Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson cemented his place as front runner for Washington governor in 2024 Saturday with a cross state campaign sweep to officially announce his candidacy.
The launch tour began in Spokane, continued to Pasco and wrapped up at a rally in Seattle.
The move by the state's most prominent Democrat after Gov. Jay Inslee was widely expected.
Inslee announced in May he would not seek a fourth term. Ferguson immediately formed an exploratory committee to consider his own run.
Saturday's launch tour merely made it official.
The new candidate acknowledged his front runner status, but pledged to campaign like an underdog. He intended to knock on doors in Whatcom County on Sunday.
The two-term attorney general joins a crowded race that includes Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, a Democrat, state Sen. Mark Mullet, an Issaquah Democrat, former U.S. Rep. David Reichert, a King County Republican, and Semi Bird, a Richland Republican who was recently recalled from his school board seat by voters.
The field will be narrowed to two in the August 2024 primary election. The top two will advance to the November 2024 general election.
Ferguson has the twin advantages of high name recognition and a robust campaign chest to carry him through the 11 months leading up to the primary.
He has raised $3.85 million, three times the $1.46 million raised by the other current candidates — Democrat, Republican and other — combined, according to the most recent campaign finance figures reported to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission.
The figure does not include the nearly $1 million previously raised by Inslee.
Ferguson vowed that as governor, he will prioritize the issues raised by voters during a pre-campaign tour of all 39 counties
They include affordable housing, strengthening law enforcement, improving access to health care, including reproductive services, behavioral and substance abuse care, tackling climate change by transitioning Washington to green energy sources and investing in workforce development, with an emphasis on outreach to underrepresented populations.
Ferguson pledged to stand up to any future presidential administration that threatens the rights of citizens. he noted he's experienced at suing presidents, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump.
"We need a governor who will push back and as it happens. I have experience in that," he said.
Ferguson said he doesn't have a position on the Snake River dams, but noted they can't be breached without first replacing the benefits, including the power they generate. That falls under the green energy transformation, he said.
He declined to comment on the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council process as it relates to the controversial Horse Heaven Clean Energy Project, which would install wind turbines and solar facilities in Benton County, citing ongoing work by his office.
