Washington Attorney General

Last updated

Attorney General of Washington
Nicholas W. Brown, U.S. Attorney official (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Nick Brown
since January 15, 2025
Office of the Attorney General
Style The Honorable
Term length Four years
No limit
Constituting instrument Washington State Constitution
Formation1887
Salary $218,744 [1]

The attorney general of Washington is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of Washington and head of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General. The attorney general represents clients of the state and defends the public interest in accordance to state law. The office of the attorney general is an executive office elected by the citizens of Washington, and the officeholder serves a four-year term. [2]

Contents

Authority

The powers and responsibilities of the Washington attorney general derive from the Washington State Constitution (Const. art. III, § 1) [3] and the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 43.10). [4]

List of attorneys general of Washington

The following is a list of individuals who have served as attorney general of the U.S. state of Washington. [5] [6] The attorney general is fifth (behind the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor, respectively) in the line of succession to the office of Governor of Washington. [7]

  Denotes acting attorney general or time served as acting attorney general
#ImageAttorney GeneralTerm of officePolitical party
1 Washington State Attorney General James B. Metcalf, circa 1888.jpg James B. Metcalfe 18871889 Democratic
2 Washington State Attorney General William Carey Jones, circa 1889.jpg William C. Jones 18891897 Republican
3 Washington State Attorney General Patrick Henry Winston Jr., circa 1897 (cropped).jpg Patrick Henry Winston Jr. 18971901 People's Party
4 Washington State Attorney General Wickliffe Stratton, circa 1901 (cropped).jpg Wickliffe Stratton 19011905Republican
5 Washington State Attorney General John Atkinson, 1905 (square crop).jpg John Atkinson 19051909Republican
6 Washington State Attorney General Walter P. Bell, 1909 (square crop).jpg Walter Bell 19091911Republican
7 Washington State Attorney General William V. Tanner, 1911 (square crop).jpg William V. Tanner 19111912Republican
19121919
8 Washington State Attorney General L. L. Thompson, 1919 (square crop).jpg L.L. Thompson 19191920Republican
19201923
9 Washington State Attorney General John Dunbar, 1923 (square crop).jpg John Dunbar 19231925Republican
19251933
10 Garrison Hamilton 19331940 Democratic
11 Smith Troy 19411944Democratic
19441952
12 Don Eastvold 19531956Republican
13 John J. O'Connell (cropped).jpg John J. O'Connell 19571969Democratic
14 Slade Gorton.jpg Slade Gorton 19691981Republican
15 Ken Eikenberry.jpg Ken Eikenberry 19811993Republican
16 ChristineGregoireOfficial (cropped).jpg Christine Gregoire 19932005Democratic
17 Rob McKenna; Washington AG (cropped).jpg Rob McKenna 20052013Republican
18 Defend DACA rally - Seattle - September 5, 2017 - 15 - Bob Ferguson (cropped).jpg Bob Ferguson 20132025Democratic
19 Nicholas W. Brown, U.S. Attorney official (cropped).jpg Nick Brown 2025IncumbentDemocratic

Current attorney general (Nick Brown)

Nick Brown is the current attorney general in the state of Washington. He took over the seat in 2025, primarily running on a campaign of safety for Seattle citizens. Secondarily, he ran on access to abortion for Washington residents and mitigation of climate change. [8] He won the 2024 election by defeating republican challenger Pete Serrano, making history as the first black attorney general in the state of Washington.

During his time as attorney general he has made headlines for suing the Trump administration multiple times, most notably over SNAP benefits. [9] He has also recently pushed for a bill that would protect immigrant workers in the state of Washington. [10]

References

  1. ↑ "Salary Information". Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Office Information". Washington State Office of the Attorney General. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Code Reviser Washington State Constitution". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Chapter 43.10: Attorney General". Revised Code of Washington . Washington State Legislature. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  5. ↑ Bowers, Todd; Scott, Drew; Scharber, Maureen (2006). "Historical Highlights: Office of the Washington State Attorney General". Office of the Washington State Attorney General. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
  6. ↑ Washington State Yearbook: The Evergreen State Government Directory. Olympia, WA: Washington Roll Call. 2017.
  7. ↑ "Washington State Constitution". Washington State Legislature . Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Nick Brown for Attorney General". Nick Brown for Attorney General. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Washington sues to block abrupt and confusing attempt to illegally restrict SNAP eligibility | Washington State". www.atg.wa.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  10. ↑ "AG Brown, in partnership with state legislators, proposes Immigrant Worker Protection Act | Washington State". www.atg.wa.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
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