2012 Washington elections
Elections held in the state of Washington on November 6, 2012. A nonpartisan blanket primary was held on August 7, 2012.
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| Elections in Washington |
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Federal
U.S. President
In this election, Washington had 12 electors to the Electoral College. Incumbent Democratic president Barack Obama safely carried the state, gaining all 12 electoral votes against Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Barack Obama (incumbent) | 1,755,396 | 56.16 | |
| Republican | Mitt Romney | 1,290,670 | 41.29 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson | 42,202 | 1.35 | |
| Green | Jill Stein | 20,928 | 0.67 | |
| Constitution | Virgil Goode | 8,851 | 0.28 | |
| Justice | Rocky Anderson | 4,946 | 0.16 | |
| Socialism and Liberation | Peta Lindsay | 1,318 | 0.04 | |
| Socialist Workers | James Harris | 1,205 | 0.04 | |
| Total votes | 3,125,516 | 100.00 | ||
U.S. Senate
Incumbent Democratic senator Maria Cantwell won re-election to a third term against Republican state senator Michael Baumgartner.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Maria Cantwell (incumbent) | 626,360 | 55.42 | |
| Republican | Michael Baumgartner | 344,729 | 30.50 | |
| Republican | Art Coday | 59,255 | 5.24 | |
| Democratic | Timothy Wilson | 26,850 | 2.38 | |
| Republican | Chuck Jackson | 21,870 | 1.94 | |
| Republican | Glenn R. Stockwell | 21,731 | 1.92 | |
| Republican | Mike the Mover | 16,459 | 1.46 | |
| Reform | Will Baker | 12,865 | 1.14 | |
| Total votes | 1,130,119 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Maria Cantwell (incumbent) | 1,855,493 | 60.36 | |
| Republican | Michael Baumgartner | 1,213,924 | 39.49 | |
| Write-in | 4,644 | 0.15 | ||
| Total votes | 3,074,061 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
U.S. House
Due to the results of the 2010 United States Census, Washington elected U.S. Representatives from ten congressional districts, a gain of one seat.
Incumbents Rick Larsen (D-2nd), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-3rd), Doc Hastings (R-4th), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5th), Jim McDermott (D-7th), Dave Reichert (R-8th), and Adam Smith (R-9th) ran for re-election and won. Incumbents Jay Inslee (D-1st) and Norman D. Dicks (D-6th) retired and were respectively succeeded by Suzan DelBene (D) and Derek Kilmer (D). Denny Heck (D) was elected to the newly created 10th district.
The resulting composition was six Democrats and four Republicans.
State
Governor
Incumbent Democratic governor Christine Gregoire declined to run for a third term. Democratic congressman Jay Inslee ran to succeed her, earning Gregoire's endorsement.[4] He faced Republican attorney general Rob McKenna in the general election, defeating him by a small margin.[5]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Jay Inslee | 664,534 | 47.13 | |
| Republican | Rob McKenna | 604,872 | 42.90 | |
| Republican | Shahram Hadian | 46,169 | 3.27 | |
| Democratic | Rob Hill | 45,453 | 3.22 | |
| Independent | James White | 13,764 | 0.98 | |
| Independent | Christian Joubert | 10,457 | 0.74 | |
| Independent | L. Dale Sorgen | 9,734 | 0.69 | |
| Republican | Max Sampson | 8,753 | 0.62 | |
| Republican | Javier O. Lopez | 6,131 | 0.43 | |
| Total votes | 1,409,867 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Jay Inslee | 1,582,802 | 51.40 | |
| Republican | Rob McKenna | 1,488,245 | 48.33 | |
| Write-in | 8,592 | 0.28% | ||
| Total votes | 3,079,639 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Lieutenant governor
Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Brad Owen ran for re-election to a fifth term.
General election
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Brad Owen (D) |
Bill Finkbeiner (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elway Research | October 18–21, 2012 | 451 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 42% | 32% | 26% |
| Elway Research | September 9–12, 2012 | 405 (RV) | ± 5.0% | 43% | 27% | 29% |
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Brad Owen (incumbent) | 648,110 | 48.52 | |
| Republican | Bill Finkbeiner | 352,195 | 26.36 | |
| Independent Republican | Glenn Anderson | 229,318 | 17.17 | |
| Independent | Jimmy Deal | 53,694 | 4.02 | |
| Independent | Clifford Mark Greene | 46,534 | 3.48 | |
| Independent | Dave T. Sumner IV | 6,057 | 0.45 | |
| Total votes | 1,335,908 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Brad Owen (incumbent) | 1,575,133 | 53.68 | |
| Republican | Bill Finkbeiner | 1,359,212 | 46.32 | |
| Total votes | 2,934,345 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Secretary of State
Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed declined to run for re-election to a fourth term. The general election was won by Republican Thurston County auditor Kim Wyman, who defeated Democratic state senator Kathleen Drew by under one percentage point, resulting in the smallest statewide margin in 2012.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Kim Wyman | 528,754 | 39.76 | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Drew | 289,052 | 21.73 | |
| Democratic | Gregory J. Nickels | 210,832 | 15.85 | |
| Democratic | Jim Kastama | 185,425 | 13.94 | |
| Constitution | Karen Murray | 50,888 | 3.83 | |
| Independent | David J. Anderson | 44,276 | 3.33 | |
| Human Rights | Sam Wright | 20,809 | 1.57 | |
| Total votes | 1,330,036 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Kim Wyman | 1,464,741 | 50.38 | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Drew | 1,442,868 | 49.62 | |
| Total votes | 2,907,609 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Attorney general
Incumbent Republican attorney general Rob McKenna retired to run for governor and did not seek a third term. Two King County Councilmembers, Republican Reagan Dunn and Democrat Bob Ferguson, faced off in the general election. Ferguson ultimately won the election.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Bob Ferguson | 685,346 | 51.68 | |
| Republican | Reagan Dunn | 506,524 | 38.20 | |
| Republican | Stephen Pidgeon | 134,185 | 10.12 | |
| Total votes | 1,326,055 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Bob Ferguson | 1,564,443 | 53.48 | |
| Republican | Reagan Dunn | 1,361,010 | 46.52 | |
| Total votes | 2,925,453 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
State Treasurer
Incumbent Democratic Treasurer James McIntire ran for re-election to a second term.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | James McIntire (incumbent) | 925,850 | 96.63 | |
| Republican | Sharon Hanek (write-in) | 32,339 | 3.38 | |
| Total votes | 958,189 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | James McIntire (incumbent) | 1,695,401 | 58.71 | |
| Republican | Sharon Hanek | 1,192,150 | 41.29 | |
| Total votes | 2,887,551 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
State Auditor
Incumbent Democratic Auditor Brian Sonntag declined to run for re-election to a sixth term. Democratic state representative Troy Kelley won the election, defeating Republican James Watkins.
General election
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Troy Kelley (D) |
James Watkins (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elway Research | October 18–21, 2012 | 451 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 34% | 29% | 37% |
| Elway Research | September 9–12, 2012 | 405 (RV) | ± 5.0% | 36% | 27% | 38% |
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | James Watkins | 584,444 | 46.09 | |
| Democratic | Troy Kelley | 291,335 | 22.98 | |
| Democratic | Craig Pridemore | 268,220 | 21.15 | |
| Democratic | Mark Miloscia | 123,936 | 9.78 | |
| Total votes | 1,267,935 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Troy Kelley | 1,512,620 | 52.95 | |
| Republican | James Watkins | 1,344,137 | 47.05 | |
| Total votes | 2,856,757 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Insurance Commissioner
Incumbent Democratic Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler ran for re-election to a fourth term.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 712,095 | 54.91 | |
| Republican | John Adams | 279,052 | 21.52 | |
| Republican | Scott Reilly | 241,377 | 18.61 | |
| Independent | Brian C. Berend | 64,303 | 4.96 | |
| Total votes | 1,296,827 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 1,662,555 | 58.31 | |
| Republican | John Adams | 1,188,926 | 41.70 | |
| Total votes | 2,851,481 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Commissioner of Public Lands
Incumbent Democratic Commissioner of Public Lands Peter J. Goldmark ran for re-election to a second term.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Peter J. Goldmark (incumbent) | 683,448 | 51.88 | |
| Republican | Clint Didier | 540,907 | 41.06 | |
| Independent | Stephen A. Sharon | 92,993 | 7.06 | |
| Total votes | 1,317,348 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Peter J. Goldmark (incumbent) | 1,692,083 | 58.74 | |
| Republican | Clint Didier | 1,188,411 | 41.26 | |
| Total votes | 2,880,494 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn ran for re-election to a second term. He was unopposed in the general election. The superintendent is the only nonpartisan statewide election.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn (incumbent) | 634,314 | 56.22 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ron Higgins | 172,331 | 15.27 | |
| Nonpartisan | James Bauckman | 149,370 | 13.24 | |
| Nonpartisan | Donald Hansler | 104,360 | 9.25 | |
| Nonpartisan | John P. Blair | 67,898 | 6.02 | |
| Total votes | 1,128,273 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn (incumbent) | 2,164,163 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 2,164,163 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
State Senate
The Democrats won on election night, but in early December two Democrats formed a conservative coalition with the Republican Caucus.
State House of Representatives
Judicial positions
Ballot measures
- Initiative 502 – Passed – Licensing and Regulating Marijuana[7]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 Yes |
1,724,209 | 55.70 |
| No | 1,371,235 | 44.30 |
| Total votes | 3,095,444 | 100.00 |
- Initiative 1185 – Passed – Supermajority to Raise Taxes or Close Loopholes[7]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
1,892,969 | 63.91 |
| No | 1,069,083 | 36.09 |
| Total votes | 2,962,052 | 100.00 |
- Initiative 1240 – Passed – Allow Charter Schools[7]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
1,525,807 | 50.69 |
| No | 1,484,125 | 49.31 |
| Total votes | 3,009,932 | 100.00 |
- Referendum 74 – Passed – Same Sex Marriage[7]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
1,659,915 | 53.70 |
| No | 1,431,285 | 46.30 |
| Total votes | 3,091,200 | 100.00 |
References
- "November 06, 2012 General Election Results: President/Vice President". www.wa.gov. Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- "August 07, 2012 Primary Results - U.S. Senator". Washington Secretary of State. August 28, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- "November 06, 2012 General Election Results - U.S. Senator". Washington Secretary of State. November 27, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- "Inslee Announcement Prompts More Democratic Interest", Roll Call Politics
- Brunner, Jim (November 9, 2012). "McKenna concedes; Inslee to be governor". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- "Governor". Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
- "Voters' Guide - 2012 General Election". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved June 24, 2022.