2020 United States attorney general elections

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For related races, see 2020 United States elections.
2020 United States attorney general elections
← 2019 November 3, 2020 2022 →
10 attorney general offices
10 states[a]
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before 22 21
Seats after 22 21
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 13,870,574[1] 13,082,140
Percentage 50.66% 47.78%
Seats up 5 5
Seats won 5 5
2020 Pennsylvania Attorney General election2020 Oregon Attorney General election2020 Indiana Attorney General election2020 Missouri Attorney General election2020 Montana Attorney General election2020 North Carolina Attorney General election2020 Utah Attorney General election2020 Vermont Attorney General election2020 Washington Attorney General election2020 West Virginia Attorney General election
     Democratic hold      Republican hold
     No election

The 2020 United States Attorney General elections were held on November 3, 2020, in 10 states. The previous Attorney General elections for this group of states took place in 2016, except in Vermont where Attorneys General only serve two-year terms and elected their current Attorney General in 2018. Nine state Attorneys General ran for reelection and eight won, while Republican Tim Fox of Montana could not run again due to term limits and Republican Curtis Hill of Indiana was eliminated in the Republican convention.[2][3]

The elections took place concurrently with the 2020 presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, and numerous state and local elections.

No Attorneys General offices changed party control in 2020.[4]

Election predictions

Several sites and individuals published predictions of competitive seats. These predictions looked at factors such as the strength of the incumbent (if the incumbent is running for re-election), the strength of the candidates, and the partisan leanings of the state (reflected in part by the state's Cook Partisan Voting Index rating). The predictions assigned ratings to each seat, with the rating indicating the predicted advantage that a party has in winning that seat.

Most election predictors use:

  • "tossup": no advantage
  • "tilt" (used by some predictors): advantage that is not quite as strong as "lean"
  • "lean": slight advantage
  • "likely": significant, but surmountable, advantage
  • "safe": near-certain chance of victory
State PVI[5] Incumbent[6] Last
race 		Cook
June 12,
2020[7] 		Result
Indiana R+9 Curtis Hill

(lost re-nomination)

61.94% R Tossup Rokita
(58.34%)
Missouri R+9 Eric Schmitt 58.5% R Safe R Schmitt
(59.46%)
Montana R+11 Tim Fox
(term-limited) 		67.67% R Tossup Knudsen
(58.51%)
North Carolina R+3 Josh Stein 50.27% D Lean D Stein
(50.13%)
Oregon D+5 Ellen Rosenblum 55.18% D Solid D Rosenblum
(55.97%)
Pennsylvania EVEN Josh Shapiro 51.39% D Likely D Shapiro
(50.85%)
Utah R+20 Sean Reyes 65.41% R Solid R Reyes
(60.58%)
Vermont D+15 T. J. Donovan 67.2% D Solid D Donovan
(63.1%)
Washington D+7 Bob Ferguson 67.14% D Solid D Ferguson
(56.43%)
West Virginia R+19 Patrick Morrisey 51.64% R Lean R Morrisey
(63.77%)

Statistics

Race summary

State Attorney
General 		Party First
elected 		Result Candidates
Indiana Curtis Hill Republican 2016 Incumbent lost renomination.
New attorney general elected.
Republican hold.
Missouri Eric Schmitt Republican 2019[b] Incumbent elected to full term.
  • ▌ Green tickY Eric Schmitt (Republican) 59.4%
  • ▌ Richard Finneran (Democratic) 37.9%
  • ▌ Kevin Babcock (Libertarian) 2.7%
Montana Tim Fox Republican 2012 Incumbent term-limited.
New attorney general elected.
Republican hold.
North Carolina Josh Stein Democratic 2016 Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌ Green tickY Josh Stein (Democratic) 50.1%
  • ▌ Jim O'Neill (Republican) 49.9%
Oregon Ellen Rosenblum Democratic 2012[c] Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌ Green tickY Ellen Rosenblum (Democratic) 56.0%
  • ▌ Michael Cross (Republican) 41.3%
  • ▌ Lars Hedbor (Libertarian) 2.3%
Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro Democratic 2016 Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌ Green tickY Josh Shapiro (Democratic) 50.8%
  • ▌ Heather Heidelbaugh (Republican) 46.3%
  • ▌ Daniel Wassmer (Libertarian) 1.8%
  • ▌ Richard Weiss (Green) 1.0%
Utah Sean Reyes Republican 2012 Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌ Green tickY Sean Reyes (Republican) 60.6%
  • ▌ Greg Skordas (Democratic) 33.7%
  • ▌ Rudy Bautista (Libertarian) 5.7%
Vermont T. J. Donovan Democratic 2016 Incumbent re-elected.
Washington Bob Ferguson Democratic 2012 Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌ Green tickY Bob Ferguson (Democratic) 56.4%
  • ▌ Matt Larkin (Republican) 43.5%
West Virginia Patrick Morrisey Republican 2012 Incumbent re-elected.


Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 1%

  1. North Carolina, 0.26%

States where the margin of victory was between 1% and 5%:

  1. Pennsylvania, 4.52%

Blue denotes races won by Democrats.

Partisan control of statewide offices

See also: List of U.S. statewide elected officials
Before election After election
State Attorney General Governor Lieutenant governor Auditor Treasurer Attorney General Governor Lieutenant governor Auditor Treasurer
Indiana Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep
Missouri Rep Rep Rep Dem Rep Rep Rep Rep Dem Rep
Montana Rep Dem Dem Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep
North Carolina Dem Dem Rep Dem Rep Dem Dem Rep Dem Rep
Oregon Dem Dem Rep

(Secretary of State)

Dem Dem Dem Dem

(Secretary of State)

Dem
Pennsylvania Dem Dem Dem Dem Dem Dem Dem Dem Rep Rep
Utah Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep Rep
Vermont Dem Rep Pro Dem Dem Dem Rep Dem Dem Dem
Washington Dem Dem Dem Dem Rep Dem Dem Dem Dem Dem
West Virginia Rep Rep Rep

(Secretary of State)

Rep Dem Rep Rep Rep

(Secretary of State)

Rep Rep

Indiana

2020 Indiana Attorney General election
← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →
 
Candidate Todd Rokita Jonathan Weinzapfel
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,717,924 1,226,938
Percentage 58.3% 41.7%
Attorney General before election

Curtis Hill
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Todd Rokita
Republican

Main article: 2020 Indiana Attorney General election

The 2020 Indiana Attorney General election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Attorney General of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Democratic primary convention was scheduled for June 13, 2020. The Republican primary convention was scheduled with a live stream on June 18, 2020, followed by mail-in voting between June 22 and July 9.

Democratic convention

Democratic convention results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jonathan Weinzapfel 1,057 51.2%
Democratic Karen Tallian 1,009 48.8%
Total votes 2,066 100.0%

Missouri

2020 Missouri Attorney General election
← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →
 
Nominee Eric Schmitt Richard Finneran
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,745,353 1,108,944
Percentage 59.46% 37.78%
Attorney General before election

Eric Schmitt
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Eric Schmitt
Republican

Main article: 2020 Missouri Attorney General election

The 2020 Missouri Attorney General election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Attorney General of Missouri. It was held concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, along with elections to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives, as well as various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt was elected to a full term. He was appointed by Governor Mike Parson after Josh Hawley was elected to the U.S Senate in 2018.[9]

Republican primary

Republican primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Eric Schmitt (incumbent) 602,577 100.0
Total votes 602,577 100.0

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Finneran 272,516 55.39%
Democratic Elad Gross 219,462 44.61%
Total votes 491,978 100.0%

Montana

2020 Montana Attorney General election
← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →
 
Nominee Austin Knudsen Raph Graybill
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 348,322 247,025
Percentage 58.5% 41.5%
Attorney General before election

Tim Fox
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Austin Knudsen
Republican

Main article: 2020 Montana Attorney General election

The 2020 Montana Attorney General election will be held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Attorney General of the U.S. state of Montana. Incumbent Republican Montana Attorney General Tim Fox was re-elected in 2016 with 67.7% of the vote. Fox is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. Fox decided to run for the Governor of Montana election.[11]

General election

Montana Attorney General election, 2020[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Austin Knudsen 348,322 58.51%
Democratic Raph Graybill 247,025 41.49%
Total votes 595,347 100.00%

North Carolina

2020 North Carolina Attorney General election
← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →
 
Nominee Josh Stein Jim O'Neill
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,713,400 2,699,778
Percentage 50.13% 49.87%
County results
Stein:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80–90%
O'Neill:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Attorney General before election

Josh Stein
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Josh Stein
Democratic

Main article: 2020 North Carolina Attorney General election

The 2020 North Carolina Attorney General election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Attorney General of North Carolina, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Party primary elections were held on March 3, 2020.

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, first elected in 2016, ran for re-election against Republican Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill.[13] With a narrow margin separating Stein and O'Neill, the Associated Press was finally able to call Stein the winner on Nov. 17, 2020 (two weeks after Election Day).[14]

Republican primary

Republican primary results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim O'Neill 338,567 46.55%
Republican Sam Hayes 226,453 31.14%
Republican Christine Mumma 162,301 22.31%
Total votes 727,321 100.00%

Democratic primary

This primary was canceled because Attorney General Josh Stein was uncontested.[16]

General election

North Carolina Attorney General election, 2020[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Josh Stein (incumbent) 2,713,400 50.13% -0.14%
Republican Jim O'Neill 2,699,778 49.87% +0.14%
Total votes 5,413,178 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

Oregon

2020 Oregon Attorney General election
← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →
 
Candidate Ellen Rosenblum Michael Cross
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,264,716 934,357
Percentage 56.0% 41.3%
County results
Rosenblum:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Cross:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Attorney General before election

Ellen Rosenblum
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Ellen Rosenblum
Democratic

Main article: 2020 Oregon Attorney General election

The 2020 Oregon Attorney General election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Attorney General of Oregon. Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum was originally appointed to the role by former Governor John Kitzhaber on June 29, 2012 to finish the term of her predecessor John Kroger, who resigned from office.[18] She was elected to a full term in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. This office is not subject to term limits, and Rosenblum won a third full term, defeating Republican activist Michael Cross who led an unsuccessful 2019 attempt to recall Governor Kate Brown.

Republican primary

Republican primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Cross 279,909 96.71%
Republican Write-ins 9,537 3.29%
Total votes 289,446 100.0%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ellen Rosenblum (incumbent) 483,273 99.04%
Democratic Write-ins 4,661 0.96%
Total votes 487,934 100.0%

General election

2020 Oregon Attorney General election[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ellen Rosenblum (incumbent) 1,264,716 55.97% +0.79%
Republican Michael Cross 934,357 41.35% -0.04%
Libertarian Lars Hedbor 52,087 2.30% -0.88%
Write-in 8,490 0.38% +0.08%
Total votes 2,259,650 100.0%
Democratic hold

Pennsylvania

2020 Pennsylvania Attorney General election
← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →
 
Nominee Josh Shapiro Heather Heidelbaugh
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 3,461,215 3,153,677
Percentage 50.9% 46.3%
County results
Shapiro:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%
Heidelbaugh:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
Attorney General before election

Josh Shapiro
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Josh Shapiro
Democratic

Main article: 2020 Pennsylvania Attorney General election

The 2020 Pennsylvania Attorney General was held on November 3, 2020. Primary elections were originally due to take place on April 28, 2020. However, following concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States including Pennsylvania, the primaries were delayed until June 2, 2020.[21] Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro defeated Republican Heather Heidelbaugh to win a second term.

Republican primary

Republican primary results[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Heather Heidelbaugh 1,055,168 100.0%
Total votes 1,055,168 100.0%

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Josh Shapiro (incumbent) 1,429,414 100.0%
Total votes 1,429,414 100.0%

General election

Pennsylvania Attorney General election, 2020[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Josh Shapiro (incumbent) 3,461,215 50.85% -0.56%
Republican Heather Heidelbaugh 3,153,677 46.33% -2.28%
Libertarian Daniel Wassmer 120,478 1.77% N/A
Green Richard Weiss 71,069 1.04% N/A
Total votes 6,806,439 100.0%
Democratic hold

Utah

Main article: 2020 Utah Attorney General election
2020 Utah Attorney General election
← 2016 November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03) 2024 →
  File:Sean Reyes 220 8-18-14 (cropped) (cropped).jpg
Dem
LP
Nominee Sean Reyes Greg Skordas Rudy Bautista
Party Republican Democratic Libertarian
Popular vote 878,853 489,499 82,444
Percentage 60.58% 33.74% 5.68%
Attorney General before election

Sean Reyes
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Sean Reyes
Republican

The 2020 Utah Attorney General election was held on November 3, 2020 along with several federal and state elections.

Incumbent Attorney General Sean Reyes was re-elected to a third term, defeating Democratic nominee Greg Skordas and Libertarian nominee Rudy Bautista.

Republican primary

Republican primary results[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sean Reyes (incumbent) 275,212 54.04%
Republican David O. Leavitt 234,036 45.96%
Total votes 509,248 100%

Democratic convention

Greg Skordas ran unopposed for the nomination.

Libertarian convention

Defense attorney Rudy Bautista won the nomination.

General election

2020 Utah Attorney General election[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sean Reyes (incumbent) 878,853 60.58%
Democratic Greg Skordas 489,500 33.74%
Libertarian Rudy Bautista 82,444 5.68%
Total votes 1,450,797 100.00%

Vermont

Main article: 2020 Vermont elections § Attorney General
2020 Vermont Attorney General election
← 2018 November 3, 2020 2022 →
 
Nominee T. J. Donovan H. Brooke Paige
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 234,081 94,892
Percentage 63.10 25.58
Attorney General before election

T. J. Donovan
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

T. J. Donovan
Democratic

The 2020 Vermont Attorney General election was held on November 3, 2020 along with several federal and state elections.

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General T. J. Donovan won re-election.

Washington

Main article: 2020 Washington elections § Attorney General

The 2020 Washington Attorney General election was held on November 3, 2020 along with several federal and state elections.

Incumbent Attorney General Bob Ferguson was re-elected to a third term.

Results

2020 Washington Attorney General election[26][27]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Ferguson (incumbent) 1,356,225 55.8
Republican Matt Larkin 575,470 23.7
Republican Brett Rogers 296,843 12.2
Republican Mike Vaska 199,826 8.2
Write-in 2,372 0.1
Total votes 2,430,736 100.0
General election
Democratic Bob Ferguson (incumbent) 2,226,418 56.43
Republican Matt Larkin 1,714,927 43.47
Write-in 3,968 0.1
Total votes 3,945,313 100
Democratic hold

West Virginia

Main article: 2020 West Virginia elections § Attorney General

The 2020 West Virginia Attorney General election was held on November 3, 2020 along with several federal and state elections.

Republican incumbent Patrick Morrisey was re-elected with 51.63% of the vote in 2016 and successfully sought re-election.

General election

General election results[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patrick Morrisey (incumbent) 487,250 63.77%
Democratic Sam Petsonk 276,798 36.23%
Total votes 764,048 100.0%

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Seat tallies and popular vote do not include states that do not elect Attorneys General or territorial Attorneys General.
  2. ^ Schmitt took office after his predecessor (Josh Hawley) resigned.
  3. ^ Rosenblum took office after her predecessor (John Kroger) resigned. She was subsequently elected in the 2012 Oregon Attorney General election.

References

  1. ^ "U.S. Attorney General Elections Popular Vote Tracker". Twitter. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "Attorney General elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 29, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "2020 Attorneys General Elections". Stateside. Retrieved March 29, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ O'Connor, Cozen (2020). "Guide to State Attorneys General". The State AG Report. Retrieved March 29, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "2016 State PVI Changes – Decision Desk HQ". decisiondeskhq.com. December 15, 2017. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  6. ^ Parentheses around an incumbent's name indicates that the incumbent is not running for re-election.
  7. ^ "An Updated Look at Handicapping the 2020 Attorney General Elections". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 29, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Democrats select Weinzapfel to face GOP nominee for Attorney General in November". IndyStar. June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  9. ^ "Missouri Attorney General Schmitt seeks election". ABC17NEWS. Associated Press. 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  10. ^ a b "State of Missouri - State of Missouri - Primary Election, August 04, 2020". Missouri Secretary of State.
  11. ^ Dennison, Mike (January 24, 2019). "Attorney General Fox launches gubernatorial bid". KRTV. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  12. ^ "Montana Statewide Election Results". Montana Secretary of State. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Friedman, Corey (November 9, 2016). "Josh Stein bests Buck Newton in attorney general race". The Wilson Times.
  14. ^ WUNC
  15. ^ "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov. North Carolina Board of Elections. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  16. ^ "North Carolina Attorney General election, 2020". Ballotpedia. March 29, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "State Composite Abstract Report - Contest.pdf" (PDF). North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  18. ^ Cole, Michelle (June 6, 2012). "Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber names Ellen Rosenblum as interim attorney general". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "May 19, 2020, Primary Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  20. ^ "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  21. ^ Levy, Marc; Scolforo, Mark (March 25, 2020). "Pennsylvania lawmakers vote to delay primary election". AP NEWS. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  22. ^ a b Boockvar, Kathy. "Pennsylvania Elections - Office Results | Attorney General". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  23. ^ "2020 Presidential Election -Attorney General". Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  24. ^ "2020-Primary-Election-Canvass.pdf" (PDF). voteinfo.utah.gov. 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  25. ^ Election Results, November 27, 2020 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  26. ^ "August 4, 2020 Primary Results". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  27. ^ "November 3, 2020 General Election Results - State Executive". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  28. ^ "November 3, 2020 General Election - Official Results". West Virginia State - Clarity Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
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