The 2016 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2016. The top-two primary was held on August 2. 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.

Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Brad Owen, first elected to the office in 1996, announced that he would not seek a sixth term. Democratic state senator Cyrus Habib defeated Republican radio host Marty McClendon to succeed Owen.

Candidates Democratic Party

Advanced to general Cyrus Habib, state senatorhttps://www.fox13seattle.com/news/state-senator-announces-hes-running-for-lieutenant-governor

Eliminated in primary Karen Fraser, state senator Steve Hobbs, state senatorhttps://www.union-bulletin.com/news/northwest/lt-governor-race-draws-high-interest-11-candidates/article_4c2e2ada-4aad-11e6-a3a0-8b4b906331b4.html Karen Wallace

Declined Brad Owen, incumbent lieutenant governor (1997–2017)

Republican Party Advanced to general Marty McClendon, radio host and candidate of Washington's 6th congressional district in 2014

Eliminated in primary Javier Figueroa, University Place city councilorhttps://www.thenewstribune.com/news/politics-government/article88077797.html Bill Penor Phillip Yin, journalisthttps://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-01/22/content_23206831.htm

Third-party and independent candidates Eliminated in primary Paul Addis (Libertarian), business analyst for Alaska Airlines Daniel Davies (Independent) Mark Greene (Citizens), perennial candidate

Primary election Endorsements

Results Four Democrats (three of whom were state senators), four Republicans, two third-party candidates, and one independent competed in the primary election. Cyrus Habib (D) and Marty McClendon (R) finished as top two and advanced to the general election.

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Wahkiakum (largest city: Puget Island)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Clark (largest city: Vancouver)

By congressional district District Habib McClendon Fraser Hobbs Yin Representative 22% 19% 11% 19% 15%Suzan DelBene 22% 18% 15% 17% 11%Rick Larsen 10% 25% 17% 15% 9%Jaime Herrera Beutler 6% 33% 11% 13% 14%Dan Newhouse 10% 26% 12% 16% 12%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 20% 22% 18% 15% 9%Derek Kilmer 47% 6% 17% 15% 6%Jim McDermott 18% 24% 13% 15% 13%Dave Reichert 34% 11% 16% 15% 11%Adam Smith 16% 17% 25% 12% 11%Denny Heck

General election Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin CyrusHabib (D) MartyMcClendon (R) UndecidedElway PollElway PollOctober 20–22, 2016502 (RV)± 4.5%38%37%25%Elway PollElway PollAugust 9–13, 2016500 (RV)± 4.5%38%33%29%

Results

By county +CountyCyrus Habib DemocraticMarty McClendon RepublicanMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams1,31729.34%3,17170.66%-1,854-41.31%4,488Asotin3,36535.65%6,07464.35%-2,709-28.70%9,439Benton26,98834.08%52,20365.92%-25,215-31.84%79,191Chelan12,45138.37%19,99761.63%-7,546-23.26%32,448Clallam18,18447.45%20,14052.55%-1,956-5.10%38,324Clark91,82947.14%102,98952.86%-11,160-5.73%194,818Columbia54326.02%1,54473.98%-1,001-47.96%2,087Cowlitz18,78342.23%25,69857.77%-6,915-15.55%44,481Douglas4,80731.81%10,30368.19%-5,496-36.37%15,110Ferry1,18934.25%2,28365.75%-1,094-31.51%3,472Franklin8,72137.19%14,73262.81%-6,011-25.63%23,453Garfield29624.79%89875.21%-602-50.42%1,194Grant7,88228.51%19,76971.49%-11,887-42.99%27,651Grays Harbor13,20247.23%14,74852.77%-1,546-5.53%27,950Island21,09050.18%20,93549.82%1550.37%42,025Jefferson13,06565.57%6,86134.43%6,20431.14%19,926King670,75470.13%285,68929.87%385,06540.26%956,443Kitsap63,73952.00%58,84248.00%4,8973.99%122,581Kittitas7,24939.70%11,01260.30%-3,763-20.61%18,261Klickitat4,33241.49%6,10958.51%-1,777-17.02%10,441Lewis10,47331.22%23,07768.78%-12,604-37.57%33,550Lincoln1,26722.74%4,30577.26%-3,038-54.52%5,572Mason12,48945.23%15,12354.77%-2,634-9.54%27,612Okanogan6,48339.08%10,10760.92%-3,624-21.84%16,590Pacific4,95047.90%5,38552.10%-435-4.21%10,335Pend Oreille2,16132.57%4,47367.43%-2,312-34.85%6,634Pierce171,25250.17%170,09749.83%1,1550.34%341,349San Juan7,39869.94%3,17930.06%4,21939.89%10,577Skagit27,00149.27%27,80350.73%-802-1.46%54,804Skamania2,33343.28%3,05856.72%-725-13.45%5,391Snohomish181,85353.82%156,06746.18%25,7867.63%337,920Spokane94,83842.55%128,05257.45%-33,214-14.90%222,890Stevens6,13327.65%16,04772.35%-9,914-44.70%22,180Thurston69,73555.21%56,56644.79%13,16910.43%126,301Wahkiakum86839.33%1,33960.67%-471-21.34%2,207Walla Walla9,75839.72%14,80660.28%-5,048-20.55%24,564Whatcom60,78656.51%46,77543.49%14,01113.03%107,561Whitman8,17948.37%8,72951.63%-550-3.25%16,908Yakima30,55440.28%45,29259.72%-14,738-19.43%75,846Totals1,698,29754.39%1,424,27745.61%274,0208.78%3,122,574

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles) Cowlitz (largest city: Longview) Grays Harbor (largest city: Aberdeen) Mason (largest city: Shelton) Pacific (largest city: Raymond) Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon) Wahkiakum (largest city: Puget Island)

By congressional district Habib won six of ten congressional districts. District Habib McClendon Representative 53% 47%Suzan DelBene 58% 42%Rick Larsen 44% 56%Jaime Herrera Beutler 36% 64%Dan Newhouse 41% 59%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 53% 47%Derek Kilmer81%19%Jim McDermottPramila Jayapal 46% 54%Dave Reichert 69% 31%Adam Smith 53% 47%Denny Heck

References