To the surprise of absolutely no one, the Seattle Times endorsed Bob Ferguson for governor. But the way the Times chose to endorse Ferguson is a surprise. The editorial board’s endorsement reeks of reluctance and offers lackluster support of Ferguson, at best.

Right at the start, the editorial board accuses Ferguson of occasionally appearing “petty, pushy and overly ambitious.” And, at times, the endorsement points out a few of Ferguson’s many failures, including:

“Before he had a change of heart, Ferguson initially refused to disclose the names of donors when he transferred their political contributions from his past attorney general campaigns to his gubernatorial campaign. He also faced blowback for allegedly pressuring the secretary of state to rearrange the primary ballot to clear up confusion after two other people with his name filed to run for governor.”

And:

“Ferguson opposes expanding public charter schools, which were authorized by voter initiative. His view is disappointing, shortsighted and runs counter to the Washington Board of Education’s recent recommendations to expand their number and consider more funding, especially since recent data suggests charters are working for many children who have been poorly served in traditional schools.”

And:

“While Ferguson has pledged not to invoke executive privilege as governor, the AG’s office, under his tenure, has been indolent on several issues of government transparency, the Washington Coalition for Open Government concluded in its February report.”

You can read the Times’ full “endorsement” here.

Democrat Rep. Adam Smith is upping his call for President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. In a CNN interview, Smith said that Biden’s candidacy is unwinnable. In typical Democrat fashion, Smith praised Biden’s leadership and efforts in defeating Donald Trump in 2020 but warned that refusing to step down could lead to Trump’s return to the White House. Smith stated:

“The polls show that 80% of the American people think he shouldn’t run. You can’t overcome that. You can’t. It’s an utter impossibility. You owe us to consider this.”

Smith went on to stress that many Democrats, including his constituents, share his concerns, though few are willing to voice them publicly. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.

Vehicular homicides and felony-level traffic crimes in King County increased by 143% since 2019. Perhaps not surprisingly, the tragic spike is largely attributed to drug (read: marijuana) impairment among drivers, leading to fatal crashes involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles. According to a recent report by KIRO Radio, prosecutors are enhancing public safety awareness by sharing detailed accounts of recent incidents. One highlighted case involved Wendy Cisneros, who, under the influence of marijuana, ran a red light in June, resulting in a deadly multi-car collision; she faces multiple charges including vehicular homicide and reckless driving.

In 2022, King County recorded 151 traffic fatalities and 709 serious injuries, marking a 561% increase since 2014. Statewide, Washington experienced 810 traffic deaths in 2023, the highest since 1990. These tragedies coincide with the legalization of marijuana. Read more at KIRO Radio.

In some good news for parents concerned about their children’s education, Spokane Public Schools announced it will implement a districtwide ban on cellphone use in classrooms starting next school year. The policy allows limited exceptions for emergencies and administrative approval. High school students can use phones during lunch and between classes, while middle schoolers are only permitted during lunch. Elementary students may use phones only before and after school. The policy also includes procedures for violations, with increasing consequences for repeated offenses. The district’s decision follows a survey indicating positive feedback from schools with existing restrictions, such as reduced discipline issues and increased engagement. Read more at the Spokesman Review.

Candidates for Washington’s superintendent of public instruction, including incumbent Chris Reykdal, David Olson, and Reid Saaris, debated on Tuesday night. David Olson, who Shift WA previously interviewed, was by far the most convincing participant. He emphasized community support to help districts pass local levies for reducing class sizes. Importantly, Olson advocated for parents’ rights in schools and criticized Reykdal telling local school districts not to abide by the parents’ rights initiative passed by the state legislature.

Olson also highlighted the benefits of cell phone restrictions in his district, Peninsula, noting improved student outcomes. He argued for reordering the state funding model to better support special education and school transportation. Like he stated in his Shift WA interview, Olson laid out his focus on leveraging community and parental involvement while re-evaluating funding priorities to enhance the educational environment in Washington’s public schools. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our podcast, dedicated to delivering insightful conversations on the pressing issues facing Washington state. If you’re concerned about the events unfolding in our state – from rising crime rates to the incessant addition of new tax hikes – and want to have a little fun, this podcast is for you.

Hosted by lifelong Washington state residents, our podcast features interviews with conservative thinkers and leaders who share their perspectives and solutions for the challenges our state faces. And, in the coming weeks, we’ll bring you interviews with candidates vying for offices across our state.

Listen to the inaugural, introductory podcast today – and don’t forget to subscribe!

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