2005 King County Executive election

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2005 King County Executive election
Flag of King County, Washington (1984-2007).svg
  2001 November 8, 2005 2009  
  Ronsims001.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Ron Sims David Irons
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote293,777209,021
Percentage55.62%39.57%

County Executive before election

Ron Sims
Democratic

Elected County Executive

Ron Sims
Democratic

The 2005 King County Executive election was held on November 8, 2005. The election, which was the first to take place after Washington's blanket primary was invalidated, used separate primaries. [1] Incumbent Democratic County Executive Ron Sims, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2004, ran for re-election to a third term. He was challenged by two lesser-known candidates in the Democratic primary, and won by a wide margin, but the race was closer than expected. [2]

Contents

In the general election, Sims was challenged by County Councilman David Irons, the Republican nominee. Irons attacked Sims for his "lack of experience in knowing how to manage and lead," citing alleged mismanagement of the county elections office during the 2004 gubernatorial election. [3] Though Sims's campaign acknowledged that seeking a third term was a challenge due to voter fatigue, and Irons was seen as a strong candidate, Sims defeated him in a landslide, winning 56 percent of the vote to Irons's 40 percent. [4]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [a]
Margin
of error
Michael
Nelson
Karen
Rispoli
Ron
Sims
Undecided
SurveyUSA [7] August 30 – September 1, 2005351 (LV)± 5.2%8%17%62%13%

Primary results

Democratic primary results [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ron Sims (inc.) 123,363 70.48%
Democratic Karen Rispoli34,81619.89%
Democratic Michael Nelson15,9699.12%
Democratic Write-ins8860.51%
Total votes175,034 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declined

  • Dino Rossi, former State Senator, 2004 Republican nominee for Governor (endorsed Irons) [9]

Primary results

Republican primary results [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Drozd 97,158 99.44%
Republican Write-ins5520.56%
Total votes98,070 100.00%

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [a]
Margin
of error
Ron
Sims (D)
David
Irons (R)
Gentry
Lange (G)
Other /
Undecided
SurveyUSA [7] August 30 – September 1, 20051,642 (RV)± 2.5%49%41%10%
SurveyUSA [11] September 30 – October 2, 2005467 (LV)± 4.6%50%45%6%
SurveyUSA [12] October 14–16, 2005522 (LV)± 4.4%43%46%7%4%
SurveyUSA [13] October 28–30, 2005591 (LV)± 4.1%48%41%8%3%

Results

2005 King County Executive election [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ron Sims (inc.) 293,777 55.62%
Republican David Irons209,02139.57%
Green Gentry Lange24,0734.56%
Write-in 1,2960.25%
Total votes528,167 100.00%
Democratic hold

Notes

  1. 1 2 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. Ammons, David (September 21, 2005). "Voting goes smoothly across state". The Everett Herald . p. B6. Retrieved July 8, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Little-known foes cut Sims' showing". The Seattle Times . September 20, 2005. Archived from the original on July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  3. Sanders, Eli (August 4, 2005). "Lowered Expectations: A Diminished Ron Sims Seeks Third Term". The Stranger . Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Roberts, Gregory (October 31, 2005). "Going for third term, Sims is in tough race". Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  5. "Sims' opponent in primary backs Irons". Seattle Post-Intelligencer . October 17, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  6. "Nickels faces no big-name challengers". The Seattle Times . July 30, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #6761". September 2, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  8. "KING COUNTY - September 20, 2005 - DEM". King County Elections. September 30, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  9. Ammons, David (July 1, 2005). "Rossi says Senate bid, Gregoire rematch not certain". The Olympian . Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  10. "KING COUNTY - September 20, 2005 - REP". King County Elections. September 30, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  11. "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #7057". October 3, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  12. "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #7192". October 17, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  13. "Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #7369". October 31, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  14. "KING COUNTY - General Election 2005". King County Elections. November 29, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2025.