The 2020 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Washington Public Lands Commissioner, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the U.S. Senate and various state and local elections, including for U.S. House and governor of Washington. Incumbent Democratic Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz was re-elected to a second term in office.https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2020/11/biden-wins-wa-inslee-reelected-3rd-term-governor/

Background Franz was elected in 2016 against Republican Steve McLaughlin, winning 53% of the vote to succeed fellow Democrat Peter J. Goldmark.

Candidates 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.

Democratic Party Advanced to general Hilary Franz, incumbent public lands commissioner (2017–2025)

Eliminated in primary Frank Wallbrown, precinct committee officer

Declined Christine Rolfes, state senator

Republican Party Advanced to general Sue Kuehl Pederson, retired utility manager

Eliminated in primary Maryam Abasbarzy Steve Sharon, businessman Cameron Whitney, planning commissioner of Grand Coulee

Libertarian Party Eliminated in primary Kelsey Reyes

Primary election

Results

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

By congressional district District Franz Pederson Whitney Sharon Wallbrown Representative 51% 27% 7% 6% 4%Suzan DelBene 54% 21% 7% 7% 6%Rick Larsen 40% 30% 11% 10% 5%Jaime Herrera Beutler 29% 28% 18% 15% 5%Dan Newhouse 36% 26% 15% 12% 5%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 50% 23% 8% 8% 6%Derek Kilmer 80% 9% 2% 2% 4%Pramila Jayapal 44% 30% 9% 8% 4%Kim Schrier 65% 17% 4% 4% 7%Adam Smith 48% 27% 7% 7% 6%Denny Heck

General election Endorsements

+ 2020 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Hilary Franz Sue Kuehl Pederson1 Oct. 2, 2020 The Columbian YouTube

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin HilaryFranz (D) SueKuehl Pederson (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)October 14–15, 2020610 (LV)± 4%49%36%15%

Results

By county +CountyHilary Franz DemocraticSue Kuehl Pederson RepublicanWrite-in VariousMarginTotal votes#%#%#%#%Adams1,79131.81%3,82968.00%110.20%-2,038-36.19%5,631Asotin4,01335.32%7,32664.48%220.19%-3,313-29.16%11,361Benton35,75736.32%62,60263.58%1020.10%-26,845-27.26%98,461Chelan18,43644.42%23,03755.51%300.07%-4,601-11.09%41,503Clallam23,58649.78%23,75850.15%340.07%-172-0.36%47,378Clark129,40949.87%129,76750.01%3190.12%-358-0.14%259,495Columbia65227.44%1,72072.39%40.17%-1,068-44.95%2,376Cowlitz22,66839.38%34,83560.52%520.09%-12,167-21.14%57,555Douglas7,52536.75%12,93463.16%190.09%-5,409-26.41%20,478Ferry1,44334.30%2,75865.56%60.14%-1,315-31.26%4,207Franklin12,75540.69%18,57659.25%190.06%-5,821-18.57%31,350Garfield35925.77%1,03274.08%20.14%-673-48.31%1,393Grant11,28831.28%24,76668.63%340.09%-13,478-37.35%36,088Grays Harbor16,61245.05%20,23254.87%310.08%-3,620-9.82%36,875Island27,50153.31%24,02846.58%560.11%3,4736.73%51,585Jefferson16,60869.03%7,43730.91%150.06%9,17138.12%24,060King839,76972.93%310,92727.00%7930.07%528,84245.93%1,151,489Kitsap84,68555.64%67,34744.25%1750.11%17,33811.39%152,207Kittitas10,75542.63%14,45357.29%190.08%-3,698-14.66%25,227Klickitat5,58642.97%7,39456.88%190.15%-1,808-13.91%12,999Lewis13,80931.64%29,78168.24%530.12%-15,972-36.60%43,643Lincoln1,60623.56%5,20376.31%90.13%-3,597-52.76%6,818Mason16,54646.36%19,08453.47%590.17%-2,538-7.11%35,689Okanogan9,31245.39%11,17954.49%260.13%-1,867-9.10%20,517Pacific6,47447.84%7,03351.97%270.20%-559-4.13%13,534Pend Oreille2,58831.67%5,57168.16%140.17%-2,983-36.50%8,173Pierce234,89552.92%208,50046.97%5000.11%26,3955.95%443,895San Juan9,21273.12%3,37926.82%80.06%5,83346.30%12,599Skagit34,83250.30%34,31749.56%960.14%5150.74%69,245Skamania2,97942.27%4,05657.56%120.17%-1,077-15.28%7,047Snohomish237,53056.51%182,46143.41%3710.09%55,06913.10%420,362Spokane128,37145.54%153,10154.32%3880.14%-24,730-8.77%281,860Stevens7,74328.23%19,64871.63%370.13%-11,905-43.40%27,428Thurston91,18156.78%69,14343.06%2500.16%22,03813.72%160,574Wahkiakum1,08738.25%1,75161.61%40.14%-664-23.36%2,842Walla Walla12,86742.77%17,19357.15%250.08%-4,326-14.38%30,085Whatcom78,94859.00%54,77540.94%790.06%24,17318.07%133,802Whitman10,25850.85%9,89249.03%250.12%3661.81%20,175Yakima40,72244.13%51,49555.81%540.06%-10,773-11.68%92,271Totals2,212,15856.69%1,686,32043.21%3,7990.10%525,83813.48%3,902,277

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Island (largest city: Oak Harbor) Pierce (largest city: Tacoma) Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon) Whitman (largest city: Pullman)

By congressional district Franz won seven of ten congressional districts. District Franz Kuehl Pederson Representative 56% 44%Suzan DelBene 60% 40%Rick Larsen 46% 54%Jaime Herrera Beutler 39% 61%Dan Newhouse 43% 57%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 56% 44%Derek Kilmer 83% 17%Pramila Jayapal 50.0% 49.9%Kim Schrier 71% 28%Adam Smith55%45%Denny Heck (116th Congress)Marilyn Strickland (117th Congress)

Notes

Partisan clients

References