Washington gubernatorial candidate Bob Ferguson defended the state’s capital gains tax, emphasizing its vital role in funding education, as a Republican-backed ballot initiative seeks to repeal it.

Stark differences have emerged on the campaign trail between Republican Dave Reichert and Democrat Bob Ferguson, the two candidates vying to become Washington's next governor. Why it matters: The winner will be Washington's first new state executive in 12 years,

Reichert, of Seattle, kicked off the debate with an opening statement in which he described his childhood, growing up poor in the East Renton Highlands. A former U.S. Representative and the former sheriff of King County, Reichert said he’s running his campaign based on the criminal justice system and the homeless.