Democrat Bob Ferguson defeated Republican Dave Reichert on Tuesday and will become Washington’s next governor. Ferguson, 59, the state’s three-term attorney general, was beating Reichert, 74, a former seven-term congressman and prior King County sheriff,

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Democrat Bob Ferguson is projected to be Washington state's next governor. Ferguson led Republican Dave Reichert with 56% of the vote following an initial round of election returns Nov. 5. Reichert trails with 43%. Ferguson replaces three-term Gov. Jay Inslee next year.

Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson has defeated Republican Dave Reichert in the Washington state governor's race. The Associated Press called the race for Ferguson about 30 minutes after polls closed in Tuesday's election with Ferguson holding 56% of the returns posted Tuesday night to Reichert's 43%.

Recent history shows battles for open gubernatorial seats are close. In 2004, Democrat Christine Gregoire defeated Republican Dino Rossi by just 129 votes following a hand recount. Eight years later, Inslee collected 51.5% en route to beating Republican Rob McKenna.

Washington state elects Bob Ferguson as governor. Ferguson, a Democrat, rose to national prominence as the state attorney general, suing the Trump administration nearly 100 times.

Democrat Bob Ferguson has won the race for Washington governor, defeating Republican Dave Reichert, per the Associated Press. Why it matters: Ferguson, the state's attorney general, will become Washington's first new governor in 12 years,