Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at the Snohomish & Island County Labor Council champions dinner last year in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at the Snohomish & Island County Labor Council champions dinner last year in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Ferguson, WA Democrats prepare for new era of showdowns with Trump

Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson and Attorney General-elect Nick Brown are readying their legal teams.

By Laurel Demkovich / Washington State Standard

After suing the Trump administration nearly 100 times as attorney general, Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson has an idea of what the next four years could look like.

Ferguson said Thursday he and his team have spent the last year preparing for the prospect of another Trump presidency, something that became a reality this week when Donald Trump was elected to a second term.

“We’re not just waking up yesterday thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s a Trump administration coming. We need to get ready for it,’” Ferguson told reporters during a press conference. “There has been a lot of work for many, many months from my team to prepare for this.”

That preparation has included reading the entirety of Project 2025 — an almost 1,000-page national conservative policy playbook embraced by Trump supporters, talking to other Democratic attorneys general and quickly catching up his successor, Nick Brown, who won his election this week.

Trump will take office Jan. 20, 2025. Ferguson and Brown will be sworn in to their new jobs Jan. 15.

During the first Trump administration, Ferguson sued the federal government 99 times, including 36 cases led by Washington state. Those cases challenged Trump’s Muslim travel ban, his decision to revoke student visas for international students during the pandemic and a host of environmental rollbacks. Washington only lost three of those cases.

He said Thursday he couldn’t speak to any specific actions the attorney general’s or governor’s offices might take because it would depend on what exactly they were fighting against.

Ferguson said he is particularly concerned about the federal government limiting access to reproductive health care, removing protections for LGBTQ+ residents and eliminating Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals which protects immigrants who came to the United States as children without legal authorization from deportation.

Washington has a lot of state protections already in place in these areas, but Brown said his team will be ready to tackle anything.

“We will be prepared for whatever comes and do everything in our power to defend the rights of Washingtonians, the people of this great state, and to make sure that when there is an illegal action, that we look very closely to see if we can bring a case,” Brown said.

On Wednesday, Gov. Jay Inslee called Ferguson and Brown “the best duo to defend Washington state.”

“Whatever happened in the presidential race, it’s not going to turn us around,” Inslee said. “We’re not going to be slowed down in our effort for justice for our people.”

But their fight won’t come without challenges.

In the same way that Washington officials might be more prepared to spar with the Trump administration than they were in 2017, Ferguson said Trump’s team is also likely more prepared and will be less sloppy in how they roll out some executive actions.

There are also more conservative appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court than there were in 2017, which could make it more challenging, he said.

And if Republicans win majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, Washington leaders will have to scrutinize legislation that is passed to ensure it is legal and doesn’t infringe on any state laws.

There is also plenty that Trump could legally do that Washington couldn’t challenge, Ferguson said. He said his team tries to be disciplined in deciding which cases to bring against the federal government — part of the reason they have been so successful.

At the end of the day, Ferguson said he hopes he is overprepared.

“I pray that the things we’re talking about don’t come to pass. If this team never has to file a single lawsuit against the Trump administration, no one would be more happy than me,” Ferguson said. “But I’m not naive.”

Though Brown is concerned about the next presidential administration, he pointed out many issues Washingtonians care about are determined at a state or local level. For example, Washington has some of the best state-level protections for reproductive rights and the environment, he said.

It’s also possible the federal government under Trump could try to withhold or cut federal funding from states that don’t follow certain policy guidelines.

If the Trump administration does this illegally, Ferguson said Washington would be prepared to fight back in court.

State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti noted in a statement on Thursday that denying federal funds to states was called out as a “coercion” tactic in the Project 2025 plan.

Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com. Follow Washington State Standard on Facebook and X.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Refugee and Immigrant Services Northwest Senior Associate ESL Instructor James Wilcox, right, works on speaking and writing with Anfal Zaroug, 32, who is accompanied by her daughter Celia Hassen, 6 months, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
What will Trump’s immigration policy mean for Snohomish County?

The president-elect has vowed to ramp up deportations and limit legal immigration.

Water cascades down the Lower Falls near the Woody Trail at Wallace Falls State Park near Gold Bar on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. A nearly six mile round-trip to the park's Upper Falls offers hikers an array of vistas on a well maintained trail.
Wallace Falls closed due to bomb cyclone damage

Over 170 trees fell in last month’s storm. The park near Gold Bar is closed until further notice.

Neepaporn “A” Boungjaktha (Snohomish County)
Snohomish County executive director takes new gig with Port of Seattle

Neepaporn “A” Boungjaktha joined the county in 2022. Her last day will be Jan. 2.

People walk into the Everett Library off of Hoyt Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How will new Everett library hours affect its programs?

This month, the two branches scaled back their hours in light of budget cuts stemming from a city deficit.

The Evergreen Branch of the Everett Public Library is open and ready for blast off. Dillon Works, of Mukilteo, designed this eye-catching sculpture that greets people along Evergreen Way.   (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Snohomish County awards money to improve warming, cooling centers

The money for HVAC improvements will allow facilities to better serve as temporary shelters for weather-related events.

Marysville
Marysville to hold post-holiday ‘tree-cycling’ event

You can dispose of your tree and holiday packaging Jan. 4.

The City of Edmonds police, court and council chambers complex on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds considers disbanding police department amid budget woes

The city is having “exploratory” meetings with the Snohomish and King County sheriff’s offices.

Interim Marysville School District Superintendent David Burgess speaks at a presentation regarding potential school closures Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Marysville Pilchuck High School. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Marysville school board talks pros and cons of closure options

The board hopes to decide on which schools to close by the end of the month.

Lynnwood
Man injured in drive-by shooting near Lynnwood

As of 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, authorities had no known suspects in the shooting on 156th Street SW.

The northbound Swift Blue Line stop on Pacific is photographed Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Community Transit approves budget with more service

The more than $450 million combined budget adds 116,000 service hours and earmarks money for zero-emission buses.

Lake Serene in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service)
Hiker survives 100-foot fall into Lake Serene near Index

The hiker was airlifted after plummeting into the lake Sunday night, officials said.

Outside of the Boeing modification center on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing lays off 396 more workers in Washington

The aerospace giant laid off over 2,000 workers in Washington last month.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.