2020 Washington Statewide Executive Offices elections
|
|
|
|
Majority party
|
Minority party
|
|
|
|
Party
|
Democratic
|
Republican
|
Last election
|
7
|
2
|
Seats won
|
8
|
1
|
Seat change
|
1
|
1
|
|
General elections were held in the
U.S. state
of
Washington
on November 3, 2020. A primary was held on August 4.
[1]
This election cycle is notable as it was only the second in state history in which Democrats won the top three statewide elections by double digits. The first was the 1936 election, in the middle of the
Great Depression
.
[2]
As of 2023
[update]
, this was the last time Republicans won any statewide election in Washington.
Federal
[
edit
]
President of the United States
[
edit
]
Washington has 12 electoral votes for the
presidential election
, remaining unchanged from
2016
.
[3]
A presidential primary for both parties was held on March 10, 2020, with 13 candidates for the Democrats and one candidate for the Republicans.
[4]
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.
[5]
United States House of Representatives
[
edit
]
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
.
[6]
Statewide executive
[
edit
]
Governor
[
edit
]
Incumbent
governor
Jay Inslee
(D) was re-elected to a third term in a landslide.
[7]
Lieutenant governor
[
edit
]
Incumbent
lieutenant governor
Cyrus Habib
(D) retired from politics.
[8]
U.S. Representative
Denny Heck
won the open seat.
[9]
Attorney general
[
edit
]
Incumbent
attorney general
Bob Ferguson
(D) was re-elected to a third term.
[7]
[10]
Polling
[
edit
]
Blanket primary
[
edit
]
Poll source
|
Date(s)
administered
|
Sample
size
[a]
|
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
[
edit
]
Poll source
|
Date(s)
administered
|
Sample
size
[a]
|
Margin
of error
|
Bob
Ferguson (D)
|
Matt
Larkin (R)
|
Undecided
|
Public Policy Polling (D)
|
October 14?15, 2020
|
610 (LV)
|
± 4%
|
53%
|
39%
|
8%
|
SurveyUSA
|
October 8?10, 2020
|
591 (LV)
|
± 5.2%
|
49%
|
38%
|
13%
|
2020 Washington Attorney General election
[11]
[12]
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
|
56.4
|
|
Republican
|
Matt Larkin
|
1,714,927
|
43.5
|
|
Write-in
|
3,968
|
0.1
|
Total votes
|
3,945,313
|
100.0
|
|
Democratic
hold
|
Secretary of state
[
edit
]
Incumbent
secretary of state
Kim Wyman
(R) was re-elected to a third term.
[7]
[13]
State Representative
Gael Tarleton
(D?Seattle) unsuccessfully challenged Wyman.
[14]
2020 Washington Secretary of State election
[11]
[12]
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
|
100.0
|
General election
|
|
Republican
|
Kim Wyman
(incumbent)
|
2,116,141
|
53.6
|
|
Democratic
|
Gael Tarleton
|
1,826,710
|
46.3
|
|
Write-in
|
4,666
|
0.1
|
Total votes
|
3,947,517
|
100.0
|
|
Republican
hold
|
Public Lands Commissioner
[
edit
]
Incumbent
Public Lands Commissioner
Hilary Franz
(D) was re-elected to a second term.
[7]
Polling
[
edit
]
General election
[
edit
]
Poll source
|
Date(s)
administered
|
Sample
size
[a]
|
Margin
of error
|
Hillary
Franz (D)
|
Sue Kuehl
Pederson (R)
|
Undecided
|
Public Policy Polling (D)
|
October 14?15, 2020
|
610 (LV)
|
± 4%
|
49%
|
36%
|
15%
|
2020 Washington Commissioner of Public Lands election
[11]
[12]
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
|
56.7
|
|
Republican
|
Sue Kuehl Pederson
|
1,686,320
|
43.2
|
|
Write-in
|
3,799
|
0.1
|
Total votes
|
3,902,277
|
100.0
|
|
Democratic
hold
|
State auditor
[
edit
]
Incumbent
state auditor
Pat McCarthy
(D) was re-elected to a second term.
[7]
Polling
[
edit
]
General election
[
edit
]
Poll source
|
Date(s)
administered
|
Sample
size
[a]
|
Margin
of error
|
Pat
McCarthy (D)
|
Chris
Leyba (R)
|
Undecided
|
Public Policy Polling (D)
|
October 14?15, 2020
|
610 (LV)
|
± 4%
|
48%
|
34%
|
14%
|
2020 Washington State Auditor election
[11]
[12]
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
|
58.0
|
|
Republican
|
Chris Leyba
|
1,633,956
|
41.9
|
|
Write-in
|
3,316
|
0.1
|
Total votes
|
3,898,102
|
100.0
|
|
Democratic
hold
|
State treasurer
[
edit
]
Incumbent
state treasurer
Duane Davidson
(R) ran for a second term. State Representative
Mike Pellicciotti
(D?Federal Way) defeated Davidson.
[15]
Polling
[
edit
]
General election
[
edit
]
Poll source
|
Date(s)
administered
|
Sample
size
[a]
|
Margin
of error
|
Duane
Davidson (R)
|
Mike
Pellicciotti (D)
|
Undecided
|
Public Policy Polling (D)
|
October 14?15, 2020
|
610 (LV)
|
± 4%
|
36%
|
46%
|
18%
|
2020 Washington State Treasurer election
[11]
[12]
Primary election
|
Party
|
Candidate
|
Votes
|
%
|
|
Democratic
|
Mike Pellicciotti
|
1,279,452
|
53.2
|
|
Republican
|
Duane Davidson
(incumbent)
|
1,121,885
|
46.7
|
|
Write-in
|
2,604
|
0.1
|
Total votes
|
2,403,941
|
100.0
|
General election
|
|
Democratic
|
Mike Pellicciotti
|
2,089,159
|
53.4
|
|
Republican
|
Duane Davidson
(incumbent)
|
1,818,895
|
46.5
|
|
Write-in
|
3,339
|
0.1
|
Total votes
|
3,911,393
|
100.0
|
|
Democratic
gain
from
Republican
|
Superintendent of Public Instruction
[
edit
]
2020 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election
|
|
|
Results by county
Reykdal:
50?60%
60?70%
Espinoza:
40?50%
50?60%
|
|
Incumbent
state superintendent
Chris Reykdal
(non-partisan election) was re-elected to a second term.
[7]
2020 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction debate
No.
|
Date
|
Host
|
Moderator
|
Link
|
Nonpartisan
|
Nonpartisan
|
Key:
P
Participant
A
Absent
N
Not invited
I
Invited
W
Withdrawn
|
|
|
Chris Reykdal
|
Maia Espinoza
|
1
|
Sep. 18, 2020
|
Washington State Wire
|
|
YouTube
|
P
|
P
|
2
|
Sep. 25, 2020
|
City Inside/Out
|
Brian Callahan
|
YouTube
|
P
|
P
|
Polling
[
edit
]
General election
[
edit
]
Poll source
|
Date(s)
administered
|
Sample
size
[a]
|
Margin
of error
|
Chris
Rekydal
|
Maia
Espinoza
|
Undecided
|
Public Policy Polling (D)
|
October 14?15, 2020
|
610 (LV)
|
± 4%
|
30%
|
23%
|
47%
|
2020 Superintendent of Public Instruction election
[11]
[12]
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
|
54.6
|
|
Nonpartisan
|
Maia Espinoza
|
1,609,643
|
44.9
|
|
Write-in
|
17,957
|
0.5
|
Total votes
|
3,582,965
|
100.0
|
|
Democratic
hold
|
Insurance Commissioner
[
edit
]
Incumbent
insurance commissioner
Mike Kreidler
(D) was re-elected to a sixth term.
[7]
Polling
[
edit
]
General election
[
edit
]
Poll source
|
Date(s)
administered
|
Sample
size
[a]
|
Margin
of error
|
Mike
Kreidler (D)
|
Chirayu Avinash
Patel (R)
|
Undecided
|
Public Policy Polling (D)
|
October 14?15, 2020
|
610 (LV)
|
± 4%
|
52%
|
30%
|
18%
|
2020 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
[11]
[12]
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
|
65.4
|
|
Republican
|
Chirayu Avinash Patel
|
1,308,292
|
34.1
|
|
Write-in
|
18,576
|
0.5
|
Total votes
|
3,833,561
|
100.0
|
|
Democratic
hold
|
Supreme Court
[
edit
]
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
[16]
ran for the final two years of the term.
[17]
Polling
[
edit
]
Position 3
[
edit
]
Position 6
[
edit
]
Legislative
[
edit
]
State senate
[
edit
]
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),
[18]
Maureen Walsh
(R-Walla Walla),
[19]
and
Hans Zeiger
(R-Puyallup).
[20]
Senators
Dean Takko
(D) and
Steve O'Ban
(R) lost reelection.
State House of Representatives
[
edit
]
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),
[21]
Richard DeBolt
(R-Chehalis),
[22]
Beth Doglio
(D-Olympia),
[23]
Chris Gildon
(R-Puyallup),
[20]
Bill Jenkin
(R-Prosser),
[24]
Christine Kilduff
(D-University Place),
[25]
Mike Pellicciotti
(D-Federal Way),
[15]
Eric Pettigrew
(D-Seattle),
[26]
Norma Smith
(R-Clinton),
[27]
and
Gael Tarleton
(D-Seattle).
[14]
Representatives
Luanne Van Werven
(R) and
Brian Blake
(D) lost reelection.
Ballot measures
[
edit
]
No
initiatives to the people
qualified for the ballot. One referendum was on the ballot, on Senate Bill 5395 regarding sexual education.
[28]
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.
[29]
It passed with 58% in favor.
Ballot initiatives
[
edit
]
Polling
[
edit
]
- Referendum 90
Poll source
|
Date(s)
administered
|
Sample
size
[a]
|
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%
|
Results
[
edit
]
Referendum 90
[30]
|
|
Choice
|
Votes
|
%
|
Yes
|
2,283,630
|
57.82%
|
No
|
1,665,906
|
42.18%
|
Total votes
|
3,949,536
|
100.00%
|
|
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
Key:
A ? all adults
RV ? registered voters
LV ? likely voters
V ? unclear
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Dates and Deadlines 2020"
.
Washington Secretary of State
. Retrieved
February 3,
2020
.
- ^
"Election Results and Voters' Pamphlets"
.
Washington Secretary of State
. Retrieved
October 15,
2021
.
- ^
"Distribution of Electoral Votes"
.
National Archives and Records Administration
. September 19, 2019
. 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
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
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
.
- ^
"Denny Heck defeats Marko Liias in Washington state lieutenant governor election results"
.
Seattle Times
. November 3, 2020
. Retrieved
November 4,
2020
.
- ^
"Bob Ferguson defeats Matt Larkin in Washington state attorney general election results"
.
Seattle Times
. November 3, 2020
. Retrieved
January 15,
2021
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
"August 4, 2020 Primary Results"
.
Washington Secretary of State
. Retrieved
September 6,
2020
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
"November 3, 2020 General Election Results - State Executive"
.
Washington Secretary of State
. Retrieved
December 6,
2020
.
- ^
"Kim Wyman leads Gael Tarleton in Washington state secretary of state election results"
.
Seattle Times
. November 3, 2020
. Retrieved
January 15,
2021
.
- ^
a
b
"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
.
- ^
a
b
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
.
- ^
a
b
"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
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link
)
- ^
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
)
- ^
"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
.
- ^
"Referendum Measure No. 90"
.
Secretary of State of Washington
. Retrieved
May 26,
2023
.
External links
[
edit
]
- 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
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