OLYMPIA, Wash (AP) – Democratic government Jay Inslee and Republican challenger Loren Culp met in their first and only debate on Wednesday evening, immediately at odds over the state’s response to the pandemic coronavirus
Due to the coronavirus, candidates participated in the televised debate from separate rooms at the Olympia headquarters of TVW, the state’s government affairs channel
Inslee said her COVID-19 mandates that shut down many businesses and required masks and social distancing have saved lives
Culp said he wanted to meet in the same room with Inslee and that if he had been governor he would have spread the news and let people decide what’s best for them about the virus
« I have never objected to wearing masks I find it difficult to tell people what to wear, » Culp said
Inslee, who is seeking to become the first incumbent elected to a third term in the state in over 40 years, faced 35 challengers in the August primaries He got just over 50% of the vote, Culp coming in second with over 17%
Washington state governors are not subject to term limits, although most did not serve more than two terms The last three-term governor in Washington was Republican Gov Dan Evans, who served from 1965 to 1977
Inslee is a former congressman and served as president of the Democratic Governors Association in 2018 His six-month tenure as president last year focused on climate change, an issue that has been at the heart of his two terms as governor
Culp, police chief of a small town in eastern Washington, has campaigned against Inslee’s coronavirus restrictions such as mandatory masks, saying they violate the constitutional rights of citizens Inslee says his measures have saved lives at a time when President Donald Trump, who recently contracted the virus, downplays its severity
As of this week, there have been more than 91,000 confirmed cases in Washington since the start of the pandemic and more than 2,100 people have died For the most part, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, which goes away in two to three weeks, although long-term effects are unknown But for some, especially the elderly and people with existing health problems, it can cause more serious illnesses, including pneumonia and death
Ballots to be sent to more than four states7 million voters next week and election officials expect record turnout
Jay Inslee, Washington, debate, Republican Party
World News – US – Inslee and Culp meet in first and only governor’s debate
