SEATTLE, Wash., May 2, 2023—Democrat Bob Ferguson today announced that he is exploring a run for Washington Governor in 2024. He formally launched an exploratory committee as the first step towards a possible run. He plans to travel to every corner of the state in the coming weeks to listen to Washingtonians. 

Ferguson launched his exploratory committee with a 3-minute video. He released an initial list of endorsements that include tribal leaders, the past three presidents of the Washington State Labor Council, and labor unions representing nurses, grocery workers, Hanford workers, truck drivers, corrections officers, and electricians. Ferguson unveiled over 150 public officials who endorse his candidacy. The list includes congresspersons, legislators, mayors, city councilmembers, school board members, and public safety leaders from all corners of the state. He will roll out additional endorsements in the coming days.

“I have never been afraid to take on big challenges, and I’ve never forgotten who I’m fighting for,” Ferguson said. “I look forward to listening and learning from Washingtonians in every county and corner of this great state.”

Ferguson’s exploratory committee will not accept campaign contributions from large corporations — a continuation of his policy as Attorney General. 

Ferguson announced several goals for the exploratory phase of his campaign. Those goals include:

• Visit every corner of the state; 
• Earn 5,000 grassroots contributions from Washingtonians in all 39 counties;
• Earn 200 endorsements from elected officials.

Statewide Listening Tour

Ferguson will begin his listening tour this month with a trip to Eastern Washington. The listening tour will include public appearances, house parties, meetings with tribal governments, business leaders, and elected officials. 

Ferguson visited every Washington county as a candidate for Attorney General, and visited every county again during his first term. As Attorney General Ferguson also visited every Rotary club in the state – approximately 200 clubs across 103 different Washington cities.

Bio: Who is Bob Ferguson? 

Bob Ferguson is a fourth generation Washingtonian, husband and father of twins. He is serving his third term as Washington State Attorney General, where he manages the largest law office in the state with more than 1800 employees and 13 regional offices.

Ferguson has lived and worked on both sides of the Cascades. He began his legal career in Spokane clerking for a federal judge appointed by George H. W. Bush.

Ferguson began his political career by running against the Chair of the King County Council – a 20-year incumbent and a Democrat. He was considered an underdog but knocked on more than 22,000 doors and won. Ferguson subsequently voted to shrink the size of the Council from 13 members to 9, even though he knew his district would be eliminated in the ensuing redistricting process. Ferguson wasn’t afraid to risk his career to do the right thing. His district was eliminated, and two years after his first election, Ferguson had to run against another longtime incumbent Democrat. He knocked on another 15,000 doors, and won another underdog campaign.

Ferguson received international recognition for delivering Donald Trump his first defeat when he permanently blocked Donald Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional original travel ban. 

Ferguson ultimately stopped more than 50 illegal Trump Administration actions and policies, and led many high-profile legal victories stopping Trump Administration policies that would have harmed Washingtonians. Ferguson’s victories include:

• Protecting DREAMers and leading the lawsuit against Donald Trump’s cruel and unlawful family separation policy;
• Blocking the politically-motivated attack on the U.S. Postal Service and vote-by-mail;
• Protecting reproductive freedom by fighting Trump’s contraceptive access policy, the “gag” rule and “conscience” rule. 
• Defending the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and blocking Trump’s “dirty energy plan”.
• Preventing Trump’s attempt to divert money away from Washington to build a border wall; and 
• Stopping Betsy DeVos’ illegal attempt to divert CARES Act funding away from Washington public schools. 

Ferguson led successful lawsuits against presidents of both parties to increase worker protections for Hanford workers.

As Attorney General, Ferguson created the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division, the Environmental Protection Division, and an Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance. Ferguson also expanded the Consumer Protection, Complex Litigation, and Antitrust Divisions without using taxpayer funding. 

Ferguson expanded consumer protections for all Washingtonians. He worked with leaders of both parties to improve Washington’s consumer protection laws. He took on price-gouging and illegal price-fixing schemes that cost Washington families money. He stopped the use of illegal “no-poach” clauses nationwide, resulting in billions of dollars in increased wages for low-wage franchise employees. 

Ferguson helped lead the national effort to combat the opioid epidemic. Ferguson’s efforts resulted in more than $1.1 billion for treatment, prevention strategies, and first responders in Washington state. 

Ferguson proposed and passed several high-profile bills, including legislation to ban the sale of high-capacity magazines and provide half of all Washingtonians access to free and reduced-cost hospital care. He worked with Republican legislators to increase the sale age for tobacco and vapor products to 21, combat wage theft, and increase student loan protections.

Ferguson is the son of a Boeing employee and a public school teacher. As a teenager, Ferguson began a short career as a professional chess player. He is a two-time Washington State Chess Champion. He remains an internationally rated chess master. 

Ferguson attended the University of Washington where he was elected student body president. As a law student, he advocated for Yacqui Indians in Arizona. He served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps managing an emergency services office assisting vulnerable clients. 

When he’s not working, Ferguson can often be found on a climb with his son or at one of his daughter’s fastpitch softball tournaments.

Initial Endorsements

The following elected leaders and public officials announce their support for Bob Ferguson if he chooses to run for governor. The exploratory committee will be rolling out additional endorsements in the coming days. If you’d like to add your name to this list, email info@bobferguson.com.

Tribes

Snoqualmie Indian Tribe

Organized Labor 

United Food & Commercial Workers Local 3000

UFCW 3000 is the largest UFCW local union in the country with over 50,000 members. UFCW 3000 represents Washingtonians working in grocery, retail, health care, meat packing, cannabis & other industries across the state.

Joint Council of Teamsters Local 28

Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28 empowers and supports their local unions and their membership across Washington, Alaska, and Northern Idaho, with 50,000 members in Washington.

Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 598

Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 598 represents nearly 1,300 union-trained craftsmen who serve 21 counties in Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon. Local 598 represents Washingtonians who work at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, paper mills, food processing plants, cold storage facilities, data centers, silicon plants, chemical plants, gas plants, carbon fiber plants, and miscellaneous manufacturing facilities.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 46

Local 46 represents 6,200 members that work in King, Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam Counties. Local 46 members build everything from schools, bridges, and hospitals, to housing, electric vehicle infrastructure and more. They also represent hundreds of workers in the public sector and at media outlets like KING KIRO, KOMO, and KCTS9.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 77

IBEW Local Union 77 represents over 8,000 hardworking members and 95 percent of utilities throughout Washington. For over 125 years, their members have been responsible for our state’s power generation, transmission, distribution, and delivery.  “We are the people, that bring power to the people.”

Elected Leaders and Public Officials

National Congress of American Indians President and Quinault Nation Vice-Chair Fawn Sharp

Samish Indian Nation Chair Tom Wooten

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

Congressman Derek Kilmer

Congressman Rick Larsen

Congressman Adam Smith 

Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti

Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig

Senator Bob Hasegawa

Senator Sam Hunt

Senator Karen Keiser 

Senator Patty Kuderer

Senator Joe Nguyen

Senator Marko Liias

Senator Jamie Pedersen

Senator Emily Randall

Senator Christine Rolfes

Senator Rebecca Saldaña

Senator Sharon Shewmake 

Senator Jesse Salomon

Senator Yasmin Trudeau

Senator Javier Valdez

Senator Claire Wilson

Senator Lisa Wellman

Representative Jessica Bateman

Representative Lauren Davis

Representative Beth Doglio

Representative Mary Fosse

Representative Roger Goodman

Representative David Hackney

Representative Debra Lekanoff

Representative My-Linh Thai

Representative Nicole Macri

Representative Sharlett Mena

Representative Tina Orwall

Representative Strom Peterson

Representative Gerry Pollet

Representative Marcus Riccelli

Representative Cindy Ryu

Representative Tana Senn

Representative Tarra Simmons

Representative Vandana Slatter

Representative Monica Stonier

Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu

King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski

King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles

King County Councilmember Joe McDermott

King County Councilmember Sarah Perry

King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay

King County Assessor John Wilson

Thurston County Prosecutor Jon Tunheim

Skamania County Prosecutor Adam Kick

Seattle Port Commissioner Ryan Calkins

Seattle Port Commissioner Sam Cho

Seattle Port Commissioner Fred Felleman

Seattle Port Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa

Seattle Port Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed

Tacoma Port Commissioner Kristin Ang

Snohomish County Treasurer Brian Sullivan

Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia

Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser

Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall

Thurston County Assessor Steven Drew

Thurston County Treasurer Jeff Gadman

Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell

Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder

Pacific Mayor Leanne Guier

Vancouver Deputy Mayor Ty Stober

Auburn City Councilmember and former State Labor Council President Larry Brown

Bellingham City Councilmember Kristina Michele Martens

Bellevue City Councilmember Janice Zahn

Burien City Councilmember and former Mayor Jimmy Matta

Covington City Councilmember Jennifer Harjehausen

Covington City Councilmember Sean Smith 

East Wenatchee City Councilmember Matthew Hepner

Everett City Councilmember Paula Rhyne

Fife City Councilmember Bryan Yambe

Kenmore City Councilmember and former Mayor David Baker

Kennewick City Councilmember Jim Millbauer

Kent City Councilmember Marli Larimer

Lacey City Councilmember Carolyn Cox

Lacey City Councilmember Michael Steadman

Lacey City Councilmember Robin Vazquez

Mountlake Terrace City Councilmember Rory Paine-Donovan

Olympia City Councilmember Rhenda Iris Strub

Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs

Spokane City Councilmember Betsy Wilkerson

Spokane City Councilmember Zack Zappone

Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda

Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss

SeaTac City Councilmember Peter Kwon

Tacoma City Councilmember Keith Blocker

Tukwila City Councilmember De’Sean Quinn

Tumwater City Councilmember Eileen Swarthout

Vancouver City Councilmember Diana Perez

Edmonds School Board Member Carin Chase

Federal Way School Board Member Luckisha Phillips

Kennewick School Board Member Ron Mabry

Kennewick School Board Member Diane Sundvik

Tacoma School Board Member Chelsea McElroy

King County Conservation District Board of Supervisors Chair Kirstin Haugen

Former Yakama Tribal Councilmember Asa Washines

Former Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark

Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson

Former State Senator David Frockt

Former State Senator Adam Kline

Former State Senator Kevin Ranker

Former State Senator Debbie Regala

Former State Representative Laurie Dolan

Former State Representative Deb Eddy

Former State Representative Jesse Johnson

Former State Representative Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney

Former State Representative Ruth Kagi

Former State Representative Betty Sue Morris

Former State Representative Busse Nutley

Former State Representative Tim Probst

Former State Representative Sandra Romero

Former State Representative Larry Seaquist

Former State Representative Gael Tarleton

Former State Representative Deb Wallace

Former Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Andy Miller

Former Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Cornell

Former San Juan County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord

Former Thurston County Prosecutor Ed Holm

Former Clark County Commissioner John Magnano

Former Clark County Treasurer Doug Lasher 

Former Clark County Councilmember Temple Lentz

Former King County Councilmember Larry Gossett

Former Burien Mayor Brian Bennett

Former Lacey Mayor Mark Brown

Former Lacey Mayor Jon Halvorson

Former Lacey Mayor Graeme Sackrison

Former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels

Former Shelton Mayor and Shelton City Commissioner Jim Lowery

Former Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard

Former Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt

Former Lacey Deputy Mayor Cynthia Pratt

Former Pierce County Councilmember Tim Farrell

Former Des Moines City Councilmember Luisa Bangs

Former Lacey City Councilmember Bob Jensen

Former Longview City Councilmember Ken Botero

Former Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw

Former Seattle City Councilmember David Della

Former Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes

Former Sedro-Woolley City Councilmember Karl de Jong

Former Shoreline City Councilmember Janet Way

Former Vancouver City Councilmember Pay Jollota

Former Washougal Councilmember Joyce Lindsay

Former State Labor Council President Rick Bender

Former State Labor Council President Jeff Johnson

Former State Democratic Party Chair and King County Councilmember Dwight Pelz

Former State Democratic Party Chair Paul Berendt

Former Mabton Police Chief Raul Almeida

Former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best

Additional Information

To contribute via check, please address to:
Bob Ferguson for Governor Exploratory Committee (D)
PO Box 22169
Seattle, WA 98122

Website: https://www.bobferguson.com/

SOURCE: PAID FOR BY BOB FERGUSON FOR GOVERNOR EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE (D), PO Box 22169 Seattle, WA 98122