Garcia challenges seasoned incumbent Cantwell for U.S. Senate seat
The fentanyl crisis is personal for Raul Garcia. His oldest son was once addicted to the drug, but broke that habit about six years ago. The experience left its mark on the Toppenish emergency-room doctor and is a major reason he is running as a Republican for the U.S. Senate against the longtime Democratic incumbent, Sen. Maria Cantwell.
“I see so much of it in the ER and then to have it in our home,” Garcia said.
Another reason for running: Garcia’s wife Jessica told him years ago that if he really wants change in a Democrat-dominated state, he needs to run for office to make it happen.
Moderate Washington Republicans — facing a multitude of likely unelectable right-wing candidates — recruited Garcia to run for governor in 2020. He came in fourth among seven Republicans in the 2020 primary, with 5.4% of the vote. He made progress in this August’s Senate primary, coming in first of five GOP candidates with 21.3%. When all five Republicans’ primary votes are added together, they total 38.6% of the vote compared to Cantwell’s 57.9%.
https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/09/garcia-challenges-seasoned-incumbent-cantwell-us-senate-seat
Moderate Republicans are almost extinct.