KIRO Radio and KTTH hosts react to first (and only) Inslee-Culp debate
Oct 7, 2020, 2:45 PM | Updated: Oct 8, 2020, 5:43 am
Wednesday night marked the first and only Washington gubernatorial debate between Governor Jay Inslee and Loren Culp.
Inslee and Culp sat alone in different rooms in front of monitors at the Olympia headquarters of TVW. The rules also stipulated that they could not have any devices with them, seemingly to prevent cheating on answers.
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Culp and Inslee immediately disagreed over Washington state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Inslee said his COVID-19 mandates that shut many businesses and required masks and social distancing have saved lives.
As of this week, there have been more than 91,000 confirmed cases in Washington since the pandemic began, and more than 2,100 people have died. For most, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks, although long-term effects are unknown. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
“Our fundamental duty is saving those lives,” Inslee said.
It's too dangerous to have mini-Trump lead Washington in the middle of a pandemic. #waelex
— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) October 8, 2020
Culp was asked about his outdoor rallies, where he and his supporters are often seen without masks.
“I never came out against wearing masks … I have a problem telling people what to wear,” Culp said.
How much flatter does “the curve” have to be? Never will be, for some. But employers are hurting, families are hurting. We can’t stay sheltered-in-place without economic collapse and widespread suffering.
It’s long past time to re-open Washington. #FireInslee #JayWalk #waelex
— Loren Culp, Candidate for Governor of WA State (R) (@LorenCulp) October 8, 2020
The debate questions went on to include issues related to Boeing’s decision to move its 787 line out of Everett, Inslee’s response to Seattle’s CHOP zone, racial inequality, forest management and climate change, and Western State Hospital. You can watch the full debate here.
For a full tweet recap of the gubernatorial debate from KIRO Radio reporter Hanna Scott and reactions from KIRO Radio and KTTH hosts, start here and work backward:
Final note on @GovInslee response when asked whether he anticipates raising taxes…” You can’t make that decision yet” he’ll know in December. That’s that. Thank you to the 4 moderators @EssexKIRO7 @BrandiKruse @MelissaSantos1 & @ChrisDaniels5 !! @KIRORadio#waelex
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) October 8, 2020
Already time for closings: @LorenCulp up first slamming @GovInslee for being soft on crime, letting criminals out of prison, allowing @ESDwaWorks failure & more #waelex @KIRORadio
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) October 8, 2020
I went in thinking Culp might be overmatched. This is the most surprising debate I've EVER seen. It was a rout.
— Dori Monson (@dorimonson) October 8, 2020
Inslee, take your L with this ESD situation. Just say, “Hey, I messed up!” Don’t pee on our leg and tell us that it’s rain.
— Gee Scott🎙 (@GeeScottSr) October 8, 2020
Culp: "A servant government that will stay within the confines of the constitution and the law"
Another good line
— Dori Monson (@dorimonson) October 8, 2020
Jay Inslee indicated pretty strongly he'll raise taxes — amidst a pandemic — on Washingtonians.
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) October 8, 2020
Another good one from @MelissaSantos1 to @GovInslee on why voters should trust him to run state when massive mismanagement of #westernstate & recent fraud/mass backlog at @ESDwaWorks happened under his watch. Inslee says because I care about them. @KIRORadio #waelex
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) October 8, 2020
Culp: "A servant government that will stay within the confines of the constitution and the law"
Another good line
— Dori Monson (@dorimonson) October 8, 2020
Pushed on what he’s done as far as budget @GovInslee says his moves including over a $ half billion in cuts last two months have already prepared WA to get in better position. There’s a quick pivot & I believe Inslee just called Culp a “mini-Trump” @KIRORadio #waelex
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) October 8, 2020
It’s 2020, if you don’t believe in Climate Change, it’s highly unlikely that you will be Gov of the state of WA.
— Gee Scott🎙 (@GeeScottSr) October 8, 2020
I’ll be honest, listening to Gov Inslee annoys me. It really does. However, is this Chief Culp a real thing? Seriously? I’m embarrassed for the Republican Party.
— Gee Scott🎙 (@GeeScottSr) October 8, 2020
Again, Culp destroys Inslee on mental health issue. 100% truth that mental health system has been horrible with Inslee
Inslee says "we're improving mental health system" – HE'S HAD EIGHT YEARS!
Inslee responds by bringing up Trump
— Dori Monson (@dorimonson) October 8, 2020
Wow @GovInslee, two days after CHOP was established and earned local and national coverage and trended on Twitter, said "That's news to me… I've not heard anything about that." Then he laughed.
At tonight's debate, he claims he never said that and knew about CHOP at the time.
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) October 8, 2020
Great question from @Crosscut @MelissaSantos1 to @GovInslee on whether he would support bill to end qualified immunity/rewritten police union contracts, but Inslee punts saying he will listen to the task force he created @KIRORadio #waelex
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) October 8, 2020
Is Chief Culp seriously the best that the Republicans can do for candidate for Governor?
— Gee Scott🎙 (@GeeScottSr) October 8, 2020
Inslee: "we are saving Washingtonians lives by the hundreds, maybe the thousands"
That's a factor of ten – and it proves that it's a lie – no "proof" needs a 1000% margin of error
— Dori Monson (@dorimonson) October 8, 2020
Culp: "let free individual citizens decide what is right for themselves"
good early line
— Dori Monson (@dorimonson) October 8, 2020
Out of the gate moderator @BrandiKruse poses question to @LorenCulp about him speaking out against face masks in response to #COVID19. Culp says he’s never told anyone to not wear one, but doesn’t believe it is job of Governor to mandate #walex
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) October 8, 2020
The debate comes after a series of touch-and-go negotiations between Inslee and challenger Culp, which nearly saw the event canceled altogether. During that process, Culp insisted on a face-to-face contest, while Inslee expressed hesitance about meeting in person amid the state’s ongoing pandemic.
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Inslee, who is seeking to become the first incumbent elected to a third term in the state in more than 40 years, faced 35 challengers in the August primary. He received just over 50% of the vote, with Culp coming in second with more than 17%.
Governors in Washington state aren’t subject to term limits, though most haven’t served more than two terms. The last three-term governor in Washington was Republican Gov. Dan Evans, who served from 1965 until 1977.
Gov. Inslee ranks #50 in CATO Institute’s governors list
Inslee is a former congressman and served as Democratic Governors Association chairman in 2018. His six-month run for president last year focused on climate change, an issue that has been central to his two terms as governor.
We can't have a climate denier lead our state. #waelex
— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) October 8, 2020
During the debate, Culp criticized Inslee’s comments about the recent wildfires in the state being “climate fires.”
He said that while he doesn’t deny that the climate is changing, “these are not climate fires, these are the result of very poor management on the state level.”
Inslee said that anyone running for governor needs to have a plan to address climate change.
“We need someone who will not just follow science but will act on it,” Inslee said.
I didn't deny climate change.
I also didn't shutdown state fire response training and let a million acres burn. @GovInslee – if you make decisions on your own without our state legislators, you are on the hook when you burn homes down and people end up dying. #waelex https://t.co/HavSq0RrBy
— Loren Culp, Candidate for Governor of WA State (R) (@LorenCulp) October 8, 2020
Culp initially made national headlines as the town of Republic’s police chief in 2018, when he became the first law enforcement leader in the state to announce that he would not enforce new gun laws laid out in Initiative 1639. That marked the beginning of a journey that inspired him to enter the political realm, after 10 years with the Republic Police Department.
Ballots will be sent to the state’s more than 4.7 million voters next week, and elections officials are expecting record turnout.
The Associated Press and AP reporter Lisa Baumann contributed to this report.
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