See main article: 2020 United States presidential election.
| Election Name: | 2020 United States presidential election in Washington (state) |
| Country: | Washington |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| College Voted: | yes |
| Previous Election: | 2016 United States presidential election in Washington (state) |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Next Election: | 2024 United States presidential election in Washington (state) |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Turnout: | 84.11% (of registered voters) 5.35%[1] |
| Image1: | Joe Biden presidential portrait (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Joe Biden |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Home State1: | Delaware |
| Running Mate1: | Kamala Harris |
| Electoral Vote1: | 12 |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,369,612 |
| Percentage1: | |
| Nominee2: | Donald Trump |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Home State2: | Florida |
| Running Mate2: | Mike Pence |
| Electoral Vote2: | 0 |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,584,651 |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Donald Trump |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Joe Biden |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 2020 United States presidential election in Washington was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia participated.[2] Washington voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his running mate California Senator Kamala Harris. Washington has 12 electoral votes in the Electoral College.[3]
Prior to the election, most news organizations forecast Washington as a state that Biden would win, or a safe blue state. Biden won the state by 19.2%, the largest margin for a presidential candidate of any party since 1964. He also flipped the swing county of Clallam, which now holds the record for the longest ongoing streak of voting for the national winner, having supported the winning candidate in every election since 1980. Biden also became the candidate with the highest vote total in the state's history, with 2,369,612 votes.[4] This was the first time since 1988 that Washington voted to the left of Illinois.
The Seattle metropolitan area, home to almost two-thirds of the state's population, is overwhelmingly Democratic. Despite this, even if the votes from King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties were removed, Biden would have carried the state by over 4,000 votes.[5] However, Trump won a considerable majority in outlying communities, garnering over 70% of the vote in rural counties such as Columbia. Eastern Washington is very rural and leans Republican, partly due to the strong tinge of social conservatism it shares with neighboring Idaho, a GOP stronghold. That said, Biden was able to improve on Clinton's margin in Whitman County—anchored by the college town of Pullman—increasing it from 4.1% in 2016 to 10.2% in 2020, the best performance for a Democrat in the county since 1936. In addition, he narrowed Trump's margin in Spokane County from 8.4% to 4.3%. Biden earned 75% of the vote in King County, home to Seattle. This was the largest margin by any candidate in a presidential race since the county's creation.[6]
Per exit polls by the Associated Press, Biden's strength in Washington came from 59% among white voters, 73% among Latinos and 79% among Asian-Americans. 34% of voters were irreligious and supported Biden by 78%.[7] Additionally, a majority of Native Americans in the state backed Biden by about 65%, with some tribes supporting Biden by over 80%.[8] Biden also became the first Democrat since Washington's admission into the union to win the presidency without winning Mason County, the first Democrat since John F. Kennedy in 1960 to prevail without winning Cowlitz County, and the first Democrat since Woodrow Wilson in 1916 to prevail without winning Grays Harbor County and Pacific County.
The primaries for the major parties were on March 10, 2020. On March 14, 2019, Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill moving the state's presidential primary up from May to the second Tuesday in March.[9]
Donald Trump, Bill Weld, Joe Walsh, and Rocky de la Fuente had declared their candidacy for the Republican Party, but only Trump met all of the state party's criteria by the official deadline of January 21, 2020, for being included on the ballot.[10] Thus Trump essentially ran unopposed in the Republican primary, and thus he received all of Washington's 43 delegates to the 2020 Republican National Convention.[11]
A number of Democratic Party candidates ran or expressed interest in running.[12] [13] [14] Additionally, Seattle-based billionaire Howard Schultz announced a potential bid as an independent in early 2019, but backed out in September of that year.[15] The party's candidates included on the ballot at the deadline were Michael Bennet, Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, John Delaney, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Deval Patrick, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren and Andrew Yang.[10]
As a minor party, Washington State's Green Party affiliate is excluded from the publicly funded Presidential Primary in Washington State. The Green Party of Washington facilitated its primary by a mail-in ballot to its members after its Spring Convention on May 23[16] (deadline was June 13).
All candidates recognized by the Green Party of the United States by April 23 were on the ballot, plus a write-in option:
| Source | Ranking | |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[17] | ||
| Inside Elections[18] | ||
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[19] | ||
| Politico[20] | ||
| RCP[21] | ||
| Niskanen[22] | ||
| CNN[23] | ||
| The Economist[24] | ||
| CBS News[25] | ||
| 270towin[26] | ||
| ABC News[27] | ||
| NPR[28] | ||
| NBC News[29] | ||
| 538[30] |
| Donald Trump | Other/ Undecided | Margin | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 270 to Win[31] | October 8–15, 2020 | October 27, 2020 | 57.5% | 35.5% | 7.0% | Biden +22.0 | |||
| FiveThirtyEight[32] | until November 2, 2020 | November 3, 2020 | 59.4% | 36.4% | 4.2% | Biden +23.0 | |||
| Average | 58.5% | 36.0% | 5.6% | Biden +22.5 | |||||
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin | Donald Trump | Joe Biden | Jo Jorgensen | Howie Hawkins | Other | Undecided | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyMonkey/Axios[33] | Oct 20 – Nov 2, 2020 | 4,142 (LV) | ± 2% | 35% | 62% | – | – | – | – | ||
| Swayable[34] | Oct 23 – Nov 1, 2020 | 489 (LV) | ± 6% | 39% | 59% | 2% | 1% | – | – | ||
| SurveyMonkey/Axios | Oct 1–28, 2020 | 7,424 (LV) | – | 36% | 62% | – | – | – | – | ||
| PPP/NPI[35] | Oct 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 37% | 60% | – | – | – | 2% | ||
| SurveyUSA/KING-TV[36] | Oct 8–10, 2020 | 591 (LV) | ± 5.2% | 34% | 55% | – | – | 5% | 5% | ||
| SurveyMonkey/Axios | Sep 1–30, 2020 | 7,953 (LV) | – | 35% | 64% | – | – | – | 2% | ||
| Strategies 360[37] | Sep 8–14, 2020 | 501 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 36% | 58% | – | – | – | 7% | ||
| SurveyMonkey/Axios | Aug 1–31, 2020 | 7,489 (LV) | – | 37% | 61% | – | – | – | 2% | ||
| SurveyMonkey/Axios | Jul 1–31, 2020 | 7,691 (LV) | – | 37% | 62% | – | – | – | 2% | ||
| SurveyUSA/KING-TV[38] | Jul 22–27, 2020 | 534 (LV) | ± 5.2% | 28% | 62% | – | – | 6% | – | ||
| SurveyMonkey/Axios | Jun 8–30, 2020 | 3,939 (LV) | – | 36% | 62% | – | – | – | 2% | ||
| Public Policy Polling/NPI[39] | May 19–20, 2020 | 1,070 (LV) | ± 3% | 37% | 59% | – | – | – | 5% | ||
| SurveyUSA/KING-TV[40] | May 16–19, 2020 | 530 (LV) | ± 5.5% | 31% | 57% | – | – | 5% | 7% | ||
| EMC Research[41] | Mar 31 – Apr 6, 2020 | 583 (A) | ± 4.1% | 39% | 52% | – | – | – | 9% | ||
| SurveyUSA/KING-TV[42] | Mar 4–6, 2020 | 992 (RV) | ± 3.8% | 34% | 57% | – | – | – | 9% | ||
| Public Policy Polling/The Cascadia Advocate[43] | Oct 22–23, 2019 | 900 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 37% | 59% | – | – | – | 3% | ||
| Zogby Interactive/JZ Analytics[44] | Jul 22 – Aug 1, 2019 | 1,265 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 31% | 52% | – | – | – | 17% |
with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris
Donald Trump vs. Bernie Sanders
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin | Donald Trump (R) | Bernie Sanders (D) | Undecided | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA/KING-TV | Mar 4–6, 2020 | 992 (RV) | ± 3.8% | 35% | 56% | 9% | ||
| Public Policy Polling/The Cascadia Advocate | Oct 22–23, 2019 | 900 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 37% | 58% | 6% | ||
| Zogby Interactive/JZ Analytics | Jul 22 – Aug 1, 2019 | 1,265 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 32% | 54% | 14% |
Donald Trump vs. Elizabeth Warren
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin | Donald Trump (R) | Elizabeth Warren (D) | Undecided | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA/KING-TV | Mar 4–6, 2020 | 992 (RV) | ± 3.8% | 38% | 52% | 10% | ||
| Public Policy Polling/The Cascadia Advocate | Oct 22–23, 2019 | 900 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 37% | 60% | 3% | ||
| Zogby Interactive/JZ Analytics | Jul 22 – Aug 1, 2019 | 1,265 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 33% | 48% | 20% |
These slates of electors were nominated by each party in order to vote in the Electoral College should their candidate win the state:[46]
By winning nearly 58% of the vote, Joe Biden's performance was the best showing for a presidential candidate of any party in Washington since Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide victory in 1964.
| County | Joe Biden Democratic | Donald Trump Republican | Various candidates Other parties | Margin | Total | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Adams | 1,814 | 30.95% | 3,907 | 66.65% | 141 | 2.40% | -2,093 | -35.70% | 5,862 | ||||||||||
| Asotin | 4,250 | 35.56% | 7,319 | 61.24% | 382 | 3.20% | -3,069 | -25.68% | 11,951 | ||||||||||
| Benton | 38,706 | 37.57% | 60,365 | 58.59% | 3,962 | 3.84% | -21,659 | -21.02% | 103,033 | ||||||||||
| Chelan | 19,349 | 44.68% | 22,746 | 52.52% | 1,211 | 2.80% | -3,397 | -7.84% | 43,306 | ||||||||||
| Clallam | 24,721 | 50.18% | 23,062 | 46.81% | 1,481 | 3.01% | 1,659 | 3.37% | 49,264 | ||||||||||
| Clark | 140,324 | 50.95% | 126,303 | 45.86% | 8,776 | 3.19% | 14,021 | 5.09% | 275,403 | ||||||||||
| Columbia | 668 | 26.77% | 1,754 | 70.30% | 73 | 2.93% | -1,086 | -43.53% | 2,495 | ||||||||||
| Cowlitz | 23,938 | 39.71% | 34,424 | 57.11% | 1,918 | 3.18% | -10,486 | -17.40% | 60,280 | ||||||||||
| Douglas | 7,811 | 36.66% | 12,955 | 60.80% | 542 | 2.54% | -5,144 | -24.14% | 21,308 | ||||||||||
| Ferry | 1,486 | 34.03% | 2,771 | 63.45% | 110 | 2.52% | -1,285 | -29.42% | 4,367 | ||||||||||
| Franklin | 13,340 | 41.17% | 18,039 | 55.67% | 1,025 | 3.16% | -4,699 | -14.50% | 32,404 | ||||||||||
| Garfield | 366 | 24.58% | 1,069 | 71.79% | 54 | 3.63% | -703 | -47.21% | 1,489 | ||||||||||
| Grant | 11,819 | 31.37% | 24,764 | 65.72% | 1,097 | 2.91% | -12,945 | -34.35% | 37,680 | ||||||||||
| Grays Harbor | 17,354 | 45.14% | 19,877 | 51.71% | 1,210 | 3.15% | -2,523 | -6.57% | 38,441 | ||||||||||
| Island | 29,213 | 54.17% | 22,746 | 42.18% | 1,966 | 3.65% | 6,467 | 11.99% | 53,925 | ||||||||||
| Jefferson | 17,204 | 69.39% | 6,931 | 27.96% | 657 | 2.65% | 10,273 | 41.43% | 24,792 | ||||||||||
| King | 907,310 | 74.95% | 269,167 | 22.24% | 34,030 | 2.81% | 638,143 | 52.71% | 1,210,507 | ||||||||||
| Kitsap | 90,277 | 56.90% | 61,563 | 38.80% | 6,832 | 4.30% | 28,714 | 18.10% | 158,672 | ||||||||||
| Kittitas | 11,421 | 43.32% | 14,105 | 53.50% | 838 | 3.18% | -2,684 | -10.18% | 26,364 | ||||||||||
| Klickitat | 5,959 | 43.95% | 7,237 | 53.37% | 364 | 2.68% | -1,278 | -9.42% | 13,560 | ||||||||||
| Lewis | 14,520 | 32.05% | 29,391 | 64.87% | 1,398 | 3.08% | -14,871 | -32.82% | 45,309 | ||||||||||
| Lincoln | 1,713 | 24.36% | 5,150 | 73.23% | 170 | 2.41% | -3,437 | -48.87% | 7,033 | ||||||||||
| Mason | 17,269 | 46.29% | 18,710 | 50.16% | 1,324 | 3.55% | -1,441 | -3.87% | 37,303 | ||||||||||
| Okanogan | 8,900 | 41.82% | 11,840 | 55.63% | 542 | 2.55% | -2,940 | -13.81% | 21,282 | ||||||||||
| Pacific | 6,794 | 48.31% | 6,953 | 49.44% | 317 | 2.25% | -159 | -1.13% | 14,064 | ||||||||||
| Pend Oreille | 2,593 | 30.32% | 5,728 | 66.97% | 232 | 2.71% | -3,135 | -36.65% | 8,553 | ||||||||||
| Pierce | 249,506 | 53.76% | 197,730 | 42.61% | 16,845 | 3.63% | 51,776 | 11.15% | 464,081 | ||||||||||
| San Juan | 9,725 | 73.69% | 3,057 | 23.16% | 415 | 3.15% | 6,668 | 50.53% | 13,197 | ||||||||||
| Skagit | 38,252 | 52.10% | 32,762 | 44.62% | 2,409 | 3.28% | 5,490 | 7.48% | 73,423 | ||||||||||
| Skamania | 3,192 | 43.65% | 3,885 | 53.13% | 235 | 3.22% | -693 | -9.48% | 7,312 | ||||||||||
| Snohomish | 256,728 | 58.51% | 166,428 | 37.93% | 15,640 | 3.56% | 90,300 | 20.58% | 438,796 | ||||||||||
| Spokane | 135,765 | 45.96% | 148,576 | 50.29% | 11,089 | 3.75% | -12,811 | -4.33% | 295,430 | ||||||||||
| Stevens | 7,839 | 27.57% | 19,808 | 69.67% | 783 | 2.76% | -11,969 | -42.10% | 28,430 | ||||||||||
| Thurston | 96,608 | 57.46% | 65,277 | 38.82% | 6,249 | 3.72% | 31,331 | 18.64% | 168,134 | ||||||||||
| Wahkiakum | 1,165 | 39.08% | 1,741 | 58.40% | 75 | 2.52% | -576 | -19.32% | 2,981 | ||||||||||
| Walla Walla | 13,690 | 43.79% | 16,400 | 52.46% | 1,171 | 3.75% | -2,710 | -8.67% | 31,261 | ||||||||||
| Whatcom | 83,660 | 60.35% | 50,489 | 36.42% | 4,471 | 3.23% | 33,171 | 23.93% | 138,620 | ||||||||||
| Whitman | 11,184 | 52.94% | 9,067 | 42.92% | 875 | 4.14% | 2,117 | 10.02% | 21,126 | ||||||||||
| Yakima | 43,179 | 44.89% | 50,555 | 52.56% | 2,459 | 2.55% | -7,376 | -7.67% | 96,193 | ||||||||||
| Totals | 2,369,612 | 57.97% | 1,584,651 | 38.77% | 133,368 | 3.26% | 784,961 | 19.20% | 4,087,631 | ||||||||||
Biden won 7 of 10 congressional districts.[47]
| District | Trump | Biden | Representative | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38% | 59% | Suzan DelBene | |||
| 35% | 62% | Rick Larsen | |||
| 51% | 47% | Jaime Herrera Beutler | |||
| 58% | 39% | Dan Newhouse | |||
| 53% | 44% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers | |||
| 39% | 57% | Derek Kilmer | |||
| 12% | 86% | Pramila Jayapal | |||
| 45% | 51% | Kim Schrier | |||
| 24% | 73% | Adam Smith | |||
| 41% | 56% | Denny Heck | |||
| Marilyn Strickland |