SEATTLE (KOMO) — Washington Attorney General (AG) Bob Ferguson addressed recent developments in the state's governor's race Monday morning, days after two people named Robert Ferguson joined the ballot.
On Friday, two additional Democratic candidates filed to run for Washington governor under the name Bob Ferguson. Right wing activist Glen Morgan posted on Facebook around 5 p.m. Friday saying he was the "volunteer campaign manager for two of the Bob Fergusons running for governor. They are both superior in every way to the AG running for the same office, and I believe they can provide better choices for the Democrats in our state for that office."
By Monday evening, both Bob Fergusons told KOMO News they were dropping out of the race.
Ferguson, the Democratic frontrunner, said via X that Morgan's motive is to "confuse voters and diminish votes." Ferguson called the additions an "illegal scheme," violating RCW 29a.84.320: "Duplicate, nonexistent, untrue names."
"The stakes could not be higher," Ferguson wrote on social media. "This is a direct attack on our democracy and the integrity of the Washington state election system that could lead to the victory of an anti-choice conservative like Dave Reichert. Washingtonians start voting in less than two months. We are going to need significant resources to get the message out about which 'Bob Ferguson' to vote for in August."
During a press conference Monday morning, Ferguson said he knows at least one of the Bob Fergusons who filed has previously voted as a Republican. Ferguson added that the other two candidates — both named Robert Ferguson — are from Yakima and Graham. Cease and desist letters were left at both of their homes, Ferguson said.
The Bob Ferguson from Graham acknowledged to KOMO News he had received the letter and would drop out of the race because he doesn't have the resources to fight a well-funded legal challenge from the Ferguson of Seattle.
"Because we coincidentally share the same name, that, you know, that it is a felony for two people. I guess what the intent being that they think that my purpose was to deceive the people about who was who, which was not my intent at all," said the Bob Ferguson from Graham. "I'm just a little man, I do not have the means to combat this. That's why I signed the paperwork last night, and it's submitted today to withdraw from the race."
"I think the people of the state have been underserved for many, many years. We've just been robbed blind by the current administration, and everyone associated with it. The little man's paying for it, and enough is enough. It's just it's got to stop," added the now non-candidate Bob Ferguson. "I served 20 years in the U.S. Army, and multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and who knew the biggest personal threat I would face would be from the Attorney General of the state, and the harassment and threats that I received from him."
The deadline to withdraw from candidacy was 5 p.m. Monday. AG Ferguson said Monday morning if the two other Fergusons withdrew, they could avoid prosecution.
"I do not want them prosecuted," Ferguson said Monday morning. "I hope these two people do the right thing."
Former King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg stood next to Ferguson at the press conference and said, "What's happened here is we all kind of laughed at it. It was a prank, it was a meme. But it's not funny, and it's also a crime."
Ferguson also targeted Reichert for not speaking out against the recent development, orchestrated by Morgan, the Washington state GOP volunteer of the year in 2023.
"(Reichert) seems only care about enforcing the law in certain situations, he doesn't mind if someone's violating a criminal law, if it benefits him politically. We have national threats to our elections. We have threats to our democracy. This is a threat to our election system," said Ferguson.
"In all nine of my previous campaigns, I have won without any games or antics such as these,” Reichert said in a statement to KOMO News Monday afternoon. “I don't support any effort to deceive the voters of Washington state."
Morgan could not immediately be reached for comment.
"I'm not interested in this whole thing," Washington state GOP Chair Jim Walsh said, adding that that he wasn't involved. But he said it found it interesting that AG Ferguson had his "knickers in a bunch when his party created this situation." Walsh said it is evidence as to why the state should get rid of the 'Top 2' primary system.
The Washington state primary is being held on Aug. 6, and the general election occurs on Nov. 5. AG Ferguson is the leading Democratic candidate, likely squaring off against Reichert or Semi Bird, the Republican favorites.
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