Although Initiative 522 was ultimately defeated in an election several weeks ago, State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is moving forward with a lawsuit against the Grocery Manufacturers Association, alleging the group broke state campaign finance laws in its effort to defeat Initiative 522.

Under Washington campaign finance law, an outside group like the GMA must form a political committee, register it in the state of Washington, and file disclosure forms listing the sources of its funding.

Ferguson alleges GMA failed to timely do so and as a result, robbed Washington voters of “transparency and openness in elections”.

The case will not go to trial until early next year.

Opponents of Initiative 522, a ballot measure requiring food producers to label food items containing genetically engineered ingredients, have broken a Washington fundraising record.

The No on 522 campaign has raised more than $21 million, the most money ever raised by a statewide initiative campaign.

The overall fundraising for Initiative 522, on both sides of the issue, totals $27.7 million, which is the second highest total in state history.

Initiative 522, which would require labeling on genetically modified foods in Washington state, has drawn negative attention from many of the nation’s largest and most recognizable food manufacturers, including Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Nestle.

Pepsi is the biggest contributor to the effort to oppose the initiative, with its contributions accounting for $1.6 million of the $7.2 million total contributions collected to date.

Voters will decide the issue on November 5, with the election marking one of the most expensive initiative battles in the history of Washington state.