Shutdown throwdown? GOP lawmaker challenges WA’s Democratic governor to debate

U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner has challenged Gov. Bob Ferguson to a televised debate over the ongoing federal government shutdown, but Ferguson’s office gave no indication he would accept. — Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner has invited Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson to debate the reasons behind the federal government shutdown and what it would take to end it. Photo courtesy of Baumgartner campaign

On Monday, a Ferguson spokesperson gave no indication the governor would take Baumgartner up on his invitation

Jerry Cornfield
Washington State Standard

Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner and Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson both agree the federal government shutdown has gone on too long.

But the two fixtures of Washington state politics insist the other’s party is preventing it from ending. The shutdown hit 34 days on Monday.

Baumgartner thinks he and Ferguson should air their perspectives on the government gridlock in a televised debate.

He issued the challenge last week after a Ferguson post on X blamed suspension of the federal food assistance program ubiquitously known as SNAP on the “Congressional Republicans’ shutdown,” adding that “President Trump needs to tell his party to do their job.”

Baumgartner responded: “Bob, I think you are being dishonest with the people of Washington state. Let’s you and I do a televised debate on it and they can decide for themselves. Sound good?”

The first-term congressman, one of only two Washington Republicans in Congress, told reporters Sunday that he has not heard back from the governor.

On Monday, a Ferguson spokesperson gave no indication the governor would take Baumgartner up on his invitation.

“The governor understands Congressman Baumgartner has extra time on his hands these days,” Brionna Aho wrote in an email. “The governor is focused on helping Washingtonians suffering from the impacts of this shutdown caused by Congressman Baumgartner and his Republican colleagues – who control the Oval Office and both houses of Congress.”

Though many will brush off the debate offer as a political stunt, Baumgartner contends it would have civic value.

“To some extent, he is the most prominent Democrat, and to some extent I’m the most prominent Republican in our state, so it would be good for us to have a public conversation,” said the Spokane resident and former state lawmaker.

“Hopefully, he will take me up on the offer,” he said. To entice Ferguson, he offered to hold the event on the governor’s home turf. “We can even do it in Seattle,” he said.

This story was updated with a response from the governor’s office.

This report was first published by the Washington State Standard.