Washington, DC – On the latest episode of its podcast “Regulatory Oversight,” Troutman Pepper sat down with Democratic Attorneys General (DAGA) President Sean Rankin to talk in depth about the AG election landscape and the significance of the 2024 state AG races.

North Carolina

“I’m excited about the AG race from where we were when we got started with Jeff Jackson against Dan Bishop,” Rankin said. “ [Jackson’s] proven to be a prolific fundraiser. He is pushing very hard to get what he needs done.”

“And, you know, Dan Bishop has decided that he wants to wrap himself in Mark Robinson. He’s continued to say even after Robinson’s stumble.”

Rankin concludes, “We’re talking about issues that matter to people. Right now, the issues that matter in North Carolina are abortion, it is still an issue. It’s an issue which the other side keeps giving us.”

“Dan Bishop does not believe in exceptions for rape or incest. He is not in line with where the average North Carolina voter is, he’s not in line with where the majority of Americans are.”

Pennsylvania 

“Pennsylvania, another close race, which is what we expect, Eugene DePasquale is our candidate, Dave Sunday is the Republican candidate,” said Rankin. “This is a must win state for the vice president in order to get to 270. You can lay the math out any way you want, but the reality is that for Vice President Harris, a former Democratic attorney general, for her to actually take the White House, she needs Pennsylvania.”

Rankin added, “We’ve seen a billionaire come in and spend considerably on behalf of Sunday. There are a few issues there with those in-kinds on the hard side, on the coordinated, not being reported…it needs to go on your report… which they’ve chosen not to do for reasons I can’t explain.”

“I think this will be a close race through the final tally, but Eugene is doing what he needs to do. […] He’s got Shapiro’s support, which means a lot. […] He’s doing what he needs to do, and he keeps up the work and that’s the commonality between both these states and these races generally.”

 Rankin concludes, “To win in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, you have to have candidates who do the work, and who show up every day. And we have those candidates in both of these races and they’re doing their jobs, so we’re doing ours and we’re gonna get over that line.”

Washington

“Well, we’re excited to have Nick Brown as our candidate in Washington State,” Rankin said. “He is running to fill the seat that’s being vacated by Attorney General Bob Ferguson who is running for governor.”

I think things in Washington State look very good…Nick has run a good race. He’s got the support of AG Ferguson, he’s got the support of the governor. And I think we’re gonna continue to see him just finish out what he’s doing.”

Oregon

“It’s a sad moment with the retirement of AG Ellen Rosenblum, she’s been my partner since I came into this job,” Rankin said. “I can’t say enough things about AG Rosenblum. It’s truly a well deserved step out of office.”

“…So the next step is making sure the seat stays in our hands. Dan Rayfield is the former Oregon House Speaker, and we show him with the sizable lead in this race,” Rankin said. […]  “I think he has he brings a really good sense from his time in the House as Speaker, I think we’ll find him to be a good colleague to the AGs.”

He concludes, “But really, a relationship guy… I think he has an opportunity there in Oregon to define what he wants to do in the same way that Ellen has over the last 12 years. [I’m] really excited to work with him.”

 Listen to the full episode here.

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