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Coalition of Attorneys General Calls for Expanded State Powers in Antitrust Fight

By  |  May 11, 2026
Visa, lawsuit, DOJ, antitrust

A coalition of state attorneys general from across the country is expected to call for expanded state-level resources to combat monopolies and what they describe as illegal corporate mergers during a press conference scheduled for Monday.

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    Nick Brown, the attorney general of Washington, is set to appear alongside Dan Rayfield of Oregon, Rob Bonta of California, Aaron Ford of Nevada, and Letitia James of New York as they highlight ongoing efforts to challenge major corporate consolidation and alleged anticompetitive behavior.

    The announcement comes as several states continue to pursue high-profile antitrust cases involving mergers and dominant companies in media, retail, entertainment, and technology. Per a statement, the attorneys general are expected to emphasize the need for stronger enforcement tools at the state level as corporate mergers continue to reshape key industries.

    In March, a coalition of state attorneys general filed suit to block a proposed merger between Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA, arguing the deal would significantly reduce competition in local television markets. According to a statement from the states involved in the case, the merger would combine the country’s largest and third-largest television station groups, creating a network that would reach roughly 80% of U.S. households.

    The states involved in that lawsuit argued the merger could result in job losses at local stations and higher retransmission fees passed on to cable subscribers. Nexstar has maintained that the transaction followed required regulatory procedures and would strengthen local broadcasting operations. Washington has not joined that specific lawsuit.

    Washington, however, remains active in several major antitrust and merger-related cases. In January 2024, then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed suit to block the proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons, the two largest grocery chains operating in the state, with more than 300 supermarkets across Washington.

    That legal challenge ended in December 2024, when a judge in King County ruled the merger was unlawful, leading both companies to abandon the deal.

    Washington also joined the U.S. Department of Justice and more than two dozen other states in February 2024 in an antitrust lawsuit targeting Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster. According to a statement filed in that case, the lawsuit alleged the companies used anticompetitive tactics that drove up ticket prices and limited competition in the live entertainment industry.

    In April, a jury found that Live Nation maintained a harmful monopoly over major concert venues, marking another significant development in the broader antitrust push.

    Washington has also joined federal and state antitrust actions against Apple over alleged monopolization of the smartphone market, as well as multiple lawsuits filed between 2020 and 2023 against Google involving online advertising, internet search, and app distribution practices.

    Monday’s event is expected to underscore how state attorneys general are increasingly coordinating across state lines as they seek to challenge corporate concentration in industries that directly affect consumers.

    Source: King 5