(CN) — Washington state’s 2024 gubernatorial race is officially underway after state Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced the launch of his exploratory campaign for governor in a video Tuesday morning.
“Washingtonians must have the freedom to make their own health care decisions," Ferguson said in the campaign video. "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."
The key to moving forward, he says, is building a grassroots coalition “together.”
Ferguson’s video on YouTube arrived a day after Governor Jay Inslee announced he would not seek a fourth term in 2024. Ferguson also took to Twitter Tuesday morning to announce his campaign, stating he has never been afraid to take on big fights from the Trump administration and gun lobby to anti-abortion extremists and corporate interests.
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. https://t.co/0JsEQ2L78R
— Bob Ferguson (@BobFergusonAG) May 2, 2023
In another tweet, Ferguson added that since running for attorney general in 2012, he’d led a “grassroots, people-powered” campaign and has refused to take money from large corporations. This campaign, he said, will be no different.
Ferguson, 58, got his start in politics with the King County Council in 2003 and is a member of the Democratic Party. Having served three consecutive terms as attorney general since 2012, he is now well known for filing a litany of lawsuits against the Trump administration’s policies involving border wall construction, travel bans, environmental policies and more.
At home, Ferguson is also well known for helping to pass a recent gun control law that bans assault weapons in Washington state — something he's pushed lawmakers to do since 2017. How that law would affect his campaign is to be seen. So far, three federal lawsuits have been filed against Ferguson, claiming constitutional violations.
Washington state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz may also drop a campaign bid Tuesday. Shortly after Ferguson’s announcement, Franz tweeted, “Stay tuned. Big announcement coming soon.”
Spoiling the surprise right after, Franz tweeted: “And I reiterate my pledge to not transfer surplus campaign funds until the PDC is done updating guidelines to ensure campaign contribution limits are not violated. I hope all candidates do the same. Washingtonians deserve clean and fair elections.”
Franz, 52, is also a Democrat and previously a member of the Bainbridge Island City Council.
And I reiterate my pledge to not transfer surplus campaign funds until the PDC is done updating guidelines to ensure campaign contribution limits are not violated. I hope all candidates do the same. Washingtonians deserve clean and fair elections.
— Hilary Franz (@hilaryfranz) May 2, 2023
Follow @alannamayhampdx
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