Bob Ferguson

Bob Ferguson
Born	Template:Birth year and age
Birthplace	United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Title	24th Governor of Washington
Known for	24th Governor of Washington; former Washington Attorney General

Robert W. "Bob" Ferguson (born 1965) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 24th Governor of Washington. Before assuming the governorship, Ferguson served as the Attorney General of Washington, a role in which he gained prominence for filing numerous lawsuits against the federal government. As governor, Ferguson has pursued a legislative agenda centered on affordability, public safety, and tax reform, including proposals for sales tax holidays and a tax on high-income earners. His tenure has been marked by an active engagement with federal policy, including legal and public challenges to actions taken by the administration of President Donald Trump.

Ferguson's political career has spanned local and state government in Washington. He built a reputation during his years as attorney general as a frequent litigator against federal policies he argued were unlawful or harmful to Washington residents. His transition to the governorship represented a continuation of many of the same policy priorities, with an emphasis on using the powers of the executive office to shape fiscal and public safety policy in the state. As governor, Ferguson has worked with—and at times been at odds with—members of his own Democratic Party in the state legislature over the specifics of revenue generation and spending.

Career

Attorney General of Washington

Bob Ferguson served as the Attorney General of Washington prior to becoming governor. During his tenure as attorney general, Ferguson became one of the most prominent state-level legal officials in the United States, known particularly for filing a large number of lawsuits against the federal government. His legal actions addressed a wide range of policy areas and drew national attention, establishing him as a leading figure among state attorneys general who used litigation as a tool to challenge federal authority.

Ferguson's work as attorney general laid the groundwork for his subsequent gubernatorial campaign. His record of legal activism resonated with many Washington voters and provided him with a high public profile heading into the governor's race.

Governor of Washington

Bob Ferguson serves as the 24th Governor of Washington. Since taking office, Ferguson has pursued a multifaceted policy agenda that has included proposals related to tax policy, public safety, and responses to federal government actions.

Tax Policy and Affordability

A central component of Ferguson's gubernatorial agenda has been a focus on affordability for Washington residents. In February 2026, Ferguson publicly advocated for the creation of sales tax holidays in Washington state. He also called for a sales tax exemption on diapers, framing the proposal as a measure to reduce costs for families with young children.

The diaper tax exemption proposal attracted bipartisan interest. Both Ferguson and Republican legislators in Washington expressed support for eliminating the sales tax on diapers, though Democratic legislators in the state Legislature were not immediately supportive of the measure. The proposal emerged amid broader discussions about tax reform in the state, including legislation to institute an income tax on millionaires.

Ferguson described affordability as the guiding principle of his approach to a proposed millionaires' tax, stating publicly that his "North Star for a Millionaires' Tax is affordability." His calls for sales tax holidays and expanded breaks for small businesses came as legislation for an income tax on millionaires advanced through the Legislature, generating tension among Democrats over how the resulting revenue should be allocated. Some Democratic legislators expressed skepticism about Ferguson's proposals, raising questions about the fiscal implications of combining new revenue streams with new tax breaks.

The intraparty disagreements highlighted the complexities of Ferguson's position as a Democratic governor working with a Democratic-controlled legislature. While Ferguson and legislative Democrats shared broad goals regarding tax equity and public investment, they diverged on the details of implementation, particularly regarding how revenue from a potential millionaires' tax should be spent and whether sales tax holidays represented sound fiscal policy.

Public Safety

Public safety has been another major policy area for Ferguson's administration. The governor championed a $100 million grant program designed to address law enforcement staffing shortages across Washington state. The program was created in response to Washington's status as one of the states with the fewest police officers per capita in the nation. The grants were intended to help local jurisdictions hire new police officers and address gaps in public safety coverage.

However, as of February 2026, the program had yet to result in any new police hires. Local officials expressed frustration with the rollout of the grant program, citing administrative and bureaucratic obstacles that had delayed the distribution of funds and the hiring process. The situation underscored the challenges of translating executive policy initiatives into tangible outcomes at the local level, and it drew scrutiny from both supporters and critics of the governor's public safety agenda.

Federal Government Relations

Ferguson's governorship has been characterized by an active and often adversarial relationship with the federal government under President Donald Trump. Continuing the approach he established as attorney general, Ferguson has used both legal and rhetorical means to challenge federal policies he views as harmful to Washington state.

In February 2026, Ferguson issued a statement responding to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Ferguson characterized the tariffs as "unlawful" and praised the Court's ruling as a vindication of the rule of law. The statement reflected Ferguson's broader pattern of publicly opposing Trump administration policies and positioning Washington state as a counterweight to federal actions he deemed overreaching or illegal.

This approach to federal relations has been a defining feature of Ferguson's political identity, dating back to his tenure as attorney general, when he filed numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration on issues ranging from immigration policy to environmental regulation. As governor, Ferguson has continued to frame his opposition to certain federal policies in legal and constitutional terms, arguing that state governments have both the right and the obligation to challenge federal overreach.

Judicial Appointments

As governor, Ferguson holds the power to appoint justices to the Washington Supreme Court when vacancies arise. In early 2026, Justice Barbara Madsen announced her upcoming retirement from the Washington Supreme Court. Ferguson issued a public statement acknowledging Madsen's service to the court and the state. The retirement created a vacancy that Ferguson would be responsible for filling through gubernatorial appointment, a significant exercise of executive power with long-term implications for the state's judiciary.

Political Positions

Ferguson's political positions as governor have reflected a combination of progressive priorities and pragmatic centrism. His advocacy for a millionaires' tax places him in alignment with progressive efforts to make Washington's tax system more equitable—Washington is one of a small number of states without a personal income tax, and its reliance on sales taxes has long been criticized as regressive. At the same time, his calls for sales tax holidays and diaper tax exemptions have appealed to a broader political constituency, including Republican legislators who have expressed support for specific affordability measures.

On public safety, Ferguson has taken a position that emphasizes increasing law enforcement capacity, a stance that distinguished him from some progressive voices within the Democratic Party who have called for alternative approaches to policing. His championing of the $100 million police hiring grant program signaled a commitment to traditional law enforcement models as a response to public safety concerns.

Ferguson's approach to federal government relations has been defined by a willingness to use legal and institutional tools to resist federal policies. His statements on the Supreme Court's tariff ruling and his broader record of litigation against the Trump administration reflect a consistent position that state governments should serve as checks on federal power when constitutional boundaries are at issue.