2020 Washington elections explained

Election Name:2020 Washington Statewide Executive Offices elections
Country:Washington
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Year:2016
Next Year:2024
Seats For Election:All statewide executive offices
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Last Election1:7
Seats1:8
Seat Change1: 1
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Last Election2:2
Seats2:1
Seat Change2: 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]

Federal

President of the United States

See main article: 2020 United States presidential election in Washington (state).

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

See main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington. 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

See main article: 2020 Washington gubernatorial election.

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

Lieutenant governor

See main article: 2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election.

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

Attorney general

Election Name:2020 Washington Attorney General election
Country:Washington
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Washington Attorney General election
Previous Year:2016
Next Election:2024 Washington Attorney General election
Next Year:2024
Image1:File:Bob Ferguson at his 2023 Shrimp Feed 02 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:Bob Ferguson
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,226,418
Percentage1:56.4%
Nominee2:Matt Larkin
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,714,927
Percentage2:43.5%
Map Size:275px
Attorney General
Before Election:Bob Ferguson
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Bob Ferguson
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

Polling

Blanket primary
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
Matt
Larkin (R)
Brett
Rogers (R)
Mike
Vaska (R)
Bob
Ferguson (D)
Undecided
SurveyUSAJuly 22–27, 2020513 (LV)± 5.4%13%7%5%52%22%
SurveyUSAMay 16–19, 2020650 (LV)±  5.6%8%8%4%47%32%
General election
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
Bob
Ferguson (D)
Matt
Larkin (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%53%39%8%
SurveyUSAOctober 8–10, 2020591 (LV)± 5.2%49%38%13%

Secretary of state

See main article: 2020 Washington Secretary of State election.

Incumbent secretary of state Kim Wyman (R) was re-elected to a third term.[11] State Representative Gael Tarleton (D–Seattle) unsuccessfully challenged Wyman.[12]

Public Lands Commissioner

Election Name:2020 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election
Country:Washington
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Washington elections#Public Lands Commissioner
Previous Year:2016
Next Election:2024 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election
Next Year:2024
Election Date:November 3, 2020
Image1:Hilary Franz 01.jpg
Candidate1:Hilary Franz
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,212,158
Percentage1:56.7%
Candidate2:Sue Kuehl Pederson
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,686,320
Percentage2:43.2%
Public Lands Commissioner
Before Election:Hilary Franz
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Hilary Franz
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

Polling

General election

State auditor

Election Name:2020 Washington State Auditor election
Country:Washington
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Washington elections#State auditor
Previous Year:2016
Next Election:2024 Washington State Auditor election
Next Year:2024
Election Date:November 3, 2020
Image1:Pat McCarthy (19280364431).jpg
Nominee1:Pat McCarthy
Party1:Democratic Party (US)
Popular Vote1:2,260,830
Percentage1:58.0%
Nominee2:Chris Leyba
Party2:Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote2:1,633,956
Percentage2:41.9%
State Auditor
Before Election:Pat McCarthy
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Pat McCarthy
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

Polling

General election

State treasurer

Election Name:2020 Washington State Treasurer election
Country:Washington
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Washington elections#State treasurer
Previous Year:2016
Next Election:2024 Washington State Treasurer election
Next Year:2024
Election Date:November 3, 2020
Image1:Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti portrait.jpg
Nominee1:Mike Pellicciotti
Party1:Democratic Party (US)
Popular Vote1:2,089,159
Percentage1:53.4%
Nominee2:Duane Davidson
Party2:Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote2:1,818,895
Percentage2:46.5%
State Treasurer
Before Election:Duane Davidson
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Mike Pellicciotti
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

Incumbent state treasurer Duane Davidson (R) ran for a second term. State Representative Mike Pellicciotti (D–Federal Way) defeated Davidson.[13]

Polling

General election

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Election Name:2020 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Country:Washington (state)
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Washington (state) Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Previous Year:2016
Next Election:2024 Washington (state) Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Next Year:2024
Image1:Chris Reykdal at Comcast Leaders & Achievers Scholarship Reception 2017.jpg
Nominee1:Chris Reykdal
Party1:Independent politician
Popular Vote1:1,955,365
Percentage1:54.6%
Nominee2:Maia Espinoza
Party2:Independent politician
Popular Vote2:1,609,643
Percentage2:44.9%
Map Size:250px
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Before Election:Chris Reykdal
Before Party:Independent politician
After Election:Chris Reykdal
After Party:Independent politician

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

2020 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction debate
DateHostModeratorLinkNonpartisanNonpartisan
Key:
Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn
Chris ReykdalMaia Espinoza
1Sep. 18, 2020Washington State WireYouTube
2Sep. 25, 2020City Inside/OutBrian CallahanYouTube

Polling

General election

Insurance Commissioner

Election Name:2020 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
Country:Washington
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Washington elections#Insurance Commissioner
Previous Year:2016
Next Election:2024 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
Next Year:2024
Election Date:November 3, 2020
Image1:Oic-commissioner-kreidler.jpg
Candidate1:Mike Kreidler
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,506,693
Percentage1:65.4%
Candidate2:Chirayu Avinash Patel
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,308,292
Percentage2:34.1%
insurance commissioner
Before Election:Mike Kreidler
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Mike Kreidler
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

Incumbent insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler (D) was re-elected to a sixth term. With over 65% of the vote, Kreidler had the best performance of any statewide Democratic candidate or any statewide incumbent.

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[14] ran for the final two years of the term.[15]

Polling

Position 3

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

Position 6

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

Legislative

State senate

See main article: 2020 Washington State Senate election.

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),[16] Maureen Walsh (R-Walla Walla),[17] and Hans Zeiger (R-Puyallup).[18] Senators Dean Takko (D) and Steve O'Ban (R) lost reelection.

State House of Representatives

See main article: 2020 Washington House of Representatives election.

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),[19] Richard DeBolt (R-Chehalis),[20] Beth Doglio (D-Olympia),[21] Chris Gildon (R-Puyallup), Bill Jenkin (R-Prosser),[22] Christine Kilduff (D-University Place),[23] Mike Pellicciotti (D-Federal Way), Eric Pettigrew (D-Seattle),[24] Norma Smith (R-Clinton),[25] and Gael Tarleton (D-Seattle). 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.[26] 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.[27] It passed with 58% in favor.

Ballot initiatives

Polling

Referendum 90
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
ApproveRejectUndecided
PPP/NPIOctober 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%56%33%11%
SurveyUSA/KING-TVOctober 8–10, 2020591 (LV)± 5.2%52%34%14%

Results

Referendum 90[28]
Date:November 3, 2020
Washington Comprehensive Sexual Health Education
Yes:2,283,630
No:1,665,906
Total:3,949,536
Map:2020 Washington Referendum 90 results map by county.svg
Mapcaption:Yes No

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dates and Deadlines 2020 . . February 3, 2020.
  2. News: Election Results and Voters' Pamphlets. Washington Secretary of State. October 15, 2021.
  3. Web site: Distribution of Electoral Votes . September 19, 2019 . . February 4, 2020.
  4. News: Brunner . Jim . January 6, 2020 . Thirteen Democrats qualify for Washington presidential primary, Trump sole choice for Republicans . The Seattle Times . February 4, 2020.
  5. News: 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 . February 4, 2020.
  6. News: Stack . Liam . December 4, 2020 . Denny Heck, a Washington Democrat, Won't Seek House Re-election . . February 4, 2020.
  7. Web site: A boring election for state seats in 2020? Try nine of them . Cornfield . Jerry . October 9, 2019 . . en-US. February 2, 2020.
  8. Web site: Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib: Why I am giving up elected office and joining the Jesuits. Cyrus. Habib. March 19, 2020. America.
  9. Web site: Denny Heck defeats Marko Liias in Washington state lieutenant governor election results . . November 3, 2020 . November 4, 2020.
  10. Web site: Bob Ferguson defeats Matt Larkin in Washington state attorney general election results . . November 3, 2020 . January 15, 2021.
  11. Web site: Kim Wyman leads Gael Tarleton in Washington state secretary of state election results . . November 3, 2020 . January 15, 2021.
  12. Web site: Q&A: Rep. Gael Tarleton on her bid to become Washington's next Secretary of State. 2020-01-14. Washington State Wire. en. 2020-02-05.
  13. Web site: State Rep. Mike Pellicciotti announces early bid for state treasurer . Mirror . For the . May 17, 2019 . Federal Way Mirror . en-US. February 2, 2020.
  14. Web site: Washington State Now Has the Most Diverse Supreme Court In History. Stern. Mark Joseph. 2020-04-17. Slate Magazine. en. 2020-04-23.
  15. Web site: Washington Supreme Court Justice Charles Wiggins to retire . La Corte . Rachel . January 18, 2020 . .
  16. Web site: Sen. Randi Becker announces retirement from Senate at end of current term. 2020-03-05. Washington State Wire. en. 2020-03-25.
  17. Web site: Sen. Maureen Walsh says she won't seek re-election. Union-Bulletin. CHLOE LeVALLEY of the Walla Walla. Union-Bulletin.com. en. 2020-03-25.
  18. Web site: The News Tribune. account.thenewstribune.com. 2020-03-25.
  19. Web site: Rep. Sherry Appleton, longtime member of Kitsap legislative delegation, to retire. Pilling. Nathan. Kitsap Sun. en. 2020-03-25.
  20. Web site: State Rep. Richard DeBolt Announces Upcoming Retirement From House After 24 Years. Chronicle. Eric Schwartz and Natalie Johnson The. The Chronicle. en. 2020-03-25.
  21. Web site: Washington state Rep. Beth Doglio joins crowded race to succeed Denny Heck in Congress. 2020-03-02. The Seattle Times. en-US. 2020-03-25.
  22. News: Realtor, farm leader to run for Legislature, representing part of Benton County and Pasco. February 27, 2020 . Tri-City Herald. March 24, 2020.
  23. Web site: Rep. Christine Kilduff announces that she will not seek re-election in the 28th Legislative District. 2020-03-13. Washington State Wire. en. 2020-03-25.
  24. Web site: Rep. Eric Pettigrew Says He Won't Seek Re-Election, Opening Space for a True Progressive to Run. Jan 30. Rich Smith •. Pm. 2020 at 12:43. The Stranger. en. 2020-03-25.
  25. Web site: 10th District Rep. Norma Smith will not run for re-election. Service. SC News staff, Skagit Publishing, and WNPA News. goSkagit. en. 2020-03-25.
  26. Web site: Washington Referendum 90, Sex Education in Public Schools Measure (2020). 2020-07-08. Ballotpedia. en.
  27. Web site: Washington Authorize Fund Investment of Family Medical Leave and Long-Term Care Accounts Amendment (2020). 2020-07-08. Ballotpedia. en.
  28. Web site: Referendum Measure No. 90 . . 26 May 2023.