The 2012 Washington gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012. Candidates in the election were chosen in an August 7, 2012 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.Pages - Top 2 Primary

Incumbent Governor Christine Gregoire decided to retire rather than seek a third term. 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.

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.

Primary election

Democratic candidates Rob Hill Jay Inslee, U.S. Representative for WA-01 (1999–2012) and WA-04 (1993–1995)"Inslee Announcement Prompts More Democratic Interest" , Roll Call Politics

Declined Lisa Brown, State Senate Majority Leader"Lisa Brown endorses Inslee" Dow Constantine, King County Executive Christine Gregoire, incumbent Governor Jim McIntire, State Treasurer (ran for reelection)2012 races take shape - Elections - The Olympian Aaron Reardon, Snohomish County Executive Ron Sims, former King County Executive and Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentSims Quits HUD Post, Hotline On Call Brian Sonntag, State Auditor

Republican candidates Shahram Hadian, pastor and small business owner Javier O. Lopez Rob McKenna, Attorney General of Washington Max Sampson

Declined Dave Reichert, U.S. Representative (ran for reelection)

Independent candidates Christian Joubert L. Dale Sorgen, computer programmer and former pastor James White

Endorsements

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RobMcKenna (R) JayInslee (D) LisaBrown (D) DowConstantine (D) ClintDidier (R) BillBryant (R) BrianSonntag (D) AaronReardon (D) UndecidedChism StrategiesChism Strategies June 28–30, 2011408 (LV)± 5.0%20%17%3%3%3%2%2%1%49%

Results

By congressional district District Inslee McKenna Representative 45% 46%Suzan DelBene 50% 40%Rick Larsen 33% 47%Jaime Herrera Beutler 32% 56%Doc Hastings 35% 51%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 49% 42%Norm Dicks 72% 23%Jim McDermott 40% 53%Dave Reichert 56% 37%Adam Smith 48% 43%Denny Heck

General election

Candidates Jay Inslee (Democratic), former U.S. Representative Rob McKenna (Republican), Attorney General of Washington

Debates Complete video of debate, October 2, 2012 - C-SPAN

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2012 Real Clear Politics November 5, 2012

Post-primary endorsements

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated JayInslee (D) RobMcKenna (R) Other/UndecidedMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOctober 14 – November 3, 2012November 3, 201247.3%46.3%6.4%Inslee +1.0%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JayInslee (D) RobMcKenna (R) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2012 932 ± 3.2% 50% 48% 2%KING5/SurveyUSAKING5/SurveyUSA October 28–31, 2012 555 ± 4.2% 47% 46% 7%KCTS 9/Washington PollKCTS 9/Washington Poll October 18–31, 2012 632 ± 3.9% 49% 46% 6%Elway PollElway Poll October 18–21, 2012 451 ± 4.5% 45% 47% 10%Strategies360Strategies360 October 17–20, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 45% 45% 10%Public Policy Polling/WCVPublic Policy Polling/WCV October 15–16, 2012 574 ± n/a% 48% 42% 10%KCTS 9/Washington PollKCTS 9/Washington Poll October 1–16, 2012 782 ± 3.5% 48% 45% 8%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 14, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 47% 45% 9%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 12–14, 2012 543 ± 4.3% 47% 44% 9%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 28–30, 2012 540 ± 4.3% 48% 42% 10%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 26, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 46% 45% 9%Public Elway PollPublic Elway Poll September 9–12, 2012 405 ± 5% 44% 41% 15%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 7–9, 2012 563 ± 4.2% 48% 42% 10%Survey USASurvey USA September 7–9, 2012 524 ± 4.4% 49% 44% 7%Survey USASurvey USA August 2–3, 2012 524 ± 4.4% 48% 45% 7%Elway PollElway Poll July 18–22, 2012 405 ± 5.0% 43% 36% 21%Survey USASurvey USA July 16–17, 2012 630 ± 4.0% 41% 42% 16%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 14–17, 2012 1,073 ± 3.0% 40% 43% 17%Elway PollElway Poll June 13–16, 2012 408 ± 5.0% 40% 42% 18%Strategies360Strategies360 May 22–24, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 39% 43% 18%Survey USASurvey USA May 8–9, 2012 557 ± 4.2% 38% 40% 22%Grove Insights (D)Grove Insights (D) March 26–28, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 38% 34% 28%Grove Insights (D)Grove Insights (D) February 21–23, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 38% 38% 24%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 16–19, 2012 1,264 ± 2.8% 42% 42% 16%Survey USASurvey USA February 13–15, 2012 572 ± 4.2% 39% 49% 12%Elway PollElway Poll February 7–9, 2012 405 ± 5.0% 36% 45% 19%Survey USASurvey USA January 12–16, 2012 617 ± 4.0% 43% 46% 11%Survey USASurvey USA November 21–23, 2011 549 ± 4.3% 38% 44% 17%Washington PollWashington Poll October 10–30, 2011 938 ± 3.2% 38% 44% 18%Survey USASurvey USA September 21–22, 2011 529 ± 4.3% 38% 44% 18%Survey USASurvey USA June 24–26, 2011 600 ± 4.4% 47% 44% 9%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 12–15, 2011 1,098 ± 3.0% 38% 40% 22%Survey USASurvey USA April 27–28, 2011 610 ± 4.0% 41% 48% 11%

Christine Gregoire vs. Rob McKenna Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChristineGregoire (D) RobMcKenna (R) UndecidedPublic 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% Christine Gregoire vs. Dave Reichert Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChristineGregoire (D) DaveReichert (R) UndecidedPublic 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% Jay Inslee vs. Dave Reichert Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JayInslee (D) DaveReichert (R) UndecidedPublic 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% Lisa Brown vs. Rob McKenna Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror LisaBrown (D) RobMcKenna (R) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 27-August 1, 2010 1,204 ± 2.8% 29% 47% 24%

Results The race was close throughout the night, with results too close to call after 60 percent of ballots were counted. Inslee was declared the winner early in the morning three days later; McKenna conceded later in the evening.

Inslee won only eight of the state's 39 counties, relying on heavy margins in the Seattle metropolitan area to push him to victory.

By county CountyJay InsleeDemocraticRob McKennaRepublicanMarginTotal votes cast#%#%#%Adams1,40829.78%3,32070.22%-1,912-40.44%4,728Asotin4,02741.50%5,67758.50%-1,650-17.00%9,704Benton27,29134.97%50,75765.03%-23,466-30.07%78,048Chelan11,61636.41%20,29163.59%-8,675-27.19%31,907Clallam17,51646.66%20,02153.34%-2,505-6.67%37,537Clark86,73246.92%98,13153.08%-11,399-6.17%184,863Columbia65629.54%1,56570.46%-909-40.93%2,221Cowlitz21,05148.21%22,61251.79%-1,561-3.58%43,663Douglas4,74631.88%10,13968.12%-5,393-36.23%14,885Ferry1,29937.98%2,12162.02%-822-24.04%3,420Franklin8,18136.50%14,23263.50%-6,051-27.00%22,413Garfield33326.58%92073.42%-587-46.85%1,253Grant8,65431.59%18,74268.41%-10,088-36.82%27,396Grays Harbor14,49150.90%13,97849.10%5131.80%28,469Island19,32446.67%22,08253.33%-2,758-6.66%41,406Jefferson12,17662.29%7,37037.71%4,80624.59%19,546King590,87962.36%356,71337.64%234,16624.71%947,592Kitsap60,57849.72%61,26150.28%-683-0.56%121,839Kittitas7,13739.90%10,75260.10%-3,615-20.21%17,889Klickitat4,44244.07%5,63855.93%-1,196-11.87%10,080Lewis11,86535.03%22,00264.97%-10,137-29.93%33,867Lincoln1,71629.57%4,08870.43%-2,372-40.87%5,804Mason13,17547.25%14,70852.75%-1,533-5.50%27,883Okanogan6,75940.55%9,90959.45%-3,150-18.90%16,668Pacific5,37951.73%5,02048.27%3593.45%10,399Pend Oreille2,44237.06%4,14862.94%-1,706-25.89%6,590Pierce164,21148.54%174,07851.46%-9,867-2.92%338,289San Juan6,76364.82%3,67135.18%3,09229.63%10,434Skagit25,87847.33%28,80352.67%-2,925-5.35%54,681Skamania2,43445.92%2,86754.08%-433-8.17%5,301Snohomish166,45251.23%158,44048.77%8,0122.47%324,892Spokane95,35443.49%123,89456.51%-28,540-13.02%219,248Stevens7,42633.79%14,55466.21%-7,128-32.43%21,980Thurston67,35353.75%57,94846.25%9,4057.51%125,301Wahkiakum96442.83%1,28757.17%-323-14.35%2,251Walla Walla9,35338.03%15,23861.97%-5,885-23.93%24,591Whatcom53,59953.10%47,34046.90%6,2596.20%100,939Whitman7,35143.83%9,42156.17%-2,070-12.34%16,772Yakima31,79141.67%44,50758.33%-12,716-16.67%76,298Totals1,582,80251.54%1,488,24548.46%94,5573.08%3,071,047

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Island (largest city: Oak Harbor) Kitsap (largest city: Bremerton) Pierce (largest city: Tacoma) Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon)

By congressional district Inslee won five of ten congressional districts, with the remaining five going to McKenna, including one that elected a Democrat. District Inslee McKenna Representative 48% 52%Suzan DelBene 54% 46%Rick Larsen 46% 54%Jaime Herrera Beutler 37% 63%Doc Hastings 42% 58%Cathy McMorris Rodgers51%49%Norm DicksDerek Kilmer 74% 26%Jim McDermott 43% 57%Dave Reichert 61% 39%Adam Smith 51% 49%Denny Heck

See also 2016 Washington gubernatorial election

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links Elections & Voting at the Washington Secretary of State office

Official campaign websites Jay Inslee (D) for Governor Rob McKenna (R) for Governor Shahram Hadian (R) for Governor