The 2024 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024. The top-two primary was held on August 6. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jay Inslee was eligible to seek a fourth term but decided that he would not do so. The Democratic candidate, state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, defeated the Republican candidate, former Congressman Dave Reichert, who conceded defeat on November 19. Ferguson defeated Reichert with 55.51% of the vote in the general election. He also became the first Democrat to win Clallam County since 2000.

This election marked the 11th consecutive victory of the Democratic candidate for governor of Washington. Washington has 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 has not had a Democratic governor since Harvey Wollman left office in 1979) and Utah (which has not had a Democratic governor since Scott Matheson left office nine days prior to Spellman in 1985).

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 advance to the general election.

The filing deadline was May 10, 2024. On that day, two candidates named Bob Ferguson entered the race at the behest of a conservative activist who sought people with the same surname as Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who was considered the Democratic frontrunner. The two new candidates—a retired state employee and a U.S. Army veteran—resigned from the race on May 13, the deadline to withdraw, after questions about the legality of their campaigns arose. Washington's state statutes prohibit a new candidate with the same surname as an already-filed candidate from running with the intent to confuse or mislead voters.

Democratic candidates Advanced to general Bob Ferguson, Washington Attorney General

Eliminated in primary Ricky Anthony, retiree Edward Cale IV, postal worker Fred Grant, communications professional Cassondra Hanson, retail worker Chaytan Inman, artificial intelligence engineer EL'ona Kearney, forgiveness coach Mark Mullet, state senator Don Rivers, retired King County Metro worker and perennial candidate

Withdrawn Bob Arthur Ferguson, former state employee Bob Benjamin Ferguson, veteran Hilary Franz, Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands (ran for U.S. House)

Declined Dow Constantine, King County Executive Denny Heck, Lieutenant Governor of Washington and former U.S. representative from (ran for re-election) Jay Inslee, incumbent governor and candidate for President of the United States in 2020 (endorsed Ferguson)

Republican candidates Advanced to general Dave Reichert, former U.S. representative for (2005–2019)

Eliminated in primary Semi Bird, former P.C.O. and chair for the Benton County Republican Party (2022–2024) and former Richland school board member (2021–2023) A.L. Brown Jim Daniel, former Klickitat Hospital Board commissioner Bill Hirt, retired aircraft engineer and perennial candidate Jennifer Hoover, pastor Martin Wheeler, farmer and candidate for governor in 2020

Withdrawn Raul Garcia, physician and candidate for governor in 2020 (endorsed Reichert, ran for U.S. Senate)

Declined Bruce Dammeier, Pierce County Executive (2017–present) and former state senator (2013–2017) (endorsed Reichert) Jaime Herrera Beutler, former U.S. representative for (2011–2023) (ran for Public Lands Commissioner) Loren Culp, former Republic police chief, runner-up for governor in 2020, and candidate for in 2022 (endorsed Bird) Drew MacEwen, state senator (ran for U.S. House, endorsed Reichert) J.T. Wilcox, state representative and former Minority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives

Third-party and independent candidates Eliminated in primary Brian Bogen (Independent), businessman Jim Clark (Independent), computer programmer William Combs (Independent), U.S. Navy veteran Jeff Curry (Independent), school bus driver Frank Dare (Independent), retiree Michael DePaula (Libertarian), enterprise engineer Leon Lawson (Trump Republican), used car dealer, proponent of the QAnon conspiracy theory, candidate for governor in 2020, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022 Alan Makayev (Nonsense Busters), property manager Rosetta Marshall-Williams (Independence) Brad Mjelde (Independent), retired businessman Andre Stackhouse (Green), Whole Washington (nonprofit) executive director Alex Tsimerman (Standup-America), business consultant and perennial candidate

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorSemiBird (R)BobFerguson (D)MarkMullet (D)DaveReichert (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)July 24–25, 2024581 (LV)± 4.0%10%39%5%28%18%SurveyUSAJuly 10–13, 2024564 (LV)± 5.2%7%42%4%33%14%RMG ResearchMay 20–23, 2024800 (RV)–4%33%5%31%21%Cascade PBS/Elway ResearchMay 13–16, 2024403 (RV)± 5.0%5%22%6%20%47%Public Policy Polling (D)May 15–16, 2024615 (LV)± 4.0%11%35%4%28%22%Echelon InsightsMarch 18–21, 2024600 (RV)± 4.7%7%23%5%28%37%Public Policy Polling (D)February 13–14, 2024789 (LV)± 3.5%9%35%4%27%25%Echelon InsightsDecember 9–13, 2023500 (RV)± 5.5%5%27%3%28%37%Public Policy Polling (D)November 14–15, 2023700 (LV)± 3.7%10%31%5%31%22%

with Bird, Ferguson, Franz, Garcia, and Mullet Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin SemiBird (R) BobFerguson (D) HilaryFranz (D) RaulGarcia (R) MarkMullet (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D) Jun 7–8, 2023 773 (LV) ± 3.5%10%25%9%17%7%33% with Constantine, Dammeier, Ferguson, and Franz Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin DowConstantine (D) BruceDammeier (R) BobFerguson (D) HilaryFranz (D) Other /UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D) March 7–8, 2023 874 (LV) ± 3.3%7%35%21%7%30% with Inslee, generic Republican, and generic Democrat Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JayInslee (D) GenericRepublican GenericDemocrat UndecidedCrosscut/Elway December 27–29, 2022 403 (RV) ± 5%34%35%17%14%

Results

By county +CountyBob Ferguson DemocraticDave Reichert RepublicanSemi Bird RepublicanMark Mullet DemocraticOther candidates Various partiesMarginTotal votes#%#%#%#%#%#%Adams35814.34%1,26750.74%39815.94%753.00%39915.98%-869-34.80%2,497Asotin1,41124.70%2,05836.03%71512.52%2624.59%1,26622.16%-647-11.33%5,712Benton13,11026.01%15,17530.11%12,86925.53%1,9913.95%7,25514.39%-2,065-4.10%50,400Chelan7,55533.31%10,96348.34%1,8618.21%6292.77%1,6727.37%-3,408-15.03%22,680Clallam13,01444.42%7,77426.53%3,69112.60%1,5445.27%3,27711.18%5,24017.88%29,300Clark49,35636.84%20,53315.33%31,59023.58%9,4227.03%23,07217.22%17,76613.26%133,973Columbia24018.24%45934.88%30122.87%1017.67%21516.34%-158-12.01%1,316Cowlitz7,94627.33%8,30928.57%4,91216.89%1,1093.81%6,80223.39%-363-1.25%29,078Douglas2,68723.91%5,96753.09%1,38912.36%2502.22%9468.42%-3,280-29.18%11,239Ferry55522.91%1,03842.84%41317.04%552.27%36214.94%-483-19.93%2,423Franklin3,09221.87%4,37230.92%3,50824.81%5103.61%2,65718.79%-864-6.11%14,139Garfield9712.83%42956.75%719.39%131.72%14619.31%-332-43.92%756Grant3,00117.64%8,42849.53%2,33413.72%2981.75%2,95517.37%-5,427-31.89%17,016Grays Harbor7,18436.11%7,66738.54%2,07510.43%7383.71%2,22911.20%-483-2.43%19,893Island14,75747.72%9,56230.92%2,5868.36%1,1203.62%2,8979.37%5,19516.80%30,922Jefferson10,25864.21%2,58016.15%1,2347.72%7194.50%1,1847.41%7,67848.06%15,975King340,33461.30%109,37419.70%19,5213.52%45,3238.16%40,6747.33%230,96041.60%555,226Kitsap39,79846.98%23,85828.16%7,5278.88%4,7445.60%8,78910.37%15,94018.82%84,716Kittitas3,55728.95%5,19142.25%1,89715.44%4753.87%1,1679.50%-1,634-13.30%12,287Klickitat2,39431.66%1,30017.19%2,13528.24%3734.93%1,35917.97%2593.43%7,561Lewis5,45722.30%13,16953.81%2,79511.42%6412.62%2,4119.85%-7,712-31.51%24,473Lincoln59114.75%1,66741.61%1,06226.51%1002.50%58614.63%-605-15.10%4,006Mason7,30636.55%7,53037.67%2,49012.46%7183.59%1,9459.73%-224-1.12%19,989Okanogan3,59830.03%4,19234.98%2,02316.88%4263.56%1,74414.55%-594-4.96%11,983Pacific3,02836.62%2,61331.60%84210.18%2593.13%1,52718.47%4155.02%8,269Pend Oreille1,05123.24%1,37830.47%1,25327.71%1162.57%72416.01%-125-2.76%4,522Pierce83,81039.68%80,48038.11%14,7206.97%12,5945.96%19,5999.28%3,3301.58%211,203San Juan4,99562.02%1,54419.17%1942.41%5016.22%82010.18%3,45142.85%8,054Skagit15,85242.44%11,75031.46%4,05310.85%2,0535.50%3,6409.75%4,10210.98%37,348Skamania1,18829.48%66116.40%1,10627.44%2235.53%85221.14%822.03%4,030Snohomish88,62643.74%62,10130.65%16,8768.33%13,9316.88%21,08910.41%26,52513.09%202,623Spokane50,78835.43%37,40226.09%31,31421.85%5,4253.78%18,40712.84%13,3869.34%143,336Stevens2,92318.46%5,31233.54%4,49728.40%4933.11%2,61216.49%-815-5.15%15,837Thurston40,93546.71%29,21833.34%4,4935.13%5,5726.36%7,4148.46%11,71713.37%87,632Wahkiakum52629.34%60933.97%25814.39%583.23%34219.07%-83-4.63%1,793Walla Walla5,01934.16%3,66024.91%2,90919.80%4473.04%2,65618.08%1,3599.25%14,691Whatcom34,12047.40%17,26723.99%9,87213.71%3,5234.89%7,20310.01%16,85323.41%71,985Whitman3,21534.24%3,24334.54%9299.89%3323.54%1,67117.80%-28-0.30%9,390Yakima10,53625.03%11,43327.16%9,97923.71%1,8854.48%8,25719.62%-897-2.13%42,090Totals884,26844.88%541,53327.48%212,69210.79%119,0486.04%212,82210.80%342,73517.39%1,970,363

By congressional district District Ferguson Reichert Bird Mullet Representative 48% 28% 7% 8%Suzan DelBene 48% 27% 10% 6%Rick Larsen 33% 24% 20% 6%Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 25% 33% 22% 4%Dan Newhouse 32% 28% 22% 4%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 47% 30% 9% 5%Derek Kilmer 75% 10% 2% 7%Pramila Jayapal 37% 38% 9% 8%Kim Schrier 56% 23% 4% 7%Adam Smith 44% 35% 5% 6%Marilyn Strickland

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report August 27, 2024 Inside ElectionsSeptember 1, 2023 Sabato's Crystal BallJune 4, 2024 RCPJuly 13, 2024 Elections DailyJuly 12, 2023 CNalysisAugust 17, 2024

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of November 5, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handBob Ferguson (D)$14,091,789$13,939,376$152,413Dave Reichert (R)$6,729,173$6,226,422$502,751Source: Washington State Public Disclosure Commission

Debates Date Ferguson Reichert LinkSeptember 11, 2024ParticipantParticipant YouTubeSeptember 18, 2024ParticipantParticipant YouTube

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated BobFerguson (D)DaveReichert (R) UndecidedMargin270ToWinOctober 17 – November 4, 2024November 4, 202450.8%38.0%11.2%Ferguson +12.8% Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin BobFerguson (D)DaveReichert (R)OtherUndecidedResearch Co.November 2–3, 2024450 (LV)± 4.6%54%40%1%5%ActiVoteActiVote October 3–29, 2024400 (LV)± 4.9%59%41%––ActiVoteSeptember 14 – October 20, 2024400 (LV)± 4.9%58%42%––Public Policy Polling (D)October 16–17, 2024571 (LV)± 4.1%48%41%–10%Strategies 360October 11–16, 2024600 (RV)± 4.0%51%41%–8%SurveyUSAOctober 9–14, 2024703 (LV)± 4.9%50%34%–16%Cascade PBS/Elway ResearchOctober 8–12, 2024401 (LV)± 5.0%51%37%1%11%RMG Research (R)September 18–20, 2024800 (RV)± 3.5%48%40%3%9%Cascade PBS/Elway ResearchSeptember 3–6, 2024403 (RV)± 5.0%50%39%3%9%Cygnal (R)August 28–30, 2024500 (LV)± 4.4%48%45%–8%Public Policy Polling (D)July 24–25, 2024581 (LV)± 4.0%49%43%–8%DHM ResearchJuly 12–17, 2024500 (RV)± 4.4%45%32%10%12%Public Policy Polling (D)May 15–16, 2024615 (LV)± 4.0%48%42%–10%Echelon Insights (R)March 18–21, 2024600 (RV)± 4.7%30%39%–31%Public Policy Polling (D)February 13–14, 2024789 (LV)± 3.5%46%42%–11%Echelon Insights (R)December 9–13, 2023500 (LV)± 5.5%35%39%–26%Public Policy Polling (D)November 14–15, 2023700 (LV)± 3.5%44%46%–9%

Bob Ferguson vs. Semi Bird Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin BobFerguson (D)SemiBird (R)UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)July 24–25, 2024581 (LV)± 4.0%52%38%10%

Results

By county