November 8, 2016 2020 → 1,221,747 160,879 Date 8 November 2016 Electoral vote 8 Percentage 54.30% Running mate Tim Kaine | Turnout 78.76% 38.07% 5.01% Home state New York Popular vote 1,742,718 Party Democratic | |
 | ||
Clinton
40-50%
50-60%
60-70% Trump
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
70-80% | ||
The 2016 United States presidential election in Washington was held on November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 General Election in which all 50 states plus The District of Columbia participated. Washington voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.
Contents
- Background
- Democratic caucus
- Republican primary
- Green convention
- State voting history
- By county
- References
In the presidential primaries, Washington voters expressed their preferences for the Democratic (Caucus: March 26; Primary: May 24) and Republican (Primary: May 24) parties' respective nominees for President. A Green convention was held May 15. Registered members of each party may only vote in their party's primary, while voters who are unaffiliated may choose any one primary in which to vote.
Hillary Clinton won the election in Washington with 54.3% of the vote, a slightly reduced percentage from President Obama in 2012. Nonetheless, Washington was among the eleven states in which Hillary Clinton outperformed Barack Obama's winning margin in 2012. Donald Trump received 38.1% of the vote. This was the first presidential election in which the Republican Party won Grays Harbor County and Pacific County since 1928 and 1952 respectively.
Despite Clinton's victory, four Democratic electors defected. Three voted for Colin Powell, making him the first African-American Republican to receive electoral votes, while a Native American activist cast his vote for Faith Spotted Eagle, making her the first Native American to receive an electoral vote for the office of President.
Powell became the first Republican to receive electoral votes from Washington state since 1984. However, overall it was the eighth consecutive election in which Washington voted Democratic, and the twelfth in a row in which it voted the same way as neighbouring Oregon.
Background
Washington has voted for the Democratic candidate in every Presidential election since 1988. While the state's Senate is majority Republican, both of Washington's United States Senators are Democrats, as well as a majority of the state's U.S. House delegation. Barack Obama defeated John McCain by 17.08% in 2008 and Mitt Romney by 14.93% in 2012.
Democratic caucus
The following candidates appeared on the Democratic presidential caucus slate on March 26, 2016:
The state also held a non-binding presidential primary on May 24 along with the Republican primary that same date. Hillary Clinton won the preference vote.
Republican primary
Four candidates appeared on the Republican presidential primary ballot on May 24, 2016:
Green convention
This state's Green Party state convention was on May 15. Ballots were emailed to members within a week after the convention.
State voting history
Washington joined the Union in November 1889 and has participated in all elections from 1892 onwards.
Since 1900, Washington voted Democratic 51.72 percent of the time and Republican 44.83 percent of the time. Since 1988, Washington had voted for the Democratic Party in each presidential election, and the same was expected to happen in 2016.
By county
Official results by county from the Washington Secretary of State.