Washington Governor Stands Up for Rights of Undocumented Immigrants

Robert Watson Ferguson, born February 23, 1965, in Seattle, is a fourth-generation Washingtonian, Democratic politician, and attorney serving as the 24th governor of Washington since January 15, 2025.[1][4][5] He earned a BA in political science from the University of Washington in 1989 and a JD from New York University School of Law in 1995, followed by clerkships for federal judges before joining the Seattle law firm Preston Gates & Ellis (now K&L Gates) as a litigator.[1][3][5] Ferguson entered public service on the King County Council from 2004 to 2013, where he championed open space preservation via the Open Space Preservation Act protecting 100,000 acres, civilian oversight of the sheriff's office, veteran health services, and bans on business with wage theft violators.[1][3] Elected Washington's 18th attorney general in 2012 with 53.5% of the vote, he was reelected in 2016 and 2020, focusing on consumer protection from fraud, environmental conservation, veteran advocacy, and equal rights.[1][2][3] Key achievements as attorney general include defending a same-sex couple's right to wedding services in a unanimous Washington Supreme Court ruling, challenging corporate fraud, opposing gun violence through assault weapon restrictions, and litigating against the Trump administration's travel ban.[1][2] He also represented taxpayers against Safeco Field cost overruns and contested anti-tax initiatives.[1] On his first day as governor, Ferguson issued executive orders reviewing housing regulations, advancing reproductive freedom, and reforming permitting processes.[1] Married to Colleen with two children, Jack and Katie, he remains active in public policy amid Washington's economic drivers like technology and aerospace.[4][5] As of early 2026, he continues leading the Evergreen State as its chief executive.[1][4]

Pam Bondi is an American lawyer and politician who currently serves as the 87th Attorney General of the United States, having been sworn in on February 5, 2025. A fourth-generation Floridian from Tampa, Bondi earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law. She spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County, handling cases ranging from domestic violence to capital murder. Bondi was elected Florida’s 37th Attorney General in 2010, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She served two terms from 2011 to 2019, during which she gained national recognition for her efforts to combat human trafficking, opioid addiction, and fraud. In her first legislative session, she led reforms that shut down 98 unscrupulous clinics contributing to the opioid crisis. She also chaired the Florida Statewide Human Trafficking Council and was appointed to President Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission. Bondi played a prominent role in multistate lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies and led a legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act. She was a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, joining the White House Counsel’s Office in 2019 and serving on the legal defense team during Trump’s first impeachment trial. After leaving public office, she became a partner at the lobbying firm Ballard Partners and held leadership roles at the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was nominated by President Trump to serve as U.S. Attorney General following the withdrawal of his initial nominee, and she was confirmed by the Senate in February 2025. Her career has been marked by a focus on criminal justice reform, public safety, and conservative legal advocacy.