Typically, you assume that the two candidates for any political race are on opposite sides of various issues. Maybe not all, but most. After all, if they're not, why are they in two different parties?

But what attorney general candidates who have been on opposite sides of the battle on a few particular bits of legislation? Well, if the battle were in the legislature, sure. That's pretty common, I'd imagine, but what about the courtroom?

That's a little different.

And that's playing out in Washington state right now.

The candidates to be Washington state’s next attorney general are facing off on the campaign trail. But Democrat Nick Brown and Republican Pete Serrano are already familiar with one another, from the courtroom.

They’re on opposing sides in multiple lawsuits challenging the state’s recently enacted gun laws. And their race could have consequences for firearms enforcement in Washington.

Brown is a former U.S. Attorney in Western Washington, now in private practice. He represents the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, helping defend the so-called assault weapons ban passed by the Legislature in 2023.

Brown said, “We had a hearing just the Friday before the primary election, where Pete and I were appearing on behalf of our clients.”

Serrano also serves as the mayor of Pasco in Southern Washington. Serrano’s nonprofit, the Silent Majority Foundation, sued the state on behalf of the Guardian Arms gun store in Moses Lake. They’re seeking to have the ban on sales of assault weapons declared unconstitutional. So, he’s the opposing side in those court hearings.

Serrano said he hopes it’s helpful to the public to see the two candidates in court.

“People can kind of see us in action,” he said. “That’s really cool because you get to sort of role-play for your job even though you’re doing a different job, right?”

Both candidates are matter-of-fact and professional about these courtroom encounters. But both said these lawsuits reflect their own deeply held beliefs.

I'm glad to see the attitude, personally. Far too much of our politics is colored with animosity and hostility. The fact that they hold these beliefs and are working to advance these beliefs puts each on the opposite side of the debate. Yet they're professional about it and are treating is a professional thing that reflects their beliefs.

It kind of makes me feel good inside.

Or I would if I actually had feelings, but I've been told repeatedly I don't, so let's not worry too much about it.

Either way, the voters of Washington state really do get to see what their attorney general candidates are all about on the issue of guns.

Unfortunately, based on what we've seen on guns from Washington state of late, we should have a pretty good idea of what will happen. That's unfortunate because the right to keep and bear arms should be protected by attorneys general, not threatened by them.

Still, this is a dress audition of the job, and the people will speak in part based on that audition.

It just won't have anything to do with the performance during the audition, just the material they brought to the stage in the first place.