The two candidates running for Washington state attorney general hold divergent philosophies about what the office ought to do. In an occasionally contentious conversation with The Columbian’s Editorial Board, they laid out their competing visions.
Matt Larkin, the Republican challenger, said he wants to prioritize cracking down on violent crime, homelessness and drugs in the state’s urban areas.
“I’m getting into this race because I want to put more of an emphasis on criminal law,” Larkin said. “We’ve seen the homeless issue spiral out of control, we’ve seen drug addictions go up.”
Over the last eight years, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, has taken more of a big-picture approach to the office. His role, he said, is to run “an independent law firm on behalf of the people of Washington.”
Under his leadership, the attorney general’s office has focused its efforts on building a new civil rights division and strengthening consumer protections. Ferguson has also been a primary challenger of policies under President Donald Trump’s administration — he’s spearheaded efforts to block a ban on travelers from Muslim-majority countries, prevent cuts to the U.S. Postal Service and retain protections for immigrants covered under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, among other high-profile national cases.
All told, the Washington Attorney General’s Office has filed 80 lawsuits against the Trump administration.
Larkin, who works as an attorney at his family’s Bothell-based manufacturing company, argued that the figure was evidence that Ferguson is focused on “the wrong Washington.”
“It’s too many lawsuits against the sitting president, and it becomes the only tool you use,” Larkin said, chalking up Ferguson’s aggressive litigation record to a drain on taxpayer resources. He added that he wouldn’t have led the charge to defend DACA and left that up to the other states who signed on to the suit.
Ferguson countered with his track record in those suits — of the 36 that have been decided, 35 were judged in his favor. As for the DACA suit, Ferguson said, there are 18,000 people who are still living in Washington state under the program because he took on Trump and won.
“What that demonstrates is we’re bringing good cases,” Ferguson said. “For me to turn a blind eye to what this administration is doing, frankly that would be a dereliction of my duties as attorney general.”
Larkin told the editorial board he wanted to reprioritize the Attorney General’s Office to focus more on issues taking place within the borders of Washington.
He said he got into the race because he didn’t recognize Washington anymore. He said longtime residents of Vancouver, Yakima, Spokane or Seattle just don’t feel safe in their cities, Larkin added — rates of murder, rape and assault across the state are higher now than they were a decade ago.
“You can just walk around our cities and know something’s not right,” Larkin said. “That’s just an objective opinion.”
If elected, Larkin said he would train a specialized team of prosecutors in the attorney general’s office who would work with county justice systems to prosecute crime in local jurisdictions.
Ferguson agreed that violent crime was a problem, though he argued that Washington’s growing population accounted for part of the increase.
A political office
The conversation turned testy when the candidates pivoted to the tenor of politics during this election cycle.
Ferguson criticized Larkin for attending multiple political rallies and meetups that disregarded masking and social distancing rules meant to slow the spread COVID-19, in violation of Gov. Jay Inslee’s mandate.
“You’re running for attorney general, and you’re violating state law as you do so,” Ferguson said.
In one exchange, Ferguson also denounced the Republican for a lack of civility, citing personal attacks levied by Larkin in speeches to his supporters — calling the incumbent a “henchman” and a “bully.”
“I don’t remember any of the specifics he’s talking about,” Larkin countered. “Language can get that way on the campaign trail.”
“I understand when you speak to your base, you can just say stuff,” Ferguson said. “Rise above it, Matt. Really.”
Larkin said he will vote for Trump in November.
“I’m frustrated as a Republican. I don’t like his rhetoric, I think it’s bombastic, it’s not my style,” Larkin said. “But I do like some of his policies. I like lower taxes, I like cutting regulations.”
Ferguson said he will vote for former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee.
Larkin and Ferguson will appear statewide on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
