The chief medical officer of a hospital in Toppenish, Republican U.S. Senatorial Candidate Raul Garcia said he sees between two to five fentanyl overdoses every shift.
Amid a rising number of drug overdoses across the country, Garcia will walk more than 100 miles from Central Washington to Seattle next week as part of the “Freedom from Fentanyl Walk.”
“We have lost too many, and we need better solutions,” Garcia said in an interview with The Chronicle Friday morning.
The walk kicks off Tuesday outside of Ellensburg and will take Garcia over Snoqualmie Pass before it culminates on Sunday, July 21, at East Portal Viewpoint Park in Seattle. Throughout the tour, Garcia will be joined by former addicts, people who’ve lost loved ones to overdoses, advocates and public officials.
“I’m willing to not only talk the talk but I’m willing to walk the walk — literally,” Garcia said.
Endorsed by the Washington state GOP this spring, Garcia will likely face off against Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell this November.
Fentanyl is likely to be a key campaign issue this November, with Cantwell hosting a series of fentanyl roundtables with elected officials, first responders and health care providers throughout Washington as she seeks another six-year term in office.
Garcia has been a doctor of emergency medicine for 25 years and vowed to bring a scientific approach to the fentanyl crisis.
“We have lost too many, and we need better solutions,” Garcia said.
This approach, he said, would include mandatory treatment for those suffering from addiction and stiffer penalties for drug dealers. Garcia also supports the Americans Against Fentanyl Act, which would require drug dealers to be charged with manslaughter.
“We will have a better solution than what we have now,” Garcia said.
While a Republican hasn’t represented Washington in the Senate since 2001, Garcia said his medical career will give him a nonpartisan approach to the job. If elected, he vowed to represent every voter, whether they supported his campaign or not.
“I’ve been a physician who treats everybody no matter who they are,” he said.
Fentanyl, Garcia said, is an issue that has impacted the entire state.
“It doesn’t discriminate,” he said.
A Cuban refugee, Garcia said he fell in love with America “before even stepping foot on it” and vowed to bring a perspective of pride to office.
While campaigning, he has frequently visited populous Western Washington counties including King, Pierce and Snohomish, which he said is part of a desire to “unite the state again.”
According to a May poll from Cascade PBS/Elway, Cantwell maintained a 39% to 30% advantage over Garcia. Casting the results as a “major shift” in the race, a campaign announcement noted the results were closer than a November poll that gave Cantwell a 23% advantage.
Those who hope to join Garcia on his walk can visit fentanylwalk.com to learn more information. The walk will culminate Sunday afternoon with a rally in Seattle.
“We’re excited about this,” Garcia said.
