Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler, left, and Democrat Dave Upthegrove, right, are competing in the 2024 Washington state lands commissioner race. (Photos courtesy of campaigns)
Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler and Democrat Dave Upthegrove faced off on Wednesday in Spokane in a debate that highlighted the candidates’ different views on land management, forest health and the future of timber harvests in Washington.
The debate, hosted by the Association of Washington Business, was the first between Upthegrove, a King County Council member and former state lawmaker, and Herrera Beutler, a former state lawmaker and congresswoman. It comes after Upthegrove advanced following a dramatic primary election recount in the race for commissioner of public lands.
The winner of the Nov. 5 general election will take the helm of Washington’s Department of Natural Resources and oversee nearly 6 million acres of public land, including about 3 million acres of state “trust lands” that produce revenue – mostly from logging – for schools, counties and other parts of government.