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    Attorney General of Washington

    From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 16 min
    Washington Attorney General

    WA Atty Gen logo.JPG

    General information
    Office Type:  Partisan
    Office website:  Official Link
    Compensation:  $187,543
    2024-25 FY Budget:  $516,080,000
    Term limits:  None
    Structure
    Length of term:   4 years
    Authority:  Washington Constitution, Article 3, Section 2
    Selection Method:  Elected
    Current Officeholder(s)

    Attorney General of Washington Nick Brown
    Democratic Party
    Assumed office: January 13, 2025

    Elections
    Next election:  November 7, 2028
    Last election:  November 5, 2024
    Other Washington Executive Offices
    Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education• Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner• Natural Resources Commissioner• Labor Commissioner• Public Service Commissioner

    The Attorney General of Washington is an elected executive position in the Washington state government. As the chief legal officer for the state, the attorney general represents state clients and the public interest as directed by state law. The attorney general is popularly elected by the citizens of Washington in presidential election years and serves a four-year term.

    Washington has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

    Current officeholder[edit]

    The current Attorney General of Washington is Nick Brown (D). Brown assumed office in 2025.

    Authority[edit]

    Article 3 of the state constitution establishes the state's executive offices.

    Article III, Section 2:

    Executive Department. The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and a commissioner of public lands, who shall be severally chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the same time and place of voting as for the members of the legislature.

    Qualifications[edit]

    Under state law, the attorney general must be a qualified practitioner of the state supreme court.

    Additionally, Article 3, Section 25 of the state constitution establishes the qualifications of state offices in general:

    • a citizen of the United States
    • a qualified elector in Washington
    Qualifications, Compensation, Offices Which May Be Abolished. No person, except a citizen of the United States and a qualified elector of this state, shall be eligible to hold any state office...

    Elections[edit]

    Washington state government organizational chart

    In Washington, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and commissioner of public lands are elected every four years. Elections are held in November and winners assume office the following January, serving until their successors are elected and qualified.

    2024[edit]

    See also: Washington Attorney General election, 2024

    General election

    General election for Attorney General of Washington

    Nick Brown defeated Pete Serrano in the general election for Attorney General of Washington on November 5, 2024.

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    ✔
    Image of Nick Brown
    		Nick Brown (D)
     
    55.6
     
    		2,093,570
    Image of Pete Serrano
    		Pete Serrano (R)
     
    44.3
     
    		1,669,884
     Other/Write-in votes
     
    0.1
     
    		3,616

    There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

    		Total votes: 3,767,070
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

    Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

    Nonpartisan primary election

    Nonpartisan primary for Attorney General of Washington

    Pete Serrano and Nick Brown defeated Manka Dhingra in the primary for Attorney General of Washington on August 6, 2024.

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    ✔
    Image of Pete Serrano
    		Pete Serrano (R)
     
    42.1
     
    		814,372
    ✔
    Image of Nick Brown
    		Nick Brown (D)
     
    35.3
     
    		682,360
    Image of Manka Dhingra
    		Manka Dhingra (D)
     
    22.5
     
    		435,919
     Other/Write-in votes
     
    0.1
     
    		1,284

    There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

    		Total votes: 1,933,935
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

    Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

    2020[edit]

    See also: Washington Attorney General election, 2020

    General election

    General election for Attorney General of Washington

    Incumbent Bob Ferguson defeated Matt Larkin in the general election for Attorney General of Washington on November 3, 2020.

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    ✔
    Image of Bob Ferguson
    		Bob Ferguson (D)
     
    56.4
     
    		2,226,418
    Image of Matt Larkin
    		Matt Larkin (R) Candidate Connection
     
    43.5
     
    		1,714,927
     Other/Write-in votes
     
    0.1
     
    		3,968

    Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

    		Total votes: 3,945,313
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

    Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

    Nonpartisan primary election

    Nonpartisan primary for Attorney General of Washington

    Incumbent Bob Ferguson and Matt Larkin defeated Brett Rogers and Mike Vaska in the primary for Attorney General of Washington on August 4, 2020.

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    ✔
    Image of Bob Ferguson
    		Bob Ferguson (D)
     
    55.8
     
    		1,356,225
    ✔
    Image of Matt Larkin
    		Matt Larkin (R) Candidate Connection
     
    23.7
     
    		575,470
    Image of Brett Rogers
    		Brett Rogers (R)
     
    12.2
     
    		296,843
    Image of Mike Vaska
    		Mike Vaska (R) Candidate Connection
     
    8.2
     
    		199,826
     Other/Write-in votes
     
    0.1
     
    		2,372

    Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

    		Total votes: 2,430,736
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

    Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

    Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

    Past elections[edit]

    Expand All
    2016
    2012
    2008
    2004
    2000


    Vacancies[edit]

    In the event of a vacancy in this office, the governor shall fill the vacancy by appointment. The term of the appointee expires when a successor has been elected and qualified.

    Duties[edit]

    The specific duties of the attorney general are outlined in Chapter 43 of the Washington state laws:[1]

    “
    1. Appear for and represent the state before the supreme court or the court of appeals in all cases in which the state is interested;
    2. Institute and prosecute all actions and proceedings for, or for the use of the state, which may be necessary in the execution of the duties of any state officer;
    3. Defend all actions and proceedings against any state officer or employee acting in his or her official capacity, in any of the courts of this state or the United States;
    4. Consult with and advise the several prosecuting attorneys in matters relating to the duties of their office, and when the interests of the state require, he or she shall attend the trial of any person accused of a crime and assist in the prosecution;
    5. Consult with and advise the governor, members of the legislature and other state officers, and when requested, give written opinions upon all constitutional or legal questions relating to the duties of such officers;
    6. Prepare proper drafts of contracts and other instruments relating to subjects in which the state is interested;
    7. Give written opinions, when requested by either branch of the legislature, or any committee thereof, upon constitutional or legal questions;
    8. Enforce the proper application of funds appropriated for the public institutions of the state and prosecute corporations for failure or refusal to make the reports required by law;
    9. Keep in proper books a record of all cases prosecuted or defended by him or her, on behalf of the state or its officers, and of all proceedings had in relation thereto and deliver the same to his or her successor in office;
    10. Keep books in which he or she shall record all the official opinions given by him or her during his or her term of office and deliver the same to his or her successor in office;
    11. Pay into the state treasury all moneys received by him or her for the use of the state.[2]
    		 ”

    Divisions[edit]

    As of January 11, 2021, divisions within the Attorney General's Office included:[3]

    • Agriculture & Health
    • Antitrust
    • Bankruptcy & Collections
    • Civil Rights
    • Complex Litigation
    • Consumer Protection
    • Corrections
    • Environmental Protection Division
    • Criminal Justice
    • Ecology
    • Education
    • Government Compliance & Enforcement
    • Labor & Industries
    • Labor & Personnel
    • Licensing & Administrative Law
    • Medicaid Fraud Control
    • Public Counsel
    • Public Lands & Conservation
    • Regional Services
    • Revenue
    • Social & Health Services (Olympia)
    • Social & Health Services (Seattle)
    • Solicitor General
    • Spokane
    • Tacoma
    • Torts
    • Transportation & Public Construction
    • University of Washington
    • Utilities & Transportation
    • Washington State University
    • Past Cases

    State budget[edit]

    See also: Washington state budget and finances

    The budget for the attorney general's office in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 was $516,080,000.[4]

    Compensation[edit]

    See also: Compensation of state executive officers

    The attorney general's salary is addressed in Article III, Section 21 of the Washington Constitution. The constitution initially set the annual salary of the attorney general at $2,000, but provided for the amount to be raised up to a maximum of $3,500 at the discretion of the Washington State Legislature. Since 1986, the attorney general's salary has been determined by the Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.[5]

    In 1948, the voters adopted the 20th constitutional amendment, creating Article 28, Section 1, which authorized the state legislature to establish the compensation received by all elected state officials. Several changes to the procedure, including three more constitutional amendments, followed, the most recent being the 78th amendment or House Joint Resolution 49. Approved voters in the 1986 general election, HJR 49 created the Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials, the independent salary-setting authority that took over the legislature's responsibility of setting the salaries of elected officials across the three branches of the Washington state government.[6][7]

    2023[edit]

    In 2023, the officer's salary was $187,543, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]

    2022[edit]

    In 2022, the officer's salary was $172,259, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

    2021[edit]

    In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $172,259, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

    2020[edit]

    In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $167,381 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

    2019[edit]

    In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $162,599 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

    2018[edit]

    In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $160,989 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]

    2017[edit]

    In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $159,395 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

    2016[edit]

    In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $156,270 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

    2015[edit]

    In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $151,718 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]

    2014[edit]

    In 2014, the attorney general received a salary of $151,718 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]

    2012[edit]

    In 2012, the attorney general was paid an estimated $151,718 according to the Council of State Governments.

    Historical officeholders[edit]

    There have been 18 attorneys general since Washington became a state on November 11, 1889. Prior to statehood, James Metcalf was the attorney general for the territory.[18]

    List of officeholders from 1887-Present
    # Name Tenure Party
    1 James B Metcalf 1887-1889 No affiliation
    2 William C. Jones 1889-1897 No affiliation
    3 Patrick Henry Winston 1897-1901 Populist
    4 Wickliffe Stratton 1901-1905 Ends.png Republican
    5 John Atkinson 1905-1909 Ends.png Republican
    6 Walter Bell 1909-1911 Ends.png Republican
    7 William V. Tanner 1911-1919 Ends.png Republican
    8 L.L. Thompson 1919-1923 Ends.png Republican
    9 John Dunbar 1923-1933 Ends.png Republican
    10 Garrison Hamilton 1933-1940 Electiondot.png Democratic
    11 Smith Troy 1941-1952 Electiondot.png Democratic
    12 Don Eastvold 1953-1956 Ends.png Republican
    13 John J. O'Connell 1957-1968 Electiondot.png Democratic
    14 Slade Gorton 1969-1980 Ends.png Republican
    15 Ken Eikenberry 1981-1992 Ends.png Republican
    16 Christine Gregoire 1993-2004 Electiondot.png Democratic
    17 Rob McKenna 2005-2012 Ends.png Republican
    18 Bob Ferguson 2013-2025 Electiondot.png Democratic
    19 Nick Brown 2025-Present Electiondot.png Democratic

    Recent news[edit]

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Washington Attorney General. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    Attorney General of Washington - Google News

    Contact information[edit]

    1125 Washington Street SE
    PO Box 40100
    Olympia, WA 98504

    Phone: (360) 753-6200

    See also[edit]

    Washington State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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    Washington State Executive Offices
    Washington State Legislature
    Washington Courts
    2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
    Washington elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
    Party control of state government
    State government trifectas
    State of the state addresses
    Partisan composition of governors

    External links[edit]

    Footnotes[edit]

    1. ↑ Washington State legislature, "RCW 43.10.030: General powers and duties," accessed January 11, 2021
    2. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    3. ↑ Washington Attorney General, "Divisions," accessed January 11, 2021
    4. ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5187," December 6, 2023
    5. ↑ Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials, "Homepage," accessed January 11, 2021
    6. ↑ salaries.wa.gov, "The History of Compensation for Elected Officials’ in Washington," accessed February 24, 2015
    7. ↑ Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials, "Homepage," accessed February 24, 2015
    8. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
    9. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
    10. ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
    11. ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
    12. ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
    13. ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
    14. ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
    15. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
    16. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
    17. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
    18. ↑ Washington Attorney General, "Brief History of the Office of the Attorney General," accessed January 11, 2021
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