Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at a press conference outside the Federal Detention Center, as Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee (L) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (R) listen, in SeaTac, Washington, on June 9, 2018. Karen Ducey/Getty Images
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is entering the race for governor in 2024, the Democratic candidate announced on Tuesday in a campaign ad posted on YouTube.
Ferguson’s announcement comes one day after current Governor Jay Inslee announced that he will not seek a fourth term, leaving the door open for a new governor to take over in 2024.
“I’ve never been afraid to take on big fights. From the Trump Admin & gun lobby to anti-abortion extremists & corporate interests, I’ve taken on powerful adversaries and won. That’s just the start. I’m proud to announce my exploratory campaign for WA Gov,” Ferguson said in a Twitter announcement.
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at a news conference about the state's response to President Trump's revised travel ban, on March 9, 2017. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
Ferguson will spend the next few weeks traveling across Washington to begin his campaign and connect with Washington voters.
“I look forward to listening and learning from Washingtonians in every county and corner of this great state,” Ferguson said during his announcement.
Ferguson was first elected attorney general in 2012, took office in 2013, and was last elected to the position in 2020.
During his time as Attorney General, Ferguson fought and won several lawsuits against former President Donald Trump’s administration, including a lawsuit against the administration’s family separation policies at the border.
Ferguson also launched the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division to investigate and end discrimination in various sectors including employment, housing, and education.
Last week Ferguson announced that he, along with state legislators started a centralized Organized Retail Crime Unit to coordinate, investigate, and prosecute multi-jurisdictional retail crime statewide.
“These are not petty thefts,” Ferguson said in a statement. “These are multi-jurisdictional, organized crime rings that endanger the safety of employees and customers, damage our economy, and drive up costs for all Washingtonians. This centralized, statewide unit will serve as a force multiplier to combat these sophisticated crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable. I look forward to working with the Task Force to maximize the effectiveness of this unit.”
In his personal life, Ferguson is a graduate of the University of Washington and New York University law school. He and his wife Colleen are parents to 15-year-old twins, Jack and Katie.
Together with Inslee, Ferguson also requested the AR-15 rifle ban that the governor signed into law last month.
“The House today put public safety above the interest of the gun lobby,” Ferguson said in a statement. “The devastation of mass shootings extends far beyond the casualties and injuries. Mass shootings traumatize entire communities. We must stop selling these weapons of war in Washington.”
“Assault weapons have contributed to some of the deadliest shootings over the last decade, and keeping more of them out of our communities will make Washington a safer place,” Gov. Inslee said in a statement. “I applaud the bill sponsors and the Attorney General’s Office for helping advance this crucial public safety measure.”
Governor Jay Inslee spoke to Dave Ross and Colleen O’Brien on Seattle’s Morning News about Ferguson’s recent announcement and isn’t ready to support the next potential candidate for governor just yet.
“I haven’t thought about those electoral issues. I have tremendous respect for Bob; he has been a tremendous Attorney General,” Inslee told Ross and O'Brien. “He won something like 40 out of 41 cases when the Trump administration was trying to put their hands on the great state of Washington, so I do have a lot of respect for him. I haven’t thought through the electoral part of this.”
Ferguson said he looks forward to “building a grassroots coalition” as he moves forward with his campaign.
“Washingtonians must have the freedom to make their own health care decisions,“ Ferguson said, ”to be safe, to breathe clean air and drink clean water, to be free from discrimination, to start a small business, to make a living wage and have a safe work environment, to have opportunities to succeed in all kinds of careers.”
Elizabeth Dowell
Author
Elizabeth is a SoCal based reporter covering issues in Los Angeles and throughout the state for The Epoch Times. She is passionate about creating truthful and accurate stories for readers to connect with. When she’s not reporting, she enjoys writing poetry, playing basketball, embarking on new adventures and spending quality time with her family and friends.
