Washington’s initial election results indicate that the state will remain deep-blue. Voters made decisions on statewide offices and initiatives, which will bring changes to the state’s political landscape.
VOTER TURNOUT
Washington has more than 5 million registered voters and as of this evening, more than 74% of ballots have been returned and total voter turnout is at 58.5%. For reference, turnout in Washington was just over 84% in 2020, when the last presidential race was on the ballot.
Since Washington votes almost entirely by mail, votes are still being tabulated with an estimated 787,000 on hand to be counted. All ballots postmarked by Nov. 5 or dropped at an official ballot box by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5 will be counted.
Up-to-date election results are available daily on the Secretary of State’s website here. Please note that the results included in this post were updated on the website on Nov. 6 at 6:28 p.m.
Final election results will be certified by the Secretary of State on or before Dec. 5.
STATEWIDE EXECUTIVE RACES
All nine of Washington’s statewide offices were up for election in 2024, with four races—Governor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Public Lands, and Insurance Commissioner—featuring no incumbent candidates on the ballot.
Democrats are poised to win or have won all of the statewide offices. Here are the results:
- Governor: Bob Ferguson (D). Current Attorney General Bob Ferguson defeated former King County Sheriff and Congressman Dave Reichert (R). This was the first gubernatorial race in 12 years without an incumbent, as Gov. Jay Inslee chose not to seek re-election.
- Lieutenant Governor: Denny Heck* (D) defeated challenger Dan Matthews (R).
- Secretary of State: Steve Hobbs* (D) won against Dale Whitaker (R).
- State Treasurer: Mike Pellicciotti* (D) beat challenger Sharon Hanek (R).
- State Auditor: Pat McCarthy* (D) defeated Matt Hawkins (R).
- Attorney General: Nick Brown (D). In this open race, former U.S. Attorney Nick Brown won against Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano (R).
- Commissioner of Public Lands: Dave Upthegrove (D). In this open race, King County Council Chair Dave Upthegrove is ahead with 53.16% of the vote against former Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R).
- Superintendent of Public Instruction: Chris Reykdal* leads with 53.52% of the vote against David Olson.
- Insurance Commissioner: Patty Kuderer (D). In this open race, State Sen. Patty Kuderer won against her colleague, Sen. Phil Fortunato (R), who will return to the Senate to complete his term.
*Incumbent
The results for the statewide executive races are here.
LEGISLATIVE RACES
In addition to the statewide offices, all 98 seats in the Washington House of Representatives and 25 of the 49 Senate seats are up for election.
Democrats entered the election with strong majorities in both the House (58-40) and Senate (29-20) and early results suggest that these majorities are likely to grow. If Democrats win 59 seats in the House, they will secure a 60% supermajority, and the same will be true in the Senate if they win 30 seats.
Many races already have clear winners, but several are still too close to call, including:
State Senate
- Legislative District 10 (Island County): Incumbent Sen. Ron Muzzall (R) is in a tight race with Janet St. Clair (D), with just 61 votes separating them. Muzzall has 49.89% of the vote, while St. Clair leads slightly with 49.99%.
- Legislative District 17 (Clark County): Paul Harris (R) is ahead with 50.65% of the vote against Marla Keethler (D), who has 49.24%.
- Legislative District 18 (Battle Ground): In this open seat, Adrian Cortes (D) is narrowly leading with 50.82% of the vote compared to Brad Benton, who has 49%.
State House
- Legislative District 17 (Clark County): In the race to replace Rep. Paul Harris (R), who is running for the senate, Terri Niles (D) leads with 50.01% of the vote against David Stuebe (R), who has 49.86%
- Legislative District 18 (Battle Ground): In this open seat, John Ley (R) has a narrow lead with 50.1% of the vote against John Zingale, who has 49.75%.
- Legislative District 26 (Gig Harbor & Bremerton): In this open seat, Adison Richards (D) leads with 52% of the vote, ahead of former Rep. Jesse Young (R), who has 47.87%.
View the results for your legislative district here. Don’t know which legislative district you live in? Find out here.
BALLOT INITIATIVES
Washington voters have rejected three of the four initiatives on the ballot, with the fourth still too close to call:
- I-2066 – May Pass: 51.32% Yes, 46.68% No. Concerns regulating energy services, including natural gas and electrification. This measure would repeal or prohibit certain laws and regulations that discourage natural gas use and/or promote electrification, and require certain utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers.
- I-2109 – Rejected. Concerns taxes (capital gains). This measure would repeal an excise tax imposed on the sale or exchange of certain long-term capital assets by individuals who have annual capital gains of over $250,000.
- I-2117 – Rejected. Concerns carbon tax credit trading. This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- I-2124 – Rejected. Concerns state long term care insurance. This measure would require that employees and self-employed people must elect to keep coverage under the long-term services and supports trust program and could opt-out at any time. It would also repeal a law governing an exemption for employees.
See the ballot initiative results here.
JUDICIAL RACES
Voters had three Washington Supreme Court justice races on the ballot, but only one featured two candidates. However, that race is proving to be a nail-biter, with Sal Mungia leading Dave Larson by a narrow margin of 49.84% to 49.66%.
There were also a number of Court of Appeals and county judge races on the ballot.
The judicial election results can be found here.
FEDERAL ELECTION RESULTS – WA STATE
At the federal level, Washington voters cast their ballots for a new President and for one of the state’s two Senate seats. Additionally, all ten of Washington’s House of Representative seats are up for election.
President
Early Wednesday, Donald J. Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris did, however, secure Washington State’s electoral votes.
U.S. Senate
In the Senate race, incumbent Senator Maria Cantwell (D) defeated challenger Raul Garcia. However, the Senate will shift in 2025, with Senate Republicans flipping three seats and thereby gaining control of the chamber, taking over from the Democrats.
U.S. House
In Washington’s House races, Democrat incumbent Reps. Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland all secured new terms. While the race hasn’t officially been called, incumbent Rep. Kim Schrier (D) is also likely to be re-elected.
Additionally, Spokane County Treasurer Michael Baumgartner (R) and State Senator Emily Randall (D) were elected to Congress, succeeding retiring Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Derek Kilmer, respectively.
Finally, the outcomes of the races for Congressional Districts 3 and 4 remain too close to call. In District 3, incumbent Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D) holds a narrow lead over challenger Joe Kent (R). Meanwhile, in District 4, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R) is leading against Jerrod Sessler (R) in a tightly contested race.
For more detailed information on the federal elections, visit the UW Office of Federal Relations’ website.
To view the results of the federal elections in Washington, click here.
LOOKING AHEAD
Washington’s newly elected state officials will begin their terms on Jan. 13, coinciding with the start of the 2025 legislative session. During this long 105-day session, the state’s biennial operating, capital, and transportation budgets will be decided.
In the meantime, Senate Democrats will elect a new Majority Leader following the retirement of current Majority Leader Andy Billig. Legislators in both the House and Senate will also receive their committee assignments, which are expected to be announced before Assembly Days in the second week of December. Assembly Days serve as a “mini-session” for legislators to prepare for the full session ahead.
Also in December, Gov. Inslee will release his operating, capital, and transportation budget proposals, kicking off the budget process.
To stay informed on the University of Washington’s advocacy efforts in Olympia this session, visit the News and Updates section of this website. The UW’s 2025 legislative agenda will be available here in the coming weeks.