FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2024
Contact: press@wa-democrats.org

Seattle, WA – The climate crisis is the greatest challenge of our lifetime and we’re already seeing its effects here in Washington. From wildfires to pollution and heat waves that impact farm workers’ ability to put food on our tables, Washington needs solutions that work and elected officials that will take this crisis seriously. But Washingtonians won’t get that with Dave Reichert, who has now been caught multiple times saying, “I believe that God is the one who controls the weather, not us.”

In a newly released audio, Reichert can be heard at multiple campaign events repeating this extremist, far right lie. This tracks with his record of saying how he truly feels behind closed doors to his MAGA supporters. The MAGA Republican also supports ballot Initiative 2117 that would repeal the Climate Commitment Act, costing the state billions of dollars in canceled clean air and water programs, public transportation projects, and good paying clean energy jobs. 

“Washington can’t afford to have a climate denier like Dave Reichert in office,” said Leah Missik, Acting WA Director at Climate Solutions Action Fund. “People all across our state are facing extreme weather and wildfires that threaten our economy, our health, and our safety. It’s not just big cities that’ll be impacted if we fail to act and cut climate pollution – our rural communities and our agriculture industry will also suffer costly consequences. We need to move forward with investments that will cut pollution and benefit communities statewide, not bow to a dismissal of reality.” 

“Dave Reichert has repeatedly shown where he actually stands, but only when he’s around his fellow MAGA extremists – a pattern that should alarm voters across the state,” said Shasti Conrad, chair of the WA State Democrats. “This November Washingtonians have a choice: Move forward and tackle the climate crisis head-on or go backwards with Reichert and suffer the consequences. As Democrats, we choose to move forward and bring everyone along.”

The Washington State Democratic Party is committed to advancing progressive policy, empowering the grassroots, and ensuring Democratic victories up and down the ballot. Chair of the Washington Democrats, Shasti Conrad, is the first Indian-American woman to chair a major state party.

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