2018 United States Senate election in Washington

Last updated

2018 United States Senate election in Washington
Flag of Washington.svg
  2012 November 6, 2018 2024  
  Maria Cantwell (cropped).jpg SusanHutchison-official (cropped).jpg
Nominee Maria Cantwell Susan Hutchison
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,803,3641,282,804
Percentage58.43%41.57%

2018 United States Senate election in Washington results map by county.svg
2018 Washington Senate election by Congressional District.svg
2018 United States Senate election in Washington map by precinct.svg
Cantwell:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Hutchison:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:     50%     No votes

U.S. senator before election

Maria Cantwell
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Maria Cantwell
Democratic

The 2018 United States Senate election in Washington took place on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Washington. Incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell won election to a fourth term over television news journalist Susan Hutchison, a Republican.

Contents

Nonpartisan blanket primary

Candidates

The primary election featured 30 candidates. [1]

Democratic Party

Declared

Republican Party

Declared
Withdrawn
  • Ron Higgins (withdrew May 19, 2018 [9] )
Endorsements
Susan Hutchison
Individuals
Organizations
  • Hunters Heritage Council [16]
  • Washington Farm Bureau [17]

Independents

Declared
  • Thor Amundson
  • Jon Butler
  • Jennifer "GiGi" Ferguson [18] [19]
  • Charlie R. Jackson
  • Dave Strider [20]
Write-in
  • Clay Johnson, activist [19]

Minor parties

In Washington, primary candidates may declare a preference for any party, and their party preference does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party. Candidates may also declare a preference for new or single-candidate parties.

Declared

Notes

  1. According to Chase, FDFR stands for "Fuck Democrats Fuck Republicans". [1]

Results

Results by county:
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Cantwell--60-70%
Cantwell--50-60%
Cantwell--40-50%
Cantwell--30-40%
Hutchinson--30-40%
Hutchinson--40-50% 2018WASENprimary.svg
Results by county:
  Cantwell—60–70%
  Cantwell—50–60%
  Cantwell—40–50%
  Cantwell—30–40%
  Hutchinson—30–40%
  Hutchinson—40–50%
Blanket primary election results [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Maria Cantwell (incumbent) 929,961 54.68%
Republican Susan Hutchison 413,317 24.30%
Republican Keith Swank39,8182.34%
Republican Joey Gibson 38,6762.27%
Democratic Clint Tannehill35,7702.10%
Republican Dave Bryant33,9622.00%
Republican Art Coday30,6541.80%
Independent Jennifer Gigi Ferguson25,2241.48%
Republican Tim Owen23,1671.36%
Republican Matt Hawkins13,3240.78%
Democratic Don L. Rivers12,6340.74%
Libertarian Mike Luke12,3020.72%
Republican Glen R. Stockwell11,6110.68%
Independent Thor Amundson9,3930.55%
Democratic Mohammad Said8,6490.51%
Republican Matthew D. Heines7,7370.45%
Freedom Socialist Steve Hoffman7,3900.43%
Republican GoodSpaceGuy7,0570.41%
Republican John Orlinski6,9050.41%
Independent Dave Strider6,8210.40%
Republican Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente5,7240.34%
Green James Robert "Jimmie" Deal3,8490.23%
The Human Rights PartySam Wright3,7610.22%
FDFR PartyBrad Chase2,6550.16%
Democratic George H. Kalberer2,4480.14%
Independent Charlie R. Jackson2,4110.14%
Republican R. C. Smith2,2380.13%
Independent Jon Butler2,0160.12%
StandUpAmericaAlex Tsimerman1,3660.08%
Total votes1,700,840 100.00%

    General election

    Debates

    2022 United States Senate election in Washington debates
    No.DateHostModeratorLink Democratic Republican
    Key:
     P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
    Maria Cantwell Susan Hutchison
    1Oct. 8, 2018 KOMO-TV
    Pacific Lutheran University
    Mary Nam
    Essex Porter
    [26] PP
    2Oct. 20, 2018 Community Colleges of Spokane
    Gonzaga University
    Eastern Washington University
    University of Washington
    Washington State University Spokane
    Whitworth University
    Hayley Guenthner
    Jane McCarthy
    [27] PP

    Predictions

    SourceRankingAs of
    The Cook Political Report [28] Safe DOctober 26, 2018
    Inside Elections [29] Safe DNovember 1, 2018
    Sabato's Crystal Ball [30] Safe DNovember 5, 2018
    Fox News [31] Likely DJuly 9, 2018
    CNN [32] Safe DJuly 12, 2018
    RealClearPolitics [33] Safe DNovember 5, 2018

    Polling

    Poll sourceDate(s)
    administered
    Sample
    size [a]
    Margin
    of error
    Maria
    Cantwell (D)
    Susan
    Hutchison (R)
    Undecided
    Elway/Crosscut [34] October 4–9, 2018405 (RV)± 5.0%53%39%9%
    Public Policy Polling (D) [35] [A] May 22–23, 2018675 (LV)± 3.8%52%36%12%
    Hypothetical polling

    Maria Cantwell vs. Rob McKenna

    Poll sourceDate(s)
    administered
    Sample
    size [a]
    Margin
    of error
    Maria
    Cantwell (D)
    Rob
    McKenna (R)
    Undecided
    Public Policy Polling (D) [36] [A] June 27–28, 2017887 (LV)± 3.3%53%40%6%

    Results

    United States Senate election in Washington, 2018 [37]
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Democratic Maria Cantwell (incumbent) 1,803,364 58.43% −2.02%
    Republican Susan Hutchison 1,282,80441.57%+2.02%
    Total votes3,086,168 100.00% N/A
    Democratic hold

    By county

    By county
    County [38] Maria Cantwell

    Democratic

    Susan Hutchison

    Republican

    Total
    %#%#
    Adams 32.25%1,36567.75%2,8674,232
    Asotin 41.82%3,80958.18%5,2989,107
    Benton 37.52%28,18762.48%46,93875,125
    Chelan 44.06%14,78755.94%18,77533,562
    Clallam 50.67%20,03649.33%19,50439,540
    Clark 52.96%102,61947.04%91,153193,772
    Columbia 33.24%73166.76%1,4682,199
    Cowlitz 46.29%20,48553.71%23,77344,258
    Douglas 36.17%5,39063.83%9,51214,902
    Ferry 38.10%1,32961.90%2,1593,488
    Franklin 40.26%8,98359.74%13,32922,312
    Garfield 33.58%44566.42%8801,325
    Grant 30.80%8,15969.20%18,33326,492
    Grays Harbor 47.81%13,60552.19%14,85128,456
    Island 53.18%22,34146.82%19,67242,013
    Jefferson 68.79%14,33131.21%6,50220,833
    King 74.15%708,65425.85%247,071955,725
    Kitsap 56.47%67,84743.53%52,308120,155
    Kittitas 43.10%8,33056.90%10,99619,326
    Klickitat 45.84%4,88954.16%5,77610,665
    Lewis 32.71%11,07867.29%22,79333,871
    Lincoln 28.76%1,60471.24%3,9745,578
    Mason 47.84%13,22052.16%14,41627,636
    Okanogan 43.44%7,23156.56%9,41416,645
    Pacific 50.90%5,52749.10%5,33210,859
    Pend Oreille 36.13%2,47763.87%4,3796,856
    Pierce 53.36%174,09746.64%152,177326,274
    San Juan 72.60%8,01627.40%3,02611,042
    Skagit 51.49%28,12248.51%26,49854,620
    Skamania 47.71%2,66352.29%2,9195,582
    Snohomish 57.39%184,21842.61%136,749320,967
    Spokane 49.23%112,00050.77%115,508227,508
    Stevens 32.23%7,27467.77%15,29622,570
    Thurston 58.54%72,67741.46%51,472124,149
    Wahkiakum 44.66%1,08255.34%1,3412,423
    Walla Walla 46.35%11,86253.65%13,73125,593
    Whatcom 59.77%65,04340.23%43,781108,824
    Whitman 54.35%9,37545.65%7,87517,250
    Yakima 41.85%29,47658.15%40,95870,434
    Total58.43%1,803,36441.57%1,282,8043,086,168

    Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

    Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

    By congressional district

    Cantwell won seven of ten congressional districts. [39]

    DistrictCantwellHutchisonRepresentative
    1st 57%43% Suzan DelBene
    2nd 61%39% Rick Larsen
    3rd 49%51% Jaime Herrera Beutler
    4th 38%62% Dan Newhouse
    5th 47%53% Cathy McMorris Rodgers
    6th 57%43% Derek Kilmer
    7th 84%16% Pramila Jayapal
    8th 51%49% Kim Schrier
    9th 73%27% Adam Smith
    10th 56%44% Denny Heck

    Notes

    1. 1 2 Key:
      A – all adults
      RV – registered voters
      LV – likely voters
      V – unclear

    Partisan clients

    1. 1 2 This poll was sponsored by the Northwest Progressive Institute

    References

    1. 1 2 3 Camden, Jim (May 19, 2018). "U.S. Senate primary: Cantwell and 29 challengers". The Spokesman-Review . Retrieved July 23, 2018.
    2. CANTWELL, MARIA
    3. RIVERS, DON L MR
    4. TANNEHILL, CLINT RONALD
    5. "Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente".
    6. Kavanaugh, Shane Dixon (February 25, 2018). "Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson plans U.S. Senate run in Washington". Oregon Live. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
    7. "Who has filed - King County". King County. May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
    8. O'Sullivan, Joseph; Brunner, Jim (May 18, 2018). "Former State Republican Party chair Susan Hutchison challenging Sen. Maria Cantwell". The Seattle Times . Retrieved May 21, 2018.
    9. "2018 Candidates Who Have Filed" . Retrieved June 29, 2018.
    10. Susan Hutchison. "I'm honored to be endorsed by @JaimeforUSRep, a fierce advocate for Southwest Washington! Let's have a strong showing from Republican voters all across the state today!". Twitter.
    11. Susan Hutchison. "Proudly Endorsed by Former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton". Twitter.
    12. Susan Hutchison. "Thank you to Congressman Dan Newhouse for his endorsement of our campaign! Proud to call him a friend and appreciate all he does for #WA04. Remember to return your ballots by Aug 7 and vote #Susan4Senate!". Twitter.
    13. Susan Hutchison. "Yet another important early endorsement for our campaign: Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Republicans all across Washington are rallying behind our campaign for US Senate; be sure to return your ballot by August 7th! #Susan4Senate". Facebook.
    14. Susan Hutchison. "Honored to have the endorsement of my friend and next WA House Speaker, @jtwilcox111". Twitter.
    15. Susan Hutchison. "WA Secretary of State @KimWyman12 endorses @Susan4Senate. Grateful that our state's favorite elected official knows who's best for US Senate! #susan4senate". Twitter.
    16. Susan Hutchison. "The 45,000-strong Hunters Heritage Council has endorsed @susan4senate! #susan4senate #hunting #waelex". Twitter.
    17. Susan Hutchison. "I am proud to be endorsed by the Washington Farm Bureau, and will always fight to protect our private property and water rights from burdensome federal regulations. #Susan4Senate". Twitter.
    18. Details for Candidate ID : S8WA00202
    19. 1 2 Coleman, Miles (July 5, 2017). "2018 Senate Race Ratings - July 2017". Decision Desk HQ. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
    20. STRIDER, DAVID LEE
    21. McNamara, Neal (February 26, 2018). "Patriot Prayer Founder Joey Gibson Will Run Against Cantwell". Seattle Patch. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
    22. "Campaign Kickoff Party: Steve Hoffman for U.S. Senate". Freedom Socialist Party. February 23, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
    23. "Mike Luke (L) for Senate". Archived from the original on January 2, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
    24. TSIMERMAN, ALEX
    25. "United States Senate primary election in Washington, 2018". Office of the Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
    26. C-SPAN
    27. C-SPAN
    28. "2018 Senate Race Ratings for October 26, 2018". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
    29. "2018 Senate Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
    30. "2018 Crystal Ball Senate race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
    31. "2018 Senate Power Rankings". Fox News . Retrieved July 10, 2018.
    32. "Key Races: Senate" . Retrieved July 15, 2018.
    33. "Battle for the Senate 2018" . Retrieved July 15, 2018.
    34. Elway/Crosscut
    35. Public Policy Polling (D)
    36. Public Policy Polling (D)
    37. "November 6, 2018 General Election Results - U.S. Senator".
    38. Wyman, Kim (November 6, 2018). "U.S. Senator - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington . Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
    39. "2018 General Data". sos.wa.gov. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023.

    Official campaign websites