The 1936 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1936. Incumbent Democrat Clarence D. Martin defeated Republican nominee Roland H. Hartley with 69.36% of the vote.

Martin's popular vote share is the largest achieved by any gubernatorial candidate in Washington. This is the most recent gubernatorial election in which a candidate swept every county in the state. As of 2020, this is also the most recent election in which a Democrat has carried Adams County and Columbia County. Additionally, Chelan County, Garfield County, Lincoln County, San Juan County, Walla Walla County, and Whitman County would not vote Democratic again until 1988.

Primary election The primary election was held on September 8, 1936. Washington adopted a blanket primary starting with the 1936 elections. All candidates appeared on the same ballot, with the highest candidate for each party becoming that party's nominee. This system was eventually ruled unconstitutional in the early 2000s.

Candidates Erle J. Barnes (R) James W. Bryan (R) Otto A. Case (D), Washington State Treasurer Frank W. Harris (R) Roland H. Hartley (R), former Governor Ralph Horr (R), former U.S. Representative A. E. Judd (D) Eugene J. A. Lord (D) Clarence D. Martin (D), incumbent Governor Walter F. Meier (R) John Calvin Richards (R) Roscoe A. Seeds (D) H. G. Stevenson (D) John C. Stevenson (D), radio announcer and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1934

Results

General election

Candidates Major party candidates Clarence D. Martin, Democratic Roland H. Hartley, Republican

Other candidates Ove M. Nelson, Union John F. McKay, Socialist William Morley Bouck, Farmer–Labor Malcolm M. Moore, Christian Harold P. Brockway, Communist Eugene V. Solie, Socialist Labor

Results

Results by county CountyClarence D. MartinDemocraticRoland H. HartleyRepublicanOve M. NelsonUnionJohn F. McKaySocialistAll OthersVariousMarginTotal votes cast#%#%#%#%#%#%Adams2,00876.18%61123.18%80.30%40.15%50.19%1,39753.00%2,636Asotin2,17866.30%1,00930.72%742.25%150.46%90.27%1,16935.59%3,285Benton2,47056.82%1,71639.48%1313.01%130.30%170.39%75417.35%4,347Chelan8,62465.21%4,44133.58%700.53%290.22%600.45%4,18331.63%13,224Clallam5,52166.95%2,33528.32%2893.50%180.22%831.01%3,18638.64%8,246Clark13,36074.93%3,95022.15%2731.53%1280.72%1200.67%9,41052.77%17,831Columbia1,26754.26%97041.54%793.38%70.30%120.51%29712.72%2,335Cowlitz10,39375.21%2,99521.67%2241.62%1050.76%1010.73%7,39853.54%13,818Douglas2,30368.62%98829.44%280.83%250.74%120.36%1,31539.18%3,356Ferry1,09073.60%36624.71%130.88%100.68%20.14%72448.89%1,481Franklin1,78070.08%67026.38%542.13%150.59%210.83%1,11043.70%2,540Garfield92657.48%67441.84%100.62%00.00%10.06%25215.64%1,611Grant4,15884.12%73514.87%160.32%220.45%120.24%3,42369.25%4,943Grays Harbor17,05381.08%3,43016.31%3681.75%510.24%1300.62%13,62364.77%21,032Island1,81466.40%79829.21%361.32%140.51%702.56%1,01637.19%2,732Jefferson2,30768.42%1,01330.04%180.53%100.30%240.71%1,29438.37%3,372King135,74066.75%63,85731.40%6590.32%1,3500.66%1,7460.86%71,88335.35%203,352Kitsap12,38976.96%3,25520.22%1050.65%410.25%3081.91%9,13456.74%16,098Kittitas4,65465.84%2,31432.73%660.93%250.35%100.14%2,34033.10%7,069Klickitat2,61369.94%1,04327.92%481.28%90.24%230.62%1,57042.02%3,736Lewis10,66365.45%4,95730.43%2981.83%570.35%3171.95%5,70635.02%16,292Lincoln3,58271.80%1,35527.16%250.50%110.22%160.32%2,22744.64%4,989Mason3,11073.25%92521.79%1293.04%190.45%631.48%2,18551.46%4,246Okanogan5,44765.05%2,59831.02%2723.25%200.24%370.44%2,84934.02%8,374Pacific4,46671.71%1,60725.80%550.88%130.21%871.40%2,85945.91%6,228Pend Oreille1,71863.00%94134.51%200.73%220.81%260.95%77728.49%2,727Pierce51,29976.32%13,85320.61%5570.83%3340.50%1,1701.74%37,44655.71%67,213San Juan85655.19%62340.17%543.48%30.19%150.97%23315.02%1,551Skagit10,31367.15%4,66930.40%1270.83%240.16%2251.47%5,64436.75%15,358Skamania1,64975.92%49322.70%120.55%90.41%90.41%1,15653.22%2,172Snohomish25,49973.56%8,14323.49%2690.78%2510.72%5031.45%17,35650.07%34,665Spokane48,82370.95%17,93926.07%4760.69%9731.41%6050.88%30,88444.88%68,816Stevens4,54366.42%2,10130.72%871.27%701.02%390.57%2,44235.70%6,840Thurston11,62975.56%3,33321.66%2271.47%620.40%1400.91%8,29653.90%15,391Wahkiakum1,08370.32%42527.60%221.43%40.26%60.39%65842.73%1,540Walla Walla6,38855.86%4,72341.30%2772.42%260.23%210.18%1,66514.56%11,435Whatcom17,25369.45%6,96828.05%1470.59%2991.20%1740.70%10,28541.40%24,841Whitman7,79466.23%3,85432.75%580.49%440.37%180.15%3,94033.48%11,768Yakima17,78757.16%12,46440.06%6682.15%890.29%1090.35%5,32317.11%31,117Totals466,55069.36%189,14128.12%6,3490.94%4,2210.63%6,3460.94%277,40941.24%672,607

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Chelan Skamania

References