‘He might be able to challenge him’: Brian Heywood thinks AG Nick Brown could be eyeing run for governor

“Knock that sh** off. Don’t f*** with our democracy,” Washington State Attorney General (AG) Nick Brown warned anyone harassing signature gatherers, via a video on X Tuesday.

Knock that sh** off! Last week we sent a letter to 39 county prosecutors and more than 250 municipal attorneys offering our assistance in protecting the rights of those engaged in the initiative and referendum process, following reports of signature gatherers being harassed.

AG… pic.twitter.com/fkPqvHmKgS

— Attorney General Nick Brown (@AGOWA) June 16, 2026

Brown sent a letter last week to 39 county prosecutors and more than 250 municipal attorneys, according to the Washington AG’s Office. He offered to help protect the rights of people gathering signatures for initiatives and referendums, notably the initiative to repeal the millionaires’ tax.

‘He thinks Ferguson is vulnerable’: Heywood says Brown’s stern warning could signal political ambitions

Let’s Go Washington founder Brian Heywood suggested Brown’s strong tone may be a sign he’s positioning for a bigger political move.

“I think it’s because he thinks Bob Ferguson is vulnerable, and he might be able to challenge him and run for governor,” Heywood said on “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

KIRO Newsradio producer Joe Wallace pointed out Brown has been doing more interviews with “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

“He makes a good point. I hadn’t thought about it, but that would explain it,” Wallace said.

“Already they’re lining up against big Bob?” KIRO host John Curley asked.

“He’s vulnerable, he’s been really weak,” Heywood responded. “He’s caved into the unions, and the unions will use whatever weak aisle they can get to go there.”

“I’m sure that he’s a wedge against … it’s a threat, right?” Heywood continued. “If the unions go to Nick and say, ‘Hey, have you thought about this?’ And they go to Bob, and they say, ‘Hey, I heard Nick’s thinking about it. You need to get in shape and pass another tax increase.'”

Ashley Gross, a communications specialist for the AG’s Office, said Brown is not looking to run for governor.

“Attorney General Nick Brown loves his job as AG and is focused on doing it well,” Gross told MyNorthwest. “To be crystal clear, AG Brown is not eyeing a run for governor.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to John Curley weekday afternoons from 3 – 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Follow @https://twitter.com/jcurleyshow