2008 Washington elections
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All 9 Statewide Executive Offices | |||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Washington |
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Washington has 9 Executive seats, all elected at large. In 2008, all 9 positions were up for reelection. As of 2022[update], this was the last set of statewide elections in Washington in which any Republicans won by double digits.
Offices and Candidates
[edit]Governor
[edit]Incumbent Democratic governor Christine Gregoire ran for re-election, defeating Republican nominee Dino Rossi. In contrast to the previous election, where Gregoire narrowly defeated Rossi by only 129 votes, Gregoire won by 6.5%.
Primary election | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Christine Gregoire | 696,306 | 48.27 | |
Republican | Dino Rossi | 668,571 | 46.35 | |
Republican | John W. Aiken, Jr. | 21,564 | 1.49 | |
Democratic | Christian Joubert | 16,646 | 1.15 | |
Independent | James White | 10,884 | 0.75 | |
Green | Duff Badgley | 9,702 | 0.67 | |
Nonpartisan | Christopher Tudor | 5,600 | 0.39 | |
Reform | Will Baker | 5,201 | 0.36 | |
Republican | Javier O. Lopez | 4,981 | 0.35 | |
Nonpartisan | Mohammad Hasan Said | 3,002 | 0.21 | |
Total votes | 1,442,457 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Christine Gregoire (incumbent) | 1,598,738 | 53.00 | |
Republican | Dino Rossi | 1,404,124 | 46.55 | |
Write-in | 13,502 | 0.45 | ||
Total votes | 3,016,364 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
Lt. Governor
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Owen: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% McCraw: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Brad Owen, who has held this position since 1996, ran for re-election to a fourth term. He defeated Republican nominee Marcia McCraw in a landslide, winning over 60% of the vote.
Primary election | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Brad Owen (incumbent) | 706,641 | 52.08 | |
Republican | Marcia McCraw | 347,551 | 25.62 | |
Republican | Jim Wiest | 193,752 | 14.28 | |
Democratic | Randel Bell | 53,694 | 4.02 | |
Constitution | Arlene A. Peck | 48,887 | 3.60 | |
Total votes | 1,335,908 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Brad Owen (incumbent) | 1,718,033 | 60.80 | |
Republican | Marcia McCraw | 1,107,634 | 39.20 | |
Total votes | 2,825,667 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
Secretary of State
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County results Reed: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Osgood: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Sam Reed, who held this position since 2000, was re-elected to a third and final term, defeating Democrat Jason Osgood. As of 2022, this is the last time a Republican won the Secretary of State position by over 10%.
Primary election | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Sam Reed | 816,171 | 59.40 | |
Democratic | Jason Osgood | 446,222 | 32.48 | |
Constitution | Marilyn Montgomery | 88,728 | 6.46 | |
Independent | Mark Greene | 22,800 | 1.66 | |
Total votes | 1,330,036 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Republican | Sam Reed (incumbent) | 1,644,587 | 58.33 | |
Democratic | Jason Osgood | 1,175,086 | 41.67 | |
Invalid or blank votes | ||||
Total votes | 2,819,673 | 100.00 | ||
Turnout | ||||
Republican hold |
State Treasurer
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McIntire: 50–60% 60–70% Martin: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent State Treasurer Mike Murphy (D) retired. Democratic State Representative James McIntire and Republican Allan Martin advanced to the general election, where McIntire narrowly won the open seat.
Primary election | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Allan Martin | 613,595 | 45.33 | |
Democratic | James McIntire | 533,443 | 39.41 | |
Democratic | ChangMook Sohn | 206,457 | 15.25 | |
Total votes | 1,353,495 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Jim McIntire | 1,420,022 | 51.08 | |
Republican | Allen Martin | 1,360,063 | 48.92 | |
Invalid or blank votes | ||||
Total votes | 2,780,085 | 100.00 | ||
Turnout | ||||
Democratic hold |
State Auditor
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Sonntag: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% McEntee: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent State Auditor Brian Sonntag, who has held this position since 1993, ran for re-election to a fifth term. Sonntag defeated Republican Richard "Dick" McEntee with over 63% of the vote. As of 2022, this is the last election where the Democratic candidate for State Auditor received over 60% of the vote.
Primary election | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Brian Sonntag (incumbent) | 812,352 | 59.48 | |
Republican | J. Richard (Dick) McEntee | 459,327 | 33.63 | |
Constitution | Glenn Freeman | 94,148 | 6.89 | |
Total votes | 1,267,935 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Brian Sonntag (incumbent) | 1,770,977 | 63.54 | |
Republican | J. Richard (Dick) McEntee | 1,016,396 | 36.46 | |
Invalid or blank votes | ||||
Total votes | ||||
Turnout | ||||
Democratic hold |
Attorney general
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County results McKenna: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Ladenburg: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna ran for re-election, facing Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, a Democrat, in the general election. McKenna won re-election in a landslide, winning by almost 20 points and carrying all but 2 counties. As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican was elected Washington Attorney General.
Polling
[edit]General election
[edit]Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rob McKenna (R) |
John Ladenburg (D) |
Undecided |
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SurveyUSA[2] | October 30 – November 2, 2008 | 663 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 59% | 36% | 6% |
SurveyUSA[3] | October 26–27, 2008 | 630 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 57% | 36% | 7% |
SurveyUSA[4] | October 12–13, 2008 | 544 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 54% | 38% | 8% |
SurveyUSA[5] | September 21–22, 2008 | 682 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 53% | 39% | 8% |
SurveyUSA[6] | September 5–7, 2008 | 658 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 55% | 40% | 5% |
SurveyUSA[7] | August 11–12, 2008 | 718 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 51% | 43% | 6% |
SurveyUSA[8] | July 13–15, 2008 | 666 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 49% | 41% | 10% |
SurveyUSA[9] | June 7–9, 2008 | 637 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 49% | 42% | 9% |
Primary election | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Rob McKenna (incumbent) | 783,240 | 56.98 | |
Democratic | John Ladenburg | 591,254 | 43.02 | |
Total votes | 1,374,494 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Republican | Rob McKenna (incumbent) | 1,689,764 | 59.46 | |
Democratic | John Ladenburg | 1,152,174 | 40.54 | |
Invalid or blank votes | ||||
Total votes | 2,841,938 | 100.00 | ||
Turnout | ||||
Republican hold |
Commissioner of Public Lands
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Goldmark: 50–60% 60–70% Sutherland: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Doug Sutherland (R), who had first been elected in 2000, ran for re-election against rancher Peter J. Goldmark in a highly contested race. Despite polls before the election showing Sutherland leading, on election day Goldmark narrowly defeated Sutherland.
Polling
[edit]General election
[edit]Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Doug Sutherland (R) |
Peter Goldmark (D) |
Undecided |
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SurveyUSA[10] | October 30 – November 2, 2008 | 663 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 48% | 42% | 10% |
SurveyUSA[11] | October 26–27, 2008 | 630 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 43% | 12% |
SurveyUSA[12] | October 12–13, 2008 | 544 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 47% | 38% | 15% |
Primary election | ||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
Republican | Doug Sutherland (incumbent) | 691,145 | 51.13 | |||
Democratic | Peter J. Goldmark | 660,714 | 48.87 | |||
Total votes | 1,351,859 | 100.00 | ||||
General election | ||||||
Democratic | Peter J. Goldmark | 1,416,904 | 50.55 | |||
Republican | Doug Sutherland (incumbent) | 1,385,903 | 49.45 | |||
Invalid or blank votes | ||||||
Total votes | 2,667,247 | 100.00 | ||||
Turnout | ||||||
Democratic gain from Republican |
Superintendent of Public Instruction
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Results by county Dorn: 50–60% Bergeson: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson ran for re-election to a third term. She was defeated by Randy Dorn. The superintendent is the only nonpartisan statewide election.
Polling
[edit]General election
[edit]Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Terry Bergeson |
Randy Dorn |
Undecided |
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SurveyUSA[13] | October 30 – November 2, 2008 | 663 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 37% | 45% | 18% |
SurveyUSA[14] | October 26–27, 2008 | 630 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 38% | 43% | 19% |
SurveyUSA[15] | October 12–13, 2008 | 544 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 31% | 43% | 26% |
SurveyUSA[16] | September 21–22, 2008 | 682 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 35% | 40% | 25% |
SurveyUSA[17] | September 5–7, 2008 | 658 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 36% | 41% | 23% |
SurveyUSA[18] | August 11–12, 2008 | 718 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 32% | 43% | 25% |
SurveyUSA[19] | July 13–15, 2008 | 666 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 34% | 32% | 35% |
Primary election | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Nonpartisan | Terry Bergeson (incumbent) | 477,130 | 39.31 | |
Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn | 414,313 | 34.13 | |
Nonpartisan | Don Hansler | 108,984 | 8.98 | |
Nonpartisan | John P. Blair | 90,508 | 7.46 | |
Nonpartisan | Enid Duncan | 78,983 | 6.51 | |
Nonpartisan | David Blomstrom | 43,984 | 3.62 | |
Total votes | 1,213,902 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn | 1,333,290 | 52.38 | |
Nonpartisan | Terry Bergeson (incumbent) | 1,211,909 | 47.62 | |
Total votes | 2,545,199 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
- Teresa (Terry) Bergeson (cw) (NP)
- John Patterson Blair (NP)
- David Blomstrom (cw) (NP)
- Randy Dorn (cw) (NP)
- Enid Duncan (NP)
- Donald Hansler (NP)
Insurance Commissioner
[edit]Primary election | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 723,732 | 53.86 | |
Republican | John Adams | 484,992 | 36.09 | |
Nonpartisan | Curtis Fackler | 135,113 | 10.05 | |
Total votes | 1,343,837 | 100.00 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 1,679,696 | 61.38 | |
Republican | John Adams | 1,056,693 | 38.62 | |
Total votes | 2,736,389 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
- John R. Adams (cw) (R)
- Curtis Fackler (cw) (NP)
- Mike Kreidler (cw) (D)
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Election results – Washington Secretary of State
- Candidates who have filed