2024 United States presidential election in Washington (state)

The 2024 United States presidential election in Washington took place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, as part of the 2024 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Washington voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote. It was held along a gubernatorial and U.S. Senate election. The state of Washington has 12 electoral votes in the Electoral College, following reapportionment due to the 2020 United States census in which the state neither gained nor lost a seat.

Although Washington was a Republican-leaning swing state until the 1980s, Democrats have won Washington in every presidential election starting in 1988 and have consistently done so by double digits since 2008. Washington is part of the Democratic-leaning West Coast and was predicted to go comfortably to the Democratic Party in 2024.

As expected, Kamala Harris comfortably won Washington state. While Trump improved his margin in all fifty states, Washington had the smallest swing to the right, with Trump improving his margin by 0.98%, compared to the national swing of about 6%. After Biden's 19% margin of victory in 2020, Harris' 18% margin was the second-largest in the state for the Democratic Party since 1964.

Some of the few counties in the country to swing significantly leftward were in Washington, including Clallam, Island, Jefferson, and Kitsap counties, where Harris had some of the best Democratic performances in their history. In the former bellwether Clallam County, Harris had the best performance for any candidate since 1984, and the best for any Democrat since 1964. This ended Clallam County's 40-year bellwether streak from 1980 to 2020, as the county had not voted for the losing presidential candidate since 1976.

Harris also outperformed Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bob Ferguson in the concurrent gubernatorial election. Ferguson won the governorship by 11.23 percentage points, while Harris carried Washington by 18.22 points.

Primary election Republican primary

The Washington Republican primary took place on March 12, 2024, alongside primaries in Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, and Missouri.

Democratic primary

The Washington Democratic primary took place on March 12, 2024, alongside primaries in Democrats Abroad, Northern Marianas, Mississippi, and Georgia.

General election In the early hours of October 28 a ballot drop box in Vancouver was found to be on fire damaging a number of ballots. Police stated that a suspicious device had been found next to the box.

Candidates The following presidential candidates have received ballot access in Washington:

Kamala Harris, Democratic Party Donald Trump, Republican Party Chase Oliver, Libertarian Party Jill Stein, Green Party Claudia De la Cruz, Party for Socialism and Liberation Cornel West, Independent Rachele Fruit, Socialist Workers Party Shiva Ayyadurai, Independent Joseph Kishore, Socialist Equality Party Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Independent (withdrawn)

Predictions SourceRankingAs of Cook Political Report November 4, 2024 Inside Elections November 3, 2024 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 4, 2024 Decision Desk HQ/The Hill November 4, 2024 CNalysis November 4, 2024 CNN November 4, 2024 The Economist November 4, 2024538 November 4, 2024RCP November 4, 2024 NBC News November 4, 2024

Polling Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KamalaHarris DonaldTrump Other /UndecidedResearch Co.November 2–3, 2024450 (LV)± 4.6%54%39%7%ActiVoteOctober 3–29, 2024400 (LV)± 4.9%59%41%–Public Policy Polling (D)October 16–17, 2024571 (LV)± 4.1%55%40%6%Strategies 360October 11–16, 2024600 (RV)± 4.0%55%39%6%SurveyUSAOctober 9–14, 2024703 (LV)± 4.9%57%35%8%ActiVoteSeptember 7 – October 13, 2024400 (LV)± 4.9%60%40%–Elway ResearchOctober 8–12, 2024401 (RV)± 5.0%57%32%11%Elway ResearchSeptember 3–6, 2024403 (RV)± 5.0%53%32%11% July 21, 2024 Joe Biden announces his withdrawal from the race; Kamala Harris declares her candidacy for president.DHM ResearchJuly 12–17, 2024500 (RV)± 4.4%45%40%14%SurveyUSAJuly 10–13, 2024708 (LV)± 5.0%51%36%13%

Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump vs Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KamalaHarris DonaldTrump Robert F.Kennedy Jr. Other /UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)July 24–25, 2024581 (LV)± 4.0%52%38%6%4% <noinclude>

Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeBiden DonaldTrump Other /UndecidedDHM ResearchJuly 12–17, 2024500 (RV)± 4.4%45%38%17%SurveyUSAJuly 10–13, 2024708 (LV)± 5.0%50%36%14%Public Policy Polling (D)May 15–16, 2024615 (LV)± 4.0%55%39%6%The Bullfinch GroupApril 16–23, 2024250 (RV)± 6.2%45%46%9%John Zogby StrategiesApril 13–21, 2024418 (LV)–52%40%8%Echelon InsightsMarch 18–21, 2024600 (RV)± 4.7%48%37%15%Public Policy Polling (D)February 13–14, 2024797 (LV)± 3.5%54%38%8%Public Policy Polling (D)November 14–15, 2023700 (LV)± 3.7%52%38%10%Elway ResearchOctober 30 – November 3, 2023403 (RV)± 5.0%39%29%31%Public Policy Polling (D)June 7–8, 2023773 (LV)± 3.5%53%36%11%Emerson CollegeSeptember 30 – October 1, 2022782 (LV)± 3.4%49%39%12%McLaughlin & Associates (R)August 15–17, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%54%41%6%

Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vs. Cornel West vs. Jill Stein Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeBiden DonaldTrump Robert F.Kennedy Jr. CornelWest JillStein Other /UndecidedElway ResearchMay 13–16, 2024403 (RV)± 5.0%42%34%3%1%0%17%The Bullfinch GroupApril 16–23, 2024250 (RV)± 6.2%35%40%13%1%4%8%Elway ResearchOctober 30 – November 3, 2023403 (RV)± 5.0%37%25%9%3%–26%

Joe Biden vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeBiden Robert F.Kennedy Jr. Other /UndecidedJohn Zogby StrategiesApril 13–21, 2024418 (LV)–45%45%10%

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vs. Donald Trump Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Robert F.Kennedy Jr. DonaldTrump Other /UndecidedJohn Zogby StrategiesApril 13–21, 2024418 (LV)–49%31%20%

Gretchen Whitmer vs. Donald Trump Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GretchenWhitmer DonaldTrump Other /UndecidedDHM ResearchJuly 12–17, 2024500 (RV)± 4.4%42%38%20%

Josh Shapiro vs. Donald Trump Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoshShapiro DonaldTrump Other /UndecidedDHM ResearchJuly 12–17, 2024500 (RV)± 4.4%40%38%22%

Raphael Warnock vs. Donald Trump Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RaphaelWarnock DonaldTrump Other /UndecidedDHM ResearchJuly 12–17, 2024500 (RV)± 4.4%40%37%23%

Joe Biden vs. Ron DeSantis Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeBiden RonDeSantis Other /UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)June 7–8, 2023773 (LV)± 3.5%51%39%10%

Results

By county CountyKamala HarrisDemocraticDonald TrumpRepublicanVarious candidatesOther partiesMarginTotal#%#%#%#% Adams 1,455 27.12% 3,767 70.21% 143 2.67% -2,312 -43.09% 5,365 Asotin 4,082 35.59% 7,004 61.07% 382 3.33% -2,922 -25.48% 11,468 Benton 37,662 37.40% 59,555 59.15% 3,476 3.45% -21,893 -21.74% 100,693 Chelan 18,397 43.60% 22,363 53.00% 1,431 3.39% -3,966 -9.40% 42,191 Clallam 25,440 52.28% 21,632 44.45% 1,591 3.27% 3,808 7.83% 48,663 Clark 143,206 51.78% 123,998 44.83% 9,374 3.39% 19,208 6.94% 276,578 Columbia 661 26.60% 1,737 69.90% 87 3.50% -1,076 -43.30% 2,485 Cowlitz 22,825 38.47% 34,580 58.29% 1,920 3.24% -11,755 -19.81% 59,325 Douglas 7,410 34.98% 13,095 61.82% 677 3.20% -5,685 -26.84% 21,182 Ferry 1,315 31.93% 2,667 64.75% 137 3.33% -1,352 -32.82% 4,119 Franklin 11,884 37.26% 19,086 59.84% 927 2.91% -7,202 -22.58% 31,897 Garfield 330 24.41% 973 71.97% 49 3.62% -643 -47.56% 1,352 Grant 10,806 29.81% 24,326 67.10% 1,121 3.09% -13,520 -37.29% 36,253 Grays Harbor 17,161 45.41% 19,432 51.42% 1,200 3.18% -2,271 -6.01% 37,793 Island 29,595 56.43% 20,967 39.98% 1,887 3.60% 8,628 16.45% 52,449 Jefferson 17,459 70.69% 6,324 25.61% 915 3.70% 11,135 45.08% 24,698 King 832,606 73.65% 252,193 22.31% 45,703 4.04% 580,413 51.34% 1,130,502 Kitsap 91,731 58.48% 59,080 37.66% 6,061 3.86% 32,651 20.81% 156,872 Kittitas 10,810 40.79% 14,645 55.27% 1,044 3.94% -3,835 -14.47% 26,499 Klickitat 5,917 43.48% 7,178 52.75% 512 3.76% -1,261 -9.27% 13,607 Lewis 14,433 31.83% 29,322 64.67% 1,583 3.49% -14,889 -32.84% 45,338 Lincoln 1,678 23.49% 5,272 73.80% 194 2.72% -3,594 -50.31% 7,144 Mason 17,215 46.92% 18,127 49.41% 1,347 3.67% -912 -2.49% 36,689 Okanogan 8,466 40.84% 11,555 55.74% 711 3.43% -3,089 -14.90% 20,732 Pacific 6,825 47.91% 7,010 49.21% 409 2.87% -185 -1.30% 14,244 Pend Oreille 2,461 28.80% 5,826 68.18% 258 3.02% -3,365 -39.38% 8,545 Pierce 235,169 53.50% 188,194 42.81% 16,218 3.69% 46,975 10.69% 439,581 San Juan 9,539 73.34% 2,890 22.22% 577 4.44% 6,649 51.12% 13,006 Skagit 36,956 52.60% 30,765 43.79% 2,535 3.61% 6,191 8.81% 70,256 Skamania 3,147 42.79% 3,961 53.85% 247 3.36% -814 -11.07% 7,355 Snohomish 240,099 57.41% 161,371 38.59% 16,751 4.01% 78,728 18.82% 418,221 Spokane 131,163 45.69% 145,338 50.63% 10,581 3.69% -14,175 -4.94% 287,082 Stevens 7,492 26.52% 19,895 70.43% 859 3.04% -12,403 -43.91% 28,246 Thurston 95,663 58.14% 62,282 37.85% 6,592 4.01% 33,381 20.29% 164,537 Wahkiakum 1,204 39.32% 1,757 57.38% 101 3.30% -553 -18.06% 3,062 Walla Walla 13,106 44.32% 15,476 52.34% 986 3.33% -2,370 -8.02% 29,568 Whatcom 83,295 60.42% 49,213 35.70% 5,360 3.89% 34,082 24.72% 137,868 Whitman 10,480 52.33% 8,699 43.44% 848 4.23% 1,781 8.89% 20,027 Yakima 36,706 41.36% 49,368 55.63% 2,677 3.02% -12,662 -14.27% 88,751Totals2,245,84957.23%1,530,92339.01%147,4713.76%714,92618.22%3,924,243

By congressional district Harris won seven of ten congressional districts. Trump won three congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat. District Harris Trump Representative 62.15% 33.68%Suzan DelBene 59.84% 36.33%Rick Larsen 46.67% 49.95%Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 38.11% 58.66%Dan Newhouse42.85%53.56%Cathy McMorris Rodgers (118th Congress)Michael Baumgartner (119th Congress)57.72%38.56%Derek Kilmer (118th Congress)Emily Randall (119th Congress) 85.32% 10.78%Pramila Jayapal 50.93% 45.20%Kim Schrier 68.44% 27.49%Adam Smith 57.04% 39.14%Marilyn Strickland

Analysis Washington was the sixth-most Democratic state in the election behind Vermont, Maryland, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and California; the latter five states voted for Harris by more than 20%. This was the first election since 1956 in which Washington voted to the left of New York (which had the largest swing to the right in this election).

Washington was one of eleven states where Trump received fewer votes in this election than in 2020. The reason for all of their rightward swings is that Harris lost an even greater number of votes compared to Biden's 2020 run. With this election, Clallam County ended its 40-year bellwether streak, voting for the losing presidential candidate for the first time since 1976; Trump thus became the first Republican to win the White House without carrying this county since Richard Nixon in 1968. This was also the first time since 1896 that an unsuccessful Democrat won a majority of the county's vote. It had previously been the only county in the nation to vote for every presidential election winner since 1980.

See also 2024 Washington Initiative 2109 (a ballot initiative in Washington state on the same day) United States presidential elections in Washington (state) 2024 United States presidential election 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries 2024 United States elections

Notes

Partisan clients

References