The 2012 Washington gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012.[1] Candidates in the election were chosen in an August 7, 2012[2] primary election, under the state's nonpartisan blanket primary system, which allows voters to vote for any candidate running in the race, regardless of party affiliation. The two candidates who received the most votes in the primary election qualified for the general election.[3]
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Inslee: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% McKenna: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Governor Christine Gregoire decided to retire rather than seek a third term.[4] She endorsed fellow Democrat Jay Inslee, a U.S. Congressman, as her successor. On March 20, 2012, Inslee resigned from Congress in order to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.[5]
Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna, the Attorney General of Washington, advanced to the general election. Inslee narrowly won the election, and McKenna conceded three days later.[6]
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Rob McKenna (R) |
Jay Inslee (D) |
Lisa Brown (D) |
Dow Constantine (D) |
Clint Didier (R) |
Bill Bryant (R) |
Brian Sonntag (D) |
Aaron Reardon (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chism Strategies Archived 2011-09-15 at the Wayback Machine | June 28–30, 2011 | 408 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 20% | 17% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 49% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jay Inslee | 664,534 | 47.13 | |
Republican | Rob McKenna | 604,872 | 42.90 | |
Republican | Shahram Hadian | 46,169 | 3.27 | |
Democratic | Rob Hill | 45,453 | 3.22 | |
Independent | James White | 13,764 | 0.98 | |
Independent | Christian Joubert | 10,457 | 0.74 | |
Independent | L. Dale Sorgen | 9,734 | 0.69 | |
Republican | Max Sampson | 8,753 | 0.62 | |
Republican | Javier O. Lopez | 6,131 | 0.43 | |
Total votes | 1,409,867 | 100.00 |
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[20] | Tossup | November 1, 2012 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[21] | Lean D | November 5, 2012 |
Rothenberg Political Report[22] | Tilt D | November 2, 2012 |
Real Clear Politics[23] | Tossup | November 5, 2012 |
Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Jay Inslee (D) |
Rob McKenna (R) |
Other/Undecided [b] |
Margin |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Real Clear Politics | October 14 – November 3, 2012 | November 3, 2012 | 47.3% | 46.3% | 6.4% | Inslee +1.0% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Jay Inslee (D) |
Rob McKenna (R) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | November 1–3, 2012 | 932 | ± 3.2% | 50% | 48% | 2% |
KING5/SurveyUSA | October 28–31, 2012 | 555 | ± 4.2% | 47% | 46% | 7% |
KCTS 9/Washington Poll | October 18–31, 2012 | 632 | ± 3.9% | 49% | 46% | 6% |
Elway Poll | October 18–21, 2012 | 451 | ± 4.5% | 45% | 47% | 10% |
Strategies360 | October 17–20, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 45% | 45% | 10% |
Public Policy Polling/WCV | October 15–16, 2012 | 574 | ± n/a% | 48% | 42% | 10% |
KCTS 9/Washington Poll | October 1–16, 2012 | 782 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 45% | 8% |
Rasmussen Reports | October 14, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 47% | 45% | 9% |
SurveyUSA | October 12–14, 2012 | 543 | ± 4.3% | 47% | 44% | 9% |
SurveyUSA | September 28–30, 2012 | 540 | ± 4.3% | 48% | 42% | 10% |
Rasmussen Reports | September 26, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 46% | 45% | 9% |
Public Elway Poll | September 9–12, 2012 | 405 | ± 5% | 44% | 41% | 15% |
Public Policy Polling | September 7–9, 2012 | 563 | ± 4.2% | 48% | 42% | 10% |
Survey USA | September 7–9, 2012 | 524 | ± 4.4% | 49% | 44% | 7% |
Survey USA | August 2–3, 2012 | 524 | ± 4.4% | 48% | 45% | 7% |
Elway Poll | July 18–22, 2012 | 405 | ± 5.0% | 43% | 36% | 21% |
Survey USA | July 16–17, 2012 | 630 | ± 4.0% | 41% | 42% | 16% |
Public Policy Polling | June 14–17, 2012 | 1,073 | ± 3.0% | 40% | 43% | 17% |
Elway Poll | June 13–16, 2012 | 408 | ± 5.0% | 40% | 42% | 18% |
Strategies360 | May 22–24, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 39% | 43% | 18% |
Survey USA | May 8–9, 2012 | 557 | ± 4.2% | 38% | 40% | 22% |
Grove Insights (D)[A] | March 26–28, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 38% | 34% | 28% |
Grove Insights (D)[A] | February 21–23, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 38% | 38% | 24% |
Public Policy Polling | February 16–19, 2012 | 1,264 | ± 2.8% | 42% | 42% | 16% |
Survey USA | February 13–15, 2012 | 572 | ± 4.2% | 39% | 49% | 12% |
Elway Poll | February 7–9, 2012 | 405 | ± 5.0% | 36% | 45% | 19% |
Survey USA | January 12–16, 2012 | 617 | ± 4.0% | 43% | 46% | 11% |
Survey USA | November 21–23, 2011 | 549 | ± 4.3% | 38% | 44% | 17% |
Washington Poll | October 10–30, 2011 | 938 | ± 3.2% | 38% | 44% | 18% |
Survey USA | September 21–22, 2011 | 529 | ± 4.3% | 38% | 44% | 18% |
Survey USA | June 24–26, 2011 | 600 | ± 4.4% | 47% | 44% | 9% |
Public Policy Polling | May 12–15, 2011 | 1,098 | ± 3.0% | 38% | 40% | 22% |
Survey USA | April 27–28, 2011 | 610 | ± 4.0% | 41% | 48% | 11% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Christine Gregoire (D) |
Rob McKenna (R) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | May 12–15, 2011 | 1,098 | ± 3.0% | 40% | 49% | 11% |
Survey USA | April 27–28, 2011 | 610 | ± 4.0% | 40% | 52% | 7% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Christine Gregoire (D) |
Dave Reichert (R) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | May 12–15, 2011 | 1,098 | ± 3.0% | 45% | 41% | 14% |
Survey USA | April 27–28, 2011 | 610 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 48% | 8% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Jay Inslee (D) |
Dave Reichert (R) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | May 12–15, 2011 | 1,098 | ± 3.0% | 42% | 36% | 22% |
Survey USA | April 27–28, 2011 | 610 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 46% | 10% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Lisa Brown (D) |
Rob McKenna (R) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling | July 27-August 1, 2010 | 1,204 | ± 2.8% | 29% | 47% | 24% |
The race was close throughout the night, with results too close to call after 60 percent of ballots were cast.[28] Inslee was declared the winner early in the morning three days later; McKenna conceded later in the evening.[29]
Inslee won only eight of the state's 39 counties, relying on heavy votes from the Seattle metropolitan area pushing him to victory.[30]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jay Inslee | 1,582,802 | 51.40% | -1.60% | |
Republican | Rob McKenna | 1,488,245 | 48.33% | +1.78% | |
Write-in | 8,592 | 0.28% | -0.17% | ||
Total votes | 3,079,639 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
Democratic hold |
County[32] | Jay Inslee
Democratic |
Rob McKenna
Republican |
Total votes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | % | # | % | ||
Adams | 1,408 | 29.78% | 3,320 | 70.22% | 4,728 |
Asotin | 4,027 | 41.5% | 5,677 | 58.5% | 9,704 |
Benton | 27,291 | 34.97% | 50,757 | 65.03% | 78,048 |
Chelan | 11,616 | 36.41% | 20,291 | 63.59% | 31,907 |
Clallam | 17,516 | 46.66% | 20,021 | 53.34% | 37,537 |
Clark | 86,732 | 46.92% | 98,131 | 53.08% | 184,863 |
Columbia | 656 | 29.54% | 1,565 | 70.46% | 2,221 |
Cowlitz | 21,051 | 48.21% | 22,612 | 51.79% | 43,663 |
Douglas | 4,746 | 31.88% | 10,139 | 68.12% | 14,885 |
Ferry | 1,299 | 37.98% | 2,121 | 62.02% | 3,420 |
Franklin | 8,181 | 36.5% | 14,232 | 63.5% | 22,413 |
Garfield | 333 | 26.58% | 920 | 73.42% | 1,253 |
Grant | 8,654 | 31.59% | 18,742 | 68.41% | 28,396 |
Grays Harbor | 14,491 | 50.9% | 13,978 | 49.1% | 28,469 |
Island | 19,324 | 46.67% | 22,082 | 53.33% | 41,406 |
Jefferson | 12,176 | 62.29% | 7,370 | 37.71% | 19,546 |
King | 590,879 | 62.36% | 356,713 | 37.64% | 947,592 |
Kitsap | 60,578 | 49.72% | 61,261 | 50.28% | 121,839 |
Kittitas | 7,137 | 39.9% | 10,752 | 60.1% | 17,889 |
Klickitat | 4,442 | 44.07% | 5,638 | 55.93% | 10,090 |
Lewis | 11,865 | 35.03% | 22,002 | 64.97% | 33,867 |
Lincoln | 1,716 | 29.57% | 4,088 | 70.43% | 5,804 |
Mason | 13,175 | 47.25% | 14,708 | 52.75% | 27,883 |
Okanogan | 6,759 | 40.55% | 9,909 | 59.45% | 16,668 |
Pacific | 5,379 | 51.73% | 5,020 | 48.27% | 10,399 |
Pend Oreille | 2,442 | 37.06% | 4,148 | 62.94% | 6,590 |
Pierce | 164,211 | 48.54% | 174,078 | 51.46% | 338,289 |
San Juan | 6,763 | 64.82% | 3,671 | 35.18% | 10,434 |
Skagit | 25,878 | 47.33% | 28,803 | 52.67% | 54,681 |
Skamania | 2,434 | 45.92% | 2,867 | 54.08% | 5,301 |
Snohomish | 166,452 | 51.23% | 158,440 | 48.77% | 324,892 |
Spokane | 95,354 | 43.49% | 123,894 | 56.51% | 219,248 |
Stevens | 7,426 | 33.79% | 14,554 | 66.21% | 21,980 |
Thurston | 67,353 | 53.75% | 57,948 | 46.25% | 125,301 |
Wahkiakum | 964 | 42.83% | 1,287 | 57.17% | 2,251 |
Walla Walla | 9,353 | 38.03% | 15,238 | 61.97% | 24,591 |
Whatcom | 53,599 | 53.1% | 47,340 | 46.9% | 100,939 |
Whitman | 7,351 | 41.67% | 9,421 | 58.33% | 16,772 |
Yakima | 31,791 | 41.67% | 44,507 | 58.33% | 76,298 |
Totals | 1,582,802 | 51.54% | 1,488,245 | 48.46% | 3,071,047 |
Inslee won 5 of 10 congressional districts with the remaining 5 going to McKenna, including one that elected a Democrat.[33]
District | McKenna | Inslee | Representative |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 52% | 48% | Suzan DelBene |
2nd | 46% | 54% | Rick Larsen |
3rd | 54% | 46% | Jaime Herrera Beutler |
4th | 63% | 37% | Doc Hastings |
5th | 58% | 42% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
6th | 49% | 51% | Norm Dicks |
Derek Kilmer | |||
7th | 26% | 74% | Jim McDermott |
8th | 57% | 43% | Dave Reichert |
9th | 39% | 61% | Adam Smith |
10th | 49% | 51% | Denny Heck |