2020 Washington elections

Last updated

2020 Washington Statewide Executive Offices elections
Flag of Washington.svg
←  2016 November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03) 2024  →
All statewide executive offices
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election72
Seats won81
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 1
Percentage58.23%39.28%
SwingIncrease2.svg 4.56%Decrease2.svg 3.14%

General elections were held in the U.S. state of Washington on November 3, 2020. A primary was held on August 4. [1]

Contents

Federal

President of the United States

Washington has 12 electoral votes for the presidential election, remaining unchanged from 2016. [2] A presidential primary for both parties was held on March 10, 2020, with 13 candidates for the Democrats and one candidate for the Republicans. [3] The 2020 Democratic primary was the first in the state's history to have a binding vote, replacing the caucus system that overrode the nonbinding primary vote. [4]

United States House of Representatives

All 10 of Washington's seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for re-election. All but one of the incumbents ran for re-election, the exception being Denny Heck (D) of the 10th district. [5]

Statewide executive

Governor

Incumbent governor Jay Inslee (D) was re-elected to a third term in a landslide. [6]

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent lieutenant governor Cyrus Habib (D) retired from politics. [7] U.S. Representative Denny Heck won the open seat. [8]

Attorney general

2020 Washington Attorney General election
Flag of Washington.svg
←  2016 November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03) 2024  →
  Bob Ferguson at his 2023 Shrimp Feed 02 (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Bob Ferguson Matt Larkin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote2,226,4181,714,927
Percentage56.4%43.5%
2020 Washington Attorney General election results map by county.svg
WA-20-ag-districts.svg
Ferguson:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Larkin:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Attorney General before election

Bob Ferguson
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Bob Ferguson
Democratic

Incumbent attorney general Bob Ferguson (D) was re-elected to a third term. [6] [9]

Polling

Blanket primary
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Bob
Ferguson (D)		Matt
Larkin (R)		Brett
Rogers (R)		Mike
Vaska (R)		Undecided
SurveyUSA [10] July 22–27, 2020513 (LV)± 5.4%52%13%7%5%22%
SurveyUSA [11] May 16–19, 2020650 (LV)±  5.6%47%8%8%4%32%
General election
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Bob
Ferguson (D)		Matt
Larkin (R)		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D) [12] October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%53%39%8%
SurveyUSA [13] October 8–10, 2020591 (LV)± 5.2%49%38%13%
Blanket primary results by county .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Ferguson 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Larkin 30-40% Rogers 30-40% 2020 Washington Attorney General primary results map by county.svg
Blanket primary results by county
  Ferguson
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Larkin
  •   30–40%
  Rogers
  •   30–40%
2020 Washington Attorney General election [14] [15]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bob Ferguson (incumbent)1,356,22555.8
Republican Matt Larkin575,47023.7
Republican Brett Rogers296,84312.2
Republican Mike Vaska199,8268.2
Write-in 2,3720.1
Total votes2,430,736 100.0
General election
Democratic Bob Ferguson (incumbent) 2,226,418 56.4
Republican Matt Larkin1,714,92743.5
Write-in 3,9680.1
Total votes3,945,313 100.0
Democratic hold

Secretary of state

Incumbent secretary of state Kim Wyman (R) was re-elected to a third term. [6] [16] State Representative Gael Tarleton (D–Seattle) unsuccessfully challenged Wyman. [17]

2020 Washington Secretary of State election [14] [15]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Kim Wyman (incumbent)1,238,45550.9
Democratic Gael Tarleton 1,053,58443.3
Independent Ed Minger87,9823.6
Washington Progressive PartyGentry Lange51,8262.1
Write-in 1,9190.1
Total votes2,433,766 100.0
General election
Republican Kim Wyman (incumbent) 2,116,141 53.6
Democratic Gael Tarleton 1,826,71046.3
Write-in 4,6660.1
Total votes3,947,517 100.0
Republican hold

Public Lands Commissioner

2020 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election
Flag of Washington.svg
←  2016 November 3, 2020 2024  →
  Hilary Franz 01 (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Hilary Franz Sue Kuehl Pederson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote2,212,1581,686,320
Percentage56.7%43.2%
2020 Washington Commissioner of Public Lands election results map by county.svg
WA-20-lands-districts.svg
Franz:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Pederson:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Public Lands Commissioner before election

Hilary Franz
Democratic

Elected Public Lands Commissioner

Hilary Franz
Democratic

Incumbent Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz (D) was re-elected to a second term. [6] She defeated Republican nominee Sue Kuehl Pederson in the general election by 13.5%.

2022 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election debate
No.DateHostModeratorLink Democratic Republican
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Hilary Franz Sue Kuehl Pederson
1Oct. 2, 2020 The Columbian YouTube PP

Polling

General election
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Hillary
Franz (D)		Sue Kuehl
Pederson (R)		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D) [18] October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%49%36%15%
Blanket primary results by county Franz 20-30% 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% Pederson 20-30% 30-40% 2020 Washington Commissioner of Public Lands primary results map by county.svg
Blanket primary results by county
  Franz
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Pederson
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
2020 Washington Commissioner of Public Lands election [14] [15]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Hilary Franz (incumbent)1,211,31051.1
Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson554,14723.4
Republican Cameron Whitney197,6108.3
Republican Steve Sharon179,7147.6
Democratic Frank Wallbrown122,1365.2
Libertarian Kelsey Reyes77,4073.4
Republican Maryam Abasbarzy24,1891.0
Write-in 2,5040.1
Total votes2,369,017 100
General election
Democratic Hilary Franz (incumbent) 2,212,158 56.7
Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson1,686,32043.2
Write-in 3,7990.1
Total votes3,902,277 100.0
Democratic hold

State auditor

2020 Washington State Auditor election
Flag of Washington.svg
←  2016 November 3, 2020 2024  →
  Pat McCarthy (19280364431).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Pat McCarthy Chris Leyba
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote2,260,8301,633,956
Percentage58.0%41.9%
2020 Washington Auditor election results map by county.svg
WA-20-auditordistricts.svg
McCarthy:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Leyba:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
State Auditor before election

Pat McCarthy
Democratic

Elected State Auditor

Pat McCarthy
Democratic

Incumbent state auditor Pat McCarthy (D) was re-elected to a second term. [6]

2022 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election debate
No.DateHostModeratorLink Democratic Republican
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Pat McCarthy Chris Leyba
1Sep. 23, 2020 The Columbian YouTube PP

Polling

General election
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Pat
McCarthy (D)		Chris
Leyba (R)		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D) [19] October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%48%34%14%
2020 Washington State Auditor election [14] [15]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Pat McCarthy (incumbent)1,134,07747.4
Republican Chris Leyba982,41141.1
Democratic Joshua Casey273,19811.4
Write-in 2,2780.1
Total votes2,391,964 100.0
General election
Democratic Pat McCarthy (incumbent) 2,260,830 58.0
Republican Chris Leyba1,633,95641.9
Write-in 3,3160.1
Total votes3,898,102 100.0
Democratic hold

State treasurer

2020 Washington State Treasurer election
Flag of Washington.svg
←  2016 November 3, 2020 2024  →
  Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti.jpg Duane Davidson.jpg
Nominee Mike Pellicciotti Duane Davidson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote2,089,1591,818,895
Percentage53.4%46.5%
2020 Washington Treasurer election results map by county.svg
WA-20-treasurer-districts.svg
Pellicciotti:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Davidson:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
State Treasurer before election

Duane Davidson
Republican

Elected State Treasurer

Mike Pellicciotti
Democratic

Incumbent state treasurer Duane Davidson (R) ran for a second term. State Representative Mike Pellicciotti (D–Federal Way) defeated Davidson. [20]

2020 Washington State Treasurer debate
No.DateHostModeratorLink Republican Republican
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Duane Davidson Mike Pellicciotti
1Sep. 17, 2020 League of Women Voters
of Washington
League of Women Voters
of Benton & Franklin counties
The Spokesman-Review
TVW 		Matt Loveless YouTube PP

Polling

General election
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Duane
Davidson (R)		Mike
Pellicciotti (D)		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D) [21] October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%36%46%18%
2020 Washington State Treasurer election [14] [15]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mike Pellicciotti 1,279,45253.2
Republican Duane Davidson (incumbent)1,121,88546.7
Write-in 2,6040.1
Total votes2,403,941 100.0
General election
Democratic Mike Pellicciotti 2,089,159 53.4
Republican Duane Davidson (incumbent)1,818,89546.5
Write-in 3,3390.1
Total votes3,911,393 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Superintendent of Public Instruction

2020 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Flag of Washington.svg
←  2016
2024  →
  Chris Reykdal at Comcast Leaders & Achievers Scholarship Reception 2017 (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Chris Reykdal Maia Espinoza
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote1,955,3651,609,643
Percentage54.6%44.9%
2020 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election.svg
2020 Washington superintendent of public instruction election by congressional district.svg
Reykdal:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Espinoza:     40–50%     50–60%
Superintendent of Public Instruction before election

Chris Reykdal
Independent

Elected Superintendent of Public Instruction

Chris Reykdal
Independent

Incumbent state superintendent Chris Reykdal (non-partisan election) was re-elected to a second term. [6]

2020 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction debate
No.DateHostModeratorLink Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Chris Reykdal Maia Espinoza
1Sep. 18, 2020Washington State Wire YouTube PP
2Sep. 25, 2020City Inside/OutBrian Callahan YouTube PP

Polling

General election
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Chris
Rekydal		Maia
Espinoza		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D) [22] October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%30%23%47%
2020 Superintendent of Public Instruction election [14] [15]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Chris Reykdal (incumbent)898,95140.2
NonpartisanMaia Espinoza564,67425.3
NonpartisanRon Higgins456,87920.5
NonpartisanDennis Wick121,4255.4
NonpartisanDavid Spring111,1765.0
NonpartisanStan Lippmann71,3953.2
Write-in 9,5710.4
Total votes2,234,071 100.0
General election
Nonpartisan Chris Reykdal (incumbent) 1,955,365 54.6
NonpartisanMaia Espinoza1,609,64344.9
Write-in 17,9570.5
Total votes3,582,965 100.0
Democratic hold

Insurance Commissioner

2020 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
Flag of Washington.svg
←  2016 November 3, 2020 2024  →
  Oic-commissioner-kreidler.jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Mike Kreidler Chirayu Avinash Patel
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote2,506,6931,308,292
Percentage65.4%34.1%
2020 Washington Insurance Commissioner election results map by county.svg
WA-20-insurance-districts.svg
Kreidler:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Patel:      50–60%     60–70%
Insurance Commissioner before election

Mike Kreidler
Democratic

Elected Insurance Commissioner

Mike Kreidler
Democratic

Incumbent insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler (D) was re-elected to a sixth term. [6] With over 65% of the vote, Kreidler had the best performance of any statewide candidate in this cycle.

2020 Washington Insurance Commissioner election debate
No.DateHostModeratorLink Democratic Republican
Key:
 P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited  W  Withdrawn
Mike Kreidler Chirayu Avinash Patel
1Oct. 14, 2020 The Columbian YouTube PN

Polling

General election
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Mike
Kreidler (D)		Chirayu Avinash
Patel (R)		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D) [23] October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%52%30%18%
Blanket primary results by county Kreidler 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Patel 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 2020 Washington Insurance Commissioner primary election.svg
Blanket primary results by county
  Kreidler
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Patel
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
2020 Washington Insurance Commissioner election [14] [15]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mike Kreidler (incumbent)1,402,65059.0
Republican Chirayu Avinash Patel644,44627.1
Libertarian Anthony Welti324,92113.7
Write-in 4,2200.2
Total votes2,376,237 100.0
General election
Democratic Mike Kreidler (incumbent) 2,506,693 65.4
Republican Chirayu Avinash Patel1,308,29234.1
Write-in 18,5760.5
Total votes3,833,561 100.0
Democratic hold

Supreme Court

Seats 3, 4, and 7 of the Washington Supreme Court were up for six-year terms. Debra L. Stephens, Charles W. Johnson, and Raquel Montoya-Lewis ran for new terms. Seat 6 Justice Charles Wiggins retired and Governor Inslee's appointee G. Helen Whitener [24] ran for the final two years of the term. [25]

Polling

Position 3

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Raquel
Montoya-Lewis		David
Larson		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D) [26] October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%21%17%62%
Public Policy Polling (D) [27] May 19–20, 20201,070 (LV)± 3%14%8%78%

Position 6

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		G. Helen
Whitener		Richard
S. Serns		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D) [26] October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%22%12%66%
Public Policy Polling (D) [27] May 19–20, 20201,070 (LV)± 3%13%6%81%

Legislative

State senate

Twenty-five of the forty-nine seats in the Washington State Senate were up for election. Democrats kept a 28–21 majority in the Senate. Senators retiring this election were Senators Randi Becker (R-Olympia), [28] Maureen Walsh (R-Walla Walla), [29] and Hans Zeiger (R-Puyallup). [30] Senators Dean Takko (D) and Steve O'Ban (R) lost reelection.

State House of Representatives

All 98 seats in the Washington House of Representatives were up for election. Democrats kept a 57–41 majority in the House. House members who didn't run for re-election were Representatives Sherry Appleton (D-Poulsbo), [31] Richard DeBolt (R-Chehalis), [32] Beth Doglio (D-Olympia), [33] Chris Gildon (R-Puyallup), [30] Bill Jenkin (R-Prosser), [34] Christine Kilduff (D-University Place), [35] Mike Pellicciotti (D-Federal Way), [20] Eric Pettigrew (D-Seattle), [36] Norma Smith (R-Clinton), [37] and Gael Tarleton (D-Seattle). [17] Representatives Luanne Van Werven (R) and Brian Blake (D) lost reelection.

Ballot measures

No initiatives to the people qualified for the ballot. One referendum was on the ballot, on Senate Bill 5395 regarding sexual education. [38] One constitutional amendment was on the ballot, regarding the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Account and the Long-Term Care Services and Supports Trust Account. [39] It passed with 58% in favor.

Ballot initiatives

Polling

Referendum 90

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		ApproveRejectUndecided
PPP/NPI [40] October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%56%33%11%
SurveyUSA/KING-TV [41] October 8–10, 2020591 (LV)± 5.2%52%34%14%

Results

Referendum 90 [15]
November 3, 2020
Washington Comprehensive Sexual Health Education
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes2,283,63057.82%
Light brown x.svgNo1,665,90642.18%
Total votes3,949,536100.00%
2020 Washington Referendum 90 results map by county.svg
2020 Washington referendum 90 by congressional district.svg

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Dates and Deadlines 2020". Washington Secretary of State . Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Distribution of Electoral Votes". National Archives and Records Administration. September 19, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  3. ↑ Brunner, Jim (January 6, 2020). "Thirteen Democrats qualify for Washington presidential primary, Trump sole choice for Republicans". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  4. ↑ Gutman, David; Brunner, Jim (January 26, 2020). "Washington's presidential primary is no longer a meaningless 'beauty contest'; this one really counts". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  5. ↑ Stack, Liam (December 4, 2020). "Denny Heck, a Washington Democrat, Won't Seek House Re-election". The New York Times . Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cornfield, Jerry (October 9, 2019). "A boring election for state seats in 2020? Try nine of them". The Everett Herald . Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  7. ↑ Habib, Cyrus (March 19, 2020). "Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib: Why I am giving up elected office and joining the Jesuits". America .
  8. ↑ "Denny Heck defeats Marko Liias in Washington state lieutenant governor election results". Seattle Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Bob Ferguson defeats Matt Larkin in Washington state attorney general election results". Seattle Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  10. ↑ SurveyUSA
  11. ↑ SurveyUSA
  12. ↑ Public Policy Polling (D)
  13. ↑ SurveyUSA
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Certification of the 2020 Primary Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Washington . Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Official Canvass of the Returns" (PDF). Secretary of State of Washington . Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Kim Wyman leads Gael Tarleton in Washington state secretary of state election results". Seattle Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  17. 1 2 "Q&A: Rep. Gael Tarleton on her bid to become Washington's next Secretary of State". Washington State Wire. January 14, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  18. ↑ Public Policy Polling (D)
  19. ↑ Public Policy Polling (D)
  20. 1 2 Mirror, For the (May 17, 2019). "State Rep. Mike Pellicciotti announces early bid for state treasurer". Federal Way Mirror. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  21. ↑ Public Policy Polling (D)
  22. ↑ Public Policy Polling (D)
  23. ↑ Public Policy Polling (D)
  24. ↑ Stern, Mark Joseph (April 17, 2020). "Washington State Now Has the Most Diverse Supreme Court In History". Slate Magazine. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  25. ↑ La Corte, Rachel (January 18, 2020). "Washington Supreme Court Justice Charles Wiggins to retire". The Olympian .
  26. 1 2 Public Policy Polling (D)
  27. 1 2 Public Policy Polling (D)
  28. ↑ "Sen. Randi Becker announces retirement from Senate at end of current term". Washington State Wire. March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  29. ↑ Union-Bulletin, CHLOE LeVALLEY of the Walla Walla. "Sen. Maureen Walsh says she won't seek re-election". Union-Bulletin.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  30. 1 2 "The News Tribune". account.thenewstribune.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  31. ↑ Pilling, Nathan. "Rep. Sherry Appleton, longtime member of Kitsap legislative delegation, to retire". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  32. ↑ Chronicle, Eric Schwartz and Natalie Johnson The. "State Rep. Richard DeBolt Announces Upcoming Retirement From House After 24 Years". The Chronicle. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Washington state Rep. Beth Doglio joins crowded race to succeed Denny Heck in Congress". The Seattle Times. March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Realtor, farm leader to run for Legislature, representing part of Benton County and Pasco". Tri-City Herald. February 27, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Rep. Christine Kilduff announces that she will not seek re-election in the 28th Legislative District". Washington State Wire. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  36. ↑ Jan 30, Rich Smith •; Pm, 2020 at 12:43. "Rep. Eric Pettigrew Says He Won't Seek Re-Election, Opening Space for a True Progressive to Run". The Stranger. Retrieved March 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ↑ Service, SC News staff, Skagit Publishing, and WNPA News. "10th District Rep. Norma Smith will not run for re-election". goSkagit. Retrieved March 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ↑ "Washington Referendum 90, Sex Education in Public Schools Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Washington Authorize Fund Investment of Family Medical Leave and Long-Term Care Accounts Amendment (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  40. ↑ PPP/NPI
  41. ↑ SurveyUSA/KING-TV
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.