vibe.
On the other side, you had Dave Reichert. The guy who caught the Green River Killer. For a second there, Republicans really thought they had a shot. Reichert wasn't some fringe candidate; he was a moderate-sounding former Congressman and King County Sheriff. He focused on the "triumvirate" of issues: crime, the economy, and homelessness.
But Ferguson had a bigger war chest. Way bigger. He raised about $14 million compared to Reichert’s $7 million. When you have double the money, you can buy a lot of TV ads telling people your opponent is a threat to reproductive rights. That’s basically how Ferguson won. He turned the race into a referendum on abortion, even though Reichert kept insisting he wouldn't change state law.
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In the end, it wasn't even that close. Ferguson pulled 55.51% of the vote (2,143,368 votes) to Reichert’s 44.28% (1,709,818 votes). Ferguson even flipped Clallam County, which is usually the state’s political bellwether.
That Weird "Three Bobs" Incident
Remember the Bob Ferguson imposter situation? That was wild. A conservative activist actually found two other guys named Bob Ferguson—a retired state employee and an Army veteran—and tried to get them on the ballot. The goal was clearly to confuse voters so they’d split the "Bob" vote.
It didn't work. The state has laws against "filing with intent to mislead," and the two "other" Bobs eventually withdrew after things got legally dicey. But it shows you just how desperate the opposition was to stop the Ferguson momentum.
The 2026 Reality Check: A $2.3 Billion Problem
Fast forward to today, January 2026. Governor Ferguson just gave his first State of the State address on the 13th. He sounded optimistic, saying the "heart and spirit of our people" is strong. But if you look at the numbers, things are kinda messy.
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The state is currently facing a projected $2.3 billion budget shortfall.
Why? Well, during the governor's race in Washington, there were a lot of big ideas. Ferguson wanted $100 million for local law enforcement hiring bonuses. He wanted universal free school lunches. He wanted to maintain the Climate Commitment Act (which voters luckily—or unluckily, depending on your tax bill—decided to keep by rejecting Initiative 2117).
But now, federal funding from the Trump administration in D.C. is getting slashed. Ferguson’s 2026 supplemental budget proposal is basically a high-wire act. He’s trying to bridge the gap without raising broad-based taxes, but he is looking at eliminating corporate tax breaks and potentially eyeing that wealth tax on millionaires that’s currently making the rounds in Olympia.
Where the Money is Actually Going
Ferguson’s 2026 plan isn't all cuts. He’s proposing:
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- $2 billion for road and bridge maintenance (because our infrastructure is literally crumbling).
- $1 billion to replace three aging ferries (if you’ve tried to get to Bremerton lately, you know the struggle).
- $800 million in "reductions" to help close that deficit.
Republican Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary isn't buying it. He says the state has a "spending addiction." He’s pushing an "affordability first" framework that avoids new taxes entirely. It’s the same argument we heard during the election, just with higher stakes now because the bank account is actually empty.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Results
A lot of folks think Washington is just a monolith of Seattle liberals. It’s more complicated. Ferguson won, sure, but 44% of the state voted for a Republican. That’s nearly 1.8 million people who feel like the state is heading in the wrong direction regarding public safety and the cost of living.
The voter turnout in 2024 was 79%. That’s high, but actually down from the 84% we saw in 2020. People are getting a little tired of the constant political warfare.
The "Clallam County Factor" is also interesting. For decades, whoever won Clallam won the Presidency. In 2024, Ferguson winning there signaled that even the more moderate, rural-leaning "swing" voters were willing to stick with a Democrat if the alternative felt too risky on social issues.
Moving Forward: What You Should Watch
If you're trying to keep up with how the governor's race in Washington is still affecting your life, keep an eye on these three things:
- The AI Safety Bills: Ferguson is making a big push for AI regulation this year. He’s specifically looking at "AI companion chatbots" and how they affect kids. It’s a bit of a pivot from his usual focus, but it’s part of his "reformer" brand.
- The Ferry Crisis: This was a huge talking point in 2024. If the new boats don't start appearing soon, the political goodwill in Kitsap and Island counties will evaporate.
- The "Millionaire Tax": Watch the legislative session closely. If Democrats push this through to fix the $2.3 billion hole, expect a massive legal battle—probably one Ferguson would have relished fighting back when he was Attorney General.
The 2024 election wasn't the end of the story. It was just the prologue for the fiscal drama we’re seeing now. Whether Ferguson can navigate a $79 billion budget with a hostile federal government and a restless electorate remains to be seen.
Actionable Steps for Washington Residents
- Track the Budget: Go to the Office of Financial Management (OFM) website to see exactly where the $800 million in cuts are being proposed.
- Voice Your Opinion: The 2026 legislative session is active right now. Use the Washington State Legislature's website to find your district's representatives and tell them what you think about the proposed millionaire tax or the ferry funding.
- Check Your Eligibility: If you were affected by the recent historic flooding in Lewis or Pierce counties, the state has opened up $2.5 million in disaster assistance. Applications are open as of early January 2026.