1980 Washington gubernatorial election

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1980 Washington gubernatorial election
Flag of Washington.svg
  1976 November 4, 1980 1984  
  JohnDSpellman.jpg Jim McDermott 1980.jpg
Nominee John Spellman Jim McDermott
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote981,083749,813
Percentage56.7%43.3%

1980 Washington gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Spellman:     50–60%     60–70%
McDermott:     50–60%

Governor before election

Dixy Lee Ray
Democratic

Elected Governor

John Spellman
Republican

The 1980 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic Governor Dixy Lee Ray ran for a second term, but lost in the primary to State Representative Jim McDermott. McDermott was defeated in the general election by Republican candidate John Spellman, the King County Executive. As of 2023, this is the last time a Republican was elected Governor of Washington, thus beginning the longest streak for Democrats in any gubernatorial office in the United States.

Contents

Blanket primary

Candidates

Democratic

  • Jim McDermott, psychiatrist, state senator, and candidate for governor in 1972
  • Dixy Lee Ray, incumbent Governor of Washington
  • Caroline "Hope" Diamond

Republican

Results

Blanket primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jim McDermott 321,256 33.04%
Democratic Dixy Lee Ray (incumbent)234,25224.09%
Republican John Spellman 162,426 16.70%
Republican Duane Berentson 154,72415.91%
Republican Bruce Chapman 70,8757.29%
Republican Patrick Sean McGowan7,3240.75%
Democratic Caroline Diamond4,1840.43%
Total votes955,041 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

Governor of Washington election, 1980 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John Spellman 981,083 56.68
Democratic Jim McDermott 749,81343.32
Total votes1,730,896 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

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References

  1. "Election Search Results - Elections & Voting - WA Secretary of State". Sos.wa.gov. Retrieved July 13, 2018.