November 8, 2016 2020 → Location Washington, United States Party Democratic | Date 8 November 2016 Popular vote 1,760,520 Percentage 54.4% | |
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Winner Jay Inslee | ||
Washington gubernatorial election 2016 top 6 facts
The 2016 Washington gubernatorial election was held November 8, 2016 to elect the Governor of Washington, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Contents
Under Washington's nonpartisan blanket primary law, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the August 2 primary, residents voted for one of several candidates from a range of party affiliations. The top two finishers, incumbent governor Jay Inslee (Democratic) and Port of Seattle Commissioner Bill Bryant (Republican), moved on to the November general election, which Inslee won.
Background
Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire declined to seek a third term in 2012 and Democratic former U.S. Representative Jay Inslee was elected to succeed her, defeating Republican Rob McKenna, the outgoing Attorney General of Washington, by 51.5% to 48.5%. The last Republican to hold the office of Governor was John Spellman in 1985, meaning that Washington has the second longest period (South Dakota has not had a Democratic Governor since 1979) of one-party statehouse rule in America.