| Elections in Washington |
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Washington has 9 Executive seats, all elected at large. In 2008, all 9 positions were up for reelection. As of 2025, this was the last set of statewide elections in Washington in which any Republicans won by double digits.
Offices and Candidates
Governor
Incumbent Democratic governor Christine Gregoire ran for re-election, defeating Republican nominee Dino Rossi. In contrast to the previous election, where Gregoire narrowly defeated Rossi by only 129 votes, Gregoire won by 6.5%.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Christine Gregoire | 696,306 | 48.27 | |
| Republican | Dino Rossi | 668,571 | 46.35 | |
| Republican | John W. Aiken, Jr. | 21,564 | 1.49 | |
| Democratic | Christian Joubert | 16,646 | 1.15 | |
| Independent | James White | 10,884 | 0.75 | |
| Green | Duff Badgley | 9,702 | 0.67 | |
| Nonpartisan | Christopher Tudor | 5,600 | 0.39 | |
| Reform | Will Baker | 5,201 | 0.36 | |
| Republican | Javier O. Lopez | 4,981 | 0.35 | |
| Nonpartisan | Mohammad Hasan Said | 3,002 | 0.21 | |
| Total votes | 1,442,457 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Christine Gregoire (incumbent) | 1,598,738 | 53.24 | |
| Republican | Dino Rossi | 1,404,124 | 46.76 | |
| Total votes | 3,002,862 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Lt. Governor
Brad Owen, who has held this position since 1996, ran for re-election to a fourth term. He defeated Republican nominee Marcia McCraw in a landslide, winning over 60% of the vote.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Brad Owen (incumbent) | 706,641 | 52.08 | |
| Republican | Marcia McCraw | 347,551 | 25.62 | |
| Republican | Jim Wiest | 193,752 | 14.28 | |
| Democratic | Randel Bell | 53,694 | 4.02 | |
| Constitution | Arlene A. Peck | 48,887 | 3.60 | |
| Total votes | 1,335,908 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Brad Owen (incumbent) | 1,718,033 | 60.80 | |
| Republican | Marcia McCraw | 1,107,634 | 39.20 | |
| Total votes | 2,825,667 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Secretary of State
Sam Reed, who held this position since 2000, was re-elected to a third and final term, defeating Democrat Jason Osgood. As of 2025, this is the last time a Republican won the Secretary of State position by over 10%.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Sam Reed | 816,171 | 59.40 | |
| Democratic | Jason Osgood | 446,222 | 32.48 | |
| Constitution | Marilyn Montgomery | 88,728 | 6.46 | |
| Independent | Mark Greene | 22,800 | 1.66 | |
| Total votes | 1,330,036 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Sam Reed (incumbent) | 1,644,587 | 58.33 | |
| Democratic | Jason Osgood | 1,175,086 | 41.67 | |
| Invalid or blank votes | ||||
| Total votes | 2,819,673 | 100.00 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
State Treasurer
Incumbent State Treasurer Mike Murphy (D) retired. Democratic State Representative James McIntire and Republican Allan Martin advanced to the general election, where McIntire narrowly won the open seat.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Allan Martin | 613,595 | 45.33 | |
| Democratic | James McIntire | 533,443 | 39.41 | |
| Democratic | ChangMook Sohn | 206,457 | 15.25 | |
| Total votes | 1,353,495 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Jim McIntire | 1,420,022 | 51.08 | |
| Republican | Allen Martin | 1,360,063 | 48.92 | |
| Invalid or blank votes | ||||
| Total votes | 2,780,085 | 100.00 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Democratic hold | ||||
State Auditor
Incumbent State Auditor Brian Sonntag, who has held this position since 1993, ran for re-election to a fifth term. Sonntag defeated Republican Richard "Dick" McEntee with over 63% of the vote. As of 2022, this is the last election where the Democratic candidate for State Auditor received over 60% of the vote.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Brian Sonntag (incumbent) | 812,352 | 59.48 | |
| Republican | J. Richard (Dick) McEntee | 459,327 | 33.63 | |
| Constitution | Glenn Freeman | 94,148 | 6.89 | |
| Total votes | 1,267,935 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Brian Sonntag (incumbent) | 1,770,977 | 63.54 | |
| Republican | J. Richard (Dick) McEntee | 1,016,396 | 36.46 | |
| Invalid or blank votes | ||||
| Total votes | ||||
| Turnout | ||||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Attorney general
Incumbent Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna ran for re-election, facing Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, a Democrat, in the general election. McKenna won re-election in a landslide, winning by almost 20 points and carrying all but two counties. As of 2025, this is the last time a Republican was elected Washington Attorney General.
Polling
General election
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rob McKenna (R) |
John Ladenburg (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[2] | October 30 – November 2, 2008 | 663 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 59% | 36% | 6% |
| SurveyUSA[3] | October 26–27, 2008 | 630 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 57% | 36% | 7% |
| SurveyUSA[4] | October 12–13, 2008 | 544 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 54% | 38% | 8% |
| SurveyUSA[5] | September 21–22, 2008 | 682 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 53% | 39% | 8% |
| SurveyUSA[6] | September 5–7, 2008 | 658 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 55% | 40% | 5% |
| SurveyUSA[7] | August 11–12, 2008 | 718 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 51% | 43% | 6% |
| SurveyUSA[8] | July 13–15, 2008 | 666 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 49% | 41% | 10% |
| SurveyUSA[9] | June 7–9, 2008 | 637 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 49% | 42% | 9% |
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Rob McKenna (incumbent) | 783,240 | 56.98 | |
| Democratic | John Ladenburg | 591,254 | 43.02 | |
| Total votes | 1,374,494 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Rob McKenna (incumbent) | 1,689,764 | 59.46 | |
| Democratic | John Ladenburg | 1,152,174 | 40.54 | |
| Invalid or blank votes | ||||
| Total votes | 2,841,938 | 100.00 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
Commissioner of Public Lands
Incumbent Doug Sutherland (R), who had first been elected in 2000, ran for re-election against rancher Peter J. Goldmark in a highly contested race. Despite polls before the election showing Sutherland leading, on election day Goldmark narrowly defeated Sutherland.
Polling
General election
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Doug Sutherland (R) |
Peter Goldmark (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[2] | October 30 – November 2, 2008 | 663 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 48% | 42% | 10% |
| SurveyUSA[3] | October 26–27, 2008 | 630 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 43% | 12% |
| SurveyUSA[10] | October 12–13, 2008 | 544 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 47% | 38% | 15% |
| Primary election | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
| Republican | Doug Sutherland (incumbent) | 691,145 | 51.13 | |||
| Democratic | Peter J. Goldmark | 660,714 | 48.87 | |||
| Total votes | 1,351,859 | 100.00 | ||||
| General election | ||||||
| Democratic | Peter J. Goldmark | 1,416,904 | 50.55 | |||
| Republican | Doug Sutherland (incumbent) | 1,385,903 | 49.45 | |||
| Invalid or blank votes | ||||||
| Total votes | 2,802,807 | 100.00 | ||||
| Turnout | ||||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson ran for re-election to a third term. She was defeated by Randy Dorn. The superintendent is the only nonpartisan statewide election.
Polling
General election
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Terry Bergeson |
Randy Dorn |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[2] | October 30 – November 2, 2008 | 663 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 37% | 45% | 18% |
| SurveyUSA[3] | October 26–27, 2008 | 630 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 38% | 43% | 19% |
| SurveyUSA[11] | October 12–13, 2008 | 544 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 31% | 43% | 26% |
| SurveyUSA[12] | September 21–22, 2008 | 682 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 35% | 40% | 25% |
| SurveyUSA[13] | September 5–7, 2008 | 658 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 36% | 41% | 23% |
| SurveyUSA[14] | August 11–12, 2008 | 718 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 32% | 43% | 25% |
| SurveyUSA[15] | July 13–15, 2008 | 666 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 34% | 32% | 35% |
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Nonpartisan | Terry Bergeson (incumbent) | 477,130 | 39.31 | |
| Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn | 414,313 | 34.13 | |
| Nonpartisan | Don Hansler | 108,984 | 8.98 | |
| Nonpartisan | John P. Blair | 90,508 | 7.46 | |
| Nonpartisan | Enid Duncan | 78,983 | 6.51 | |
| Nonpartisan | David Blomstrom | 43,984 | 3.62 | |
| Total votes | 1,213,902 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn | 1,333,290 | 52.38 | |
| Nonpartisan | Terry Bergeson (incumbent) | 1,211,909 | 47.62 | |
| Total votes | 2,545,199 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
- Teresa (Terry) Bergeson (cw) (NP)
- John Patterson Blair (NP)
- David Blomstrom (cw) (NP)
- Randy Dorn (cw) (NP)
- Enid Duncan (NP)
- Donald Hansler (NP)
Insurance Commissioner
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 723,732 | 53.86 | |
| Republican | John Adams | 484,992 | 36.09 | |
| Nonpartisan | Curtis Fackler | 135,113 | 10.05 | |
| Total votes | 1,343,837 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 1,679,696 | 61.38 | |
| Republican | John Adams | 1,056,693 | 38.62 | |
| Total votes | 2,736,389 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
- John R. Adams (cw) (R)
- Curtis Fackler (cw) (NP)
- Mike Kreidler (cw) (D)
References
External links
- Election results – Washington Secretary of State
- Candidates who have filed