| ||||||||||||||||
All 9 Statewide Executive Offices | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elections in Washington |
---|
Elections held in the state of Washington on November 6, 2012. A nonpartisan blanket primary was held on August 7, 2012.
In this election, Washington had 12 electors to the Electoral College. Incumbent Democratic president Barack Obama safely carried the state, gaining all 12 electoral votes against Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Barack Obama (incumbent) | 1,755,396 | 56.16 | |
Republican | Mitt Romney | 1,290,670 | 41.29 | |
Libertarian | Gary Johnson | 42,202 | 1.35 | |
Green | Jill Stein | 20,928 | 0.67 | |
Constitution | Virgil Goode | 8,851 | 0.28 | |
Justice | Rocky Anderson | 4,946 | 0.16 | |
Socialism and Liberation | Peta Lindsay | 1,318 | 0.04 | |
Socialist Workers | James Harris | 1,205 | 0.04 | |
Total votes | 3,125,516 | 100.00 |
Incumbent Democratic senator Maria Cantwell won re-election to a third term against Republican state senator Michael Baumgartner.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Maria Cantwell (incumbent) | 626,360 | 55.42 | |
Republican | Michael Baumgartner | 344,729 | 30.50 | |
Republican | Art Coday | 59,255 | 5.24 | |
Democratic | Timothy Wilson | 26,850 | 2.38 | |
Republican | Chuck Jackson | 21,870 | 1.94 | |
Republican | Glenn R. Stockwell | 21,731 | 1.92 | |
Republican | Mike the Mover | 16,459 | 1.46 | |
Reform | Will Baker | 12,865 | 1.14 | |
Total votes | 1,130,119 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Maria Cantwell (incumbent) | 1,855,493 | 60.36 | |
Republican | Michael Baumgartner | 1,213,924 | 39.49 | |
Write-in | 4,644 | 0.15 | ||
Total votes | 3,074,061 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
Due to the results of the 2010 United States Census, Washington elected U.S. Representatives from ten congressional districts, a gain of one seat.
Incumbents Rick Larsen (D- 2nd ), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R- 3rd ), Doc Hastings (R- 4th ), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R- 5th ), Jim McDermott (D- 7th ), Dave Reichert (R- 8th ), and Adam Smith (R- 9th ) ran for re-election and won. Incumbents Jay Inslee (D- 1st ) and Norman D. Dicks (D- 6th ) retired and were respectively succeeded by Suzan DelBene (D) and Derek Kilmer (D). Denny Heck (D) was elected to the newly created 10th district .
The resulting composition was six Democrats and four Republicans.
Incumbent Democratic governor Christine Gregoire declined to run for a third term. Democratic congressman Jay Inslee ran to succeed her, earning Gregoire's endorsement. [4] He faced Republican attorney general Rob McKenna in the general election, defeating him by a small margin. [5]
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Jay Inslee | 664,534 | 47.13 | |
Republican | Rob McKenna | 604,872 | 42.90 | |
Republican | Shahram Hadian | 46,169 | 3.27 | |
Democratic | Rob Hill | 45,453 | 3.22 | |
Independent | James White | 13,764 | 0.98 | |
Independent | Christian Joubert | 10,457 | 0.74 | |
Independent | L. Dale Sorgen | 9,734 | 0.69 | |
Republican | Max Sampson | 8,753 | 0.62 | |
Republican | Javier O. Lopez | 6,131 | 0.43 | |
Total votes | 1,409,867 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Jay Inslee | 1,582,802 | 51.40 | |
Republican | Rob McKenna | 1,488,245 | 48.33 | |
Write-in | 8,592 | 0.28% | ||
Total votes | 3,079,639 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Brad Owen ran for re-election to a fifth term.
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Brad Owen (D) | Bill Finkbeiner (R) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elway Research | October 18–21, 2012 | 451 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 42% | 32% | 26% |
Elway Research | September 9–12, 2012 | 405 (RV) | ± 5.0% | 43% | 27% | 29% |
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Brad Owen (incumbent) | 648,110 | 48.52 | |
Republican | Bill Finkbeiner | 352,195 | 26.36 | |
Independent Republican | Glenn Anderson | 229,318 | 17.17 | |
Independent | Jimmy Deal | 53,694 | 4.02 | |
Independent | Clifford Mark Greene | 46,534 | 3.48 | |
Independent | Dave T. Sumner IV | 6,057 | 0.45 | |
Total votes | 1,335,908 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Brad Owen (incumbent) | 1,575,133 | 53.68 | |
Republican | Bill Finkbeiner | 1,359,212 | 46.32 | |
Total votes | 2,934,345 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed declined to run for re-election to a fourth term. The general election was won by Republican Thurston County auditor Kim Wyman, who defeated Democratic state senator Kathleen Drew by under one percentage point, resulting in the smallest statewide margin in 2012.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Kim Wyman | 528,754 | 39.76 | |
Democratic | Kathleen Drew | 289,052 | 21.73 | |
Democratic | Gregory J. Nickels | 210,832 | 15.85 | |
Democratic | Jim Kastama | 185,425 | 13.94 | |
Constitution | Karen Murray | 50,888 | 3.83 | |
Independent | David J. Anderson | 44,276 | 3.33 | |
Human Rights | Sam Wright | 20,809 | 1.57 | |
Total votes | 1,330,036 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Republican | Kim Wyman | 1,464,741 | 50.38 | |
Democratic | Kathleen Drew | 1,442,868 | 49.62 | |
Total votes | 2,907,609 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold |
Incumbent Republican attorney general Rob McKenna retired to run for governor and did not seek a third term. Two King County Councilmembers, Republican Reagan Dunn and Democrat Bob Ferguson, faced off in the general election. Ferguson ultimately won the election.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Bob Ferguson | 685,346 | 51.68 | |
Republican | Reagan Dunn | 506,524 | 38.20 | |
Republican | Stephen Pidgeon | 134,185 | 10.12 | |
Total votes | 1,326,055 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Bob Ferguson | 1,564,443 | 53.48 | |
Republican | Reagan Dunn | 1,361,010 | 46.52 | |
Total votes | 2,925,453 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
Incumbent Democratic Treasurer James McIntire ran for re-election to a second term.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | James McIntire (incumbent) | 925,850 | 96.63 | |
Republican | Sharon Hanek (write-in) | 32,339 | 3.38 | |
Total votes | 958,189 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | James McIntire (incumbent) | 1,695,401 | 58.71 | |
Republican | Sharon Hanek | 1,192,150 | 41.29 | |
Total votes | 2,887,551 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
Incumbent Democratic Auditor Brian Sonntag declined to run for re-election to a sixth term. Democratic state representative Troy Kelley won the election, defeating Republican James Watkins.
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Troy Kelley (D) | James Watkins (R) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elway Research | October 18–21, 2012 | 451 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 34% | 29% | 37% |
Elway Research | September 9–12, 2012 | 405 (RV) | ± 5.0% | 36% | 27% | 38% |
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | James Watkins | 584,444 | 46.09 | |
Democratic | Troy Kelley | 291,335 | 22.98 | |
Democratic | Craig Pridemore | 268,220 | 21.15 | |
Democratic | Mark Miloscia | 123,936 | 9.78 | |
Total votes | 1,267,935 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Troy Kelley | 1,512,620 | 52.95 | |
Republican | James Watkins | 1,344,137 | 47.05 | |
Total votes | 2,856,757 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
Incumbent Democratic Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler ran for re-election to a fourth term.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 712,095 | 54.91 | |
Republican | John Adams | 279,052 | 21.52 | |
Republican | Scott Reilly | 241,377 | 18.61 | |
Independent | Brian C. Berend | 64,303 | 4.96 | |
Total votes | 1,296,827 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 1,662,555 | 58.31 | |
Republican | John Adams | 1,188,926 | 41.70 | |
Total votes | 2,851,481 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
Incumbent Democratic Commissioner of Public Lands Peter J. Goldmark ran for re-election to a second term.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Peter J. Goldmark (incumbent) | 683,448 | 51.88 | |
Republican | Clint Didier | 540,907 | 41.06 | |
Independent | Stephen A. Sharon | 92,993 | 7.06 | |
Total votes | 1,317,348 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Peter J. Goldmark (incumbent) | 1,692,083 | 58.74 | |
Republican | Clint Didier | 1,188,411 | 41.26 | |
Total votes | 2,880,494 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
Incumbent Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn ran for re-election to a second term. He was unopposed in the general election. The superintendent is the only nonpartisan statewide election.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn (incumbent) | 634,314 | 56.22 | |
Nonpartisan | Ron Higgins | 172,331 | 15.27 | |
Nonpartisan | James Bauckman | 149,370 | 13.24 | |
Nonpartisan | Donald Hansler | 104,360 | 9.25 | |
Nonpartisan | John P. Blair | 67,898 | 6.02 | |
Total votes | 1,128,273 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn (incumbent) | 2,164,163 | 100.00 | |
Total votes | 2,164,163 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
The Democrats won on election night, but in early December two Democrats formed a conservative coalition with the Republican Caucus.
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
Yes | 1,724,209 | 55.70 |
No | 1,371,235 | 44.30 |
Total votes | 3,095,444 | 100.00 |
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
Yes | 1,892,969 | 63.91 |
No | 1,069,083 | 36.09 |
Total votes | 2,962,052 | 100.00 |
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
Yes | 1,525,807 | 50.69 |
No | 1,484,125 | 49.31 |
Total votes | 3,009,932 | 100.00 |
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
Yes | 1,659,915 | 53.70 |
No | 1,431,285 | 46.30 |
Total votes | 3,091,200 | 100.00 |
Jay Robert Inslee is an American politician, lawyer, and economist who has served as the 23rd governor of Washington since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995 and again from 1999 to 2012, and was a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. He is the longest-serving current governor in the United States.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 4, 2008, in 11 states and two territories. Prior to the election, eight of the total seats were held by Democrats and five by Republicans. Two governors were prohibited by term limits from seeking re-election in 2008. The only governorship to change party was the open seat in Missouri, which was won by a Democrat after being previously held by a Republican.
Washington's 1st congressional district encompasses parts of King and Snohomish counties. The district covers several cities in the north of the Seattle metropolitan area, east of Interstate 5, including parts of Bellevue, Marysville, and up north toward Arlington.
United States gubernatorial elections were held in 12 states and two territories. Of the eight Democratic and four Republican seats contested, only that of North Carolina changed party hands, giving the Republicans a net gain of one governorship. These elections coincided with the presidential election on November 6, 2012.
The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington were held on Tuesday, 6 November 2012, to elect the ten U.S. representatives from the state, one from each of the state's ten congressional districts, a gain of one seat following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election, and a U.S. Senate election. The state certified the returns on 6 December 2012. Primary elections were held on 7 August 2012.
The 2012 Washington gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012. Candidates in the election were chosen in an August 7, 2012 primary election, under the state's nonpartisan blanket primary system, which allows voters to vote for any candidate running in the race, regardless of party affiliation. The two candidates who received the most votes in the primary election qualified for the general election.
The 2012 Washington State Senate elections took place on November 6, 2012. Twenty-five of Washington's forty-nine state senators were elected. Each state legislative district has one senator elected to a four-year term, but state senate elections alternate so that about half of the senators are elected in presidential election years and the other half are elected in non-presidential even numbered election years. A top two primary election on August 7, 2012 determined which candidates appear on the November ballot. Candidates were allowed to self-declare a party preference.
The 2018 United States Senate elections were held on November 6, 2018. Among the 100 seats, the 33 of Class 1 were contested in regular elections while two others were contested in special elections due to Senate vacancies in Minnesota and Mississippi. The winners were elected to six-year terms running from January 3, 2019, to January 3, 2025. Senate Democrats had 26 seats up for election, while Senate Republicans had nine seats up for election.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 2016, in 12 states and two territories. The last regular gubernatorial elections for nine of the 12 states took place in 2012. The last gubernatorial elections for New Hampshire, Oregon, and Vermont took place in 2014, as Oregon held a special election due to the resignation of Governor John Kitzhaber, while the governors of New Hampshire and Vermont both serve two-year terms. The 2016 gubernatorial elections took place concurrently with several other federal, state, and local elections, including the presidential election, Senate, and House elections.
A general election was held in the U.S. state of Arkansas on November 4, 2014. All of Arkansas' executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Arkansas' four seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on May 20, 2014, for offices that need to nominate candidates. Primary runoffs, necessary if no candidate wins a majority of the vote, were held on June 10, 2014.
The 2016 United States Senate election in Washington was held November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Washington. Incumbent Democratic Senator Patty Murray ran for re-election to a fifth term, and won by a significant margin, winning 59% of the vote, to Republican Chris Vance's 41%.
The 2016 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2016.
The 2017 United States elections were held, in large part, on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. This off-year election featured gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as state legislative elections in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and in the Virginia House of Delegates. Numerous citizen initiatives, mayoral races, and a variety of other local elections also occurred. Special elections were also held for one seat of the U.S. Senate, representing Alabama, and six seats of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Democrats picked up the governorship in New Jersey and the Alabama Senate seat that was up for a special election. The governorship in Virginia and the six House seats that were up for special elections did not change party hands.
A general election was held in the U.S. state of Washington on November 8, 2016. The primary was held on August 2.
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 2020, in 11 states and two territories. The previous gubernatorial elections for this group of states took place in 2016, except in New Hampshire and Vermont where governors only serve two-year terms. These two states elected their current governors in 2018. Nine state governors ran for reelection and all nine won, while Democrat Steve Bullock of Montana could not run again due to term limits and Republican Gary Herbert of Utah decided to retire at the end of his term.
The 2020 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020. It followed a top-two primary held on August 4. Incumbent governor Jay Inslee, the Democratic candidate, defeated Loren Culp, the Republican candidate by a wide margin. Inslee, who was eligible to run for a third term due to the lack of gubernatorial term limits, initially launched a campaign for President of the United States in the 2020 election. When he dropped out of that race in August 2019 due to extremely low polling numbers, he announced he would seek a third term as governor. Several other Democratic political figures considered entering the race if Inslee did not run, including Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson; no other major Democratic candidates entered the race. Republican Loren Culp, the police chief of Republic, Washington, placed second in the top-two primary and advanced to the general election alongside Inslee.
The 2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the lieutenant governor of Washington concurrently with the 2020 Washington elections. The top-two primary was held on August 4, and Democrats Denny Heck and Marko Liias advanced to the general election, which Heck won.
General elections were held in the U.S. state of Washington on November 3, 2020. A primary was held on August 4. This election cycle is notable as it was only the second in state history in which Democrats won the top three statewide elections by double digits. The first was the 1936 election, in the middle of the Great Depression. As of 2023, this was the last time Republicans won any statewide election in Washington.
The 2022 Washington Secretary of State special election was held on November 8, 2022. Incumbent Kim Wyman, a Republican, resigned from the office on November 19, 2021, to become the senior election security lead for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the Biden administration's Department of Homeland Security. Washington governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat, announced he would appoint state senator Steve Hobbs as her replacement, the first Democrat to hold the office in more than fifty years.
The 2022 United States secretary of state elections were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the secretaries of state in twenty-seven states. These elections took place concurrently with several other federal, state, and local elections.