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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] 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, this was the last time Republicans won any statewide election in Washington.

Federal

President of the United States

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

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

Governor

Incumbent governor Jay Inslee (D) was re-elected to a third term in a landslide.[7]

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent lieutenant governor Cyrus Habib (D) retired from politics.[8] U.S. Representative Denny Heck won the open seat.[9]

Attorney general

Incumbent attorney general Bob Ferguson (D) was re-elected to a third term.[7][10]

Polling

Blanket primary
General election

Secretary of state

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]

Public Lands Commissioner

Incumbent Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz (D) was re-elected to a second term.[7]

Polling

General election

State auditor

Incumbent state auditor Pat McCarthy (D) was re-elected to a second term.[7]

Polling

General election

State treasurer

Incumbent state treasurer Duane Davidson (R) ran for a second term. State Representative Mike Pellicciotti (D–Federal Way) defeated Davidson.[15]

Polling

General election

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent state superintendent Chris Reykdal (non-partisan election) was re-elected to a second term.[7]

Polling

General election

Insurance Commissioner

Incumbent insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler (D) was re-elected to a sixth term.[7]

Polling

General election

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[16] ran for the final two years of the term.[17]

Polling

Position 3

Position 6

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),[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

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

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

Polling

Referendum 90

Results

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. ^ "Election Results and Voters' Pamphlets". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Distribution of Electoral Votes". National Archives and Records Administration. September 19, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Brunner, Jim (January 6, 2020). "Thirteen Democrats qualify for Washington presidential primary, Trump sole choice for Republicans". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Stack, Liam (December 4, 2020). "Denny Heck, a Washington Democrat, Won't Seek House Re-election". The New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Habib, Cyrus (March 19, 2020). "Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib: Why I am giving up elected office and joining the Jesuits". America.
  9. ^ "Denny Heck defeats Marko Liias in Washington state lieutenant governor election results". Seattle Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  10. ^ "Bob Ferguson defeats Matt Larkin in Washington state attorney general election results". Seattle Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "August 4, 2020 Primary Results". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "November 3, 2020 General Election Results - State Executive". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  13. ^ "Kim Wyman leads Gael Tarleton in Washington state secretary of state election results". Seattle Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Stern, Mark Joseph (April 17, 2020). "Washington State Now Has the Most Diverse Supreme Court In History". Slate Magazine. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  17. ^ La Corte, Rachel (January 18, 2020). "Washington Supreme Court Justice Charles Wiggins to retire". The Olympian.
  18. ^ "Sen. Randi Becker announces retirement from Senate at end of current term". Washington State Wire. March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ a b "The News Tribune". account.thenewstribune.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  21. ^ Pilling, Nathan. "Rep. Sherry Appleton, longtime member of Kitsap legislative delegation, to retire". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "Washington state Rep. Beth Doglio joins crowded race to succeed Denny Heck in Congress". The Seattle Times. March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  24. ^ "Realtor, farm leader to run for Legislature, representing part of Benton County and Pasco". Tri-City Herald. February 27, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ 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)
  27. ^ 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)
  28. ^ "Washington Referendum 90, Sex Education in Public Schools Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  29. ^ "Washington Authorize Fund Investment of Family Medical Leave and Long-Term Care Accounts Amendment (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  30. ^ "Referendum Measure No. 90". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved May 26, 2023.

External links