‘We’re not going to allow this anymore’: WA Supreme Court candidate Larson challenges attacks in his 5th race

Washington Supreme Court candidate Dave Larson criticized campaign mailers portraying him as aligned with President Donald Trump, arguing that political attacks undermine confidence in a judiciary that should serve everyone.

Joining “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio, Larson discussed his judicial experience, his proposals to change campaign financing, and the opposition he faces in his fifth campaign for the state’s highest court.

“Around 900,000 people got a mailer that says I’m MAGA,” Larson said.

KIRO host John Curley backed Larson’s candidacy, pointing to his experience and supporters from different political backgrounds as reasons to favor him over Justice Theo Angelis.

Larson questions influence in judicial elections

Larson argued that Washington’s judicial election system gives an advantage to candidates who first reach the bench through appointments.

He also questioned the appearance created by Angelis’ appointment by Gov. Bob Ferguson, citing what Larson described as a lengthy history of campaign contributions to Ferguson. Larson emphasized that he likes Angelis personally but believes those connections raise questions about public confidence.

Larson then turned to a political action committee he accused of spending heavily to influence multiple Supreme Court races. He put its fundraising at $1.3 million, identifying unions and plaintiffs’ attorneys among its contributors.

Curley initially characterized the spending as an effort to stop Larson. Larson clarified that the campaign targeted other candidates as well.

That was Larson’s characterization of the opposition campaign, not an established finding about its donors’ intentions.

Abortion messaging draws criticism

Larson objected to campaign messaging about reproductive rights, arguing that it invites voters to judge judicial candidates by political positions rather than their approach to the law. He pointed to Washington’s voter-approved abortion protections and maintained that his personal views would not determine how he decides cases.

Curley agreed, describing abortion rights as settled law.

Washington’s statutory abortion protections remain subject to court interpretation, and judges can still hear challenges to them.

Larson’s broader argument was that judicial campaigns should not imply candidates will deliver predetermined political outcomes.

“I think we, as a judiciary, should insist that other people not campaign that way too, because it pollutes the judiciary,” Larson said. “It foists politics onto us, and that’s what we’ve done … We’re at a crossroads. We can either say enough is enough. We’re not going to allow this anymore. We can be an example for the rest of the nation about how to get politics out of the judicial race.”

Public financing and mandatory recusal

Larson proposed public financing of judicial elections as a way to reduce candidates’ dependence on campaign donors.

He described a proposed Judicial Elections Commission that would distribute candidate information through mailers and websites, giving voters access to candidates without requiring each campaign to finance extensive outreach.

He also advocated mandatory recusal when a campaign contributor appears before a judge.

“So if you gave me money, I could never hear a case before me,” Larson said.

Larson presented those ideas as reforms he supports, rather than rules currently governing Washington’s courts.

Yang endorsement offers a different message

Curley highlighted Larson’s support from people with different political backgrounds, including former presidential candidate Andrew Yang and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselić.

Larson reported that Novoselić recently hosted a fundraiser for him. The show also played a clip of Yang endorsing his candidacy.

“And I’m very proud to support Dave Larson for Washington Supreme Court justice,” Yang said.

Yang described Larson as someone who would serve the public without being beholden to either major party.

For Curley, that range of support reinforced his belief that Larson could represent voters fairly. Larson argued that the political attacks against him only strengthened his determination to run.

“Well, then that’s why I want to even go harder,” Larson said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The John Curley Show” weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM.

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