The candidates for Washington secretary of state met for an hourlong debate at Gonzaga University on Sunday, sponsored by the Spokesman-Review, League of Women Voters, KSPS TV and the Washington State Debate Coalition.
The debate saw incumbent Steve Hobbs, a Democrat, and the challenger, independent Julie Anderson, face off to see who will become the first non-Republican to hold the office since the 1960s.
Hobbs was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Nov. 11, 2021, to replace Kim Wyman, who resigned to become the security lead of the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency under President Biden.
Hobbs has also served in the U.S. Army for over 32 years and currently serves in the Washington Army National Guard.
Anderson’s career experience includes working as a senior policy adviser for the Department of Commerce, executive director of YWCA of Tacoma-Pierce County and Episcopal Services for Youth, and the assistant regional administrator for the Department of Social and Health Services.