2016 Washington gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2016 United States gubernatorial elections.

2016 Washington gubernatorial election

←  2012 November 8, 2016 2020  →

Candidate Jay Inslee Bill Bryant Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,760,520 1,476,346 Percentage 54.25% 45.49%

County results Congressional district results Precinct results Inslee:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Bryant:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Tie:     50%     No data

Governor before election Jay Inslee Democratic Elected Governor Jay Inslee Democratic

The 2016 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2016.

Under Washington's top-two primary law, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the August 2 primary, residents voted for one of several candidates from a range of party affiliations. The top two finishers, incumbent Governor Jay Inslee (Democratic) ^[1] and Port of Seattle Commissioner Bill Bryant (Republican), moved on to the November general election, which Inslee won. As of 2025, this was the last gubernatorial election in Washington in which the margin of victory was within single digits.

Background

Democratic governor Christine Gregoire declined to seek a third term in 2012. Democratic former U.S. Representative Jay Inslee was elected to succeed her, defeating Republican Rob McKenna, the outgoing Attorney General of Washington, by 51.5% to 48.5%.

Primary election

Democratic Party

Declared

• James Robert Deal ^[2]
• Johnathan Dodds ^[2]
• Jay Inslee, incumbent governor
• Patrick O'Rourke ^[2]

Republican Party

Declared

• Bill Bryant, former Seattle Port Commissioner ^[3]
• Goodspaceguy, perennial candidate ^[2]
• Bill Hirt ^[2]

Declined

• Andy Hill, state senator ^[4]
• Steve Litzow, state senator (running for reelection) ^[4]
• Rob McKenna, former Attorney General of Washington and candidate for governor in 2012 ^{[5] [6]}
• Dave Reichert, U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th congressional district (running for reelection) ^[7]

Third Party and independent candidates

Declared

• David Blomstrom (Fifth Republic) ^[2]
• Christian Joubert (Holistic) ^[2]
• Mary Martin (Socialist Workers) ^[2]
• Steve Rubenstein (Independent)

Declined

• Randy Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction ^[8]

Polling

Hypothetical polling

with Inslee, Bryant, and Dorn

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jay Inslee (D)	Bill Bryant (R)	Randy Dorn (I)	Undecided
Elway Poll [9]	April 14–17, 2016	503	± 3.5%	41%	26%	7%	25%

Results

Results by county:

  Inslee—40–50%

  Inslee—60–70%

  Bryant—40–50%

  Bryant—50–60%

  Bryant—60–70%

Blanket primary election results ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jay Inslee (incumbent)	687,412	49.30
	Republican	Bill Bryant	534,519	38.33
	Republican	Bill Hirt	48,382	3.47
	Democratic	Patrick O'Rourke	40,572	2.91
	Independent	Steve Rubenstein	22,582	1.62
	Democratic	James Robert Deal	14,623	1.05
	Democratic	Johnathan Dodds	14,152	1.01
	Republican	Goodspaceguy	13,191	0.95
	Socialist Workers	Mary Martin	10,374	0.74
	Independent	David Blomstrom	4,512	0.32
	Independent	Christian Joubert	4,103	0.29
Total votes			1,394,422	100

General election

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 19, 2016 - C-SPAN

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [11]	Safe D	August 12, 2016
Daily Kos [12]	Safe D	November 8, 2016
Rothenberg Political Report [13]	Safe D	November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball [14]	Safe D	November 7, 2016
Real Clear Politics [15]	Lean D	November 1, 2016
Governing [16]	Likely D	November 7, 2016

Endorsements

Jay Inslee (D)

U.S Presidents

• Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States ^[17]

Newspapers

• The News Tribune ^[18]
• The Olympian ^[19]
• The Seattle Times ^[20]
• The Stranger ^[21]

Bill Bryant (R)

U.S. Senators

• Slade Gorton, former U.S. Senator from Washington ^[22]

U.S. Representatives

• Sid Morrison, former U.S. Representative from Washington's 4th congressional district ^[23]
• Dan Newhouse, U.S. Representative from Washington's 4th congressional district ^[24]

Statewide officials

• Dan Evans, 16th Governor of Washington and former U.S. Senator from Washington ^[25]
• Rob McKenna, 17th Attorney General of Washington and runner up for governor in 2012 ^[26]

State legislators

• Jan Angel, state senator ^[27]
• Mary Dye, state representative ^[24]
• Curtis King, state senator ^[28]
• Brad Klippert, state representative ^[24]
• Matt Manweller, state representative ^[29]
• Joe Schmick, state representative ^[24]
• Maureen Walsh, state representative ^[24]

Newspapers

• The Spokesman-Review ^[30]
• Tri-City Herald ^[31]
• Walla Walla Union-Bulletin ^[32]
• Yakima Herald-Republic ^[33]

Polling

Aggregate polls

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Jay Inslee (D)	Bill Bryant (R)	Other/Undecided [a]	Margin
Real Clear Politics [34]	October 6 – November 2, 2016	November 2, 2016	50.7%	42.3%	7.0%	Inslee +8.4%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jay Inslee (D)	Bill Bryant (R)	Undecided
SurveyMonkey [35]	November 1–7, 2016	1,451	± 4.6%	55%	42%	3%
Insights West [ usurped ]	November 4–6, 2016	402	± 4.9%	49%	40%	10%
SurveyMonkey [36]	October 31 – November 6, 2016	1,292	± 4.6%	55%	42%	3%
SurveyMonkey [37]	October 28 – November 3, 2016	944	± 4.6%	56%	41%	3%
SurveyUSA [38]	October 31 – November 2, 2016	667	± 3.9%	50%	43%	6%
SurveyMonkey [39]	October 27 – November 2, 2016	807	± 4.6%	56%	41%	3%
SurveyMonkey [40]	October 26 – November 1, 2016	698	± 4.6%	55%	41%	4%
SurveyMonkey [41]	October 25–31, 2016	745	± 4.6%	55%	42%	3%
Elway Poll [42]	October 20–22, 2016	502	± 4.5%	51%	39%	10%
KCTS 9/YouGov [43]	October 6–13, 2016	750	± 4.4%	51%	45%	4%
Strategies 360/KOMO News [44]	September 29 – October 3, 2016	500	± 4.4%	50%	40%	8%
Elway Poll [45]	August 9–13, 2016	500	± 4.5%	48%	36%	16%
Moore Information [46]	May 16–18, 2016	500	± 4.0%	43%	36%	18%
Elway Poll [9]	April 14–17, 2016	503	± 3.5%	48%	36%	16%
Elway Poll [47]	December 28–30, 2015	500	± 4.5%	39%	30%	31%
Public Policy Polling [48]	May 14–17, 2015	879	± 3.3%	46%	34%	21%

Hypothetical polling

Jay Inslee vs. Andy Hill

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jay Inslee (D)	Andy Hill (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [48]	May 14–17, 2015	879	± 3.3%	45%	31%	24%

Jay Inslee vs. Rob McKenna

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jay Inslee (D)	Rob McKenna (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [48]	May 14–17, 2015	879	± 3.3%	43%	38%	19%

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 [48]	May 14–17, 2015	879	± 3.3%	45%	34%	22%

Jay Inslee vs. generic Republican

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jay Inslee (D)	Generic Republican	Undecided
Elway Poll [47]	December 28–30, 2015	500	± 4.5%	30%	25%	45%

Jay Inslee vs. generic opponent

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jay Inslee (D)	Generic Opponent	Undecided
Moore Information [46]	May 16–18, 2016	500	± 4.0%	38%	47%	15%
Moore Information [46]	May 2015	500	± 4.0%	38%	44%	18%

Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Generic Democrat	Generic Republican	Other	Undecided
Moore Information [46]	May 16–18, 2016	500	± 4.0%	41%	34%	5%	20%
Moore Information [46]	May 2015	500	± 4.0%	34%	30%	16%	20%

Results

2016 Washington gubernatorial election ^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jay Inslee (incumbent)	1,760,520	54.25%	+2.71%
	Republican	Bill Bryant	1,476,346	45.49%	−2.97%
	Write-in		8,416	0.26%	N/A
Total votes			3,245,282	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

By county

County results

County [50] [49]	Jay Inslee Democratic		Bill Bryant Republican		Write-in Various		Total votes
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Adams	1,533	32.64%	3,151	67.10%	12	0.26%	4,696
Asotin	4,149	42.46%	5,609	57.40%	13	0.13%	9,771
Benton	31,128	37.95%	50,730	61.84%	172	0.21%	82,030
Chelan	13,866	40.94%	19,934	58.86%	65	0.19%	33,865
Clallam	19,354	48.87%	20,180	50.78%	140	0.35%	39,602
Clark	96,032	47.93%	103,787	51.80%	560	0.28%	200,379
Columbia	688	31.50%	1,491	68.27%	5	0.23%	2,184
Cowlitz	19,593	42.75%	26,116	56.98%	124	0.27%	45,833
Douglas	5,441	34.73%	10,197	65.09%	28	0.18%	15,666
Ferry	1,360	37.56%	2,252	62.19%	9	0.25%	3,621
Franklin	9,731	40.27%	14,387	59.54%	45	0.19%	24,163
Garfield	370	29.65%	875	70.11%	3	0.24%	1,248
Grant	9,242	32.16%	19,401	67.50%	99	0.34%	28,742
Grays Harbor	14,038	48.43%	14,843	51.20%	107	0.37%	28,988
Island	21,797	50.16%	21,560	49.61%	98	0.23%	43,455
Jefferson	13,399	65.24%	7,049	34.32%	90	0.44%	20,538
King	677,943	67.69%	321,242	32.07%	2,409	0.24%	1,001,594
Kitsap	66,392	52.47%	59,762	47.23%	368	0.29%	126,522
Kittitas	7,984	41.66%	11,139	58.13%	40	0.21%	19,163
Klickitat	4,517	41.82%	6,260	57.96%	24	0.22%	10,801
Lewis	11,163	32.09%	23,539	67.66%	86	0.25%	34,788
Lincoln	1,616	27.92%	4,160	71.89%	11	0.19%	5,787
Mason	13,126	45.92%	15,365	53.75%	93	0.33%	28,584
Okanogan	7,437	43.06%	9,794	56.71%	39	0.23%	17,270
Pacific	5,313	49.29%	5,428	50.36%	37	0.34%	10,778
Pend Oreille	2,520	36.50%	4,364	63.21%	20	0.29%	6,904
Pierce	176,825	49.94%	176,287	49.79%	953	0.27%	354,065
San Juan	7,509	68.89%	3,356	30.79%	35	0.32%	10,900
Skagit	28,273	49.47%	28,701	50.22%	173	0.30%	57,147
Skamania	2,476	44.35%	3,094	55.42%	13	0.23%	5,583
Snohomish	182,544	52.12%	166,770	47.61%	937	0.27%	350,251
Spokane	106,009	45.87%	124,576	53.91%	508	0.22%	231,093
Stevens	7,148	31.02%	15,851	68.79%	45	0.20%	23,044
Thurston	71,835	54.67%	59,014	44.91%	559	0.43%	131,408
Wahkiakum	941	39.89%	1,413	59.90%	5	0.21%	2,359
Walla Walla	10,705	41.77%	14,880	58.06%	44	0.17%	25,629
Whatcom	62,634	56.45%	47,953	43.22%	370	0.33%	110,957
Whitman	8,727	49.41%	8,892	50.35%	43	0.24%	17,662
Yakima	35,162	44.96%	43,016	55.00%	34	0.04%	78,212
Totals	1,760,520	54.25%	1,476,346	45.49%	8,416	0.26%	3,245,282

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Grays Harbor (largest city: Aberdeen)
• Pacific (largest city: Raymond)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Island (largest city: Oak Harbor)
• Kitsap (largest city: Bremerton)
• Pierce (largest city: Tacoma)

Swing by county

Legend

•   Democratic — +10-12.5%
•   Democratic — +7.5-10%
•   Democratic — +5-7.5%
•   Democratic — +2.5-5%
•   Democratic — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +2.5-5%
•   Republican — +5-7.5%
•   Republican — +10-12.5%

Trend relative to the state by county

Legend

•   Democratic — +5-7.5%
•   Democratic — +2.5–5%
•   Democratic — +0–2.5%
•   Republican — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +2.5-5%
•   Republican — +5-7.5%
•   Republican — +7.5-10%
•   Republican — +10-12.5%
•   Republican — +>15%

County flips

Legend

• Democratic   Hold   Gain from Republican

  Republican   Hold   Gain from Democratic

By congressional district

Inslee won six of ten congressional districts. ^[49]

District	Inslee	Bryant	Representative
1st	51%	49%	Suzan DelBene
2nd	57%	43%	Rick Larsen
3rd	45%	55%	Jaime Herrera Beutler
4th	40%	60%	Dan Newhouse
5th	44%	56%	Cathy McMorris Rodgers
6th	54%	46%	Derek Kilmer
7th	78%	22%	Jim McDermott
			Pramila Jayapal
8th	46%	54%	Dave Reichert
9th	67%	33%	Adam Smith
10th	53%	47%	Denny Heck

Notes

1. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.

References

1. "Stockpiling for 2016? Gov. Inslee stages quiet 2014 fundraiser". Seattle Pi. October 26, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
2. Camden, Jim (May 23, 2016). "Final list of candidates in the August primary". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
3. Brunner, Jim (May 14, 2015). "Port Commissioner Bill Bryant announces run for governor". The Seattle Times . Retrieved May 14, 2015.
4. O'Sullivan, Joseph (September 11, 2015). "Hill, Litzow won't challenge Inslee in 2016". The Seattle Times . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
5. Rosenthal, Brian (February 19, 2013). "Former AG McKenna joins lawfirm". Yakima Herald. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
6. Cornfield, Jerry (June 6, 2013). "If not McKenna, others could challenge Inslee in 2016". HeraldNet . Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
7. Brunner, Jim (October 16, 2015). "Dave Reichert decides: He won't run against Jay Inslee for governor". The Seattle Times . Retrieved October 16, 2015.
8. Douglas, C.R. (March 9, 2016). "State schools chief Randy Dorn close to a third-party run for governor". Q13 Fox . Retrieved March 12, 2016.
9. Elway Poll
10. "August 2, 2016 Primary Results - Governor". Washington Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
11. "2016 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
12. "Elections 2015-16". Daily Kos. Retrieved October 15, 2018.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
13. "Gubernatorial Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
14. "Our Final 2016 picks". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
15. "2016 Election Maps - 2016 Governor Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
16. "2016 Governors Races Ratings & News". Governing Magazine. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
17. "President Obama to Washington Democrats: Stay involved". The Spokesman-Review .
18. "We endorse: Inslee 2.0 — Keep him as governor, but demand a stronger version". The News Tribune . October 20, 2016.
19. "THE OLYMPIAN'S 2016 ENDORSEMENTS". The Olympian . November 5, 2016.
20. "The Times recommends: Despite flaws, Jay Inslee is the better choice for governor". The Seattle Times . October 21, 2016.
21. "Endorsements for the November 2016 General Election". The Stranger . October 18, 2016.
22. "Former WA senator Gorton endorses Bill Bryant for governor". King 5 News. September 18, 2015.
23. "Former Congressman Sid Morrison Endorses Bill Bryant for Governor". Vote Smart. September 22, 2015.
24. "Newhouse endorses Bill Bryant for governor". Tri-City Herald . October 23, 2015.
25. "Democrats and Republicans surprised by early governor's race". Covington Reporter. October 2, 2015.
26. "Gov's race 2016: Rob McKenna's advice to Bill Bryant". King 5 News. August 16, 2016.
27. "Senator Jan Angel Endorses Bryant Bid for Governor". Vote Smart. September 30, 2015.
28. "Senator Curtis King Backs Bryant Bid for Governor". Vote Smart. September 25, 2015.
29. "Rep. Matt Manweller Endorses Bill Bryant for Governor". Vote Smart. September 21, 2015.
30. "Review of all S-R endorsements". The Spokesman-Review . October 26, 2016.
31. "Our voice: We recommend Bill Bryant for governor". Tri-City Herald . October 23, 2016.
32. "Review of U-B election endorsements". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin . October 23, 2016.
33. "Endorsement: Bryant able to provide gubernatorial leadership". Yakima Herald-Republic . October 22, 2016.
34. Real Clear Politics
35. SurveyMonkey
36. SurveyMonkey
37. SurveyMonkey
38. SurveyUSA
39. SurveyMonkey
40. SurveyMonkey
41. SurveyMonkey
42. Elway Poll
43. KCTS 9/YouGov
44. Strategies 360/KOMO News
45. Elway Poll
46. Moore Information
47. Elway Poll
48. Public Policy Polling
49. "2016 General Data". sos.wa.gov. Archived from the original on March 15, 2025.
50. Wyman, Kim (November 8, 2016). "Governor - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington . Archived from the original on May 2, 2025. Retrieved August 8, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites (Archived)

• David Blomstrom (FR) for Governor
• Patrick O'Rourke (D) for Governor
• Jay Inslee (D) for Governor
• Bill Bryant (R) for Governor
• James Robert Deal (D) for Governor