While there's a heavy focus on the presidential election in 2024, several states will also hold races for attorney general — a role that often pushes politicians into the spotlight and sets them on a collision course with national office.
Pennsylvania and North Carolina are notable open-seat attorney general races coming in 2024, with states like West Virginia and Washington also holding open elections for the position next year. In these races, the current attorneys general are either opting to retire or running for governor, a typical next step.
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Here are the attorney general open races to watch heading into next year's election cycle.
Pennsylvania
The race for Pennsylvania attorney general is heating up for Democrats after Attorney General Michelle Henry announced she would not run for a full term. She was appointed after Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA), who served as attorney general before her, won in 2022.
Several Democrats have thrown their hat into the ring, and there are four vying for a chance to face the Republican candidate in November 2024. Former Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, former Defender Association of Philadelphia head Keir Bradford-Grey, and Pennsylvania state Rep. Jared Soloman are running for the Democratic nomination.
Endorsements for the Democratic candidates are limited as of now — only four state legislators have opted to back a candidate. State Sen. Anthony Williams endorsed Bradford-Grey and state Reps. Joseph Hohenstein and Tarik Khan, and state Sen. Nikil Saval endorsed Joe Khan. Tarik Khan is Joe Khan's brother.
York County District Attorney Dave Sunday is the sole Republican candidate. He has not received any endorsements from state legislators yet.
The primary election will take place on April 23, 2024.
North Carolina
Democratic incumbent Attorney General Josh Stein is leaving the office and running for governor of North Carolina, leaving a competitive contest in his wake.
In North Carolina, Democrats have succeeded in holding the attorney general office over the years, but they've done it by increasingly slim margins. Stein won reelection by less than one point in 2020.
Democrats have yet to present a notable candidate, but political experts say Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-NC) could launch a campaign if a redistricting process carves up his congressional district. The process could either carve a purple seat in his favor or turn the race likely Republican, potentially pushing him into the attorney general race.
So far, Democratic candidates for attorney general are veteran Tim Dunn and lawyer Charles Ingram.
Republicans have an edge in this race with a high-profile candidate: Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC). The Republican House Freedom Caucus member announced in August he would forgo a third term in Congress and run for attorney general. Bishop said at the time he was running to restore faith in and support for law enforcement and prosecutors in the Tar Heel State.
Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and David McIntosh (R-IN), as well as the Club for Growth PAC and Republican Attorneys General Association, have endorsed Bishop.
Former Republican state Rep. Tom Murry is also running for the Republican nomination. Ray Starling, general counsel for the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, has publicly expressed interest in the position as well.
The primary will be held on March 5, 2024.
Washington
Washington is one of two states that holds a top-two primary, meaning that all candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party. The top two candidates will advance to the general election, meaning voters could choose between two Democrats, two Republicans, or one of each.
The position of attorney general has flipped between Democratic and Republican control over the years, and the state hasn't held an open race in over a decade. But now, the race is open after Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced he would be running for governor. Ferguson has held the attorney general position since 2013.
On the Democratic side, former U.S. Attorney Nick Brown announced his bid for attorney general in July. Brown served as Gov. Jay Inslee's (D-WA) general counsel before becoming the first black person to serve as U.S. attorney for western Washington in 2021. Inslee has endorsed Brown.
Democratic state Sen. Martha Dhingra has declared her candidacy as well. She was a King County senior deputy prosecutor before winning a special election for the state Senate in 2017. Dhingra is now chairwoman of the state Senate Law and Justice Committee and a deputy Senate majority leader. The National Women's Political Caucus of Washington endorsed Dhingra.
No Republican candidates have entered the attorney general race as of now.
The primary is Aug. 6, 2024.
West Virginia
Similar to his counterpart in Washington, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is running for governor and will not seek reelection.
The Republican primary field is crowded, and three candidates are vying for the nomination. Republican state auditor JB McCuskey, state Sen. Ryan Weld, and state Sen. Mike Stuart are running for attorney general.
McCuskey originally announced in February that he would run for governor. However, in July, he announced he would switch races and run for attorney general, a move that will likely be targeted by his fellow Republican opponents.
Stuart will be a formidable opponent in the Republican primary, as he served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia under former President Donald Trump. He has promoted his approach to fentanyl and his conservative values as reasons he would be the best choice for attorney general, according to local outlet WVVA News.
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No Democratic candidates have entered the attorney general race as of now.
The primary is May 14, 2024.