SPOKANE, Wash. — Dave Reichert, the GOP front-runner for Washington governor and former King County sheriff, has announced his withdrawal from seeking the endorsement of his own party. The decision comes amidst ongoing chaos and controversy surrounding the state's GOP convention currently taking place in Spokane.
Reichert took to X to make the announcement, expressing his frustration with the state of affairs within the party. He accused party officials of repeatedly changing the rules and manipulating the endorsement process to favor certain candidates. According to Reichert, the situation has become so dire that the party is even considering making no endorsement at all for the governorship.
In an interview with KREM 2 conducted just hours after his announcement, Reichert elaborated on his decision. He cited a lack of transparency and fairness in the process, alleging that party leaders had misled him and other delegates regarding his opponent's background. Specifically, Reichert referenced his opponent, GOP candidate Semi Bird, who recently admitted to bank larceny dating back to 1993. Despite assurances from party officials that Bird would be disqualified, Reichert claims the decision was reversed, further eroding his trust in the party's integrity.
"The whole convention has been chaotic, dishonest and unfair," Reichert said. "It just evolved into chaos. And so eventually, you have to make a decision. Do I want to be a part of this chaotic, in my opinion, disjointed, deceptive effort to adjust the whole process to fit a candidate back into a position to run for governor? At some point, you have to make a decision to say this is crazy. This is not a process that's fair."
Despite his withdrawal from the endorsement process, Reichert reaffirmed his commitment to running for governor as a Republican. When questioned about the potential impact of the party's infighting on his candidacy, he remained optimistic, urging voters to focus on the candidates themselves rather than party politics.
"I'm still running for governor," Reichert affirmed. "My message to all voters really is take a look at the candidates and do your research and choose the best candidate. And I think you'll find that I am the best candidate. We have solutions to the problems that we're facing and will unite the state."
As the state GOP convention concludes on Saturday, delegates will proceed to endorse their candidates. However, with Reichert's withdrawal casting a shadow over the proceedings, questions linger about the party's unity and ability to rally behind a single candidate. The primary election in August will ultimately determine which candidates advance to the general election in November, marking a critical juncture in Washington's gubernatorial race. Despite the turn of events, the race for governor continues unabated, with Reichert vowing to press forward in his bid for the state's highest office.
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