Statewide candidates address Washington GOP convention, warning on fentanyl and promising election reforms

Dr. Raul Garcia, a Spokane ER physician running for U.S. Senate, told delegates he fled Cuba and cast fentanyl as the defining public-safety crisis of the moment, saying a person dies “every 4 minutes and 50 seconds” and pledging to sponsor an "Americans against fentanyl" law that would increase criminal penalties for traffickers and expand mandatory rehabilitation for users. Garcia argued that these and other reforms would restore public safety and liberty.

Isaac Hollick, another U.S. Senate contender, framed his campaign as an "America first" challenge to both current federal leadership and the status quo in Washington, urging delegates to “put Americans first” and promising to challenge party leadership in Washington, D.C.

Pete Serrano, the attorney-general candidate, appealed to voters on constitutional and cultural grounds, asking delegates to support a “constitutional” attorney general who will defend parental rights and challenger-oriented policies. Serrano repeatedly urged delegates to fill out outreach tasks—take literature, contribute, and follow his campaign on social media.

In the secretary-of-state contest, State Senator Phil Fortunato pressed concerns about registration and audit procedures after recounts he said had produced unexplained discrepancies; Bob Haglund, a cybersecurity and software professional, emphasized transparency and end-to-end reporting; and Dale Whitaker pledged same-day in-person voting using paper ballots and positioned himself as an "America first" advocate for election security. All three sought to persuade delegates that their approach would restore public confidence in Washington elections.

Other statewide and down-ballot candidates also addressed the convention. Sue Keel Peterson and Jamie Herrera Butler, each seeking commissioner of public lands, focused on forest management; Keel Peterson spoke from a biologist's perspective about long-range resource planning, while Herrera Butler emphasized wildfire risk to families and the need to give foresters more tools. Candidates for superintendent of public instruction and state auditor similarly presented contrasting priorities on local control, school discipline, audits and transparency.

Why it matters: The speakers showcased policy priorities Republican delegates say will drive turnout in 2024—public-safety responses to the fentanyl crisis, forest and wildfire management, and a focus on election-system reforms. Several candidates linked their appeals to the grassroots initiative work that delegates celebrated earlier in the convention.