Nick Brown (D), Manka Dhingra (D), and Pete Serrano (R) are running in the top-two primary election for Attorney General of Washington on August 6, 2024.
Incumbent Bob Ferguson (D) is running for Governor of Washington, leaving the office open for the first time since 2012. According to the Washington State Standard, Ferguson “prides himself on the number of cases he’s brought, and won, against former President Donald Trump,” with the outlet reporting that candidates’ willingness to sue the federal government could be an important policy point for voters. During a debate, all three candidates said they would sue the federal government if necessary, regardless of who the president is.
As a top-two primary, the two candidates who receive the most votes will advance to the general election in November, regardless of party. According to The Cascadia Advocate, Democratic support for Brown and Dhingra is split, while Republican support for Serrano is unified. Former Washington Govs. Jay Inslee (D) and Gary Locke (D) endorsed Brown, while Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (D) and U.S. Rep Pramila Jayapal (D-Wa.) endorsed Dhingra.
Since Washington first held elections for attorney general using the state’s top-two primary system, candidates of opposing parties have advanced to the general elections.
Brown is a lawyer who has served as the U.S. Attorney for Western Washington and general counsel for Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D). He served as an officer in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Iraq. Brown says he would promote public safety by targeting gun violence, drug trafficking, and discrimination. Brown says that “we’ve seen the very foundations of our democracy come under attack” across the country and that he would protect voting rights. Brown says that “women’s health care is under particular attack in our country” and that he would defend abortion access.
Dhingra was elected to the Washington Senate in 2017. She previously worked as an attorney for King County, Washington, before being elected to the legislature. Dhingra says she fought for public safety by defending survivors of human trafficking and by prosecuting violent crimes during her time as a prosecuting attorney. Dhingra says she supports workers’ rights and that she would “hold corporate polluters accountable [and] defend workers from unsafe conditions.” Dhingra says she supports a right to abortion access and would oppose efforts to change that, saying, “all Washingtonians have the right to make our own healthcare decisions.”
Serrano is an attorney and member of the Pasco City Council who assumed office in 2018. He currently serves as mayor of Pasco, Washington, a position the city council nominates and elects. As mayor, Serrano says he has addressed drug usage and supported law enforcement to promote public safety and that he would continue those efforts statewide if elected. Serrano says he would “provide a much needed check on government overreach” and defend the Constitutional rights of Washington citizens, citing his support of accessing firearms. Referring to his experience as an environmental lawyer, Serrano says he would advocate for using clean energy in Washington and understands “the delicate balance between environmental conservation and effective regulation.” The Washington State Republican Party has endorsed Serrano.
Since 2021, Democrats have held the offices of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state in Washington, meaning the state has a Democratic triplex.
Ten states are holding elections for attorney general in 2024. As of July 2024, there were 27 Republican attorneys general, 22 Democratic attorneys general, and one independent attorney general.
Local Washington State
Most Popular
Comments / 0