WA’s Cantwell and Garcia debate economy and energy as they vie for U.S. Senate

SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington’s candidates for U.S. Senate took the debate stage at Gonzaga University on Tuesday evening.

Senator Maria Cantwell (D) went up against candidate Dr. Raul Garcia (R) during the debate on October 8 hosted by The Spokesman Review at Gonazaga.

Cantwell, who is from Seattle, is running for her fifth term against Garcia, an emergency room doctor from Yakima who came to the United States as a child to escape communist Cuba.

During the debate, the candidates discussed Washington’s environmental policy, education and the state’s growing electrical needs.

“We now need about 30% more power than we have today. That is how much our state is going to grow. And I want to do everything we can to keep the historic low energy electricity costs that we have had as a state. It has built our economy over and over and over again,” said Senator Cantwell.

Dr. Garcia emphasized balancing the electricity needs with environmental health.

“As long as we depend on the energy made by the Snake River dams for agriculture in our state, we need to find a balance and make sure that those Snake River dams , which they’ve worked really hard to preserve, and the salmon, stay open and active, so we could have energy in eastern Washington,” said Dr. Garcia.

They also debated about the economy, with Dr. Garcia arguing the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed by President Biden in 2022 as an investment into sustainable infrastructure, is hurting Washingtonians.

“Washingtonians are paying so much to the pot for the Inflation Reduction Act and getting back little. This is what we have today that we need to change,” said Dr. Garcia.

Cantwell defended the legislation.

“Well, the Inflation Reduction Act was paid for. And it actually did reduce costs. The question is, if you buy at Costco, do you get a discount? That is what we ensured for the taxpayers,” she said.

The candidates also debated on abortion, homelessness and Washington’s opioid crisis.

Senator Cantwell and Dr. Garcia will be on the November 5 ballot.

For more information about Election Day in Washington, visit sos.wa.gov.