2020 Washington elections
General elections were held in the U.S. state of Washington on November 3, 2020. A primary was held on August 4.[1]
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All 9 Statewide Executive Offices | ||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Washington |
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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.[6]
Lieutenant Governor
Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib (D) is retiring from politics.[7] Congressman Denny Heck won the open seat.
Attorney General
Incumbent Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) was re-elected to a third term.[6]
Blanket primary
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Matt Larkin (R) |
Brett Rogers (R) |
Mike Vaska (R) |
Bob Ferguson (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SurveyUSA | July 22–27, 2020 | 513 (LV) | ± 5.4% | 13% | 7% | 5% | 52% | 22% |
SurveyUSA | May 16–19, 2020 | 650 (LV) | ± 5.6% | 8% | 8% | 4% | 47% | 32% |
General election
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Bob Ferguson (D) |
Matt Larkin (R) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 53% | 39% | 8% |
SurveyUSA | October 8–10, 2020 | 591 (LV) | ± 5.2% | 49% | 38% | 13% |
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Bob Ferguson (incumbent) | 1,356,225 | 55.8 | |
Republican | Matt Larkin | 575,470 | 23.7 | |
Republican | Brett Rogers | 296,843 | 12.2 | |
Republican | Mike Vaska | 199,826 | 8.2 | |
Write-in | 2,372 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 2,430,736 | 100.0 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Bob Ferguson (incumbent) | 2,226,418 | 56.43 | |
Republican | Matt Larkin | 1,714,927 | 43.47 | |
Write-in | 3,968 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 3,945,313 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
Secretary of State
Incumbent Secretary of State Kim Wyman (R) was re-elected to a third term.[6] State Representative Gael Tarleton (D–Seattle) challenged Wyman.[10]
General election
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Kim Wyman (R) |
Gael Tarleton (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 49% | 43% | 8% |
SurveyUSA | October 8–10, 2020 | 591 (LV) | ± 5.2% | 45% | 40% | 14% |
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Kim Wyman (incumbent) | 1,238,455 | 50.9 | |
Democratic | Gael Tarleton | 1,053,584 | 43.3 | |
Independent | Ed Minger | 87,982 | 3.6 | |
Washington Progressive Party | Gentry Lange | 51,826 | 2.1 | |
Write-in | 1,919 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 2,433,766 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Republican | Kim Wyman (incumbent) | 2,116,141 | 53.61 | |
Democratic | Gael Tarleton | 1,826,710 | 46.27 | |
Write-in | 4,666 | 0.12 | ||
Total votes | 3,947,517 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
Public Lands Commissioner
Incumbent Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz (D) was re-elected to a second term.[6]
General election
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Hillary Franz (D) |
Sue Kuehl Pederson (R) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 49% | 36% | 15% |
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Hilary Franz (incumbent) | 1,211,310 | 51.1 | |
Republican | Sue Kuehl Pederson | 554,147 | 23.4 | |
Republican | Cameron Whitney | 197,610 | 8.3 | |
Republican | Steve Sharon | 179,714 | 7.6 | |
Democratic | Frank Wallbrown | 122,136 | 5.2 | |
Libertarian | Kelsey Reyes | 77,407 | 3.4 | |
Republican | Maryam Abasbarzy | 24,189 | 1.0 | |
Write-in | 2,504 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 2,369,017 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Hilary Franz (incumbent) | 2,212,158 | 56.69 | |
Republican | Sue Kuehl Pederson | 1,686,320 | 43.21 | |
Write-in | 3,799 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 3,902,277 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
State Auditor
Incumbent State Auditor Pat McCarthy (D) was re-elected to a second term.[6]
General election
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Pat McCarthy (D) |
Chris Leyba (R) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 48% | 34% | 14% |
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Pat McCarthy (incumbent) | 1,134,077 | 47.4 | |
Republican | Chris Leyba | 982,411 | 41.1 | |
Democratic | Joshua Casey | 273,198 | 11.4 | |
Write-in | 2,278 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 2,391,964 | 100.0 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Pat McCarthy (incumbent) | 2,260,830 | 58 | |
Republican | Chris Leyba | 1,633,956 | 41.92 | |
Write-in | 3,316 | 0.09 | ||
Total votes | 3,898,102 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
State Treasurer
Incumbent state treasurer Duane Davidson (R) ran for a second term. State Representative Mike Pellicciotti (D–Federal Way) defeated Davidson.[11]
General election
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Duane Davidson (R) |
Mike Pellicciotti (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 36% | 46% | 18% |
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Mike Pellicciotti | 1,279,452 | 53.22 | |
Republican | Duane Davidson (incumbent) | 1,121,885 | 46.67 | |
Write-in | 2,604 | 0.11 | ||
Total votes | 2,403,941 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Mike Pellicciotti | 2,089,159 | 53.41 | |
Republican | Duane Davidson (incumbent) | 1,818,895 | 46.5 | |
Write-in | 3,339 | 0.09 | ||
Total votes | 3,911,393 | 100 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent state superintendent Chris Reykdal (non-partisan election) was re-elected to a second term.[6]
General election
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Chris Rekydal |
Maia Espinoza |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 30% | 23% | 47% |
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Nonpartisan | Chris Reykdal (incumbent) | 898,951 | 40.2 | |
Nonpartisan | Maia Espinoza | 564,674 | 25.3 | |
Nonpartisan | Ron Higgins | 456,879 | 20.5 | |
Nonpartisan | Dennis Wick | 121,425 | 5.4 | |
Nonpartisan | David Spring | 111,176 | 5.0 | |
Nonpartisan | Stan Lippmann | 71,395 | 3.2 | |
Write-in | 9,571 | 0.4 | ||
Total votes | 2,234,071 | 100.0 | ||
General election | ||||
Nonpartisan | Chris Reykdal (incumbent) | 1,955,365 | 54.57 | |
Nonpartisan | Maia Espinoza | 1,609,643 | 44.92 | |
Write-in | 17,957 | 0.5 | ||
Total votes | 3,582,965 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
Insurance Commissioner
Incumbent insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler (D) was re-elected to a sixth term.[6]
General election
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Mike Kreidler (D) |
Chirayu Avinash Patel (R) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 52% | 30% | 18% |
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 1,402,650 | 59.0 | |
Republican | Chirayu Avinash Patel | 644,446 | 27.1 | |
Libertarian | Anthony Welti | 324,921 | 13.7 | |
Write-in | 4,220 | 0.2 | ||
Total votes | 2,376,237 | 100.0 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 2,506,693 | 65.39 | |
Republican | Chirayu Avinash Patel | 1,308,292 | 34.13 | |
Write-in | 18,576 | 0.48 | ||
Total votes | 3,833,561 | 100 | ||
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 are running for new terms. Seat 6 Justice Charles Wiggins retired and Governor Inslee's appointee G. Helen Whitener[12] is running for the final two years of the term.[13]
Position 3
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Raquel Montoya-Lewis |
David Larson |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 21% | 17% | 62% |
Public Policy Polling | May 19–20, 2020 | 1,070 (LV) | ± 3% | 14% | 8% | 78% |
Position 6
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
G. Helen Whitener |
Richard S. Serns |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 22% | 12% | 66% |
Public Policy Polling | May 19–20, 2020 | 1,070 (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),[14] Maureen Walsh (R-Walla Walla),[15] and Hans Zeiger (R-Puyallup).[16] 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),[17] Richard DeBolt (R-Chehalis),[18] Beth Doglio (D-Olympia),[19] Chris Gildon (R-Puyallup),[16] Bill Jenkin (R-Prosser),[20] Christine Kilduff (D-University Place),[21] Mike Pellicciotti (D-Federal Way),[11] Eric Pettigrew (D-Seattle),[22] Norma Smith (R-Clinton),[23] Pat Sullivan (D-Covington),[24] and Gael Tarleton (D-Seattle).[10] 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.[25] One constitutional amendment will be on the ballot, regarding the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Account and the Long-Term Care Services and Supports Trust Account.[26] It passed with 58% in favor.
Ballot Initiatives
Polling
- Referendum 90
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Approve | Reject | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPP/NPI | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 56% | 33% | 11% |
SurveyUSA/KING-TV | October 8–10, 2020 | 591 (LV) | ± 5.2% | 52% | 34% | 14% |
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
See also
References
- "Dates and Deadlines 2020". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- "Distribution of Electoral Votes". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- Brunner, Jim (January 6, 2020). "Thirteen Democrats qualify for Washington presidential primary, Trump sole choice for Republicans". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- 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.
- Stack, Liam (December 4, 2020). "Denny Heck, a Washington Democrat, Won't Seek House Re-election". The New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- Cornfield, Jerry (October 9, 2019). "A boring election for state seats in 2020? Try nine of them". The Everett Herald. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- Habib, Cyrus (March 19, 2020). "Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib: Why I am giving up elected office and joining the Jesuits". America.
- "August 4, 2020 Primary Results". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- "November 3, 2020 General Election Results - State Executive". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
- "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.
- Mirror, For the (May 17, 2019). "State Rep. Mike Pellicciotti announces early bid for state treasurer". Federal Way Mirror. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- Stern, Mark Joseph (April 17, 2020). "Washington State Now Has the Most Diverse Supreme Court In History". Slate Magazine. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- La Corte, Rachel (January 18, 2020). "Washington Supreme Court Justice Charles Wiggins to retire". The Olympian.
- "Sen. Randi Becker announces retirement from Senate at end of current term". Washington State Wire. March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- 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.
- "The News Tribune". account.thenewstribune.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- Pilling, Nathan. "Rep. Sherry Appleton, longtime member of Kitsap legislative delegation, to retire". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- 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.
- "Washington state Rep. Beth Doglio joins crowded race to succeed Denny Heck in Congress". The Seattle Times. March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- "Realtor, farm leader to run for Legislature, representing part of Benton County and Pasco". Tri-City Herald. February 27, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- "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.
- 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.
- 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.
- "Kent City Councilmember Kaur to run for state House seat". Kent Reporter. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- "Washington Referendum 90, Sex Education in Public Schools Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- "Washington Authorize Fund Investment of Family Medical Leave and Long-Term Care Accounts Amendment (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
External links
- Elections & Voting at the Washington Secretary of State
- Washington at Ballotpedia
- Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "Washington", Voting & Elections Toolkits
- "Washington: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links", Vote.org, Oakland, CA
- "League of Women Voters of Washington". (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
- "State Elections Legislation Database", Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Legislatures,
State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year, 2020