By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Ahead of taking office in January, Attorney General-Elect Nick Brown is already outlining his vision for Washington State’s future. At a press briefing Friday, Brown and his transition team emphasized their top priorities, including public safety, addressing the housing crisis, protecting consumers, and advancing policies that reflect the values of Washington residents.
“More than anything, people want to be safe,” Brown said. “They want to live in an economic environment where they have good jobs and opportunities, and they want to live in a place that defends and echoes their values.”
Public safety is a key focus for Brown as he takes office. He also highlighted economic stability and consumer protection as essential components of his agenda.
“We have a really aggressive consumer protection division that makes sure consumers are protected from fraud, and we are going to continue to do that work,” Brown said. “But I also want to make sure we’re using all the tools of the office to address things like our housing crisis and an education system that gives people opportunity.”
Brown emphasized that the office’s priorities are broad and will address a wide range of issues affecting Washington residents.
According to Brown, one of the most pressing concerns is the uncertainty surrounding the incoming presidential administration. His predecessor, Governor-Elect Bob Ferguson, prioritized protecting Washingtonians during Trump’s first term. Brown said he is committed to building on that work but made clear that the Attorney General’s Office would not focus solely on federal issues.
“The office has done a lot to prepare for the potential of a Trump administration, so I am getting up to speed on the work they’ve done,” Brown said. “My hope is not to ever have to sue a president of the United States, but I do view it as my obligation to defend Washingtonians and protect Washington law.”
Brown said his office would carefully evaluate any federal actions to determine whether they warrant legal response.
“We will be looking very closely at any issues coming out of D.C. that are illegal and harming Washingtonians,” he said. “But again, it’s not the only thing we will be focused on. There are so many things this agency does, and we are really just focused on how we improve people’s lives, regardless of who is in Washington, D.C.”
Brown also addressed concerns about divisive rhetoric and campaign promises from the incoming administration.
“The incoming president said a lot during his campaign that I found concerning,” Brown said. “Certainly, since he’s been elected, more concerns have arisen. But we have to wait and see what actions are taken. If there are actions that are illegal, we will act. But we won’t simply look for ways to sue—we have to make sure we’re living up to our obligation to defend Washington law.”
At the same time, Brown acknowledged that not every policy decision from the federal government would result in legal action.
“The country elected a new president, and he’s going to have the prerogative to implement new policies,” Brown said. “Whether we like those policies or not, they may not necessarily generate action from us.”
While addressing national issues is important, Brown said his priority remains on serving Washington residents. With a staff of more than 800 attorneys, the Attorney General’s Office plays a significant role in enforcing laws, protecting consumers, and representing state agencies.
“We have a really important advocacy role, representing our clients and the public on a host of problems,” Brown said. “This is a huge public law firm with a lot of opportunity to do good, so I am excited about taking the mantle.”
Brown also stressed the need to highlight the office’s scope and its contributions to the state.
“Not a lot of people in the public recognize that we have over 800 lawyers who do good work,” he said. “We represent our state government, and it is important for me to build the best public law firm we’ve ever had—to make sure we are serving the public well.”
As January approaches, Brown and his transition team are preparing for a seamless shift into office. He expressed optimism about the office’s ability to tackle challenges and improve the lives of Washingtonians.
“Ultimately, this is about improving people’s lives,” Brown said. “We have an incredible team, and I’m looking forward to getting started.”