The 2016 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2016.

Under Washington's top-two 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.

Pacific County voted for a Republican gubernatorial candidate for the first time since 1964 and Grays Harbor County did so for the first time since 1924. As of , this was the last gubernatorial election in Washington in which the margin of victory was within single digits.

Background Democratic governor Christine Gregoire declined to seek a third term in 2012. 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%.

Primary election Democratic Party Declared James Robert Deal Johnathan Dodds Jay Inslee, incumbent governor Patrick O'Rourke

Republican Party Declared Bill Bryant, former Seattle Port Commissioner Goodspaceguy, perennial candidate Bill Hirt

Declined Andy Hill, state senator Steve Litzow, state senator (running for reelection) Rob McKenna, former Attorney General of Washington and candidate for governor in 2012 Dave Reichert, U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th congressional district (ran for reelection)

Third Party and independent candidates Declared David Blomstrom (Fifth Republic) Christian Joubert (Holistic) Mary Martin (Socialist Workers) Steve Rubenstein (Independent)

Declined Randy Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Polling

with Inslee, Bryant, and Dorn Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JayInslee (D) BillBryant (R) RandyDorn (I) UndecidedElway PollElway Poll April 14–17, 2016 503 ± 3.5% 41% 26% 7% 25%

Results

By congressional district District Inslee Bryant Representative 46% 43%Suzan DelBene 50% 36%Rick Larsen 40% 42%Jaime Herrera Beutler 31% 55%Dan Newhouse 38% 46%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 49% 38%Derek Kilmer 75% 17%Jim McDermott 40% 49%Dave Reichert 61% 28%Adam Smith 46% 41%Denny Heck

General election Debates Complete video of debate, October 19, 2016 - C-SPAN

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report August 12, 2016 Daily Kos November 8, 2016 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2016 Real Clear Politics November 1, 2016 Governing November 7, 2016

Endorsements

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated JayInslee (D) BillBryant (R) Other/UndecidedMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOctober 6 – November 2, 2016November 2, 201650.7%42.3%7.0%Inslee +8.4%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JayInslee (D) BillBryant (R) UndecidedSurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey November 1–7, 2016 1,451 ± 4.6% 55% 42% 3% November 4–6, 2016 402 ± 4.9% 49% 40% 10%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 31 – November 6, 2016 1,292 ± 4.6% 55% 42% 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 28 – November 3, 2016 944 ± 4.6% 56% 41% 3%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 31 – November 2, 2016 667 ± 3.9% 50% 43% 6%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 27 – November 2, 2016 807 ± 4.6% 56% 41% 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 26 – November 1, 2016 698 ± 4.6% 55% 41% 4%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 25–31, 2016 745 ± 4.6% 55% 42% 3%Elway PollElway Poll October 20–22, 2016 502 ± 4.5% 51% 39% 10%KCTS 9/YouGovKCTS 9/YouGov October 6–13, 2016 750 ± 4.4% 51% 45% 4%Strategies 360/KOMO NewsStrategies 360/KOMO News September 29 – October 3, 2016 500 ± 4.4% 50% 40% 8%Elway PollElway Poll August 9–13, 2016 500 ± 4.5% 48% 36% 16%Moore InformationMoore Information May 16–18, 2016 500 ± 4.0% 43% 36% 18%Elway Poll April 14–17, 2016 503 ± 3.5% 48% 36% 16%Elway PollElway Poll December 28–30, 2015 500 ± 4.5% 39% 30% 31%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 14–17, 2015 879 ± 3.3% 46% 34% 21%

Jay Inslee vs. Andy Hill Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JayInslee (D) AndyHill (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 14–17, 2015 879 ± 3.3% 45% 31% 24%

Jay Inslee vs. Rob McKenna Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JayInslee (D) RobMcKenna (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 14–17, 2015 879 ± 3.3% 43% 38% 19%

Jay Inslee vs. Dave Reichert Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JayInslee (D) DaveReichert (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 14–17, 2015 879 ± 3.3% 45% 34% 22%

Jay Inslee vs. generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JayInslee (D) GenericRepublican UndecidedElway Poll December 28–30, 2015 500 ± 4.5% 30% 25% 45%

Jay Inslee vs. generic opponent Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JayInslee (D) GenericOpponent UndecidedMoore Information May 16–18, 2016 500 ± 4.0% 38% 47% 15%Moore Information May 2015 500 ± 4.0% 38% 44% 18%

Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican Other UndecidedMoore Information May 16–18, 2016 500 ± 4.0% 41% 34% 5% 20%Moore Information May 2015 500 ± 4.0% 34% 30% 16% 20%

Results

By county +CountyJay Inslee DemocraticBill Bryant RepublicanWrite-in VariousMarginTotal votes#%#%#%#%Adams1,53332.64%3,15167.10%120.26%-1,618-34.45%4,696Asotin4,14942.46%5,60957.40%130.13%-1,460-14.94%9,771Benton31,12837.95%50,73061.84%1720.21%-19,602-23.90%82,030Chelan13,86640.94%19,93458.86%650.19%-6,068-17.92%33,865Clallam19,35448.87%20,10850.78%1400.35%-754-1.90%39,602Clark96,03247.93%103,78751.80%5600.28%-7,755-3.87%200,379Columbia68831.50%1,49168.27%50.23%-803-36.77%2,184Cowlitz19,59342.75%26,11656.98%1240.27%-6,523-14.23%45,833Douglas5,44134.73%10,19765.09%280.18%-4,756-30.36%15,666Ferry1,36037.56%2,25262.19%90.25%-892-24.63%3,621Franklin9,73140.27%14,38759.54%450.19%-4,656-19.27%24,163Garfield37029.65%87570.11%30.24%-505-40.46%1,248Grant9,24232.16%19,40167.50%990.34%-10,159-35.35%28,742Grays Harbor14,03848.43%14,84351.20%1070.37%-805-2.78%28,988Island21,79750.16%21,56049.61%980.23%2370.55%43,455Jefferson13,39965.24%7,04934.32%900.44%6,35030.92%20,538King677,94367.69%321,24232.07%2,4090.24%356,70135.61%1,001,594Kitsap66,39252.47%59,76247.23%3680.29%6,6305.24%126,522Kittitas7,98441.66%11,13958.13%400.21%-3,155-16.46%19,163Klickitat4,51741.82%6,26057.96%240.22%-1,743-16.14%10,801Lewis11,16332.09%23,53967.66%860.25%-12,376-35.58%34,788Lincoln1,61627.92%4,16071.89%110.19%-2,544-43.96%5,787Mason13,12645.92%15,36553.75%930.33%-2,239-7.83%28,584Okanogan7,43743.06%9,79456.71%390.23%-2,357-13.65%17,270Pacific5,31349.29%5,42850.36%370.34%-115-1.07%10,778Pend Oreille2,52036.50%4,36463.21%200.29%-1,844-26.71%6,904Pierce176,82549.94%176,28749.79%9530.27%5380.15%354,065San Juan7,50968.89%3,35630.79%350.32%4,15338.10%10,900Skagit28,27349.47%28,70150.22%1730.30%-428-0.75%57,147Skamania2,47644.35%3,09455.42%130.23%-618-11.07%5,583Snohomish182,54452.12%166,77047.61%9370.27%15,7744.50%350,251Spokane106,00945.87%124,57653.91%5080.22%-18,567-8.03%231,093Stevens7,14831.02%15,85168.79%450.20%-8,703-37.77%23,044Thurston71,83554.67%59,01444.91%5590.43%12,8219.76%131,408Wahkiakum94139.89%1,41359.90%50.21%-472-20.01%2,359Walla Walla10,70541.77%14,88058.06%440.17%-4,175-16.29%25,629Whatcom62,63456.45%47,95343.22%3700.33%14,68113.23%110,957Whitman8,72749.41%8,89250.35%430.24%-165-0.93%17,662Yakima35,16244.96%43,01655.00%340.04%-7,854-10.04%78,212Totals1,760,52054.25%1,476,34645.49%8,4160.26%284,1748.76%3,245,282

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Grays Harbor (largest city: Aberdeen) Pacific (largest city: Raymond)

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

By congressional district Inslee won six of ten congressional districts. District Inslee Bryant Representative 51% 49%Suzan DelBene 57% 43%Rick Larsen 45% 55%Jaime Herrera Beutler 40% 60%Dan Newhouse 44% 56%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 54% 46%Derek Kilmer78%22%Jim McDermottPramila Jayapal 46% 54%Dave Reichert 67% 33%Adam Smith 53% 47%Denny Heck

Notes

References

External links Official campaign websites (Archived) David Blomstrom (FR) for Governor Patrick O'Rourke (D) for Governor Jay Inslee (D) for Governor Bill Bryant (R) for Governor James Robert Deal (D) for Governor