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Inslee: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% McKenna: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Washington |
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The 2012 Washington gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012. [1] Candidates in the election were chosen in an August 7, 2012 [2] 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. [3]
Incumbent Governor Christine Gregoire decided to retire rather than seek a third term. [4] She endorsed fellow Democrat Jay Inslee, a U.S. Congressman, as her successor. On March 20, 2012, Inslee resigned from Congress in order to focus on his gubernatorial campaign. [5]
Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna, the Attorney General of Washington, advanced to the general election. Inslee narrowly won the election, and McKenna conceded three days later. [6]
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size [a] | Margin of error | Rob McKenna (R) | Jay Inslee (D) | Lisa Brown (D) | Dow Constantine (D) | Clint Didier (R) | Bill Bryant (R) | Brian Sonntag (D) | Aaron Reardon (D) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chism Strategies [19] | June 28–30, 2011 | 408 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 20% | 17% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 49% |
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% |
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report [21] | Tossup | November 1, 2012 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball [22] | Lean D | November 5, 2012 |
Rothenberg Political Report [23] | Tilt D | November 2, 2012 |
Real Clear Politics [24] | Tossup | November 5, 2012 |
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Aggregate polls
Source of poll aggregation | Dates administered | Dates updated | Jay Inslee (D) | Rob McKenna (R) | Other/Undecided [b] | Margin |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Real Clear Politics [29] | October 14 – November 3, 2012 | November 3, 2012 | 47.3% | 46.3% | 6.4% | Inslee +1.0% |
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jay Inslee (D) | Rob McKenna (R) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling [30] | November 1–3, 2012 | 932 | ± 3.2% | 50% | 48% | 2% |
KING5/SurveyUSA [31] | October 28–31, 2012 | 555 | ± 4.2% | 47% | 46% | 7% |
KCTS 9/Washington Poll [32] | October 18–31, 2012 | 632 | ± 3.9% | 49% | 46% | 6% |
Elway Poll [33] | October 18–21, 2012 | 451 | ± 4.5% | 45% | 47% | 10% |
Strategies360 [34] | October 17–20, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 45% | 45% | 10% |
Public Policy Polling/WCV [35] | October 15–16, 2012 | 574 | ± n/a% | 48% | 42% | 10% |
KCTS 9/Washington Poll [36] | October 1–16, 2012 | 782 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 45% | 8% |
Rasmussen Reports [37] | October 14, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 47% | 45% | 9% |
SurveyUSA [38] | October 12–14, 2012 | 543 | ± 4.3% | 47% | 44% | 9% |
SurveyUSA [39] | September 28–30, 2012 | 540 | ± 4.3% | 48% | 42% | 10% |
Rasmussen Reports [40] | September 26, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 46% | 45% | 9% |
Public Elway Poll [41] | September 9–12, 2012 | 405 | ± 5% | 44% | 41% | 15% |
Public Policy Polling [42] | September 7–9, 2012 | 563 | ± 4.2% | 48% | 42% | 10% |
Survey USA [43] | September 7–9, 2012 | 524 | ± 4.4% | 49% | 44% | 7% |
Survey USA [44] | August 2–3, 2012 | 524 | ± 4.4% | 48% | 45% | 7% |
Elway Poll [45] | July 18–22, 2012 | 405 | ± 5.0% | 43% | 36% | 21% |
Survey USA [46] | July 16–17, 2012 | 630 | ± 4.0% | 41% | 42% | 16% |
Public Policy Polling [47] | June 14–17, 2012 | 1,073 | ± 3.0% | 40% | 43% | 17% |
Elway Poll [48] | June 13–16, 2012 | 408 | ± 5.0% | 40% | 42% | 18% |
Strategies360 [49] | May 22–24, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 39% | 43% | 18% |
Survey USA [50] | May 8–9, 2012 | 557 | ± 4.2% | 38% | 40% | 22% |
Grove Insights (D) [51] [A] | March 26–28, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 38% | 34% | 28% |
Grove Insights (D) [52] [A] | February 21–23, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 38% | 38% | 24% |
Public Policy Polling [53] | February 16–19, 2012 | 1,264 | ± 2.8% | 42% | 42% | 16% |
Survey USA [54] | February 13–15, 2012 | 572 | ± 4.2% | 39% | 49% | 12% |
Elway Poll [55] | February 7–9, 2012 | 405 | ± 5.0% | 36% | 45% | 19% |
Survey USA [56] | January 12–16, 2012 | 617 | ± 4.0% | 43% | 46% | 11% |
Survey USA [57] | November 21–23, 2011 | 549 | ± 4.3% | 38% | 44% | 17% |
Washington Poll [58] | October 10–30, 2011 | 938 | ± 3.2% | 38% | 44% | 18% |
Survey USA [59] | September 21–22, 2011 | 529 | ± 4.3% | 38% | 44% | 18% |
Survey USA [60] | June 24–26, 2011 | 600 | ± 4.4% | 47% | 44% | 9% |
Public Policy Polling [61] | May 12–15, 2011 | 1,098 | ± 3.0% | 38% | 40% | 22% |
Survey USA [62] | April 27–28, 2011 | 610 | ± 4.0% | 41% | 48% | 11% |
Christine Gregoire vs. Rob McKenna
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Christine Gregoire (D) | Rob McKenna (R) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling [61] | May 12–15, 2011 | 1,098 | ± 3.0% | 40% | 49% | 11% |
Survey USA [62] | April 27–28, 2011 | 610 | ± 4.0% | 40% | 52% | 7% |
Christine Gregoire vs. Dave Reichert
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Christine Gregoire (D) | Dave Reichert (R) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling [61] | May 12–15, 2011 | 1,098 | ± 3.0% | 45% | 41% | 14% |
Survey USA [62] | April 27–28, 2011 | 610 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 48% | 8% |
Jay Inslee vs. Dave Reichert
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jay Inslee (D) | Dave Reichert (R) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling [61] | May 12–15, 2011 | 1,098 | ± 3.0% | 42% | 36% | 22% |
Survey USA [62] | April 27–28, 2011 | 610 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 46% | 10% |
Lisa Brown vs. Rob McKenna
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Lisa Brown (D) | Rob McKenna (R) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling [63] | July 27-August 1, 2010 | 1,204 | ± 2.8% | 29% | 47% | 24% |
The race was close throughout the night, with results too close to call after 60 percent of ballots were cast. [64] Inslee was declared the winner early in the morning three days later; McKenna conceded later in the evening. [65]
Inslee won only eight of the state's 39 counties, relying on heavy votes from the Seattle metropolitan area pushing him to victory. [66]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jay Inslee | 1,582,802 | 51.40% | −1.84% | |
Republican | Rob McKenna | 1,488,245 | 48.33% | +1.57% | |
Write-in | 8,592 | 0.28% | N/A | ||
Majority | 94,557 | 3.07% | |||
Total votes | 3,079,639 | 100.00% | |||
Democratic hold | Swing | -3.41% |
County [69] | Jay Inslee Democratic | Rob McKenna Republican | Margin | Total votes cast | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | % | # | % | # | % | ||
Adams | 1,408 | 29.78% | 3,320 | 70.22% | -1,912 | -40.44% | 4,728 |
Asotin | 4,027 | 41.50% | 5,677 | 58.50% | -1,650 | -17.00% | 9,704 |
Benton | 27,291 | 34.97% | 50,757 | 65.03% | -23,466 | -30.07% | 78,048 |
Chelan | 11,616 | 36.41% | 20,291 | 63.59% | -8,675 | -27.19% | 31,907 |
Clallam | 17,516 | 46.66% | 20,021 | 53.34% | -2,505 | -6.67% | 37,537 |
Clark | 86,732 | 46.92% | 98,131 | 53.08% | -11,399 | -6.17% | 184,863 |
Columbia | 656 | 29.54% | 1,565 | 70.46% | -909 | -40.93% | 2,221 |
Cowlitz | 21,051 | 48.21% | 22,612 | 51.79% | -1,561 | -3.58% | 43,663 |
Douglas | 4,746 | 31.88% | 10,139 | 68.12% | -5,393 | -36.23% | 14,885 |
Ferry | 1,299 | 37.98% | 2,121 | 62.02% | -822 | -24.04% | 3,420 |
Franklin | 8,181 | 36.50% | 14,232 | 63.50% | -6,051 | -27.00% | 22,413 |
Garfield | 333 | 26.58% | 920 | 73.42% | -587 | -46.85% | 1,253 |
Grant | 8,654 | 31.59% | 18,742 | 68.41% | -10,088 | -36.82% | 27,396 |
Grays Harbor | 14,491 | 50.90% | 13,978 | 49.10% | 513 | 1.80% | 28,469 |
Island | 19,324 | 46.67% | 22,082 | 53.33% | -2,758 | -6.66% | 41,406 |
Jefferson | 12,176 | 62.29% | 7,370 | 37.71% | 4,806 | 24.59% | 19,546 |
King | 590,879 | 62.36% | 356,713 | 37.64% | 234,166 | 24.71% | 947,592 |
Kitsap | 60,578 | 49.72% | 61,261 | 50.28% | -683 | -0.56% | 121,839 |
Kittitas | 7,137 | 39.90% | 10,752 | 60.10% | -3,615 | -20.21% | 17,889 |
Klickitat | 4,442 | 44.07% | 5,638 | 55.93% | -1,196 | -11.87% | 10,080 |
Lewis | 11,865 | 35.03% | 22,002 | 64.97% | -10,137 | -29.93% | 33,867 |
Lincoln | 1,716 | 29.57% | 4,088 | 70.43% | -2,372 | -40.87% | 5,804 |
Mason | 13,175 | 47.25% | 14,708 | 52.75% | -1,533 | -5.50% | 27,883 |
Okanogan | 6,759 | 40.55% | 9,909 | 59.45% | -3,150 | -18.90% | 16,668 |
Pacific | 5,379 | 51.73% | 5,020 | 48.27% | 359 | 3.45% | 10,399 |
Pend Oreille | 2,442 | 37.06% | 4,148 | 62.94% | -1,706 | -25.89% | 6,590 |
Pierce | 164,211 | 48.54% | 174,078 | 51.46% | -9,867 | -2.92% | 338,289 |
San Juan | 6,763 | 64.82% | 3,671 | 35.18% | 3,092 | 29.63% | 10,434 |
Skagit | 25,878 | 47.33% | 28,803 | 52.67% | -2,925 | -5.35% | 54,681 |
Skamania | 2,434 | 45.92% | 2,867 | 54.08% | -433 | -8.17% | 5,301 |
Snohomish | 166,452 | 51.23% | 158,440 | 48.77% | 8,012 | 2.47% | 324,892 |
Spokane | 95,354 | 43.49% | 123,894 | 56.51% | -28,540 | -13.02% | 219,248 |
Stevens | 7,426 | 33.79% | 14,554 | 66.21% | -7,128 | -32.43% | 21,980 |
Thurston | 67,353 | 53.75% | 57,948 | 46.25% | 9,405 | 7.51% | 125,301 |
Wahkiakum | 964 | 42.83% | 1,287 | 57.17% | -323 | -14.35% | 2,251 |
Walla Walla | 9,353 | 38.03% | 15,238 | 61.97% | -5,885 | -23.93% | 24,591 |
Whatcom | 53,599 | 53.10% | 47,340 | 46.90% | 6,259 | 6.20% | 100,939 |
Whitman | 7,351 | 43.83% | 9,421 | 56.17% | -2,070 | -12.34% | 16,772 |
Yakima | 31,791 | 41.67% | 44,507 | 58.33% | -12,716 | -16.67% | 76,298 |
Totals | 1,582,802 | 51.54% | 1,488,245 | 48.46% | 94,557 | 3.08% | 3,071,047 |
Inslee won 5 of 10 congressional districts, with the remaining 5 going to McKenna, including one that elected a Democrat. [70]
District | Inslee | McKenna | Representative |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 48% | 52% | Suzan DelBene |
2nd | 54% | 46% | Rick Larsen |
3rd | 46% | 54% | Jaime Herrera Beutler |
4th | 37% | 63% | Doc Hastings |
5th | 42% | 58% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
6th | 51% | 49% | Norm Dicks |
Derek Kilmer | |||
7th | 74% | 26% | Jim McDermott |
8th | 43% | 57% | Dave Reichert |
9th | 61% | 39% | Adam Smith |
10th | 51% | 49% | Denny Heck |
Partisan clients
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.
Robert Marion McKenna is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 17th attorney general of Washington from 2005 to 2013 after serving on the Metropolitan King County Council from 1996 to 2005. A member of the Republican Party, he ran for Governor of Washington in 2012, losing to Democrat Jay Inslee.
The 2008 gubernatorial election in Washington was held on November 4, 2008. Republican Dino Rossi and incumbent Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire emerged from the August 19 primary. This made the 2008 election a rematch between the candidates from the 2004 election, the closest gubernatorial election in the state's history. In contrast to the recounts and months of legal challenges in their previous contest, Gregoire was the clear winner on November 5 with about 53% of the vote. With a margin of 6.48%, this election was the second-closest race of the 2008 gubernatorial election cycle, behind only the election in North Carolina.
Elway Research, Inc.is a Seattle-based public opinion research firm. Since 1975, Elway Research has research projects for major corporations, media outlets, associations, foundations, campaigns and governmental agencies at all levels.
Washington has 9 Executive seats, all elected at large. In 2008, all 9 positions were up for reelection. As of 2024, this was the last set of statewide elections in Washington in which any Republicans won by double digits.
The 2010 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 2, 2010, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democrat Senator Patty Murray won re-election to a fourth term by a margin of 52.4% – 47.6% over Republican Dino Rossi, who had run for governor in 2004 and 2008. This was the last U.S. Senate election in Washington where the margin of victory was single digits.
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. As of 2024, this marked the last time in which a Democrat won the governorship in Missouri and the last time in which a Republican won the governorship in North Carolina.
Elections were held on November 2, 2010, to determine Washington's nine members of the United States House of Representatives. Representatives were elected for two-year terms to serve in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. Nonpartisan blanket primary elections were held on August 17, 2010.
The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington were held on Tuesday, November 6, 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 federal quadrennial presidential election, concurrent statewide gubernatorial election, quadrennial statewide lieutenant gubernatorial election, and an election to the U.S. Senate. The state certified the returns on December 6, 2012. Primary elections were held August 7, 2012.
The 2012 United States Senate election in Washington took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell won re-election to a third term by a significant margin, outperforming President Barack Obama's margin in the concurrent presidential election by 6%.
Referendum 74 was a Washington state referendum to approve or reject the February 2012 bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. On June 12, 2012, state officials announced that enough signatures in favor of the referendum had been submitted and scheduled the referendum to appear on the ballot in the November 6 general election. The law was upheld by voters in the November 6, 2012 election by a final margin of 7.4% and the result was certified on December 5.
Elections held in the state of Washington on November 6, 2012. A nonpartisan blanket primary was held on August 7, 2012.
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 Washington Secretary of State election, 2016, was held on November 8, 2016. Incumbent Republican Kim Wyman won reelection over Democratic nominee Tina Podlodowski, the two having received the most votes in an August 2016 primary election.
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.
The 2024 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024. The top-two primary was held on August 6. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jay Inslee was eligible to seek re-election to a fourth term but decided that he would not do so. The Democratic nominee, state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, defeated the Republican nominee, former Congressman Dave Reichert, to succeed Inslee. Inslee, who previously served in the U.S. House, was first elected governor in 2012 and won re-election in 2016 and 2020. Washington has not had a Republican governor since John Spellman left office in 1985, the longest streak of Democratic leadership of any state in the country and the third-longest streak of one-party leadership after South Dakota and Utah. Ferguson defeated Reichert with 55.51% of the vote in the general election. He also became the first Democrat to win Clallam County since 2000.
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 2012 Washington Attorney General election was held on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the other statewide elections and the gubernatorial election. Incumbent Republican State Attorney General Rob McKenna retired to run for governor. Democratic King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson won the general election over Republican King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn.
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