The following article was adapted from a segment on The Ari Hoffman Show. Listen weekdays 3-6 PM Pacific on Talk Radio 570 KVI, KVI.com, the KVI App, and wherever you get your podcasts.
Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson has the lowest first-six-months job rating of any Washington governor in over 30 years.
According to a new Cascade PBS Elway Poll, Washington voters are not thrilled with Governor Bob Ferguson’s first six months in office—and it’s not just Republicans saying so. The poll reveals Ferguson has the lowest early job rating of any Washington governor since Democrat Mike Lowry in 1993.
"Bob Ferguson has the lowest first-term approval rating of any Washington governor since 1993. This isn’t a right-wing poll—it’s from PBS. That’s how bad the numbers are."
Forget purity tests. The GOP should run on affordability. Run on the economy. That’s how you win." pic.twitter.com/CdAnYKm1gy
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) July 29, 2025
Only 32% of voters rated Ferguson’s performance as “excellent” or “good.” That’s eight points lower than Jay Inslee’s early approval, 11 points below Christine Gregoire, and a full 20 points under Gary Locke during the same early period of their terms. It’s a stinging debut for a man many pegged as a rising star in Washington politics.
The poll sample itself skews heavily Democratic: 43% of respondents identified as Democrats, compared to just 19% Republican and 38% independent. Despite the Democratic tilt, Ferguson’s numbers are underwater: 22% said he was doing a fair job, while 31% rated his performance as poor.
Why the Low Ratings?
The reasons behind the dissatisfaction vary—and, in many cases, contradict one another. Some respondents were angry that Ferguson supported new taxes. Others thought he didn’t push hard enough for progressive taxation. Some criticized him for making spending cuts, while others accused him of focusing too much on fighting the Trump administration. Others said he wasn’t aggressive enough in that regard.
In short, Ferguson’s trying to walk a tightrope between progressives and moderates—and he’s slipping.
But one issue stood out clearly in the responses: Taxes.
59% of those who gave Ferguson a negative rating cited his approval of new tax increases or his handling of the state budget.
That number is staggering. Especially when you remember this is a poll weighted toward Democrats. It reveals a potential political breaking point in a state that has often seemed politically unshakeable in its progressive leanings.
The “Budget Shortfall” That Wasn’t
According to the PBS narrative, Ferguson inherited a $15 billion budget shortfall. But let’s be honest—this wasn’t a revenue shortage. This was Democratic overspending and then planning to spend even more.
Initially, Ferguson tried to resist progressive calls to impose a tax on the wealthy. He encouraged trimming the budget instead. But ultimately, he signed off on a budget that included $9 billion in new taxes, which expanded fees not just for the wealthy, but also for regular Washingtonians.
Among them:
- State sales tax increases to cover items like nicotine pouches and digital services (web design, advertising).
- A six-cent per gallon gas tax increase.
These tax hikes hit Washingtonians hard—at the pump, online, and at the store. According to GasBuddy, Washington gas prices reached $4.52 per gallon last week, compared to the national average of $3.10.
That’s a $1.42 difference per gallon. For everyday drivers, that stings. And it’s a golden opportunity for Republicans.
A Path to GOP Victory—But Only If They Take It
Forget the endless infighting about who’s more “conservative” or whether a candidate is sufficiently aligned with Trump. If Republicans want to win in Washington, the path is clear:
It’s the taxes, stupid.
This isn’t just about Trump or national politics—it’s local. And the data shows even some Democratic voters are fed up with the growing cost of living in this state.
Washington has seen the highest increase in taxes in the U.S. since 2000, according to a graphic shared by Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center. Washington’s tax burden has grown more than California’s, New York’s, and every other state. The spending is out of control, and people are noticing.
To win, Republicans should:
- Focus on affordability: gas prices, grocery bills, and hidden taxes.
- Hammer the tax message repeatedly, especially in minority and low income communities feeling the pinch.
- Make it bipartisan: Create PACs and campaigns branded as “Concerned Citizens for Washington” to appeal to independents and disillusioned Democrats.
- Track and publicize gas prices daily as grassroots advertising—tag Ferguson and his allies.
This issue crosses party lines. You don’t need a red wave—you just need a tax revolt.
A Voter Base Ready for Change?
There are signs that even the most progressive darlings are vulnerable. Take Zoran Mumani—an anti-police, far-left candidate who just hosted a lavish, heavily guarded wedding in Uganda, complete with cell signal blocking and armed guards. The hypocrisy is glaring: defund the police here, private protection abroad.
Combine that with national headwinds for Democrats—polls show the party has its lowest voter approval in 35 years—and you’ve got an opening.
The GOP doesn’t need to win over Seattle’s socialist strongholds overnight. But they do need to start talking about what actually matters to Washington voters: taxes, affordability, and quality of life.
If Republican candidates can unite behind that message and cut the purity tests, they have a real shot. But if they don’t? They’ll continue to lose—even when the voters are begging for a better option.
The roadmap is here. The question is: will the GOP follow it?
