In the suit filed in King County Superior Court, Ferguson argued that the $25-billion deal would harm consumers and raise prices, The Seattle Times reported. It's the first regulatory move to stop the merger, according to the outlet. "This merger is bad for Washington shoppers and workers," Ferguson said in a news release Monday. "Shoppers will have fewer choices and less competition, and, without a competitive marketplace, they will pay higher prices at the grocery store." Kroger and Albertsons have more than 300 locations in the state and account for more than half of its grocery sales, according to the suit. Kroger, which owns QFC and Fred Meyer and is based in Cincinnati, is seeking to acquire Albertsons, which owns Safeway and Haggen and is based in Boise, Idaho. The Federal Trade Commission is also expected to review the merger next month, Axios recently reported. And California is also considering a lawsuit, Reuters reported last year.