Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 2000 NO. 4 >

1.  If a political campaign receives a loan from a commercial lending institution which meets the criteria set forth in RCW 42.17.720(3), and the loan is not guaranteed by any other person, the loan is exempt from the campaign contribution limitations set forth in RCW 42.17.640.  2.  In limiting the extent to which candidates may be reimbursed from campaign contributions for loans to their political campaigns, RCW 42.17.125(3) applies to funds borrowed by the candidate personally but used for campaign purposes and also to funds borrowed by the candidate's political committee but guaranteed by the candidate.

AGO 2003 NO. 12 >

1. The specific campaign finance limitations set forth in RCW 42.17 do not apply to the office of prosecuting attorney, although the related reporting and disclosure requirements do apply to that office.  2. A county prosecuting attorney is subject to campaign finance limitations adopted by a county and generally covering county officers and employees, except to the extent directly in conflict with a state statute.  3. The state ethics law, RCW 42.52, does not apply to the office of prosecuting attorney.

AGLO 1976 NO. 27 >

RCW 42.17.030-42.17.120 and RCW 42.17.240 are inapplicable to candidates seeking election to United States Senate or House of Representatives because of the federal preemption contained in Public Law 93-443.

AGLO 1976 NO. 44 >

Although it remains unclear that RCW 42.17.240 is now unenforceable with respect to candidates seeking election to the United States Senate or House of Representatives, in view of the legal opinion of federal counsel on this question the attorney general will, if requested, present the matter before the courts for adjudication; to the foregoing extent only, AGLO 1976 No. 27 [[to Graham E. Johnson, Administrator, Public Disclosure Commission on April 5, 1976 an Informal Opinion, AIR-76527]]is withdrawn.