After losing out in governor primary, GOP candidate launches write-in bid for different role
Aug 21, 2020, 8:40 AM
Former gubernatorial candidate Joshua Freed. (Photo courtesy of Joshua Freed campaign)
(Photo courtesy of Joshua Freed campaign)
Former Bothell Mayor Joshua Freed is out of the race for governor after placing third behind incumbent Jay Inslee and GOP challenger Loren Culp. Now, he’s jumping into the race for lieutenant governor.
Denny Heck, Marko Liias lead in Lieutenant Governor race
The Republican announced a write-in campaign for the position last Sunday, claiming that the numbers are “in our favor.”
The top two lieutenant governor candidates in August’s Primary were both Democrats, with Congressman Denny Heck and state Senator Marko Liias of Lynnwood garnering 27% and 17% of the vote respectively. The next closest candidate was Republican Ann Davison Sattler at 12%, followed by Marty McClendon, also a Republican, at 11%.
Current Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib announced in March that he wouldn’t run again for the office as he’s joining the Jesuits. His vacated seat prompted 11 candidates to run. One of them was Heck, a Congressmember in District 10 who had stepped down from that role last December. The open District 10 seat attracted 19 candidates.
Joshua Freed says he’d ‘lead with true science and data’
Freed came in third place for governor in the August primary — taking about 9% of the vote, behind Culp. In a video posted to his Facebook page announcing his write-in campaign, he voiced support for Culp and other Republicans running for office in Washington this November, saying that they need to “come together to support each other.”
In addition to being the first in line of succession if the governor were to die, resign, or be removed from office, the lieutenant governor is also the president of the Washington State Senate.
