2016 Washington elections
| Elections in Washington |
|---|
 |
A general election was held in the U.S. state of Washington on November 8, 2016. A primary was held on August 2.[1]
At the time of the filing deadline of May 20, 2016, 682 candidates have filed for 345 offices statewide.[1][2]
Federal
President of the United States
Washington has 12 electoral votes for the presidential election, which are projected to be awarded to Hillary Clinton.[3]
Statewide party caucuses and primaries were held in the spring of 2016 to determine the allocation of state delegates to the respective Democratic and Republican party national conventions. Bernie Sanders won the Democratic caucus in March, defeating Hillary Clinton and taking 73 percent of delegates;[4] Donald Trump won the Republican primary, taking 76 percent of delegates. A non-binding primary for the Democratic party held in May resulted in a victory for Hillary Clinton.[5][6]
United States House of Representatives
All 10 of Washington's seats in the United States House of Representatives will be up for re-election in 2016. All but one of the incumbents will run for re-election, the exception being Jim McDermott (D) of the 7th district.[7] McDermott's seat was won by Pramila Jayapal (D).[8] The remaining seats were retained by the incumbents.[3]
United States Senate
Incumbent Democratic senior Senator Patty Murray ran for re-election to a fifth term in office,[9] defeating Republican challenger Chris Vance by 18 points.[10]
Statewide
Attorney General
Incumbent Attorney General Bob Ferguson, elected in 2012 as a Democrat, sought reelection, opposed by Joshua B. Trumbull, who ran as a Libertarian.[1] Ferguson won by 35 points.[11]
Governor
Incumbent Governor Jay Inslee was re-elected to his second term over Port of Seattle Commissioner Bill Bryant.[12][13]
Lieutenant Governor
Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen, first elected to the office in 1996, announced that he would not seek a sixth term.[14][15]
Four Democrats (three of whom were state senators), four Republicans, two third-party candidates, and one independent competed in the primary election. Marty McClendon (R) and Cyrus Habib (D) finished as top two and advanced to the general election, where Habib won by 9 points.[16]
Public Lands Commissioner
Incumbent Public Lands Commissioner Peter J. Goldmark, elected in 2008 and reelected in 2012, announced his intention to not seek a third term in office.[17]
Five Democrats, one Republican, and one Libertarian competed in the primary. Steve McLaughlin (R) and Hilary Franz (D) finished as top two and advanced to the general election. Franz was elected with 53% of the vote.[18]
Secretary of State
Incumbent Secretary of State Kim Wyman, elected in 2012 as the only Republican to hold a statewide office on the West Coast, is seeking reelection.[19] Former Seattle City Councilmember Tina Podlodowski announced her bid in January 2016, seeking to become the first Democrat to hold the office since 1965.[20] Wyman retained her seat with 55% of the vote.[21]
State Auditor
Incumbent State Auditor Troy Kelley, elected as a Democrat in 2012, was indicted over federal charges of felony theft and money-laundering. Several attempts to remove him from office, including a threat of impeachment by the legislature, proved unsuccessful.[22] Kelley did not file to run for a second term.[23]
Two Democratic, one Republican and two independent candidates competed in the primary. Mark Miloscia (R) and Pat McCarthy (D) finished as top two and advanced to the general election. McCarthy won by 5 points.[24]
State Treasurer
Incumbent James McIntire announced on December 16, 2015, that he would not seek a third term as Washington State Treasurer.[25] Five candidates are running to succeed him: state senator Marko Liias, former Port of Seattle commissioner Alec Fisken, pension consultant John Paul Comerford, Benton County treasurer Duane Davidson, and investment firm executive Michael Waite.[26] Liias, Fisken, and Comerford are running as Democrats; Davidson and Waite, as Republicans.[26]
Duane Davidson and Michael Waite, both Republicans, finished as top two in the primary election and advanced to the general election, where Davidson won the position.[27]
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Randy Dorn declined to run for a third term as Superintendent of Public Instruction. Nine candidates ran in the nonpartisan election. Erin Jones and Chris Reykdal finished as top two and advanced to the general election. In a close race, Reykdal edged out Jones by one point.[28] Jones conceded the election on November 22.[29]
Legislative
State Senate
Twenty-five of the forty-nine seats in the Washington State Senate were up for election. Republicans held a narrow majority in the Senate, taking 26 seats compared to 23 for the Democrats.[1] Seven incumbent senators retired, creating vacancies that had the potential to swing the split of party votes.[30] With some races still undecided as of November 29, 2016[update], Republicans look to retain control of the Senate.[3]
State House of Representatives
All 98 seats in the Washington House of Representatives were up for election. The outgoing House had a narrow Democratic majority, with 50 seats compared to the Republicans' 48.[1] As of November 29, 2016[update], the Democrats look to have retained their majority, though a handful of races are yet to be decided.[3]
Ballot measures
- Washington Initiative 732 proposed a revenue-neutral carbon tax to fight global warming. The measure would have imposed a fee on carbon dioxide emissions within the state, decreased the state's sales tax and business tax, and expanded the state's version of the earned income tax credit. It was rejected by voters on November 8.[31]
Local elections
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2016) |
- Sound Transit 3, a $54 billion tax measure to fund public transit expansion under the Sound Transit special district (which contains portions of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties) was approved by voters.[32]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e O'Sullivan, Joseph (May 20, 2016). "More than Trump: Candidate field gets set for Washington voters". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "2016 Candidates Who Have Filed". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Washington Election Results 2016". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ "Bernie Sanders wins big in Washington caucuses". The Seattle Times. March 26, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Trump wins Washington state's presidential primaries". CBS News. Associated Press. May 24, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Washington State Primary Election Results". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Brunner, Jim (January 4, 2016). "Jim McDermott to retire; many consider a run, even another McDermott". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Washington U.S. House 7th District Results: Pramila Jayapal Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Brunner, Jim (February 9, 2014). "Patty Murray to seek fifth Senate term in 2016". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Washington U.S. Senate Results: Patty Murray Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ "Washington Attorney General Results: Bob Ferguson Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Brunner, Jim (May 14, 2015). "Port Commissioner Bill Bryant announces run for governor". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Washington Governor Results: Jay Inslee Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Joseph (March 8, 2016). "Brad Owen won't seek re-election as lieutenant governor". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Lt. Governor Owen announces he will retire when his fifth term ends" (Press release). Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Washington. March 8, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Washington Lieutenant Governor Results: Cyrus Habib Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Bernton, Hal (April 5, 2016). "State lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark won't run for re-election". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Washington Lands Commissioner Results: Hilary Franz Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Connelly, Joel (April 21, 2016). "GOP 'rising star,' Secretaryof State Kim Wyman, plans $1 million campaign". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ Brunner, Jim (January 13, 2016). "Tina Podlodowski to challenge Secretary of State Kim Wyman". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Washington Secretary of State Results: Kim Wyman Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Connelly, Joel (February 23, 2016). "Indicted State Auditor Troy Kelley won't be impeached by the Legislature". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ Santos, Melissa (May 20, 2016). "After Troy Kelley trial, a battle for who will take over State Auditor's Office". Tacoma News-Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Washington Auditor Results: Pat McCarthy Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Santos, Melissa (December 16, 2015). "State Treasurer Jim McIntire won't seek re-election". Tacoma News Tribune. Archived from the original on July 16, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
- ^ a b Cornfield, Jerry (May 19, 2016). "Liias enters race to become Washington state treasurer". The Herald (Everett). Archived from the original on July 16, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
- ^ "Washington Treasurer Results: Duane Davidson Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Lorch, Matt (November 29, 2016). "Chris Reykdal to be state's top educator, now the tough work begins (VIDEO)". Q13 Fox. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Santos, Melissa (November 23, 2016). "Erin Jones concedes schools chief race to Chris Reykdal". The News Tribune. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Joseph (May 29, 2016). "Handful of races could flip political control of Legislature". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Washington Initiative 732 — Create Carbon Emission Tax — Results: Rejected". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ "Washington Proposition 1 — Sound Transit 3 Builds 62 Miles of Light Rail — Results: Approved". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
External links
- Elections & Voting at the Washington Secretary of State
- Washington at Ballotpedia