The 2016 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the Washington Public Lands Commissioner, concurrently with the 2016 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 Peter J. Goldmark retired. Democratic conservation attorney Hilary Franz defeated Republican Steve McLaughlin to succeed Goldmark.

Background Golmark was first elected in 2008, defeating then-incumbent public lands commissioner Doug Sutherland. He retired after serving two terms.

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, conservation attorney and former Bainbridge Island city councilor

Eliminated in primary Karen Porterfield, nominee of Washington's 8th congressional district in 2012 John Stillings, former competitive rowerhttps://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article89199117.html Dave Upthegrove, King County Councilor Mary Verner, former mayor of Spokane

Declined Peter J. Goldmark, incumbent public lands commissioner (2009–2017)

Republican Party Advanced to general Steve McLaughlin, retired United States Navy Commander

Libertarian Party Eliminated in primary Steven Nielson, former chairman of the Libertarian Party of Washingtonhttps://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article81013597.html

Primary election Endorsements

Results Five Democrats, one Republican, and one Libertarian competed in the primary. Steve McLaughlin (R) and Hilary Franz (D) finished as the top two and advanced to the general election.

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Cowlitz (largest city: Longview) Mason (largest city: Shelton)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles) Clark (largest city: Vancouver) Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon) Spokane (largest city: Spokane)

By congressional district District Franz McLaughlin Upthegrove Verner Representative 22% 40% 15% 11%Suzan DelBene 23% 36% 14% 13%Rick Larsen 16% 49% 8% 10%Jaime Herrera Beutler 11% 61% 5% 9%Dan Newhouse 9% 50% 5% 25%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 22% 38% 13% 12%Derek Kilmer 46% 13% 24% 9%Jim McDermott 17% 46% 14% 10%Dave Reichert 31% 25% 23% 11%Adam Smith 19% 38% 17% 12%Denny Heck

General election Post-primary endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin HilaryFranz (D) SteveMcLaughlin (R) UndecidedElway PollOctober 20–22, 2016502 (RV)± 4.5%36%31%33%Elway PollAugust 9–13, 2016500 (RV)± 4.5%33%32%35%

Results

By county +CountyHilary Franz DemocraticSteve McLaughlin RepublicanMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams1,23427.64%3,23072.36%-1,996-44.71%4,464Asotin3,17034.08%6,13165.92%-2,961-31.84%9,301Benton24,73431.85%52,91668.15%-28,182-36.29%77,650Chelan11,78036.93%20,11863.07%-8,338-26.14%31,898Clallam17,19845.64%20,48054.36%-3,282-8.71%37,678Clark91,65147.90%99,70652.10%-8,055-4.21%191,357Columbia49624.00%1,57176.00%-1,075-52.01%2,067Cowlitz18,01241.47%25,41858.53%-7,406-17.05%43,430Douglas4,46729.90%10,47170.10%-6,004-40.19%14,938Ferry1,08431.44%2,36468.56%-1,280-37.12%3,448Franklin8,19635.31%15,01564.69%-6,819-29.38%23,211Garfield25021.28%92578.72%-675-57.45%1,175Grant7,53627.56%19,80872.44%-12,272-44.88%27,344Grays Harbor12,21544.47%15,25555.53%-3,040-11.07%27,470Island20,22348.89%21,14551.11%-922-2.23%41,368Jefferson12,68064.38%7,01535.62%5,66528.76%19,695King648,37669.25%287,87730.75%360,49938.50%936,253Kitsap61,34450.94%59,07049.06%2,2741.89%120,414Kittitas6,82237.58%11,33362.42%-4,511-24.85%18,155Klickitat4,12639.97%6,19660.03%-2,070-20.05%10,322Lewis9,56428.89%23,54571.11%-13,981-42.23%33,109Lincoln1,11720.18%4,41779.82%-3,300-59.63%5,534Mason12,01544.48%15,00055.52%-2,985-11.05%27,015Okanogan6,06436.65%10,48163.35%-4,417-26.70%16,545Pacific4,57645.02%5,58954.98%-1,013-9.97%10,165Pend Oreille1,95829.59%4,65970.41%-2,701-40.82%6,617Pierce164,67249.35%169,00750.65%-4,335-1.30%333,679San Juan7,07568.49%3,25531.51%3,82036.98%10,330Skagit25,52947.10%28,66752.90%-3,138-5.79%54,196Skamania2,24841.92%3,11558.08%-867-16.17%5,363Snohomish172,03451.90%159,41248.10%12,6223.81%331,446Spokane89,71540.64%131,03859.36%-41,323-18.72%220,753Stevens5,81526.25%16,33473.75%-10,519-47.49%22,149Thurston67,19553.84%57,61946.16%9,5767.67%124,814Wahkiakum82637.75%1,36262.25%-536-24.50%2,188Walla Walla8,99537.03%15,29962.97%-6,304-25.95%24,294Whatcom58,34655.16%47,43644.84%10,91010.31%105,782Whitman7,56545.46%9,07554.54%-1,510-9.07%16,640Yakima29,46639.33%45,46360.67%-15,997-21.35%74,929Totals1,630,36953.16%1,436,81746.84%193,5526.31%3,067,186

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles) Clark (largest city: Vancouver) Cowlitz (largest city: Longview) Grays Harbor (largest city: Aberdeen) Island (largest city: Oak Harbor) Mason (largest city: Shelton) Pacific (largest city: Raymond) Pierce (largest city: Tacoma) Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon) Skamania (largest city: Carson) Spokane (largest city: Spokane) Wahkiakum (largest city: Puget Island) Whitman (largest city: Pullman)

By congressional district Franz won six of ten congressional districts. District Franz McLaughlin Representative 51% 49%Suzan DelBene 56% 44%Rick Larsen 44% 56%Jaime Herrera Beutler 34% 66%Dan Newhouse 39% 61%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 52% 48%Derek Kilmer80%20%Jim McDermottPramila Jayapal 46% 54%Dave Reichert 68% 32%Adam Smith 52% 48%Denny Heck

References