Attorney General
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Ferguson (D) | 2,226,418 | 56.49% |
| Matt Larkin (R) | 1,714,927 | 43.51% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
The Candidates
Bob Ferguson
- Party:
- Democratic
- Age:
- 59
- City:
- Seattle, Washington
- Occupation:
- Lawyer
Education: Graduated from Bishop Blanchette High School in Seattle in 1983. Earned bachelor’s from the University of Washington and law degree from New York University.
Work experience: Law clerk for U.S. District Judge Frem Nielsen in Spokane and 8th Circuit Court of Appeals; attorney at Preston Gates Ellis.
Political experience: Elected King County Council 2003, re-elected 2007. Elected attorney general in 2012, re-elected 2016.
Family: Married to Colleen Ferguson. Has two children.
Campaign finances: Raised almost $4 million as of Sept. 29, 2020 with $4,000 maximum contributions from at least 43 individuals or groups, including the Spokane Firefighters Union, state Auto Dealers Political Action Committee, Building and Construction Trades PAC, state Medical PAC and Democratic Attorneys General Association.
Matt Larkin
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 42
- City:
- Tacoma, Washington
Education: Graduated from King’s High School in 2000. Earned bachelor’s in political and social sciences at Westmont College in 2004. Earned law degree from Gonzaga Law School in 2007. Earned Master of Law from George Washington University in 2009.
Work experience: Attorney in private practice for Romac Industries, a family manufacturing business. Former Pierce County deputy prosecutor, former assistant director of presidential speech writing for George W. Bush; former student extern for Spokane County prosecutor’s office.
Political experience: First run for office.
Family: Married to Shelly Larkin. Has four children.
Campaign finances: Raised almost $387,000 as of Sept. 29, 2020 with $70,000 in personal funds and $4,000 maximum contributions from 12 donors including family members and Romac Industries. Raised almost $387,000 as of Sept. 29, with $70,000 in personal funds and $4,000 maximum contributions from 12 donors including family members and Romac Industries.
Complete Coverage
Hayden company settles lawsuit over pandemic evictions in Airway Heights, Spokane Valley
A Hayden, Idaho, company has settled a lawsuit over alleged violation of Washington’s emergency orders against evicting tenants during the pandemic with an agreement to pay $50,000 and issue no more eviction notices that could violate that order.
Excessive fees for Washington state high-school music trips canceled due to COVID-19 will be refunded
A company that illegally charged Washington students for a COVID-canceled trip to Europe will have to pay nearly a half-million dollars in refunds, according to state Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office.
Online vaping companies caught selling vaping products to Washington AG investigators posing as minors
Seven online vaping supply companies, including one licensed in Washington, were caught violating state laws that ban the sale of those products to people under 21, Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Tuesday.
Washington, Idaho officials join both sides of latest presidential election challenge
Elected officials from Washington and Idaho joined both sides of the U.S. Supreme Court battle Thursday over the 2020 presidential election results.
Democratic incumbents capture new terms for Washington attorney general, auditor land commissioner, insurance commissioner
In down-ballot statewide executive races, Democrat incumbents prevailed on Tuesday night.
After success taking on Trump, Bob Ferguson faces Matt Larkin in bid for third term as AG
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who has taken on the Trump administration 80 times in four years, faces GOP challenger Matt Larkin.
Ferguson asks judge to reverse Postal Service changes ahead of election
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson asked a federal judge in Yakima late Wednesday to reverse what the state’s top lawyer called “drastic changes” at the U.S. Postal Service, claiming the recent moves jeopardize mail delivery across the country ahead of November’s election.
Washington leads suit against Arctic Refuge drilling
Washington will lead a coalition of 15 states challenging the Trump administration’s decision to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and natural gas production.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson files suit against Juul, says e-cig maker markets to kids
The nation’s largest producer of e-cigarettes has illegally targeted kids, the state claims in a major consumer protection lawsuit filed Wednesday.
Washington’s voter-approved semiautomatic rifle restrictions constitutional, judge rules
A law restricting the sale of semiautomatic rifles approved by voters in 2018 is constitutional, a federal judge ruled Monday.
Ferguson joins California AG in suit against Trump administration over environmental law
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has joined California’s attorney general in filing a federal lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of illegally relaxing environmental reviews of federal projects.
State challenges new rule on moving liquefied natural gas by rail
Washington has joined other states in challenging new federal rules that would allow for liquefied natural gas to be transported by rail car.
Washington sues over postal service changes as USPS backtracks on planned closures in Eastern Washington
As Washington and some 20 other states began challenging changes to the U.S. Postal Service in court, the postmaster general announced he was suspending those changes at least until after the election.
Two Democrats to face off for Washington lieutenant governor in November
A Democrat is almost guaranteed to be Washington’s next lieutenant governor.
Washington, Ferguson join lawsuit against Trump administration water pollution rule
Washington is one of 20 states and the District of Columbia to challenge a federal rule, taking effect in September, that the states say limits their ability to enforce water quality standards when reviewing federal building projects. The Trump administration has pushed for the revisions, citing job creation and improving the U.S. energy market.
Three Republicans challenging Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s bid for third term
The difference four years makes in Washington elections is probably most obvious in the state attorney general’s race.
State attorney general calls for new law requiring uses of deadly force to be reported
OLYMPIA – In a report to the legislature released Tuesday, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson recommends law enforcement across the state begin reporting all uses of deadly force.
Washington state lawsuit alleges price-fixing by StarKist and rival tuna conglomerates
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is saying “Sorry Charlie” to StarKist tuna and the former CEO of competitor Bumble Bee, suing both for price-fixing he contends bilked consumers of millions of dollars.
Washington state sues Trump administration over which college students should get coronavirus aid
Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office filed a lawsuit in federal court this week, alleging the Education Department is ignoring the will of Congress in limiting which college and university students should receive money set aside in a $2 trillion assistance package. The Department says it’s ensuring eligible students receive help.
With Inslee running for re-election, other Democrats staying put
By running for a third term, Gov. Jay Inslee has kept more Democrats in place in the 2020 elections but energized Republicans.