Bob Ferguson

Bob Ferguson Bio

Robert Watson Ferguson, known publicly as Bob Ferguson, is an American attorney and politician who has served as the 24th Governor of Washington since January 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he built his public career around consumer protection, government transparency, and frequent legal action against federal policies. Before becoming governor, Ferguson served as the 18th Attorney General of Washington from 2013 to 2025 and as a member of the King County Council from 2004 to 2013. He is widely recognized for filing dozens of lawsuits against the federal government during President Donald Trump’s first term and for high-profile cases involving consumer rights and civil liberties.

A Seattle native, Ferguson attended Bishop Blanchet High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington and a Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law. He is married to Colleen Ferguson, with whom he has two children, and the family lives in Olympia, Washington. Outside of politics, Ferguson is an avid mountain climber, backpacker, birdwatcher, and competitive chess master.

Early Life and Background

Robert Watson Ferguson was born on February 23, 1965, in Seattle, Washington, to Murray Ferguson and Betty (Hausmann) Ferguson. He is a fourth-generation Washingtonian, with roots tracing back to great-grandparents who homesteaded along the Skagit River in the 19th century, near present-day Marblemount. Growing up in Seattle shaped his early interest in public service and civic engagement.

Ferguson graduated from Bishop Blanchet High School in 1983 and went on to attend the University of Washington, where he was elected student body president. After completing his undergraduate studies, he joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest and spent a year directing an emergency services office. He later earned his Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law, where he received a grant to provide legal assistance to the Yaqui tribe in Guadalupe, Arizona.

Path to US Politics

After graduating from law school, Ferguson began his legal career in Spokane, clerking for Chief Judge William Fremming Nielsen of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. He then clerked for Judge Myron H. Bright of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit before returning to Seattle. There, he joined the firm Preston Gates and Ellis, now known as K and L Gates, as a litigator representing individuals, businesses, and local governments.

During his time at the firm, Ferguson worked on cases involving software piracy, intellectual property theft, and constitutional challenges to initiatives proposed by anti-tax activist Tim Eyman. He also defended taxpayers from cost overruns tied to Safeco Field construction. After four years in private practice, Ferguson decided to enter public office and ran for the King County Council in 2003.

Bob Ferguson Career

Early Career (2003-2009)

Ferguson was elected to the King County Council in 2003, defeating incumbent Cynthia Sullivan by about 500 votes after knocking on 22,000 doors throughout the district. He represented Council District 1, which includes northeast Seattle, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell, Kirkland, and part of Woodinville. During his tenure, he chaired the Regional Policy Committee and the Law, Justice and Human Services Committee.

Early in his council career, Ferguson focused on fiscal responsibility and mental health funding. He pushed the county to purchase used furniture for a new office building, saving taxpayers more than one million dollars. In 2005, he co-sponsored a ballot measure to generate revenue for veterans’ health services, which voters approved. He also championed legislation to protect open space and reform county procurement processes.

Breakthrough (2010-2016)

Ferguson’s profile grew significantly in 2010 when he was selected for the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship, a program recognizing promising political leaders. In 2011, he received the Booth Gardner Mental Health Champion award from Sound Mental Health for his work leading the effort to raise fifty million dollars annually for mental illness and drug addiction services. He also authored legislation preventing King County from doing business with companies that violated wage theft laws.

In 2012, Ferguson won election as the 18th Attorney General of Washington, defeating fellow King County Council member Reagan Dunn with 53.5 percent of the vote. As attorney general, he quickly established himself as a consumer protection advocate and frequent litigator against federal policies. During Donald Trump’s first presidential term, his office sued the federal government 99 times, with Ferguson personally leading 36 cases and winning 47 times.

One of Ferguson’s most prominent early cases was a 2013 consumer protection lawsuit against Richland florist Barronelle Stutzman, which reached the Washington Supreme Court and ultimately ruled against Stutzman. In 2016, he filed a one hundred million dollar consumer protection lawsuit against Comcast over deceptive practices, resulting in 9.1 million dollars in civil penalties. In January 2017, he filed suit within 72 hours challenging President Trump’s travel ban, securing a nationwide temporary restraining order.

Democratic Era (2017-Present)

Ferguson won reelection as attorney general in 2016 with 67 percent of the vote, carrying 37 of the state’s 39 counties. He was reelected again in 2020, defeating Republican Matt Larkin 56 percent to 43 percent. His tenure emphasized consumer protection, environmental enforcement, and public interest litigation. Notable settlements included 149.5 million dollars from Johnson and Johnson over opioid contributions, 21 million dollars in refunds from Providence Health and Services, and 35.5 million dollars recovered from chicken producers in price-fixing cases.

In September 2023, Ferguson announced his candidacy for governor of Washington. After winning the Democratic nomination, he faced Republican Dave Reichert in the general election and won by 11 points in November 2024. He was sworn in as the 24th Governor of Washington on January 15, 2025, signing three executive orders on his first day focused on housing regulations, reproductive freedom, and permitting reform. In May 2025, he signed a nine billion dollar tax increase package.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among Ferguson’s most defining moments was his successful legal challenge to the Trump administration’s travel ban in 2017, which earned national recognition. In 2017, he was named to the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. His tenure as attorney general included both high-profile victories and notable setbacks, including a unanimous Washington State Supreme Court loss in the Savers Value Village charity fraud case, which cost the state more than 4.2 million dollars in legal fees.

Bob Ferguson Career Wins

Throughout his career in public service, Bob Ferguson has compiled a record defined by consumer protection victories, landmark lawsuits against federal overreach, and sustained advocacy for mental health funding and government transparency. His legal wins span federal immigration policy, telecommunications accountability, and healthcare reform.

Office of the Attorney General Highlights

As attorney general, Ferguson’s office won 47 out of 49 cases personally led by him during the first Trump administration. He secured a landmark ruling against Stutzman for refusing services to a same-sex couple, a nationwide injunction against the Trump travel ban, and significant consumer protection settlements. His successful legal action against Comcast resulted in 9.1 million dollars in penalties, while his opioid litigation against Johnson and Johnson yielded 149.5 million dollars.

Other Wins and Achievements

Ferguson received the Booth Gardner Mental Health Champion award in 2011, the Landmark Deeds Award for Public Service from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, the 2008 Dorrit Pealy Award for Outstanding Community Service, and selection to the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship in 2010. In 2017, he was named to the Time 100 list of the world’s most influential people. He has also twice won the Washington State Chess Championship.

Bob Ferguson Family

Family Background and Political Lineage

Bob Ferguson was raised in Seattle by his parents, Murray Ferguson and Betty (Hausmann) Ferguson. His family has deep roots in Washington State, with great-grandparents who homesteaded along the Skagit River in the 19th century near present-day Marblemount. This four-generation Washington heritage shaped his commitment to public service in his home state.

Personal Life

Ferguson married Colleen Ferguson in 2004, and the couple has two children. The family resides in the Washington Governor’s Mansion in Olympia. Outside of politics, Ferguson is an enthusiastic mountain climber, backpacker, and birdwatcher who has hiked hundreds of miles of Washington trails and climbed many of the state’s highest peaks. He is also a chess master with a FIDE rating of 2232 and has twice won the Washington State Chess Championship.