2016 Washington gubernatorial election

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2016 Washington gubernatorial election
Flag of Washington.svg
  2012 November 8, 2016 2020  
  Jay Inslee official portrait (cropped 2).jpg Bill Bryant.jpg
Candidate Jay Inslee Bill Bryant
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,760,5201,476,346
Percentage54.25%45.49%

2016 Washington gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
2012 Washington Attorney General election by CD.svg
WA Governor 2016.svg
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.

Contents

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

Republican Party

Declared

Declined

Third Party and independent candidates

Declared

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

Declined

Polling

Hypothetical polling

with Inslee, Bryant, and Dorn

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jay
Inslee (D)
Bill
Bryant (R)
Randy
Dorn (I)
Undecided
Elway Poll [9] April 14–17, 2016503± 3.5%41%26%7%25%

Results

Results by county:
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Inslee--40-50%
Inslee--60-70%
Bryant--40-50%
Bryant--50-60%
Bryant--60-70% 2016WAGOVprimary.svg
Results by county:
  Inslee—40–50%
  Inslee—60–70%
  Bryant—40–50%
  Bryant—50–60%
  Bryant—60–70%
Blanket primary election results [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jay Inslee (incumbent) 687,412 49.30
Republican Bill Bryant 534,519 38.33
Republican Bill Hirt48,3823.47
Democratic Patrick O'Rourke40,5722.91
Independent Steve Rubenstein22,5821.62
Democratic James Robert Deal14,6231.05
Democratic Johnathan Dodds14,1521.01
Republican Goodspaceguy 13,1910.95
Socialist Workers Mary Martin10,3740.74
Independent David Blomstrom4,5120.32
Independent Christian Joubert4,1030.29
Total votes1,394,422 100

General election

Debates

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [11] Safe DAugust 12, 2016
Daily Kos [12] Safe DNovember 8, 2016
Rothenberg Political Report [13] Safe DNovember 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball [14] Safe DNovember 7, 2016
Real Clear Politics [15] Lean DNovember 1, 2016
Governing [16] Likely DNovember 7, 2016

Endorsements

Bill Bryant (R)

U.S. Senators

U.S. Representatives

Statewide officials

State legislators

Newspapers

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, 2016November 2, 201650.7%42.3%7.0%Inslee +8.4%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jay
Inslee (D)
Bill
Bryant (R)
Undecided
SurveyMonkey [35] November 1–7, 20161,451± 4.6%55%42%3%
Insights West [ usurped ]November 4–6, 2016402± 4.9%49%40%10%
SurveyMonkey [36] October 31 – November 6, 20161,292± 4.6%55%42%3%
SurveyMonkey [37] October 28 – November 3, 2016944± 4.6%56%41%3%
SurveyUSA [38] October 31 – November 2, 2016667± 3.9%50%43%6%
SurveyMonkey [39] October 27 – November 2, 2016807± 4.6%56%41%3%
SurveyMonkey [40] October 26 – November 1, 2016698± 4.6%55%41%4%
SurveyMonkey [41] October 25–31, 2016745± 4.6%55%42%3%
Elway Poll [42] October 20–22, 2016502± 4.5%51%39%10%
KCTS 9/YouGov [43] October 6–13, 2016750± 4.4%51%45%4%
Strategies 360/KOMO News [44] September 29 – October 3, 2016500± 4.4%50%40%8%
Elway Poll [45] August 9–13, 2016500± 4.5%48%36%16%
Moore Information [46] May 16–18, 2016500± 4.0%43%36%18%
Elway Poll [9] April 14–17, 2016503± 3.5%48%36%16%
Elway Poll [47] December 28–30, 2015500± 4.5%39%30%31%
Public Policy Polling [48] May 14–17, 2015879± 3.3%46%34%21%
Hypothetical polling

Jay Inslee vs. Andy Hill

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jay
Inslee (D)
Andy
Hill (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling [48] May 14–17, 2015879± 3.3%45%31%24%

Jay Inslee vs. Rob McKenna

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jay
Inslee (D)
Rob
McKenna (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling [48] May 14–17, 2015879± 3.3%43%38%19%

Jay Inslee vs. Dave Reichert

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jay
Inslee (D)
Dave
Reichert (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling [48] May 14–17, 2015879± 3.3%45%34%22%

Jay Inslee vs. generic Republican

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jay
Inslee (D)
Generic
Republican
Undecided
Elway Poll [47] December 28–30, 2015500± 4.5%30%25%45%

Jay Inslee vs. generic opponent

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jay
Inslee (D)
Generic
Opponent
Undecided
Moore Information [46] May 16–18, 2016500± 4.0%38%47%15%
Moore Information [46] May 2015500± 4.0%38%44%18%

Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Generic
Democrat
Generic
Republican
OtherUndecided
Moore Information [46] May 16–18, 2016500± 4.0%41%34%5%20%
Moore Information [46] May 2015500± 4.0%34%30%16%20%

Results

2016 Washington gubernatorial election [49]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Jay Inslee (incumbent) 1,760,520 54.25% +2.71%
Republican Bill Bryant 1,476,34645.49%−2.97%
Write-in 8,4160.26%N/A
Total votes3,245,282 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

By county

County results
County [50] [49] Jay Inslee

Democratic

Bill Bryant

Republican

Write-in

Various

Total votes
#%#%#%
Adams 1,53332.64%3,15167.10%120.26%4,696
Asotin 4,14942.46%5,60957.40%130.13%9,771
Benton 31,12837.95%50,73061.84%1720.21%82,030
Chelan 13,86640.94%19,93458.86%650.19%33,865
Clallam 19,35448.87%20,18050.78%1400.35%39,602
Clark 96,03247.93%103,78751.80%5600.28%200,379
Columbia 68831.50%1,49168.27%50.23%2,184
Cowlitz 19,59342.75%26,11656.98%1240.27%45,833
Douglas 5,44134.73%10,19765.09%280.18%15,666
Ferry 1,36037.56%2,25262.19%90.25%3,621
Franklin 9,73140.27%14,38759.54%450.19%24,163
Garfield 37029.65%87570.11%30.24%1,248
Grant 9,24232.16%19,40167.50%990.34%28,742
Grays Harbor 14,03848.43%14,84351.20%1070.37%28,988
Island 21,79750.16%21,56049.61%980.23%43,455
Jefferson 13,39965.24%7,04934.32%900.44%20,538
King 677,94367.69%321,24232.07%2,4090.24%1,001,594
Kitsap 66,39252.47%59,76247.23%3680.29%126,522
Kittitas 7,98441.66%11,13958.13%400.21%19,163
Klickitat 4,51741.82%6,26057.96%240.22%10,801
Lewis 11,16332.09%23,53967.66%860.25%34,788
Lincoln 1,61627.92%4,16071.89%110.19%5,787
Mason 13,12645.92%15,36553.75%930.33%28,584
Okanogan 7,43743.06%9,79456.71%390.23%17,270
Pacific 5,31349.29%5,42850.36%370.34%10,778
Pend Oreille 2,52036.50%4,36463.21%200.29%6,904
Pierce 176,82549.94%176,28749.79%9530.27%354,065
San Juan 7,50968.89%3,35630.79%350.32%10,900
Skagit 28,27349.47%28,70150.22%1730.30%57,147
Skamania 2,47644.35%3,09455.42%130.23%5,583
Snohomish 182,54452.12%166,77047.61%9370.27%350,251
Spokane 106,00945.87%124,57653.91%5080.22%231,093
Stevens 7,14831.02%15,85168.79%450.20%23,044
Thurston 71,83554.67%59,01444.91%5590.43%131,408
Wahkiakum 94139.89%1,41359.90%50.21%2,359
Walla Walla 10,70541.77%14,88058.06%440.17%25,629
Whatcom 62,63456.45%47,95343.22%3700.33%110,957
Whitman 8,72749.41%8,89250.35%430.24%17,662
Yakima 35,16244.96%43,01655.00%340.04%78,212
Totals1,760,52054.25%1,476,34645.49%8,4160.26%3,245,282

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Inslee won six of ten congressional districts. [49]

DistrictInsleeBryantRepresentative
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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 5 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 Moore Information
  47. 1 2 Elway Poll
  48. 1 2 3 4 Public Policy Polling
  49. 1 2 3 "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.

Official campaign websites (Archived)