2008 Washington elections

Last updated

2008 Washington Statewide Executive Offices elections
Flag of Washington.svg
  2004 November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04) 2012  

All 9 Statewide Executive Offices
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election63
Seats won72
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 1
Percentage57.12%42.88%
SwingIncrease2.svg 0.30%Increase2.svg 3.22%

Washington has 9 Executive seats, all elected at large. In 2008, all 9 positions were up for reelection. As of 2025, this was the last set of statewide elections in Washington in which any Republicans won by double digits.

Contents

Offices and Candidates

Governor

Incumbent Democratic governor Christine Gregoire ran for re-election, defeating Republican nominee Dino Rossi. In contrast to the previous election, where Gregoire narrowly defeated Rossi by only 129 votes, Gregoire won by 6.5%.

2008 Washington gubernatorial election [1]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Christine Gregoire 696,30648.27
Republican Dino Rossi 668,57146.35
Republican John W. Aiken, Jr.21,5641.49
Democratic Christian Joubert16,6461.15
Independent James White10,8840.75
Green Duff Badgley9,7020.67
Nonpartisan Christopher Tudor5,6000.39
Reform Will Baker5,2010.36
Republican Javier O. Lopez4,9810.35
Nonpartisan Mohammad Hasan Said3,0020.21
Total votes1,442,457 100.00
General election
Democratic Christine Gregoire (incumbent) 1,598,738 53.24
Republican Dino Rossi 1,404,12446.76
Total votes3,002,862 100.00
Democratic hold

Lt. Governor

2008 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election
Flag of Washington.svg
  2004 November 4, 2008 2012  
  Brad Owen (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Brad Owen Marcia McCraw
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,718,0331,107,634
Percentage60.8%39.2%

2008 Washington Lt Governor election results map by county.svg
2008 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election by congressional district.svg
Owen:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
McCraw:      50–60%

Lieutenant Governor of Washington before election

Brad Owen
Democratic

Elected Lieutenant Governor of Washington

Brad Owen
Democratic

Brad Owen, who has held this position since 1996, ran for re-election to a fourth term. He defeated Republican nominee Marcia McCraw in a landslide, winning over 60% of the vote.

2008 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Brad Owen (incumbent)706,64152.08
Republican Marcia McCraw347,55125.62
Republican Jim Wiest193,75214.28
Democratic Randel Bell53,6944.02
Constitution Arlene A. Peck48,8873.60
Total votes1,335,908 100.00
General election
Democratic Brad Owen (incumbent) 1,718,033 60.80
Republican Marcia McCraw1,107,63439.20
Total votes2,825,667 100.00
Democratic hold

Secretary of State

2008 Washington secretary of state election
Flag of Washington.svg
  2004 November 4, 2008 2012  
  Sam Reed - Washington secretary of state (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Sam Reed Jason Osgood
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,644,5871,175,086
Percentage58.33%41.67%

2008 Washington Secretary of State election results map by county.svg
2008 Washington secretary of state election by congressional district.svg
Reed:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Osgood:     50–60%

Secretary of State before election

Sam Reed
Republican

Elected Secretary of State

Sam Reed
Republican

Sam Reed, who held this position since 2000, was re-elected to a third and final term, defeating Democrat Jason Osgood. As of 2025, this is the last time a Republican won the Secretary of State position by over 10%.

2012 Washington Secretary of State election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Sam Reed 816,17159.40
Democratic Jason Osgood446,22232.48
Constitution Marilyn Montgomery88,7286.46
Independent Mark Greene22,8001.66
Total votes1,330,036 100.00
General election
Republican Sam Reed (incumbent) 1,644,587 58.33
Democratic Jason Osgood1,175,08641.67
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes2,819,673 100.00
Turnout
Republican hold

State Treasurer

2008 Washington State Treasurer election
Flag of Washington.svg
  2004 November 4, 2008 2012  
  Jim McIntire Portrait (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee James McIntire Allan Martin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,420,0221,360,063
Percentage51.1%48.9%

2008 Washington Treasurer election results map by county.svg
2008 Washington gubernatorial election by congressional district.svg
McIntire:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Martin:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

State Treasurer before election

Mike Murphy
Democratic

Elected State Treasurer

James McIntire
Democratic

Incumbent State Treasurer Mike Murphy (D) retired. Democratic State Representative James McIntire and Republican Allan Martin advanced to the general election, where McIntire narrowly won the open seat.

| title=Treasurer of Washington election, 2008

2008 Washington State Treasurer election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Allan Martin613,59545.33
Democratic James McIntire 533,44339.41
Democratic ChangMook Sohn206,45715.25
Total votes1,353,495 100.00
General election
Democratic Jim McIntire 1,420,022 51.08
Republican Allen Martin1,360,06348.92
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes2,780,085 100.00
Turnout
Democratic hold

State Auditor

2008 Washington State Auditor election
Flag of Washington.svg
  2004 November 4, 2008 2012  
 
Nominee Brian Sonntag Richard "Dick" McEntee
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,770,9771,016,396
Percentage63.5%36.5%

2008 Washington Auditor election results map by county.svg
2008 Washington state auditor election by congressional district.svg
Sonntag:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
McEntee:      50–60%

State Auditor before election

Brian Sonntag
Democratic

Elected State Auditor

Brian Sonntag
Democratic

Incumbent State Auditor Brian Sonntag, who has held this position since 1993, ran for re-election to a fifth term. Sonntag defeated Republican Richard "Dick" McEntee with over 63% of the vote. As of 2022, this is the last election where the Democratic candidate for State Auditor received over 60% of the vote.

2008 Washington State Auditor election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Brian Sonntag (incumbent)812,35259.48
Republican J. Richard (Dick) McEntee459,32733.63
Constitution Glenn Freeman94,1486.89
Total votes1,267,935 100.00
General election
Democratic Brian Sonntag (incumbent) 1,770,977 63.54
Republican J. Richard (Dick) McEntee1,016,39636.46
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes
Turnout
Democratic hold

Attorney general

2008 Washington Attorney General election
Flag of Washington.svg
  2004
2012  
  Rob McKenna; Washington AG (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Rob McKenna John Ladenburg
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,689,7641,152,174
Percentage59.5%40.5%

2008 Washington Attorney General election.svg
2008 Washington attorney general election by congressional district.svg
McKenna:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Ladenburg:      50–60%     60–70%

Attorney General before election

Rob McKenna
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Rob McKenna
Republican

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna ran for re-election, facing Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, a Democrat, in the general election. McKenna won re-election in a landslide, winning by almost 20 points and carrying all but two counties. As of 2025, this is the last time a Republican was elected Washington Attorney General.

Polling

General election
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Rob
McKenna (R)
John
Ladenburg (D)
Undecided
SurveyUSA [2] October 30 – November 2, 2008663 (LV)± 3.8%59%36%6%
SurveyUSA [3] October 26–27, 2008630 (LV)± 3.9%57%36%7%
SurveyUSA [4] October 12–13, 2008544 (LV)± 4.3%54%38%8%
SurveyUSA [5] September 21–22, 2008682 (LV)± 3.8%53%39%8%
SurveyUSA [6] September 5–7, 2008658 (LV)± 3.9%55%40%5%
SurveyUSA [7] August 11–12, 2008718 (LV)± 3.7%51%43%6%
SurveyUSA [8] July 13–15, 2008666 (LV)± 3.9%49%41%10%
SurveyUSA [9] June 7–9, 2008637 (LV)± 4.0%49%42%9%
2008 Washington Attorney General election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Rob McKenna (incumbent)783,24056.98
Democratic John Ladenburg 591,25443.02
Total votes1,374,494 100.00
General election
Republican Rob McKenna (incumbent) 1,689,764 59.46
Democratic John Ladenburg 1,152,17440.54
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes2,841,938 100.00
Turnout
Republican hold

Commissioner of Public Lands

2008 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election
Flag of Washington.svg
  2004 November 4, 2008 2012  
 
Candidate Peter J. Goldmark Doug Sutherland
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,416,9041,385,903
Percentage50.6%49.4%

2008 Washington Commissioner of Public Lands election results map by county.svg
2008 Washington public lands commissioner election by congressional district.svg
Goldmark:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Sutherland:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Public Lands Commissioner before election

Doug Sutherland
Republican

Elected Public Lands Commissioner

Peter J. Goldmark
Democratic

Incumbent Doug Sutherland (R), who had first been elected in 2000, ran for re-election against rancher Peter J. Goldmark in a highly contested race. Despite polls before the election showing Sutherland leading, on election day Goldmark narrowly defeated Sutherland.

Polling

General election
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Doug
Sutherland (R)
Peter
Goldmark (D)
Undecided
SurveyUSA [2] October 30 – November 2, 2008663 (LV)± 3.9%48%42%10%
SurveyUSA [3] October 26–27, 2008630 (LV)± 4.0%45%43%12%
SurveyUSA [10] October 12–13, 2008544 (LV)± 4.3%47%38%15%
2008 Washington Commissioner of Public Lands election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Doug Sutherland (incumbent)691,14551.13
Democratic Peter J. Goldmark 660,71448.87
Total votes1,351,859 100.00
General election
Democratic Peter J. Goldmark 1,416,904 50.55
Republican Doug Sutherland (incumbent)1,385,90349.45
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes2,802,807 100.00
Turnout
Democratic gain from Republican

Superintendent of Public Instruction

2008 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Flag of Washington.svg
  2004
2012  
 
Nominee Randy Dorn Terry Bergeson
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote1,333,2901,211,909
Percentage52.4%47.6%

2008 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election results map by county.svg
2008 Washington superintendent of public instruction election by congressional district.svg
Dorn:     50–60%
Bergeson:     50–60%

Superintendent of Public Instruction before election

Terry Bergeson
Nonpartisan

Elected Superintendent of Public Instruction

Randy Dorn
Nonpartisan

Incumbent Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson ran for re-election to a third term. She was defeated by Randy Dorn. The superintendent is the only nonpartisan statewide election.

Polling

General election
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Terry
Bergeson
Randy
Dorn
Undecided
SurveyUSA [2] October 30 – November 2, 2008663 (LV)± 3.9%37%45%18%
SurveyUSA [3] October 26–27, 2008630 (LV)± 4.0%38%43%19%
SurveyUSA [11] October 12–13, 2008544 (LV)± 4.3%31%43%26%
SurveyUSA [12] September 21–22, 2008682 (LV)± 3.8%35%40%25%
SurveyUSA [13] September 5–7, 2008658 (LV)± 3.9%36%41%23%
SurveyUSA [14] August 11–12, 2008718 (LV)± 3.7%32%43%25%
SurveyUSA [15] July 13–15, 2008666 (LV)± 3.9%34%32%35%
Blanket primary results by county
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Bergeson
30-40%
40-50%
Dorn
30-40%
40-50% 2008 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction primary results map by county.svg
Blanket primary results by county
  Bergeson
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  Dorn
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
2008 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Terry Bergeson (incumbent)477,13039.31
Nonpartisan Randy Dorn 414,31334.13
Nonpartisan Don Hansler108,9848.98
Nonpartisan John P. Blair90,5087.46
Nonpartisan Enid Duncan78,9836.51
Nonpartisan David Blomstrom43,9843.62
Total votes1,213,902 100.00
General election
Nonpartisan Randy Dorn 1,333,290 52.38
Nonpartisan Terry Bergeson (incumbent)1,211,90947.62
Total votes2,545,199 100.00
Democratic hold

Insurance Commissioner

2008 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
Flag of Washington.svg
  2004 November 4, 2008 2012  
  Oic-commissioner-kreidler.jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Mike Kreidler John Adams
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,679,6961,056,693
Percentage61.4%38.6%

2008 Washington insurance commissioner election by county.svg
2008 Washington insurance commissioner election by congressional district.svg
Kreidler:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Adams:      50–60%     60–70%

insurance commissioner before election

Mike Kreidler
Democratic

Elected insurance commissioner

Mike Kreidler
Democratic

2008 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mike Kreidler (incumbent)723,73253.86
Republican John Adams484,99236.09
Nonpartisan Curtis Fackler135,11310.05
Total votes1,343,837 100.00
General election
Democratic Mike Kreidler (incumbent) 1,679,696 61.38
Republican John Adams1,056,69338.62
Total votes2,736,389 100.00
Democratic hold

References

  1. "Governor" . Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 SurveyUSA
  3. 1 2 3 SurveyUSA
  4. SurveyUSA
  5. SurveyUSA
  6. SurveyUSA
  7. SurveyUSA
  8. SurveyUSA
  9. SurveyUSA
  10. SurveyUSA
  11. SurveyUSA
  12. SurveyUSA
  13. SurveyUSA
  14. SurveyUSA
  15. SurveyUSA