The 2020 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020. It followed a top-two primary held on August 4. Incumbent Governor Jay Inslee, the Democratic candidate, defeated Loren Culp, the Republican candidate by a wide margin. Inslee, who was eligible to run for a third term due to the lack of gubernatorial term limits, initially launched a campaign for president of the United States in the 2020 election. When he dropped out of that race in August 2019 due to extremely low polling numbers, he announced he would seek a third term as governor. Several other Democratic political figures considered entering the race if Inslee did not run, including Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson; no other major Democratic candidates entered the race. Republican Loren Culp, the police chief of Republic, Washington, placed second in the top-two primary and advanced to the general election alongside Inslee.

The election was clear and decisive, with Inslee winning re-election over Culp by over 13 points. This marked the largest margin of victory in a Washington gubernatorial race since Gary Locke won reelection in 2000. Inslee's landslide victory included him winning over 74% of the vote in King County, the highest for a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in the county's history. King County, home to Seattle, has about a third of the state's voters. In addition, Inslee became the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate since the aforementioned Locke in 2000 to win any county in Eastern Washington, namely Whitman County, home to Washington State University. Culp still ran ahead of the top-ticket presidential candidate, Donald Trump, by about four points.

Despite the margin of victory, Culp refused to concede and filed a lawsuit against Republican Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman five weeks after the election. He did not give a concession speech, while making claims of irregularities which Wyman characterized as "unsubstantiated". Culp's actions drew criticism and were compared to Donald Trump's refusal to concede the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

This election marked the tenth consecutive victory of the Democratic candidate for governor of Washington.

Background Washington had not had a Republican governor since John Spellman left office in 1985, the longest streak of Democratic leadership of any state in the country and the third longest streak of one-party leadership after South Dakota (which had not had a Democratic governor since Harvey L. Wollman left office in 1979) and Utah (which had not had a Democratic governor since Scott M. Matheson left office nine days prior to Spellman in 1985). Incumbent Governor Jay Inslee, who previously served in the U.S. House, was first elected to the governorship in the 2012 election and won reelection in 2016.

When Inslee announced his candidacy for president, several political figures expressed interest in running for Governor if Inslee won the Democratic primaries. These included Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and King County Executive Dow Constantine. They stated they would only run if Inslee did not, avoiding a primary challenge.

Several Republican politicians announced their own campaigns to challenge Inslee, including businessman Anton Sakharov, Republic police chief Loren Culp, and state senator Phil Fortunato. However, speculated candidates such as former U.S. Representative Dave Reichert, former Seattle Port Commissioner and 2016 gubernatorial candidate Bill Bryant, Pierce County Executive and former state senator Bruce Dammeier, and state House Minority Leader J. T. Wilcox, all declined to be candidates, leaving no prominent Republicans to challenge Inslee, which was seen as a necessary prerequisite to mount a formidable challenge to him.

Primary election Washington is one of two states that holds a top-two primary, meaning that all candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two move on to the general election. Most states have party primaries.

Democratic candidates Advanced to the general election Jay Inslee, incumbent governor of Washington and candidate for president of the United States in 2020

Declined Dow Constantine, King County Executive Bob Ferguson, Washington Attorney General (ran for reelection, endorsed Inslee) Hilary Franz, Washington Commissioner of Public Lands (ran for reelection, endorsed Inslee)

Republican candidates Advanced to the general election Loren Culp, police chief of Republic, U.S. Army veteran

Eliminated in the primary Tim Eyman, activist and initiative promoter Phil Fortunato, state senator Joshua Freed, former mayor of Bothell Raul Garcia, emergency room physician Nate Herzog, former Lake Forest Park city councilman Anton Sakharov, program manager

Declined Bill Bryant, former Seattle Port Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2016 Bruce Dammeier, Pierce County Executive (ran for reelection) Doug Ericksen, state senator Drew MacEwen, state representative (running for reelection) Dori Monson, radio personality Dave Reichert, former U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th congressional district Drew Stokesbary, state representative (running for reelection) J. T. Wilcox, minority leader of the Washington House of Representatives (running for reelection)

Green Party Eliminated in the primary Liz Hallock, attorney

Independents Eliminated in the primary Cregan Newhouse, City of Seattle Consumer Protection Division acting manager and former public television director

Withdrew Asa Palagi, U.S. Army officer and businessman

Endorsements

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JayInslee (D) LorenCulp (R) TimEyman (R) PhilFortunato (R) JoshuaFreed (R) RaulGarcia (R) AntonSakharov (R) Other /UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA July 22–27, 2020 513 (LV) ± 5.4%55%9%8%3% –6%4%16%Crosscut/Elway July 11–15, 2020 402 (RV) ± 5.0%46%14%4%2% –5%6%25%SurveyUSASurveyUSA May 16–19, 2020 650 (LV) ± 5.6%50%4%8%6%6%2%1%23%SurveyUSASurveyUSA January 26–28, 2020 1,103 (RV) ± 3.9%39%5%11%4%4% –3%34%Crosscut/Elway December 26–29, 2019 405 (RV) ± 5%46%4%7%4%5% – –34%

with Bryant, Constantine, Ferguson, and Franz Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BillBryant (R) DowConstantine (D) BobFerguson (D) HilaryFranz (D) UndecidedChism Strategies (D)Chism Strategies (D)March 8–10, 2019400 (LV)± 4.9%46%6%25%2%21%

Results

By congressional district District Inslee Culp Freed Eyman Garcia Representative 49% 17% 14% 6% 4%Suzan DelBene 53% 17% 9% 6% 3%Rick Larsen 39% 28% 7% 9% 3%Jaime Herrera Beutler 27% 29% 9% 8% 16%Dan Newhouse 37% 19% 11% 7% 12%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 50% 19% 7% 7% 4%Derek Kilmer 80% 2% 5% 3% 3%Pramila Jayapal 41% 21% 12% 7% 5%Kim Schrier 66% 5% 8% 5% 4%Adam Smith 47% 20% 9% 7% 4%Denny Heck

General election Debates Complete video of debate, October 7, 2020 - C-SPAN

Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 23, 2020Inside ElectionsOctober 28, 2020Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 2, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020Daily KosOctober 28, 2020RCPNovember 2, 2020270towinNovember 2, 2020

Post-primary endorsements

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JayInslee (D) LorenCulp (R) UndecidedSwayableSwayable October 23 – November 1, 2020474 (LV)± 6%59%41% –Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)October 14–15, 2020615 (LV)± 4%56%40%4%SurveyUSASurveyUSAOctober 8–10, 2020591 (LV)± 5.2%54%40%6%Strategies 360Strategies 360 September 8–14, 2020 501 (RV) ± 4.4%53% 37% 9%SurveyUSASurveyUSA July 22–27, 2020 534 (LV) ± 5.2%61% 32% 7%SurveyUSASurveyUSA May 16–19, 2020 530 (LV) ± 5.4%56% 31% 13%

Jay Inslee vs. Tim Eyman Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JayInslee (D) TimEyman (R) UndecidedSurveyUSA July 22–27, 2020 534 (LV) ± 5.2%62% 31% 7%SurveyUSA May 16–19, 2020 530 (LV) ± 5.4%60% 31% 9%

Jay Inslee vs. Phil Fortunato Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JayInslee (D) PhilFortunato (R) UndecidedSurveyUSA July 22–27, 2020 534 (LV) ± 5.2%61% 32% 8%SurveyUSA May 16–19, 2020 530 (LV) ± 5.4%56% 34% 10%

Jay Inslee vs. Joshua Freed Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JayInslee (D) JoshuaFreed (R) UndecidedSurveyUSA July 22–27, 2020 534 (LV) ± 5.2%60% 31% 9%SurveyUSA May 16–19, 2020 530 (LV) ± 5.4%57% 30% 13%

Jay Inslee vs. Raul Garcia Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JayInslee (D) RaulGarcia (R) UndecidedSurveyUSA July 22–27, 2020 534 (LV) ± 5.2%60% 32% 8%

Results

By county +CountyJay Inslee DemocraticLoren Culp RepublicanWrite-in VariousMarginTotal votes#%#%#%#%Adams1,65528.34%4,17071.40%150.26%-2,515-43.07%5,840Asotin4,21235.49%7,62764.26%300.25%-3,415-28.77%11,869Benton36,93936.03%65,17063.57%4100.40%-28,231-27.54%102,519Chelan17,92241.63%24,93657.93%1880.44%-7,014-16.29%43,046Clallam24,36649.64%24,64050.20%820.17%-274-0.56%49,088Clark138,19650.83%132,98448.91%7150.26%5,2121.92%271,895Columbia65226.34%1,81973.49%40.16%-1,167-47.15%2,475Cowlitz22,21337.11%37,45362.57%1930.32%-15,240-25.46%59,859Douglas7,17633.81%13,95865.77%900.42%-6,782-31.95%21,224Ferry1,34530.79%3,00068.68%230.53%-1,655-37.89%4,368Franklin12,80339.53%19,48860.17%960.30%-6,685-20.64%32,387Garfield34923.61%1,11875.64%110.74%-769-52.03%1,478Grant10,77228.71%26,64571.00%1090.29%-15,873-42.30%37,526Grays Harbor16,50243.08%21,68656.61%1190.31%-5,184-13.53%38,307Island28,23952.75%25,14546.97%1530.29%3,0945.78%53,537Jefferson16,99268.79%7,65130.97%590.24%9,34137.81%24,702King887,37474.07%307,02225.63%3,6530.30%580,35248.44%1,198,049Kitsap87,76655.69%69,28843.97%5300.34%18,47811.73%157,584Kittitas10,52940.21%15,56759.45%870.33%-5,038-19.24%26,183Klickitat5,69342.31%7,73557.49%270.20%-2,042-15.18%13,455Lewis13,82130.54%31,30669.19%1220.27%-17,485-38.64%45,249Lincoln1,52621.79%5,45077.83%260.37%-3,924-56.04%7,002Mason16,50244.40%20,56255.32%1040.28%-4,060-10.92%37,168Okanogan8,29839.15%12,84360.59%540.25%-4,545-21.44%21,195Pacific6,51446.47%7,46353.24%410.29%-949-6.77%14,018Pend Oreille2,51329.55%5,95970.08%310.36%-3,446-40.53%8,503Pierce238,09751.68%220,90447.95%1,7300.38%17,1933.73%460,731San Juan9,62173.39%3,46526.43%230.18%6,15646.96%13,109Skagit36,44449.87%36,40449.81%2310.32%400.05%73,079Skamania3,12943.10%4,11656.69%150.21%-987-13.60%7,260Snohomish244,87656.13%189,79743.50%1,6070.37%55,07912.62%436,280Spokane131,73444.82%161,13854.82%1,0530.36%-29,404-10.00%293,925Stevens7,39326.06%20,90273.67%760.27%-13,509-47.62%28,371Thurston93,72356.19%72,50643.47%5710.34%21,21712.72%166,800Wahkiakum1,10237.10%1,86262.69%60.20%-760-25.59%2,970Walla Walla13,30542.93%17,59056.76%940.30%-4,285-13.83%30,989Whatcom81,99259.44%55,54440.27%3990.29%26,44819.17%137,935Whitman10,80651.62%10,05648.04%720.34%7503.58%20,934Yakima41,15243.07%54,09756.62%2960.31%-12,945-13.55%95,545Totals2,294,24356.56%1,749,06643.12%13,1450.32%545,17713.44%4,056,454

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Clark (largest city: Vancouver) Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon) Whitman (largest city: Pullman)

By congressional district Inslee won six of ten congressional districts, with the remaining four going to Culp, including one that elected a Democrat. District Inslee Culp Representative 56.43% 43.2%Suzan DelBene 60.12% 39.55%Rick Larsen 45.75% 53.98%Jaime Herrera Beutler 37.48% 62.18%Dan Newhouse 42.54% 57.11%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 55.66% 44.02%Derek Kilmer 84.56% 15.16%Pramila Jayapal 49.11% 50.55%Kim Schrier 72.73% 26.97%Adam Smith54.25%45.38%Denny Heck (116th Congress)Marilyn Strickland (117th Congress)

Notes

References

External links

(state affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)

Official campaign websites

Jay Inslee (D) for Governor