KENNEWICK — Failed gubernatorial candidate Semi Bird says only one person can save Washington.
It’s not Dave Reichert, though.
“My full endorsement and support goes to Donald J. Trump, for Washington state,” Bird said Wednesday evening on his live podcast.
“You may not like the person, but we’re looking at someone who can bring the policy that America needs to survive. And when you are so afraid of Bob Ferguson, that is the answer at the national level that’ll bring a balance of protection for citizens of Washington state,” Bird continued.
The oddly-timed endorsement capped a rigorous 21-month campaign by the Tri-Cities Republican hoping to break out into the state’s political scene.
It also was a tongue-in-cheek moment to rebuff the hopes of moderate Republicans that the retired Army Green Beret member would change his mind and endorse Reichert for governor during the Nov. 5 general election.
Bird instead claims mainstream Republicans engaged in a smear campaign by tarnishing his reputation with claims of stolen valor and by digging into his past. He believes the party is driving people away.
“Do y’all remember Ronald Reagan? Eleventh Commandment? ‘Republicans shall not speak ill of other Republicans?’ But you all lost your minds. You not only speak ill, you will literally take — I mean, I’m surprised nobody’s come down my street with torches yet,” he said.
Bird placed third in the Aug. 6 primary election, receiving 11% of the vote.
He was beat by Democrat Bob Ferguson, the state’s current attorney general, who got 45%, and Republican Dave Reichert, a former U.S. representative and retired King County sheriff, who received 27%.
He acknowledged his campaign’s shortcomings on the podcast and in a statement Wednesday.
“I’m not done, I’m not defeated. But I’m willing to call it what it is,” Bird said.
He also said Reichert’s campaign has not reached out to him for an endorsement.
“Have you asked Dave Reichert: Does he want the endorsement of, as Dave says, a con man, a snake-oil salesman, a crook and a thief? Does he want to be saddled with the baggage of my support?” Bird asked his podcast audience.
Bird instead implored his audience to “vote for whoever you want to” in the election for governor, but that there was “no way in heck” he’d be voting for Ferguson.
New citizens initiative?
During the fiery, hour-long podcast, Bird also announced plans to lead an effort to pass a voters initiative that returns Washington’s voting systems back to in-person, same-day paper voting.
“The talk is cheap. It’s time to take action. So, we’re going to start a fund for election integrity and to bring an initiative,” Bird said.
The plan comes on the coattails of four popular citizen initiatives due for the Nov. 5 general election ballot that have earned the backing of some moderate and Republican voters.
If passed, independently, those initiatives would prohibit government natural gas restrictions, repeal the state’s capital gains tax, prohibit sections of the Climate Commitment Act and allow employees to opt out of the tax funding the state’s long-term care benefits program.
Details are scant so far, but Bird said he wants his new initiative project to be supported by a diverse swath of Washington voters.
Washington has had mail-in voting for more than a decade now and ballots have had prepaid postage on them since about 2018. Most counties had switched to vote-by-mail systems when the state Legislature, in 2011, enshrined it into law.
Vote-by-mail requires fewer poll workers, provides an auditable paper trail, allows more time for voters to research candidates and promotes higher turnout, elections officials say.
But there are some downsides, including more material prep time, a higher level of staff expertise and a longer time to report final results
Shot down chairman rumors
Bird also vehemently denied rumors that he planned to leverage his grassroots support to oust Jim Walsh as chairman of the Washington State Republican Party and install himself.
He also explained he was unable to surmount a write-in campaign for governor due to Washington’s “sore loser” laws.
“No. 1, why would I want to replace a party that did everything to participate in the ruination of my life and my family, to undermine my campaign? That’s No. 1,” he said.
“No. 2, I’ve never had a discussion with anybody to do that. I never even had the thought,” said Bird, who currently serves as the Benton County Republican Party chair.
Bird claims rumors he would pursue Walsh’s role were amplified in an opinion piece published last week by journalist Jason Rantz of 770 KTTH in Seattle, who said Bird would “destroy the party as we know it.”
Semi Bird’s background
Bird, a behavioral scientist from Richland, has emerged as a populist playmaker and change agent in this year’s race for governor, rallying Washington’s devoted MAGA base behind his cause in early fashion.
He jumped in the race in November 2022, announcing his first statewide run from the Washington State Capitol Rotunda, and was among the first candidates to declare.
Despite calls to drop out early on from high-ranking Washington Republicans, with Reichert’s candidacy imminent, Bird continued campaigning at dozens of events spanning the Cascade Mountains.
After Richland voters resoundingly recalled Bird from his school board seat — the only elected office he’s ever held — in August 2023 over a questionable COVID mask vote, he doubled down on his campaign for governor by asserting he did nothing wrong and asked for donations.
Bird also brushed off various controversies from his background that came to light throughout his time campaigning, including allegations of stolen valor from his time in the military, a misdemeanor conviction for lying on a credit application, and an arrest over a missing law enforcement-issued revolver.
Despite earning the state party’s endorsement in April at a raucous Washington State Republican Party convention, Bird’s campaign failed to gain any momentum in the polls or with financial donors.
Several professional political polls conducted since the beginning of the year placed Bird from 7% to 11%, with Ferguson and Reichert coming in much higher.
Bird failed to get support in his own backyard, too.
Results as of Wednesday showed the Richland Republican at just 25% in both Benton and Franklin counties. Both Reichert and Ferguson lead him by several points in his home county.
Bird said during the podcast he’s not planning to run for public office in the next election cycle.
