2024 Washington Attorney General election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2024 Washington Attorney General election

| country = Washington

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2020 Washington elections#Statewide executive

| previous_year = 2020

| next_election = 2028 Washington Attorney General election

| next_year = 2028

| election_date = November 5, 2024

| image1 = Nicholas W. Brown, U.S. Attorney official (cropped).jpg

| nominee1 = Nick Brown

| party1 = Democratic Party (US)

| popular_vote1 = 2,093,570

| percentage1 = 55.58%

| image2 = Pete_Serrano.png

| nominee2 = Pete Serrano

| party2 = Republican Party (US)

| popular_vote2 = 1,669,884

| percentage2 = 44.33%

| map_image = {{switcher |275px |County results |275px |Congressional district results |275px |Precinct results |default=1 }}

| map_size = 275px

| map_caption = Brown: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}} {{legend0|#0D0596|>90%}}
Serrano: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#C21B18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#A80000|>90%}}
Tie: {{legend0|#d2b1d9|40–50%}} {{legend0|#ae8bb1|50%}} {{legend0|#808080|No votes}}

| title = Attorney General

| before_election = Bob Ferguson

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Nicholas Brown

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

The 2024 Washington Attorney General election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the next attorney general of Washington, concurrently with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the U.S. Senate and various state and local elections, including for U.S. House and governor of Washington. Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson was eligible to seek re-election to a fourth term but had chosen instead to run successfully for governor.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-05 |title=Ferguson wins WA governor’s race |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/dave-reichert-trails-bob-ferguson-in-washington-governor-race-2024/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} U.S. Attorney Nick Brown, a Democrat, won the election against Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano, a Republican.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-05 |title=Former U.S. attorney beats Pasco mayor to become next WA attorney general |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/nick-brown-leads-election-to-be-next-washington-attorney-general/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}

Background

This the first open attorney general race since 2012, when Bob Ferguson first ran for the office. The primary election was expected to split the Democratic vote as Democrats Nick Brown and Manka Dhingra were on the primary ballot. Both Brown and Dhingra campaigned on similar issues like protecting access to abortion in the state, upholding gun control laws and ensuring public safety.{{Cite news |last=Santos |first=Melissa |date=1 August 2024 |title=How Washington AG candidates compare on policing, drug laws and more |url=https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/08/01/washington-attorney-general-election-candidates |access-date=5 September 2024 |work=Axios}}{{Cite web |last=Demkovich |first=Laurel |date=2024-08-07 |title=Serrano, Brown poised to advance in Washington attorney general race • Washington State Standard |url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/08/06/nick-brown-pete-serrano-washington-attorney-general/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=Washington State Standard |language=en-US}} Once Brown advanced to the general election, he advocated for similar measures along with "policy improvements" the Attorney General position can utilize to counter various issues like illicit drugs. Republican Pete Serrano campaigned on stopping human trafficking, making communities safer, and government accountability.{{Cite web |title=Issues – Pete Serrano for Attorney General |url=https://serranoforag.com/issues/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |language=en-US}} Serrano opposed gun control and had previously expressed personal opposition to abortion, but said he would uphold Washington's current abortion laws if elected, describing abortion as a "settled issue".{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Key takeaways from the WA attorney general debates |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/key-takeaways-from-the-wa-attorney-general-debates/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} However, Serrano indicated he would not enforce the Washington Shield Law enacted in 2023, which protects Washington residents from criminal and civil actions in other states that restrict abortion.{{Cite web |title=Gun control, abortion take center stage in race for Washington's next attorney general {{!}} The Spokesman-Review |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/sep/27/gun-control-abortion-take-center-stage-in-race-for/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=www.spokesman.com}}

Candidates

Washington is one of two states that holds a top-two primary, meaning that all candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two move on to the general election.

=Democratic Party=

==Advanced to general==

Nick Brown, lawyer and former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington (2021–2023){{cite web |last1=Cornfield |first1=Jerry |title=A second Democrat enters race for state attorney general |url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/07/12/a-second-democrat-enters-race-for-state-attorney-general/ |publisher=Washington State Standard |date=12 July 2023}}

==Eliminated in primary==

Manka Dhingra, state senator (2017–present){{cite web |last1=Cornfield |first1=Jerry |title=The race begins for Washington attorney general |url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/05/09/the-race-begins-for-washington-attorney-general/ |publisher=Washington State Standard |access-date=10 May 2023 |date=9 May 2023}}

=Republican Party=

==Advanced to general==

Pete Serrano, mayor of Pasco (2022–present) and director of conservative legal nonprofit{{cite web |last1=Cornfield |first1=Jerry |title=The Republican who wants to be Washington’s next attorney general |url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/01/06/republican-2024-washington-attorney-general/ |publisher=Washington State Standard |date=6 January 2024}}

Primary election

=Endorsements=

{{Endorsements box

| title = Nick Brown (D)

| list =

;Governors

Jay Inslee, governor of Washington{{cite web |last1=Minnis |first1=Glenn |title=Gov. Inslee endorses Nick Brown for Washington state attorney general |url=https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_f487b962-25c0-11ee-946a-73cb68a5f5c4.html |publisher=The Center Square |access-date=21 July 2023 |date=20 July 2023}}

;Newspapers

The Seattle Times{{Cite web |date=2024-05-31 |title=The Seattle Times editorial board recommends: Nick Brown for Washington attorney general {{!}} Editorial |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/the-seattle-times-editorial-board-recommends-nick-brown-for-washington-attorney-general/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}
The Stranger{{Cite web |date=2024-07-31 |title=The Stranger’s Endorsements for the August, 6, 2024 Primary Election |url=https://www.thestranger.com/summer-issue-2024/2024/07/15/79599264/the-strangers-endorsements-for-the-august-6-2024-primary-election}}

}}

{{Endorsements box

| title = Manka Dhingra (D)

| list =

;Organizations

EMILY's List{{Cite web |title=EMILYs List Endorses Manka Dhingra for Washington State Attorney General |url=https://emilyslist.org/news/emilys-list-endorses-manka-dhingra-for-washington-state-attorney-general/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207163037/https://emilyslist.org/news/emilys-list-endorses-manka-dhingra-for-washington-state-attorney-general/ |archive-date=2023-12-07 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=EMILYs List |language=en-US}}
National Women's Political Caucus of Washington{{cite web |title=Our 2024 Endorsements |url=https://www.nwpcwa.org/endorsements_2024 |publisher=National Women's Political Caucus of Washington |access-date=18 July 2023}}

}}

{{Endorsements box

| title = Pete Serrano (R)

| list =

;Political parties

Spokane County Republican Partyhttps://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=822191769943547&set=a.218149473681116
Washington State Republican Party{{cite news |access-date=April 26, 2024 |author=Villenueve, Andrew |date=April 21, 2024 |work=The Cascadia Advocate |url=https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2024/04/heres-who-the-republican-party-endorsed-for-statewide-office-at-its-2024-convention-in-spokane.html |title=Here’s who the Republican Party endorsed for statewide office at its 2024 convention in Spokane}}

}}

= Polling =

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"

valign=bottom

! Poll source

! Date(s)
administered

! Sample
size{{efn|name="Key"|Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear}}

! Margin
{{nowrap|of error}}

! style="width:100px;" | Nick
{{Nowrap|Brown (D)}}

! style="width:100px;" | Manka
{{nowrap|Dhingra (D)}}

! style="width:100px;" | Pete
{{nowrap|Serrano (R)}}

!Undecided

style="text-align:left;" |Public Policy Polling (D)[https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2024/07/nick-brown-gains-slight-lead-over-manka-dhingra-in-competitive-attorney-general-race-pete-serrano-still-positioned-to-advance.html Public Policy Polling (D)]{{Efn-ua|name=Cascadia}}

|July 24–25, 2024

|581 (LV)

|± 4.0%

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |17%

|15%

|{{party shading/Republican}} |38%

|{{party shading/Undecided}} |30%

style="text-align:left;" |Public Policy Polling (D)[https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2024/05/a-plurality-of-washington-voters-are-not-sure-who-they-want-to-vote-for-in-the-contest-for-attorney-general-npi-poll-finds.html Public Policy Polling (D)]{{efn-ua|name=Cascadia|Poll conducted for The Cascadia Advocate}}

|May 15–16, 2024

|615 (LV)

|± 4.0%

|9%

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |10%

|{{party shading/Republican}} |36%

|{{party shading/Undecided}} |45%

style="text-align:left;" |Public Policy Polling (D)[https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2024/02/republicans-ready-to-vote-for-pete-serrano-for-attorney-general-nick-brown-opens-up-a-lead-over-fellow-democrat-manka-dhingra.html Public Policy Polling (D)]{{efn-ua|name=Cascadia}}

|February 13–14, 2024

|789 (LV)

|± 3.5%

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |19%

|12%

|{{party shading/Republican}} |35%

|{{party shading/Undecided}} |34%

= Debate =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" \|+ 2024 Washington Attorney General primary debate
scope="col" \| {{abbr\|No.\|Number}} ! scope="col" \| Date ! scope="col" \| Host ! scope="col" \| Moderator ! scope="col" \| Link ! scope="col"\| Democratic ! scope="col"\| Democratic ! scope="col"\| Republican
colspan="5" rowspan="2" \|Key: {{Colors\|black\|#90ff90\| P }} Participant {{Colors\|black\|#FFFFDD\| A }} Absent {{Colors\|black\|#ff9090\| N }} Not invited {{Colors\|black\|#CCFFCC\| I }} Invited {{color box\|#f0e68c\|W}} Withdrawn ! scope="col" style="background:{{party color\|Democratic Party (US)}}"\| ! scope="col" style="background:{{party color\|Democratic Party (US)}}"\| ! scope="col" style="background:{{party color\|Republican Party (US)}}"\|
scope="col" \| Nick Brown ! scope="col" \| Manka Dhingra ! scope="col" \| Pete Serrano
1 \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| Jun. 18, 2024 \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| League of Women Voters of Washington & Benton-Franklin Counties Northwest Public Broadcasting \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| Matt Loveless \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCtf6J8NtNo YouTube] \| {{Yes\|P}} \| {{Yes\|P}} \| {{Yes\|P}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ 2024 Washington Attorney General primary debate

scope="col" | {{abbr|No.|Number}}

! scope="col" | Date

! scope="col" | Host

! scope="col" | Moderator

! scope="col" | Link

! scope="col"| Democratic

! scope="col"| Republican

colspan="5" rowspan="2" |Key:
{{Colors|black|#90ff90| P }} Participant {{Colors|black|#FFFFDD| A }} Absent {{Colors|black|#ff9090| N }} Not invited {{Colors|black|#CCFFCC| I }} Invited {{color box|#f0e68c|W}} Withdrawn

! scope="col" style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}"|

! scope="col" style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}"|

scope="col" | Nick Brown

! scope="col" | Manka Dhingra

! scope="col" | Pete Serrano

| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Jun. 18, 2024

| style="white-space:nowrap;" | League of Women Voters of Washington
& Benton-Franklin Counties
Northwest Public Broadcasting

| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Matt Loveless

| style="white-space:nowrap;" |[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCtf6J8NtNo YouTube]

| {{Yes|P}}

= Results =

[[File:2024 Washington Attorney General election primary.svg|thumb|250x250px|Blanket primary results by county

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#ed8783|Serrano}}|{{legend|#fbdedd|30–40%}}|{{legend|#f1b4b2|40–50%}}|{{legend|#ed8783|50–60%}}|{{legend|#e55651|60–70%}}|{{legend|#d02923|70–80%}}|{{legend|#b00600|80–90%}}

}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#8da9e2|Brown}}|{{legend|#dee8fb|30–40%}}|{{legend|#b4c7ec|40–50%}}

}}

]]

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Blanket primary election results{{cite web |title=Certification of Results |url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-08/Certification%20of%20Results%20-%202024%20Primary.pdf |website=Washington Secretary of State}}

}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Pete Serrano

| votes = 814,372

| percentage = 42.11%

}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Nick Brown

| votes = 682,360

| percentage = 35.28%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Manka Dhingra

| votes = 435,919

| percentage = 22.54%

}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 1,284

| percentage = 0.07%

}}{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,933,935

| percentage = 100.00%

}}{{Election box end}}

General election

= Predictions =

class="wikitable" style=text-align:center

!Source

!Ranking

!As of

align="left" |Sabato's Crystal Ball{{cite web |last=Jacobson |first=Louis |date=January 31, 2024 |title=This Year's Key Attorney General and Secretary of State Races |url=https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/this-years-key-attorney-general-and-secretary-of-state-races/ |work=University of Virginia Center for Politics}}

| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}

|July 25, 2024

= Polling =

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"

!Poll source

!Date(s)
administered

!Sample
size{{efn|Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear|name=key}}

!Margin
{{nowrap|of error}}

!style="width:100px;" | Nick
Brown (D)

!style="width:100px;" | Pete
Serrano (R)

!Undecided

style="text-align:left;"|ActiVote[https://www.activote.net/democrats-lead-in-state-level-washington-races/ ActiVote]

|October 3–29, 2024

|400 (LV)

|± 4.9%

|{{party shading/Democratic}}|57%

|43%

|–

style="text-align:left;" |Public Policy Polling (D){{Efn-ua|name=Cascadia}}

|October 16–17, 2024

|571 (LV)

|± 4.1%

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |46%

|39%

|15%

style="text-align:left;"|Strategies 360[https://www.strategies360.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24-075-KOMO-STW-Poll-Toplines-PUBLIC-RELEASE.pdf Strategies 360]

|October 11–16, 2024

|600 (RV)

|± 4.0%

|{{party shading/Democratic}}|48%

|38%

|13%

style="text-align:left;"|Cascade PBS/Elway Research[https://www.cascadepbs.org/sites/default/files/uploads/2024/10/combopolldoc1024.pdf Cascade PBS/Elway Research]

|October 8–12, 2024

|401 (LV)

|± 5.0%

|{{party shading/Democratic}}|47%

|29%

|24%

= Debates =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" \|+ 2024 Washington Attorney General debates
scope="col" \| {{abbr\|No.\|Number}} ! scope="col" \| Date ! scope="col" \| Host ! scope="col" \| Moderator ! scope="col" \| Link ! scope="col"\| Democratic ! scope="col"\| Republican
colspan="5" rowspan="2" \|Key: {{Colors\|black\|#90ff90\| P }} Participant {{Colors\|black\|#FFFFDD\| A }} Absent {{Colors\|black\|#ff9090\| N }} Not invited {{Colors\|black\|#CCFFCC\| I }} Invited {{color box\|#f0e68c\|W}} Withdrawn ! scope="col" style="background:{{party color\|Democratic Party (US)}}"\| ! scope="col" style="background:{{party color\|Republican Party (US)}}"\|
scope="col" \| Nick Brown ! scope="col" \| Pete Serrano
1 \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| Sep. 18, 2024 \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| Association of Washington Business \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| Paul Reed \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| [https://tvw.org/video/association-of-washington-business-policy-summit-attorney-general-debate-2024091194/?eventID=2024091194 TVW] \| {{Yes\|P}} \| {{Yes\|P}}
2 \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| Sep. 19, 2024 \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| Seattle CityClub Washington State Debate Coalition \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| \| style="white-space:nowrap;" \| [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uowmkB6txE0 YouTube] \| {{Yes\|P}} \| {{Yes\|P}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ 2024 Washington Attorney General debates

scope="col" | {{abbr|No.|Number}}

! scope="col" | Date

! scope="col" | Host

! scope="col" | Moderator

! scope="col" | Link

! scope="col"| Democratic

! scope="col"| Republican

! scope="col" style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}"|

! scope="col" style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}"|

scope="col" | Nick Brown

! scope="col" | Pete Serrano

| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Sep. 18, 2024

| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Association of Washington Business

| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Paul Reed

| style="white-space:nowrap;" | [https://tvw.org/video/association-of-washington-business-policy-summit-attorney-general-debate-2024091194/?eventID=2024091194 TVW]

| {{Yes|P}}

| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Sep. 19, 2024

| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Seattle CityClub
Washington State Debate Coalition

| style="white-space:nowrap;" |

| style="white-space:nowrap;" | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uowmkB6txE0 YouTube]

| {{Yes|P}}

= Results =

{{Election box begin|title=2024 Washington Attorney General election{{cite web |title=Official Canvass of the Returns |url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/Official%20Canvass%20of%20the%20Returns%20G2024_%20Certification%2012%2004%202024.pdf |publisher=Secretary of State of Washington |access-date=4 December 2024}}}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Nick Brown|votes=2,093,570|percentage=55.58%|change=–0.85%}}{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Pete Serrano|votes=1,669,884|percentage=44.33%|change=+0.86%}}{{Election box write-in with party link|votes=3,616|percentage=0.10%|change=–}}{{Election box total|votes=3,767,070|percentage=100.00%|change=N/A}}{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Washington State Democratic Party

}}

{{Election box end}}Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles)

== By congressional district ==

Brown won six of ten congressional districts, with the remaining four going to Serrano, including two that elected Democrats.{{cite web |title=2024Gen Results by Congressional District|url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/2024Gen%20Results%20by%20Congressional%20District.pdf|website=sos.wa.gov|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228094110/https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/2024Gen%20Results%20by%20Congressional%20District.pdf|archive-date=2024-12-28}}

class=wikitable

! District

! Brown

! Serrano

! Representative

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Washington|1|1st}}

| 60%

| 40%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Suzan DelBene

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Washington|2|2nd}}

| 58%

| 42%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Rick Larsen

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Washington|3|3rd}}

| 46%

| 54%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Washington|4|4th}}

| 36%

| 64%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Dan Newhouse

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Washington|5|5th}}

| rowspan=2|41%

| rowspan=2|59%

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Cathy McMorris Rodgers (118th Congress)

align=center

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Michael Baumgartner (119th Congress)

align=center

! rowspan=2 {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Washington|6|6th}}

| rowspan=2|56%

| rowspan=2|44%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Derek Kilmer (118th Congress)

align=center

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Emily Randall (119th Congress)

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Washington|7|7th}}

| 84%

| 16%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Pramila Jayapal

align=center

! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|Washington|8|8th}}

| 48%

| 51%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Kim Schrier

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Washington|9|9th}}

| 67%

| 33%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Adam Smith

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|Washington|10|10th}}

| 56%

| 44%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Marilyn Strickland

align=center

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links

Official campaign websites

[https://nickbrownforag.com/ Nick Brown (D) for Attorney General]
[https://serranoforag.com/ Pete Serrano (R) for Attorney General]

Attorney general

2024

Category:2024 United States state attorney general elections