2008 Washington gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:2008 Washington gubernatorial election
Country:Washington
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2004 Washington gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2004
Next Election:2012 Washington gubernatorial election
Next Year:2012
Election Date:November 4, 2008
Image1:File:ChristineGregoireOfficial (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:Christine Gregoire
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,598,738
Percentage1:53.24%
Nominee2:Dino Rossi
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,404,124
Percentage2:46.76%
Map Size:275px
Governor
Before Election:Christine Gregoire
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Christine Gregoire
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2008 gubernatorial election in Washington was held on November 4, 2008. Republican Dino Rossi and incumbent Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire emerged from the August 19 primary. This made the 2008 election a rematch between the candidates from the 2004 election, the closest gubernatorial election in the state's history. In contrast to the recounts and months of legal challenges in their previous contest, Gregoire was the clear winner on November 5 with about 53% of the vote. With a margin of 6.48%, this election was the second-closest race of the 2008 gubernatorial election cycle, behind only the election in North Carolina.

Timeline

DateYearEventReferenceNotes
June 62008Filing deadline[1]
August 192008State primarySame date as general primaries for other offices
November 42008General election[2] Same date as presidential election and other offices
November 262008General electionLast day for counties to deliver results to the state
December 42008General electionResults certified
[3]

Primary election

|-!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" valign=top|Candidate!style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|Stated party preference!style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|Website!style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|Notes|-|Christine Gregoire || Prefers Democratic Party || cw || Incumbent governor|-|Dino Rossi || Prefers G.O.P. Party || cw || Ex-state senator, 2004 gubernatorial nominee|-|Will Baker || Prefers Reform Party || cw || Out; lost primary|-|Duff Badgley || Prefers Green Party || cw || Out; lost primary|-|John W. Aiken Jr. || Prefers Republican Party || cw || Out; lost primary|-|Christian Pierre Joubert || Prefers Democratic Party || cw || Out; lost primary|-|Chris Tudor || States No Party Preference || cw || Out; lost primary|-|Javier O. Lopez || Prefers Republican Party || cw || Out; lost primary|-|Mohammad Hasan Said || States No Party Preference || cw || Out; lost primary|-|James White || Prefers Independent Party || cw || Out; lost primary|-|colspan=4 align=left|Source: Secretary of State|}

The Washington primary election was held August 19, 2008. For the first time, Washington ran a top-two primary, eliminating the "pick a party" primary used since 2004. Unlike traditional primaries, wherein each party with more than one candidate is reduced to a single person to appear on the general election ballot, the system simply reduces the entire crop of candidates from all parties down to the top two candidates, resulting in no more than two candidates appearing on the general election ballot for a given position. As a result, candidates from all parties were essentially running against each other. To allow for ideological identification, each candidate in a partisan race was allowed to indicate an arbitrary party preference.[4]

Controversy over Rossi's party preference

Under the changes to election law made by the passage of Initiative 872, partisan contests are no longer tied to registered parties, but candidates are allowed to indicate an arbitrary "party preference" to appear next to their name on the primary and general election ballots.[5] An extreme example of this occurred in the 40th District race for state senator, where candidate Timothy Stoddard indicated a preference for the "Salmon Yoga" party.[6]

Republican candidate Dino Rossi listed his party preference as "G.O.P." instead of the traditional party name "Republican". Critics of Rossi contended that the choice of party name was an attempt to distance himself from any negative opinions associated with the Republican Party.[7] Rossi's campaign argued that the difference was insignificant, saying voters are already aware that the terms refer to the same party.[8] However, an Elway Research poll taken in August 2008 found that over 25% of registered voters were not aware that the term "GOP" meant the Republican Party.[9]

On September 23, the Washington State Democrats, alleging that the latter is a misrepresentation of his true party affiliation, filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of State to force the state to list Rossi to on the general election ballot as a Republican instead of with the "GOP Party" label.[10] A King County Superior Court judge dismissed the suit, saying nothing in state law made the choice of party name illegal, but he acknowledged the potential confusion. Had the lawsuit succeeded, many counties would have had to reprint their ballots, and the already-cast absentee votes of military personnel may have become invalid.[11]

Results

While the primary was officially held on August 19, 2008, some counties such as King County allowed absentee ballots to be postmarked by that date in order to be valid. As a result, the primary vote tally was not officially certified until September 9, to allow time for mailed-in ballots to arrive and be counted by the counties. As an increasing number of counties allowed, encouraged, or mandated mail-in ballots for voters within the county, the number of such ballots was significant.[12]

General election

Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi were declared the winners of the primary and placed on the ballot for the November 4 election, which coincided with the national election. However, with all Washington counties either exclusively or (in the case of Pierce and King counties) predominantly voting via mail-in ballot,[13] many votes were cast prior to that date. King County, the largest county in the state, and the one which carried Gregoire to victory in 2004, sent out overseas absentee ballots on October 5, and resident mail-in ballots on October 17.[14]

In Washington state, mail-in ballots only needed to be postmarked, not received, by November 4, meaning that valid ballots continued to be received and counted after that date.[15] For the 2008 election, counties had until November 26 to send results to the state, and the Secretary of State had until December 4 to certify all state results.[2]

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report[16] October 16, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report[17] November 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball[18] November 3, 2008
Real Clear Politics[19] November 4, 2008

Polling

Aggregate polls
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
class=small Sample
size
Margin of
error
width=100pxChristine
Gregoire (D)
width=100pxDino
Rossi (R)
Undecided
Survey USAOctober 30-November 2, 2008 align="center" 52%46%2%
Survey USAOctober 26–27, 2008 align=center50%48%2%
Rasmussen ReportsOctober 22, 2008 align=center50%48%2%
Survey USAOctober 12–13, 2008 align=center48%47%5%
Rasmussen ReportsOctober 2, 200848%48%4%
Survey USASeptember 21–22, 2008 align=center50%48%2%
Strategic VisionSeptember 14–16, 2008800± 3.0%46% align=center48%6%
Rasmussen ReportsSeptember 10, 200846% align=center52%2%
Survey USASeptember 5–7, 200847% align=center48%5%
SurveyUSAAugust 11–12, 2008718± 3.7% align=center50%48%2%
Rasmussen ReportsAugust 6, 2008 align=center47%43%10%
Strategic VisionJuly 25–27, 2008800± 3.0% align=center47%45%8%
SurveyUSAJuly 13–15, 2008666± 3.9% align=center49%46%5%
Moore InformationJuly 9–10, 2008400± 5.0%45%45%11%
Rasmussen ReportsJuly 9, 2008 align=center49%43%8%
Elway PollJune 18–22, 2008405± 5.0% align=center47%39%14%
Rasmussen ReportsJune 9, 2008 align=center50%43%7%
SurveyUSAJune 9, 2008637± 4.0% align=center50%47%3%
Rasmussen ReportsMay 12, 2008 align=center52%41%7%
Elway PollApril 21–22, 2008405± 5.0% align=center43%38%19%
SurveyUSAApril 14–16, 2008634± 4.0% align=center50%46%4%
SurveyUSAApril 7, 2008607± 4.1% align=center48%47%5%
Rasmussen ReportsMarch 27, 2008 align=center47%46%7%
Rasmussen ReportsFebruary 28, 200846% align=center47%7%
Washington PollFebruary 7–18, 2008300± 5.6% align=center54%42%4%
Elway PollJanuary 3–6, 2008405 align=center48%35%17%
Washington PollOctober 22–29, 2007601± 4.0% align=center47%42%11%
Strategic VisionOctober 5–7, 2007800± 3.0% align=center47%45%8%
Strategic VisionMarch 24–26, 2006800± 3.0%38% align=center51%11%

Police Guild press conference incident

At an August 7 press conference held by the Seattle Police Officers Guild to declare its endorsement of Rossi, the Guild forcibly removed Kelly Akers, a Gregoire campaign staffer who was filming the event, from the premises. The Rossi campaign reiterated a standing policy to prevent opposing campaigns from filming Rossi's appearances, to deny them the ability to take "attack footage." Rossi's campaign staff includes a cameraman tasked with filming Gregoire appearances.[20]

Debates

Five debates were held[21] between Gregoire and Rossi, the candidates in the general election.

DateTimeLocationSponsors
2008-09-209:00 PMFisher Plaza (Seattle)Fisher Communications, League of Women Voters, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
2008-09-257:30 PMSemiahmoo Resort (Blaine)Association of Washington Business Complete video of debate - C-SPAN
2008-10-017:00 PMCapitol Theatre (Yakima)KCTS 9, Yakima Herald-Republic
2008-10-097:00 PM*[22] KSPS-TV Studios (Spokane)KSPS-TV, Spokane Spokesman-Review[23]
2008-10-158:00 PM[24] TBDKING-TV, Seattle Times, NPR

The Gregoire campaign had sought a sixth debate in Tacoma, sponsored by the Tacoma News-Tribune. The Rossi campaign instead sought a sixth debate in Vancouver, Washington, sponsored by The Columbian. The local Camas-Washougal Rotary Club went so far as to reserve a venue for October 8. The campaigns could not agree on either event.[25] [26] [27] [28]

The Gregoire campaign had set aside August 15 for a pre-primary radio debate with Rossi on Seattle NPR station KUOW-FM.[29] Rossi declined to appear, giving Gregoire solo airtime.[30]

Results

Gregoire declared victory after late evening returns were posted, with 42% of the statewide vote counted, showing her with a 52% lead over Rossi.[31] By 10:30 PM PST (1:30 AM EST) all five major television networks had called the race for Gregoire.[32] The Rossi campaign called the networks' declarations "premature" and did not concede defeat that evening. Rossi held out hope that late ballots would carry him, as late returns had reversed an early Gregoire lead in 2004. Rossi conceded the next morning.

Rossi conceded defeat in the gubernatorial election on November 5. In his concession speech, he indicated that he was not planning a return to politics.[33] Rossi's retirement from politics was short-lived: in 2010 he ran in (and lost) the race for United States Senate against Patty Murray.

Results by county

County[34] Christine Gregoire
Democratic
Dino Rossi
Republican
MarginTotal votes cast
%%%
Adams1,45330.17%3,36369.83%-1,910-39.66%4,816
Asotin4,25443.92%5,43256.08%-1,178-12.16%9,686
Benton21,96830.26%50,63569.74%-28,667-39.48%72,603
Chelan12,08737.99%19,73062.01%-7,643-24.02%31,817
Clallam18,98749.42%19,43150.58%-444-1.16%38,418
Clark87,68348.99%91,30151.01%-3,618-2.02%178,984
Columbia70631.48%1,53768.52%-831-37.05%2,243
Cowlitz20,72346.38%23,95453.62%-3,231-7.23%44,677
Douglas5,12833.87%10,01366.13%-4,885-32.26%15,141
Ferry1,33038.33%2,14061.67%-810-23.34%3,470
Franklin6,36532.41%13,27667.59%-6,911-35.19%19,641
Garfield43432.01%92267.99%-488-35.99%1,356
Grant8,73231.94%18,60468.06%-9,872-36.11%27,336
Grays Harbor15,72953.98%13,40746.02%2,3227.97%29,136
Island20,89150.24%20,68849.76%2030.49%41,579
Jefferson12,58863.61%7,20036.39%5,38827.23%19,788
King583,35764.16%325,82035.84%257,53728.33%909,177
Kitsap62,47850.74%60,65649.26%1,8221.48%123,134
Kittitas6,98839.44%10,73260.56%-3,744-21.13%17,720
Klickitat4,53845.42%5,45454.58%-916-9.17%9,992
Lewis12,28335.47%22,34764.53%-10,064-29.06%34,630
Lincoln2,05234.66%3,86865.34%-1,816-30.68%5,920
Mason13,94249.58%14,18150.42%-239-0.85%28,123
Okanogan6,57539.27%10,16860.73%-3,593-21.46%16,743
Pacific5,69552.28%5,19847.72%4974.56%10,893
Pend Oreille2,57139.66%3,91260.34%-1,341-20.68%6,483
Pierce166,56251.10%159,36348.90%7,1992.21%325,925
San Juan7,04467.73%3,35632.27%3,68835.46%10,400
Skagit27,91550.33%27,54549.67%3700.67%55,560
Skamania2,56447.68%2,81352.32%-249-4.63%5,377
Snohomish167,17552.67%150,20547.33%16,9705.35%317,380
Spokane104,36948.11%112,57051.89%-8,201-3.78%216,939
Stevens7,77135.02%14,41864.98%-6,647-29.96%22,189
Thurston72,65257.88%52,88042.12%19,77215.75%125,532
Wahkiakum96041.92%1,33058.08%-370-16.16%2,290
Walla Walla9,40538.32%15,13761.68%-5,732-23.36%24,542
Whatcom54,24954.67%44,97545.33%9,2749.35%99,224
Whitman8,36348.46%8,89651.54%-533-3.09%17,259
Yakima30,17239.27%46,66760.73%-16,495-21.47%76,839
Totals1,598,73853.24%1,404,12446.76%194,6146.48%3,002,862

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Results by congressional district

Gregoire won 5 of 9 congressional districts, with the remaining 4 going to Rossi, including one that elected a Democrat.[35]

DistrictGregoireRossiRepresentative
56%44%Jay Inslee
52%48%Rick Larsen
49.6%50.4%Brian Baird
35%65%Doc Hastings
45%55%Cathy McMorris Rodgers
54%46%Norm Dicks
79%21%Jim McDermott
49%51%Dave Reichert
54%46%Adam Smith

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Politics 1-Washington . Politics1 . 2008-05-31 . 2008-06-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080612130417/http://www.politics1.com/wa.htm . live .
  2. Web site: Elections Calendar. Washington Secretary of State. 2008-11-05. 2008-11-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20081106062037/http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/calendar_full.aspx. live.
  3. Web site: Calendar . Secretary of the State of Washington . 2008-05-31 . 2008-05-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080529040312/https://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/calendar.aspx?m=8&y=2008 . live .
  4. Web site: Announcing Washington State's NEW Top 2 Primary. 2008-08-20. Washington Office of the Secretary of State. https://web.archive.org/web/20080910015701/http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/Documents/VP%20Top%202%20Primary%202008.pdf. 2008-09-10. dead.
  5. Web site: People's Choice Initiative of 2004 (Initiative 872). Washington Office of the Secretary of State. 2008-08-27. 2. 2009-05-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090510211357/http://www.secstate.wa.gov/documentvault/Initiative872text-653.pdf. live. "Definitions" section, paragraph on the term "partisan office".
  6. Web site: August 19, 2008 Top 2 Primary – Legislative District 40 – State Senator. 2008-08-27. Washington Office of the Secretary of State. https://web.archive.org/web/20080826141511/http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/Results.aspx?ElectionID=0&RaceID=346&JurisdictionTypeID=5. 2008-08-26. dead.
  7. Washington political blogger Goldy suggested that Rossi was "too ashamed to have the Republican brand attached to his name." Web site: BREAKING: Dino Rossi quits Republican Party!. Goldstein. David. HorsesAss.org. 2008-08-20. 2008-06-05. 2008-08-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20080827232712/http://www.horsesass.org/?p=4982. live.
  8. News: Rossi not exactly on ballot as Republican. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 2008-06-06. 2008-08-20. Roberts. Gregory. 2021-08-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20210831153959/https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Rossi-not-exactly-on-ballot-as-Republican-1275813.php. live.
  9. The Elway press release to news organizations was reprinted in Web site: Washington's current governor's race. Mapes on Politics. The Oregonian. Mapes. Jeff. https://web.archive.org/web/20080919150157/http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2008/08/washingtons_current_governors.html . 2008-09-19 . 2018-11-07. live.
  10. Web site: Democrats sue to make Rossi call himself "Republican" instead of "GOP". 2008-09-26. Seattle Times. Garber. Andrew. 2008-09-24. 2008-09-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20080927005606/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008199160_rossisuit24m.html. live.
  11. Web site: Seattle judge OKs ballot with 'GOP' Rossi. 2008-09-26. 2008-09-26. Seattle Times. Johnson. Gene. 2008-09-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20080929030636/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008206582_apwarossigop3rdldwritethru.html. live.
  12. News: Top-two primary kicks off today. McGann. Chris. 2008-08-19. 2008-08-21. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 2021-08-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20210831153925/https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Top-two-primary-kicks-off-today-1282575.php?source=mypi. live.
  13. Web site: King County delays all-mail voting until 2009. 2008-02-07. 2008-09-26. Roberts. Gregory. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 2021-08-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20210831153932/https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/King-County-delays-all-mail-voting-until-2009-1263753.php. live.
  14. Web site: King County Elections. King County. 2008-09-26. 2008-09-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20080917161521/http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections.aspx. live.
  15. Web site: Vote by Mail FAQ. Washington Secretary of State. 2008-11-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20081106062956/http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/voterinformation/Pages/VotebyMailFAQ.aspx. 2008-11-06. dead.
  16. Web site: 2008 Governor Race ratings. The Cook Political Report. en. March 4, 2021. January 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210105151720/https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/governor-race-ratings. live.
  17. Web site: 2008 Gubernatorial Ratings . Gubernatorial Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . May 25, 2021 . May 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210526005618/https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/governor/2008-gubernatorial-ratings6 . live .
  18. Web site: THE LAST LAST WORD The Crystal Ball's Final Projections for the 2008 Election . Sabato's Crystal Ball . 3 November 2008 . December 25, 2021 .
  19. Web site: November 4, 2008 . 2008 Washington Governor Race . March 5, 2021 . . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122040051/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/governor/wa/washington_governor-584.html . live .
  20. Web site: Dem cameraman is evicted from Dino Rossi event. 2008-09-26. 2008-08-12. Postman. David. Andrew. Garber. Seattle Times . https://web.archive.org/web/20181108044227/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/dem-cameraman-is-evicted-from-dino-rossi-event/ . 2018-11-08 . dead.
  21. Web site: Debate schedule: Gregoire, Rossi preparing to face-off at least five times. Hagey. Jason. Political Buzz. Tacoma News Tribune. 2008-09-08. 2008-09-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216145246/http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2008/09/08/debate_schedule_gregoire_rossi_preparing. 2008-12-16. dead.
  22. Web site: Gov. Gregoire, Rossi debate. Spokane Spokesman-Review. Brunt. Josh. 2008-10-09. 2008-10-09. 2008-10-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20081012042527/http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=17115. live.
  23. Brunt . Jonathan . Gov. Gregoire, Rossi debate budget . Spokesman Review . November 8, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081012042527/http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=17115 . October 12, 2008 . live . dmy-all .
  24. Web site: The truth behind claims by Rossi, Gregoire. Seattle Times. 2008-10-05. Garber. Andrew. https://web.archive.org/web/20160113063715/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/the-truth-behind-claims-by-rossi-gregoire/ . 2016-01-13 . 2018-11-08 . live . (Sidebar: "Rossi-Gregoire debates")
  25. Web site: Gregoire, Rossi kick off debate schedule tonight. 2008-09-26. 2008-09-26. Tacoma News Tribune. Hagey. Jason.
  26. Web site: Debate schedule: Gregoire, Rossi preparing to face-off at least five times. 2008-12-15. 2008-09-08. Political Buzz. Tacoma News Tribune. Hagey. Jason. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216145246/http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2008/09/08/debate_schedule_gregoire_rossi_preparing. 2008-12-16. dead.
  27. Web site: Chris Gregoire Too Busy to Debate Rossi in Clark County. Camas Washougal Watch. 2008-08-12. 2008-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718092337/http://cwwatch.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/chris-gregoire-too-busy-to-debate-rossi-in-clark-county/. 2011-07-18. dead.
  28. News: Gregoire declines offers to debate Rossi locally. The Columbian. 2008-08-07. Durbin. Kathie.
  29. Web site: Gregoire, Rossi plan gubernatorial debates. 2008-08-05. 2008-09-26. Tri-City Herald. Mulick. Chris. https://archive.today/20130204160912/http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/263970.html. 2013-02-04. dead.
  30. Web site: Rossi to NPR: I won't show. 2008-08-15. 2008-09-26. Strange Bedfellows. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Connelly. Joel. 2008-08-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20080826112124/http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/146295.asp. live.
  31. News: Gregoire claims victory in Washington gov. rematch . La Corte . Rachel . Associated Press . 2008-11-04 . 2008-11-05 .
  32. Web site: Networks call it for Gregoire. Is it real?. Callaghan. Peter. Political Buzz. Tacoma News Tribune. 2008-11-04. 2008-11-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216145304/http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2008/11/04/networks_call_it_for_gregoire_is_it_real. 2008-12-16. dead.
  33. Web site: Republican Rossi concedes Wash governor's race . Seattle Post-Intelligencer . 2008-11-05 . 2008-11-05 . La Corte . Rachel .
  34. Web site: November 04, 2008 General Election Results. 2024-08-12 . Washington Secretary of State.
  35. Results . sos.wa.gov.