2016 Washington gubernatorial election
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The 2016 Washington gubernatorial election will take place on November 8, 2016, to elect the Governor of Washington, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Under Washington's nonpartisan blanket primary law, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the primary, which will be held on August 5, 2016, voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. The top two finishers — regardless of party — advance to the general election in November, even if a candidate manages to receive a majority of the votes cast in the primary election. California is the only other state with this system, a so-called "top two primary" (Louisiana has a similar "jungle primary").
Incumbent Democratic Governor Jay Inslee is running for re-election to a second term in office. As of October 2014, he has begun fundraising.[1]
Background
Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire declined to seek a third term in 2012 and Democratic former U.S. Representative Jay Inslee was elected to succeed her, defeating Republican Rob McKenna, the outgoing Attorney General of Washington, by 51.5% to 48.5%. The last Republican to hold the office of Governor was John Spellman in 1985, meaning that Washington has the second longest period (South Dakota has not had a Democratic Governor since 1979) of one-party statehouse rule in America.[2]
Candidates
Democratic Party
Declared
- Jay Inslee, incumbent Governor[3]
Republican Party
Declared
- Bill Bryant, Seattle Port Commissioner[4]
Potential
- Jan Angel, State Senator[5]
- Michael Baumgartner, State Senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012[6]
- Cathy Dahlquist, former State Representative[5]
- Tim Eyman, conservative activist
- Jaime Herrera Beutler, U.S. Representative[6]
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers, U.S. Representative[6]
Declined
- Bruce Dammeier, State Senator[7]
- Andy Hill, State Senator[8]
- Steve Litzow, State Senator[8]
- Rob McKenna, former Attorney General of Washington and nominee for Governor in 2012[5][6]
- Dave Reichert, U.S. Representative (running for re-election)[9]
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Jay Inslee (D) |
Bill Bryant (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | May 14–17, 2015 | 879 | ± 3.3% | 46% | 34% | 21% |
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References
- ^ "Stockpiling for 2016? Gov. Inslee stages quiet 2014 fundraiser". Seattle Pi. October 26, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
- ^ Connelly, Joel (September 29, 2014). "What 2014 elections say about 2016 governor's race". Seattle Pi. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
- ^ Joel, Connelly (January 12, 2015). "Voters in statewide poll: Inslee is a very satisfactory guy". Seattle Pi. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ^ Brunner, Jim (May 14, 2015). "Port Commissioner Bill Bryant announces run for governor". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ^ a b c Rosenthal, Brian (February 19, 2013). "Former AG McKenna joins law firm". Yakia Herald. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Cornfield, Jerry (June 6, 2013). "If not McKenna, others could challenge Inslee in 2016". HeraldNet. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ Santos, Melissa (August 20, 2015). "State senator, county councilman to compete for Pierce County executive job". The News Tribune. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
- ^ a b O'Sullivan, Joseph (September 11, 2015). "Hill, Litzow won't challenge Inslee in 2016". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Brunner, Jim (October 16, 2015). "Dave Reichert decides: He won't run against Jay Inslee for governor". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
External links
- Official campaign websites