SEATTLE (AP) — Washington’s longtime attorney general and a former sheriff known for his work hunting a notorious serial killer accused each other of lying to voters during their gubernatorial debate Wednesday as each made his case for become the next governor of the democratic stronghold state.

When Republican ex-sheriff and former U.S. Representative Dave Reichert was asked how he planned to move the state away from fossil fuels, he said he supported the idea, but there had to be a plan that did not harm citizens.

Bob Ferguson, a Democrat who has been Attorney General since 2013, countered: “Dave has a history of saying one thing in front of audiences like this one this campaign, but something entirely different when he thinks he’s speaking behind closed doors. Dave, you were caught on tape denying that humans are contributing to climate change.”

In response, Reichert told the audience, “You’re going to hear lies all night long and see commercials for the next month, nothing but lies and dishonesty. Listen to the entire context of every single one of these videos and audios that he’s referring to.”

It was one of several tense exchanges at the Fox Theater in Spokane between the two candidates vying for leadership of a state that has not seen an open contest for the top job in more than a decade. The televised debate, the second between the two candidates, was hosted by the Association of Washington Business and Greater Spokane Inc.

With no Republican having held the governorship for nearly 40 years, Reichert faces a tough fight in November. Ferguson received about 45% of the vote in the August primary to qualify for the general electioncompared to about 27% for Reichert. Another Republican in the race, military veteran Semi Bird, received about 11% of the vote in the primary.

Under the state’s primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two finishers qualify for the general election.

Ferguson was endorsed by leading Democratic politicians in the state, including Patty Murray, president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, and Governor Jay Inslee, the nation’s longest-serving governor who chose not to seek a fourth term.

Reichert, who served two terms as sheriff of King County, was endorsed by dozens of sheriffs. King County, where Seattle is located, is the state’s most populous county.

When both candidates had the opportunity to ask each other a question on Wednesday, Ferguson asked Reichert, “Can you explain to the women of Washington state why you want to restrict reproductive freedom?”

Reichert countered, saying he would enforce the law just as he did during his 33 years with the King County Sheriff’s Office: “I will protect your rights, ladies.”

Ferguson mentioned Reichert’s past in voting for a statewide Prohibition of abortion from the 20th week of pregnancy.

Abortion has long been legal in Washington, as long as it is possible to perform it. The decision is left to the discretion of a doctor. After that, abortion is only legal in cases where the health or life of the pregnant woman is threatened.

Reichert was the first county commissioner assigned to the Green River Killer case, named after the waterway where the first of 49 women’s bodies was found in 1982. Gary Ridgway was arrested and convicted in 2003, during Reichert’s second term as sheriff.

Public safety is a key issue for Ferguson and Reichert as the state experiences a rise in violent crime and has ranked last in the country in the number of police officers per capita for more than 12 years in a row, according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Both candidates have promised to hire more police officers.

Ferguson’s plan calls for allocating $100 million to help local agencies hire more officers, including through hiring bonuses. Reichert said elected officials would have to show they support law enforcement, including by protecting qualified immunity laws, to hire more officers.

“We have to support our police officers. We have to elect officers who will support our police officers,” Reichert said during Wednesday’s debate. He added that while police are bound by the law, “we also have to make sure that the attorney general’s office doesn’t go after them and sue them or charge them with a crime when they make a life-or-death decision.”

In response, Ferguson brought up Reichert’s idea of ​​relocating homeless people to McNeil Island, where a sex offender facility is located.

“This is a very frivolous proposal for a very serious challenge,” he said.