Nick Brown makes history as the first black attorney general in Washington state

Nick Brown was elected attorney general in Washington, D.C., and made history as the first black American to carry executive office. Brown easily defeated his Republican opponent, Pete Serrano.

Brown led his campaign on tackling issues like gun violence, substance abuse and crime by tackling their root causes, including expanding access to gainful employment, housing, education and mental health support. The attorney general position can be Brown’s first job in an elected office.

The 47-year-old Democrat served in the U.S. Army, worked as a federal prosecutor and was a top adviser to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

Brown said he hopes to “use” the power of the attorney general’s office to offer access to marginalized communities and serve as an “advisory forum” for them. He also focused his candidacy on issues such as defending abortion rights, protecting against climate change and protecting democracy. In a campaign ad, he vowed to defend the civil rights of each Washington resident.

Policy

“We are historically a very white city and state, and our politics have certainly been dominated by white people,” said Brown, who grew up in Seattle. “I like the idea of ​​making history. “Not only to be the first, but to bring a black man’s perspective to the office to try to improve the way we administer justice in this state.”

While the overwhelmingly blue state of Washington doesn’t have a big Black population (lower than 5%), the Democratic candidate noted that the state is very diverse when including its Latino, Asian, Indian and Native American communities. However, despite its diversity, Washington has historically handled the same issues that many other states experience regarding racial inequality and the criminal justice system.

“We have a long way to go … to fully include and fully include people’s voices and make sure that we are not ignoring people who have been ignored for generations,” Brown said.

Before starting his legal profession, Brown competed on the reality competition show “Survivor” greater than 20 years ago. Considered a physical threat on the series, Brown finished in the top seven.

The progressive lawyer said “Survivor” was his first exposure to a public figure.

“Luckily, when I was on the show, social media didn’t really exist, so I wasn’t too caught up in all the craziness that went with it,” he explained. “But I think it’s a bit of a testament to my personality that I like adventure… I’m not afraid to change course and make big decisions.”

Brown blamed former President Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate, for the fury spreading across the country about race in America.

“I think former President Trump has further empowered people to be blatantly racist, to be driven by their own grievances or fears or hatred of other people,” he said. “But it’s not just him. This is the whole party that has changed in this direction in recent years.”

Brown argued that the country is commonly “distracted” or “too focused” on the presidency and what’s happening in Washington, D.C., but voters should actually listen to who holds public office down the ballot.

“The more we can turn to state and local efforts, the more successful we will be because most of the things that I think we care about as Black Americans or any American are really decided (there),” he said. he argued.

“We will not protect and amplify our history and our voice in America as Black Americans or any other racial minority if we are not willing to participate,” Brown said. “Unless we are willing to educate and demand that elected leaders actually listen to us. If we stay on the sidelines, decisions will be made for us.”