Culp loses job, refuses to concede race

With a nearly 20-point lead on Republican opponent Loren Culp, Gov. Jay Inslee has been declared the winner.

But Culp today refused to concede and claimed without presenting evidence that something is wrong with the vote count.

“We are not conceding. There are some irregularities in the voting in the tabulation, 1,600 people. Incredible,” he said in a live Facebook video.

At his news conference today, Gov. Inslee referenced election fraud claims from both Culp and President Donald Trump.

“Don’t make assertions you can’t back up. We don’t need that right now,” Inslee said.

Culp lives in the small north central Washington town of Republic.

He’s been on leave from his job as chief of the one-person police department.

Today there was emotion in his voice as he revealed that he’s been fired.

“Come to find out a couple of days before this election, the city council had a special meeting, not their normally scheduled meeting, but a special meeting. And they voted to defund the police department, including my job. Incredible, right?”

Now rehired for a third term as governor, Gov. Inslee said he’ll use what he calls a “mandate” to pursue progress on climate change, homelessness and fighting COVID-19.

Cox Media Group