SEATTLE — Although most eyes were on the vote for the next president—where the Associated Press declared Donald Trump the next president after a victory over Kamala Harris—Washingtonians were also watching local races and initiatives.
SEE MORE RESULTS | National – Washington state – Local
The Washington Office of the Secretary of Statereleased the first round of initial election results for Washington state.
There are still several races across the state where an official winner has not been named. On Monday, the OSOS announced the state had officially reached 5 million registered voters. The SOS is responsible for certifying all elections and conducting any election recountsacross the state.
County canvassing boardshave until Nov. 26 to certify and transmit the resultsof the November general election. The last day for the Secretary of State to certify the election resultsis Dec. 5.
Below are the initial results from Tuesday night from the SOS for key races in Washington state:
Longtime Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson was elected governor of Washington on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. Ferguson defeated former U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, a Republican, in a state that’s considered a Democratic stronghold.
Democratic nominee Ferguson won the primary election in August with 44.88% of the vote, according to Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State.
Ferguson, 59, has been the state’s attorney general since 2013. He came to national prominence by repeatedly suing the administration of former President Donald Trump, including bringing the lawsuit that blocked Trump’s initial travel ban on citizens of several majority Muslim nations.
Reichert, 74, served two terms as the elected sheriff of King County, which includes Seattle, before spending seven terms in Congress. Reichert highlighted his 33 years at the sheriff’s office, including helping track down the Green River serial killer, Gary Ridgway.
Gov. Jay Inslee was not seeking re-election after winning three terms in the role.
Reichert is running to become Washington’s first Republican governor since the 1980s. In September, Ferguson and Reichert exchanged accusations at a gubernatorial debate in Spokane.
Lieutenant Governor
Initial results show Denny Heck leading against Dan Matthews in the race for Lieutenant Governor with 56.6% of the vote, as of Tuesday night.
Democrat nominee Heck was elected to the position in 2020 and won 48.62% of the vote during the August primary. Republican nominee Matthews, a U.S. Air Force Reserve veteran and pilot, won 22.99% of the vote during the primary election to advance to the general election.
The lieutenant governor’s role is the highest office of the state after the governor and serves a four-year term.
Whoever holds this role fills in as acting governor whenever the governor is out of state or is unable to serve. The lieutenant governor also serves as the president of the Washington State Senate.
Initial results showNick Brown leading against Pete Serrano in the race for Washington attorney general with 56% of the vote, as of Tuesday night.
The attorney general serves as the chief legal officer for the state, which provides legal representation to the state of Washington, its agencies, and state officials.
Brown has worked as the general counsel for Gov. Jay Inslee and as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District in Washington, according to his website. Brown won 35.28% of the votes during the primary election.
Serrano has worked as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Energy. He won 42.11% of the votes during the August primary election.
The attorney general also represents the public interest as directed by state law during a four-year term.
Democrat Steve Hobbs has won the race for secretary of state in Washington against Republican Dale Whitaker, according to the Associated Press.
Initial voting results show Hobbs with 60% of the vote, as of Tuesday night.
The Secretary of State serves as the chief elections officer and is responsible for handling elections across the state during a four-year term.
Hobbs ran for re-election after being elected in 2022. He was appointed to the secretary of state position by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2021 to replace Kim Wyman, who left the position to take a role with the Biden administration. During the primary election, Hobbs won 48.38% of the vote.
Whitaker, a tax and accounting professional, won 36.87% of the vote in the August primary. He moved to Spokane, Washington in 2008 after emigrating from the United Kingdom to the United States. He officially became a U.S. citizen in 2015.
This role is second in the line of succession to the governor behind the lieutenant governor.
Treasurer
Democrat Mike Pellicciotti has won the race for Washington treasurer against RepublicanSharon Hanek, according to the Associated Press.
Initial voting results show Pellicciotti with 58% of the vote, as of Tuesday night.
The treasurer serves as the state’s chief financial officer. The position is responsible for managing cash flow, investments and debt of all major state accounts during a four-year term.
Pellicciotti sought re-election after being elected to this position in 2020. Pellicciotti won 58.32% of the votes during the primary election.
The Republican nominee Hanek has previously worked as a licensed Certified Public Accountant before turning to tax and financial advising for small businesses and clients, according to her website. During the primary election, she won 41.6% of the votes.
The treasurer also serves on the State Investment Board by providing guidance on long-term debt management and investments, according to the Washington Office of the Secretary of State.
Auditor
DemocratPat McCarthy has won the race for Washington state auditor against RepublicanMatt Hawkins, according to the Associated Press.
Initial voting results show McCarthy with 59% of the vote, as of Tuesday night.
The auditor is an elected state executive position that conducts audits of financial information at all levels of the state government.
McCarthy was the incumbent after she was elected to the role in 2016. During the primary election, McCarthy won 58.82% of the vote.
Republican nominee Hawkins has worked in various industries investment banking and private business ownership for over 40 years, according to his website. In August, Hawkins won 41.09% of the primary vote.
The auditor role serves a four-year term.
Commissioner of Public Lands
Initial results show Dave Upthegrove leading against Jaime Herrera Beutler in the race for Washington commissioner of public lands with 53% of the vote.
Hilary Franz, who was elected to the position in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, chose to not seek a third term, choosing to run for governor and eventually the U.S. House.
During the primary election, the results of the commissioner of public lands underwent a mandatory statewide manual recount. After the recount, the secretary of state certified the results, confirming that Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler and Democrat Dave Upthegrove would advance to the November general election.
Beutler has previously served as the U.S. House of Representatives for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District from 2011 to 2023. She also previously served in the Washington State House of Representatives from 2007 to 2010, according to her website.
In the primary election, Beutler won 22.03% of the votes.
Upthegrove has served as the chair of the King County Council and was appointed to the Washington House of Representatives in 2001 and served until 2013.
During the August primary, Upthegrove won 20.82% of the vote.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Initial results showChris Reykdal leading against David Olson in the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington with 54% of the vote.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is responsible for overseeing the state’s K-12 education system during a four-year term. The superintendent works with the state’s 295 public school districts and six state-tribal education compact schools.
Both candidates are running with no party preference in this election.
Reykdal is running for re-election. He has served as the superintendent of public instruction since 2017. In the primary election, he won 39.3% of the votes.
Olson is a member of the Peninsula Board of Directors representing District 5. Olson won 31.22% of the votes during the primary election.
Insurance Commissioner
Initial results show Patty Kuderer leading against Phil Fortunato in the race for Washington insurance commissioner with 57% of the vote, as of Tuesday night.
The commissioner of insurance in the state of Washington is in charge of the state insurance industry. They regulate the insurance companies doing business in Washington.
Mike Kreidler, who was elected to the position in 2000 and re-elected five times, announced in May of 2023 that he would not be seeking a sixth term.
Democratic nominee Patty Kuderer has served as a member of the Washington State Senate representing District 48 since 2015, according to her website. During the primary election, Kuderer won 45.18% of the votes.
Republican nominee Phil Fortunato has served as a member of the Washington State Senate representing District 31 since taking office in 2017, according to his website. He also served as the State Representative for the 47th District from 1998 to 2000.
During the August primary election, Fortunato won 28.52% of the vote.
Early election results show 51.22% of voters are in favor of Initiative 2066, while 48.78% voted against it, as of Tuesday night.
I-2066, also known as the Natural Gas Policies Measures, would prohibit state and local governments from restricting access to natural gas and ban the state building code council from discouraging or penalizing the use of natural gas in any building.
I-2066 is sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Washington and supported by Let’s Go Washington and the Washington Hospitality Association.
The initiative was passed in response to House Bill 1589, which passed during the 2024 legislative session. HB 1589, in part, aims to reduce carbon emissions, which includes planning requirements.
Results from a late October Pulse of Washington poll indicated the initiative was running a little closer than the others, with 38% of respondents planning to vote no, keep natural gas as an option with incentives for consumers staying in place to transition to clean utilities.
If approved by voters, the effective date of the initiative would be Dec. 5.
Initial election results show a majority of Washington voters have rejected Initiative 2109, with 63% of residents voting against the initiative and 37% voting in favor, as of Tuesday night.
I-2109would repeal an excise tax imposed on the sale or exchange of certain long-term capital assets by individuals who have annual capital gains of over $250,000.The capital gains tax applies to only some types of capital assets held for longer than a year, such as stocks, bonds, precious metals, or artwork,according to the Washington Office of the Secretary of State.
This measure would decrease funding for K-12 education, higher education, school construction, early learning, and childcare. The provisions of the initiative apply prospectively, not retroactively.
The initiative is estimated to result in revenue loss of $2,163,000,000 over five fiscal years from the Education Legacy Trust Account, according to the Washington Office of the Secretary of State.
If approved by voters, Initiative 2109 will result in an estimated state revenue loss of $2.2 billion over five state fiscal years.
If approved by voters, the effective date of the initiative would be Dec. 5.
Voters in Washington state on Tuesday upheld a groundbreaking law that is forcing companies to cut carbon emissions while raising billions of dollars for programs that include habitat restoration and preparing for climate change.
Initial election results from Tuesday show 62% of voters rejected I-2117, while only 38% of voters were in favor of it.
I-2117 would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This measure would also decrease funding for investments in transportation, clean air, renewable energy, conservation, and emissions reduction, according to the Washington Office of the Secretary of State. The provisions of the initiative apply prospectively, not retroactively.
If approved by voters, Initiative 2117 will reduce state revenue from carbon allowance auctions by $3.8 billion and reduce state expenditures by $1.71 billion between the effective date of the initiative and June 30, 2029.
Results from a late October Pulse of Washington pollshowed that of the 600people surveyed, 36% said they would vote yes on the initiative, while 53% of respondents said they plan to vote no.
If approved by voters, the effective date of the initiative would be Dec. 5.
Early election results show 55% of Washington voters are rejecting Initiative 2124, while 45% approve of the initiative.
I-2124 would amend the Washington Cares Act and allow employees and self-employed people to opt out of the state’s long-term care program.
The measure would also repeal a law governing an exemption for employees. This measure would decrease funding for Washington’s public insurance program providing long-term care benefits and services.
It is unknown how many current and future workers will choose to continue to participate in the program. Therefore, the total impacts to revenue and program costs, including the amount for paying future benefits, are indeterminate.
If voters approve Initiative 2124, there will be additional expenses to the state due to administrative costs. Estimated expenses for the first three state fiscal years combined are in the range of $12,623,250 to $31,215,960,according to the Washington Office of the Secretary of State.
If approved, the provisions of the initiative apply prospectively, not retroactively.
If approved by voters, the effective date of the initiative would be Dec. 5.
Initial election results show 67% of voters in Seattle have approved the city’s biggest property tax levy, according to Washington’s Office of Secretary of State.
The transportation levy known as Seattle’s Proposition 1will authorize an 8-year tax increase beginning in 2025 of approximately $65 per $100,000 in assessed value, up to a maximum of $271 per $100,000 in assessed value, to fund transportation projects.
The levy needed a majority of the vote to be approved.
Initial election results show Alexis Mercedes Rinck leading in the race for Seattle’s City Council Position 8 over Tanya Woo with 58% of the vote.
The position is currently held by businesswoman Woo who was appointed in January. She filled the vacancy left by King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. Eight candidates were initially nominated by the city council for the vacant seat after it received 72 applications.
Even though Woo had been endorsed by most of the city council she was trailing Rinck in the August primary election.
Early voting results show Keith Swank with a narrow lead in the Pierce County sheriff’s race against opponent Patti Jackson with 51.46% of the vote.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the state.
Swank has lived in Pierce County for 20 years but has spent the majority of his career working for the Seattle Police Department. He is currently the SWAT team commander and has 33 years of experience in law enforcement, according to his website.
Swank is a U.S. Army veteran and is an alum of the University of Washington.
Jackson has worked for the PCSD for 35 years. She worked most of her career at the county jail but currently serves as the Patrol Bureau Chief. She ran her campaign focused on crime prevention, accountability and community engagement, according to her website.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell won a fifth term in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, fending off a challenge from Republican emergency room doctor Raul Garcia and holding a seat that was considered safe.
Cantwell took about 58% of the vote in the August top-two primary to Garcia’s roughly 21%. Cantwell, a former tech executive, stressed her work to promote businesses in Washington, protect the environment and lower taxes for middle-income residents.
U.S. House of Representatives District 1
Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Washington on Tuesday.
DelBene defeated Republican Jeb Brewer, a political newcomer. The upcoming term will be DelBene’s seventh representing largely suburban and rural areas northeast of Seattle. She serves on the Ways and Means Committee and is the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
A former tech entrepreneur, DelBene lists technology issues, health care, trade and environmental conservation among her priorities.
The Associated Press declared DelBene the winner at 1:28 a.m. EST.
U.S. House of Representatives District 2
Democratic Rep. Rick Larsen won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Washington on Tuesday. Larsen has held the seat since 2001, serving as the lead Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
He defeated Republican Cody Hart, a Navy veteran who owns an engineering firm and has been a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump.
The district in northwest Washington includes several northern Seattle suburbs, many cities along the Interstate 5 corridor and such islands as San Juan.
Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Washington over Dan Alexander on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. Democratic nominee and incumbent Jayapal led the August primary election with 79.86% of the vote.
Jayapal was first elected to the 7th Congressional District in 2016. She’s entering her fifth term representing the district that includes Seattle and surrounding areas. The seat has been held by a Democrat since 1979. A former Washington state senator, Jayapal was the first South Asian American woman to be elected to the U.S. House. She is chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and serves on the Judiciary, Education and Labor, and Budget committees.
U.S. House of Representatives District 8
Democratic Rep. Kim Schrier won a fourth term in Washington, beating Republican Carmen Goers in a district made up of a mix of wealthy Seattle exurbs and central Washington farmland. The Associated Press called the race on Thursday.
“The Eighth District has made it clear who they want representing them – a pragmatic leader who is dedicated to working with both parties,” Schrier said in a statement. “I am thrilled that I get to continue my work to bring down costs for my constituents, protect a woman’s right to choose, and support local police and improve public safety.”
The 8th District seat had always been held by the GOP before Schrier, a pediatrician, took office in 2019. She survived a series of somewhat close races since then before facing Goers this year.
As of Thursday morning, Schrier had 54.09% of the vote, while Goers had 45.71%.
Democratic Rep. Adam Smith won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Washington on Tuesday.
Smith has held the seat since 1996 when he beat the Republican incumbent. He was challenged by another Democrat, Melissa Chaudhry, who beat two Republicans in the primary.
The 9th Congressional District includes South Seattle, and the cities of Bellevue, SeaTac and Renton, which is home to a Boeing plant. He’s the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee.
Smith was one of the early voices calling for President Joe Biden to drop out of the race.
More election results:National | Washington state | Local
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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