# 2020 Washington elections

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General elections were held in the U.S. state of Washington on November 3, 2020. A primary was held on August 4.

## Federal
### President of the United States

Washington has 12 electoral votes for the presidential election, remaining unchanged from 2016. A presidential primary for both parties was held on March 10, 2020, with 13 candidates for the Democrats and one candidate for the Republicans. The 2020 Democratic primary was the first in the state's history to have a binding vote, replacing the caucus system that overrode the nonbinding primary vote.

### United States House of Representatives

All 10 of Washington's seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for re-election. All but one of the incumbents ran for re-election, the exception being Denny Heck (D) of the 10th district.

## Statewide executive
### Governor

Incumbent governor Jay Inslee (D) was re-elected to a third term in a landslide.

### Lieutenant governor

Incumbent lieutenant governor Cyrus Habib (D) retired from politics. U.S. Representative Denny Heck won the open seat.

### Attorney general

Incumbent attorney general Bob Ferguson (D) was re-elected to a third term.

#### Polling
##### Blanket primary

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bob Ferguson (D) | Matt Larkin (R) | Brett Rogers (R) | Mike Vaska (R) | Undecided |
| SurveyUSA | July 22–27, 2020 | 513 (LV) | ± 5.4% | 52% | 13% | 7% | 5% | 22% |
| SurveyUSA | May 16–19, 2020 | 650 (LV) | ± 5.6% | 47% | 8% | 8% | 4% | 32% |

##### General election

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bob Ferguson (D) | Matt Larkin (R) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 53% | 39% | 8% |
| SurveyUSA | October 8–10, 2020 | 591 (LV) | ± 5.2% | 49% | 38% | 13% |
2020 Washington Attorney General election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bob Ferguson (incumbent) | 1,356,225 | 55.8 |
| | Republican | Matt Larkin | 575,470 | 23.7 |
| | Republican | Brett Rogers | 296,843 | 12.2 |
| | Republican | Mike Vaska | 199,826 | 8.2 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 2,372 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,430,736 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Bob Ferguson (incumbent) | 2,226,418 | 56.4 |
| | Republican | Matt Larkin | 1,714,927 | 43.5 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 3,968 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,945,313 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Secretary of state

Incumbent secretary of state Kim Wyman (R) was re-elected to a third term. State Representative Gael Tarleton (D–Seattle) unsuccessfully challenged Wyman.
2020 Washington Secretary of State election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kim Wyman (incumbent) | 1,238,455 | 50.9 |
| | Democratic | Gael Tarleton | 1,053,584 | 43.3 |
| | Independent | Ed Minger | 87,982 | 3.6 |
| | Washington Progressive Party | Gentry Lange | 51,826 | 2.1 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 1,919 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,433,766 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Kim Wyman (incumbent) | 2,116,141 | 53.6 |
| | Democratic | Gael Tarleton | 1,826,710 | 46.3 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 4,666 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,947,517 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### Public Lands Commissioner

Incumbent Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz (D) was re-elected to a second term. She defeated Republican nominee Sue Kuehl Pederson in the general election by 13.5%.
2022 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Republican |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Hilary Franz | Sue Kuehl Pederson |
| 1 | Oct. 2, 2020 | The Columbian | | YouTube | P | P |

#### Polling
##### General election

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Hillary Franz (D) | Sue Kuehl Pederson (R) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 49% | 36% | 15% |
2020 Washington Commissioner of Public Lands election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Hilary Franz (incumbent) | 1,211,310 | 51.1 |
| | Republican | Sue Kuehl Pederson | 554,147 | 23.4 |
| | Republican | Cameron Whitney | 197,610 | 8.3 |
| | Republican | Steve Sharon | 179,714 | 7.6 |
| | Democratic | Frank Wallbrown | 122,136 | 5.2 |
| | Libertarian | Kelsey Reyes | 77,407 | 3.4 |
| | Republican | Maryam Abasbarzy | 24,189 | 1.0 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 2,504 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,369,017 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Hilary Franz (incumbent) | 2,212,158 | 56.7 |
| | Republican | Sue Kuehl Pederson | 1,686,320 | 43.2 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 3,799 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,902,277 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### State auditor

Incumbent state auditor Pat McCarthy (D) was re-elected to a second term.
2022 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Republican |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Pat McCarthy | Chris Leyba |
| 1 | Sep. 23, 2020 | The Columbian | | YouTube | P | P |

#### Polling
##### General election

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Pat McCarthy (D) | Chris Leyba (R) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 48% | 34% | 14% |
2020 Washington State Auditor election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Pat McCarthy (incumbent) | 1,134,077 | 47.4 |
| | Republican | Chris Leyba | 982,411 | 41.1 |
| | Democratic | Joshua Casey | 273,198 | 11.4 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 2,278 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,391,964 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Pat McCarthy (incumbent) | 2,260,830 | 58.0 |
| | Republican | Chris Leyba | 1,633,956 | 41.9 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 3,316 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,898,102 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### State treasurer

Incumbent state treasurer Duane Davidson (R) ran for a second term. State Representative Mike Pellicciotti (D–Federal Way) defeated Davidson.
2020 Washington State Treasurer debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Republican |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Duane Davidson | Mike Pellicciotti |
| 1 | Sep. 17, 2020 | League of Women Voters of Washington League of Women Voters of Benton & Franklin counties The Spokesman-Review TVW | Matt Loveless | YouTube | P | P |

#### Polling
##### General election

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Duane Davidson (R) | Mike Pellicciotti (D) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 36% | 46% | 18% |
2020 Washington State Treasurer election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mike Pellicciotti | 1,279,452 | 53.2 |
| | Republican | Duane Davidson (incumbent) | 1,121,885 | 46.7 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 2,604 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,403,941 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Mike Pellicciotti | 2,089,159 | 53.4 |
| | Republican | Duane Davidson (incumbent) | 1,818,895 | 46.5 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 3,339 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,911,393 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent state superintendent Chris Reykdal (non-partisan election) was re-elected to a second term.
2020 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Nonpartisan | Nonpartisan |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Chris Reykdal | Maia Espinoza |
| 1 | Sep. 18, 2020 | Washington State Wire | | YouTube | P | P |
| 2 | Sep. 25, 2020 | City Inside/Out | Brian Callahan | YouTube | P | P |

#### Polling
##### General election

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Rekydal | Maia Espinoza | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 30% | 23% | 47% |
2020 Superintendent of Public Instruction election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Chris Reykdal (incumbent) | 898,951 | 40.2 |
| | Nonpartisan | Maia Espinoza | 564,674 | 25.3 |
| | Nonpartisan | Ron Higgins | 456,879 | 20.5 |
| | Nonpartisan | Dennis Wick | 121,425 | 5.4 |
| | Nonpartisan | David Spring | 111,176 | 5.0 |
| | Nonpartisan | Stan Lippmann | 71,395 | 3.2 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 9,571 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,234,071 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Nonpartisan | Chris Reykdal (incumbent) | 1,955,365 | 54.6 |
| | Nonpartisan | Maia Espinoza | 1,609,643 | 44.9 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 17,957 | 0.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,582,965 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Insurance Commissioner

Incumbent insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler (D) was re-elected to a sixth term. With over 65% of the vote, Kreidler had the best performance of any statewide candidate in this cycle.
2020 Washington Insurance Commissioner election debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Republican |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Mike Kreidler | Chirayu Avinash Patel |
| 1 | Oct. 14, 2020 | The Columbian | | YouTube | P | N |

#### Polling
##### General election

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Mike Kreidler (D) | Chirayu Avinash Patel (R) | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 52% | 30% | 18% |
2020 Washington Insurance Commissioner election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 1,402,650 | 59.0 |
| | Republican | Chirayu Avinash Patel | 644,446 | 27.1 |
| | Libertarian | Anthony Welti | 324,921 | 13.7 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 4,220 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,376,237 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 2,506,693 | 65.4 |
| | Republican | Chirayu Avinash Patel | 1,308,292 | 34.1 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 18,576 | 0.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,833,561 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Supreme Court

Seats 3, 4, and 7 of the Washington Supreme Court were up for six-year terms. Debra L. Stephens, Charles W. Johnson, and Raquel Montoya-Lewis ran for new terms. Seat 6 Justice Charles Wiggins retired and Governor Inslee's appointee G. Helen Whitener ran for the final two years of the term.

### Polling
#### Position 3

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Raquel Montoya-Lewis | David Larson | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 21% | 17% | 62% |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | May 19–20, 2020 | 1,070 (LV) | ± 3% | 14% | 8% | 78% |

#### Position 6

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | G. Helen Whitener | Richard S. Serns | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 22% | 12% | 66% |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | May 19–20, 2020 | 1,070 (LV) | ± 3% | 13% | 6% | 81% |

## Legislative
### State senate

Twenty-five of the forty-nine seats in the Washington State Senate were up for election. Democrats kept a 28–21 majority in the Senate. Senators retiring this election were Senators Randi Becker (R-Olympia), Maureen Walsh (R-Walla Walla), and Hans Zeiger (R-Puyallup). Senators Dean Takko (D) and Steve O'Ban (R) lost reelection.

### State House of Representatives

All 98 seats in the Washington House of Representatives were up for election. Democrats kept a 57–41 majority in the House. House members who didn't run for re-election were Representatives Sherry Appleton (D-Poulsbo), Richard DeBolt (R-Chehalis), Beth Doglio (D-Olympia), Chris Gildon (R-Puyallup), Bill Jenkin (R-Prosser), Christine Kilduff (D-University Place), Mike Pellicciotti (D-Federal Way), Eric Pettigrew (D-Seattle), Norma Smith (R-Clinton), and Gael Tarleton (D-Seattle). Representatives Luanne Van Werven (R) and Brian Blake (D) lost reelection.

### Ballot measures

No initiatives to the people qualified for the ballot. One referendum was on the ballot, on Senate Bill 5395 regarding sexual education. One constitutional amendment was on the ballot, regarding the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Account and the Long-Term Care Services and Supports Trust Account. It passed with 58% in favor.

## Ballot initiatives
### Polling

Referendum 90
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Approve | Reject | Undecided |
| PPP/NPI | October 14–15, 2020 | 610 (LV) | ± 4% | 56% | 33% | 11% |
| SurveyUSA/KING-TV | October 8–10, 2020 | 591 (LV) | ± 5.2% | 52% | 34% | 14% |