The Green Papers: Washington 2008 General Election
This page is for offices up for election in 2008. Find 2009 elections here.
 
Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ Washington
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary: Tuesday 19 August 2008
General Election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Electoral Votes:11(2.04% of 538)
Governor:1 
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 1 and 3)
2002-2010 Representatives:9(2.07% of 435)
2000 Census:5,908,684 (2.10% of 281,998,273)
Estimated Voting age population (November 2000):4,368,000
Registered Voters (November 2000):3,335,714
Capital:Olympia
Tuesday 19 August 2008 polling hours 7:00a PDT (1400 UTC) to 8:00p PDT (0300 UTC).
Tuesday 4 November 2008 polling hours 7:00a PST (1500 UTC) to 8:00p PST (0400 UTC).
 

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Washington State and Local Government

Washington 2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties


19 January 2009: Washington Secretary of State - 2008 Canvass of Returns


29 September 2008: Synchronized with Washington Secretary of State - 2008 General Election Voters' Guide. Reports state that Ralph Nader's name was incorrectly spelled "Nadar" on some ballots.


Washington State’s first Top Two Tuesday 19 August 2008 Primary

Returns from an official source.

  • The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary and receive at least 1% of the votes cast qualify for the general election.
  • Each candidate for partisan office may state a political party that he or she prefers. A candidate’s preference does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party, or that the party approves of or associates with that candidate.

Counties have until 3 September 2008 to certify the 19 August Primary. The Secretary of State has until 9 September 2008 to certify the 19 August Primary.

  • To trigger a mandatory machine recount, the difference between the top two vote-getters must be less than 2,000 votes and less than 0.5% of the total number of votes cast for both candidates.
  • To trigger a manual recount in a statewide election, the difference between the top two vote-getters must be less than 1,000 votes and less 0.25% of the total number of votes cast for both candidates.
 
           

President  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 11 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.
Up for election in 2008
  Elected Democratic 1,750,848 57.65% Senator Barack Hussein Obama
(11 Electoral Votes)
Vice President: Senator Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.

FEC P80003338: $778,642,047
  Candidate Republican 1,229,216 40.48% Senator John Sidney McCain, III
Vice President: Governor Sarah H. Palin

FEC P80002801: $399,826,076
  Candidate Independent 29,489 0.97% Ralph Nader
Vice President: Matt Gonzalez

FEC P20000527: $4,520,160
  Candidate Libertarian 12,728 0.42% former Congressman Bob Barr
Vice President: Wayne Allyn Root

FEC P80005580: $1,405,899
  Candidate Constitution 9,432 0.31% Charles Obadiah "Chuck" Baldwin
Vice President: Darrell L. Castle

FEC P80005499: $262,010
  Candidate Green 3,819 0.13% former Congressman Cynthia A. McKinney
Vice President: Rosa A. Clemente

FEC P80004930: $240,360
  Candidate Socialism and Liberation 705 0.02% Gloria Estela La Riva
Vice President: Eugene Puryear

FEC P80005572: $24,441
  Candidate Socialist Workers Party 641 0.02% James E. Harris
Vice President: Alyson Kennedy. The Party's Presidential nominee, Róger Calero, having been born in Nicaragua, does not meet the Constitutional requirements for President.
  Candidate Write-in     Frank Moore
Vice President: Susan Block
  Candidate Write-in     David Jon Sponheim
Affiliation: America's Third Party, formerly called the Cool Rock Party.
Total 3,036,878 100.00%  

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 110th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1 Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Democratic Senator Patty Murray
First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1998, 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: None, All Governors

Chair up for election Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2004
Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire favored over Republican Dino Rossi
  Elected Democratic 1,598,738 53.24% Governor Christine Gregoire
Prefers Democratic Party
  Candidate Republican 1,404,124 46.76% Dino Rossi
Prefers G.O.P. Party
Total 3,002,862 100.00%  

Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008

Seat up for election Democratic Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2000, 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen
  Elected Democratic 1,718,033 60.80% Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen
Prefers Democratic Party
  Candidate Republican 1,107,634 39.20% Marcia McCraw
Prefers Republican Party
Total 2,825,667 100.00%  

110th U.S. House of Representatives  2 year term, Election Cycle 2006, 2008. No Term Limit. 110th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
6 Democratic (6 on General Election ballot);
3 Republican (3 on General Election ballot)

CD 1
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Jay R. Inslee
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Jay R. Inslee
  Elected Democratic 233,780 67.76% Congressman Jay R. Inslee
Prefers Democratic Party

FEC H2WA04090: $1,033,928
  Candidate Republican 111,240 32.24% Larry Wayne Ishmael
Prefers G.O.P. Party

FEC H6WA01162: $51,730
Total 345,020 100.00%  

CD 2
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Rick R. Larsen
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Rick R. Larsen
  Elected Democratic 217,416 62.39% Congressman Rick R. Larsen
Prefers Democratic Party

FEC H0WA02080: $1,336,438
  Candidate Republican 131,051 37.61% Robert Ricky "Rick" Bart
Prefers Republican Party

FEC H8WA02141: $47,105
Total 348,467 100.00%  

CD 3
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Brian N. Baird
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Brian N. Baird
  Elected Democratic 216,701 64.01% Congressman Brian N. Baird
Prefers Democratic Party

FEC H6WA03135: $741,621
  Candidate Republican 121,828 35.99% Michael Robert Delavar
Prefers Republican Party

FEC H8WA03156: $78,437
Total 338,529 100.00%  

CD 4
{map}
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Doc Hastings
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman Doc Hastings
  Elected Republican 169,940 63.09% Congressman Doc Hastings
Prefers Republican Party

FEC H2WA04041: $615,270
  Candidate Democratic 99,430 36.91% George Barr Fearing
Prefers Democratic Party

FEC H8WA04071: $334,382
Total 269,370 100.00%  

CD 5
{map}
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Cathy Ann McMorris Rodgers
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman Cathy Ann McMorris Rodgers
  Elected Republican 211,305 65.28% Congressman Cathy Ann McMorris Rodgers
Prefers Republican Party

FEC H4WA05077: $1,442,687
  Candidate Democratic 112,382 34.72% Roy Mark "Mark" Mays, Jr.
Prefers Democratic Party

FEC H8WA05102: $105,622
Total 323,687 100.00%  

CD 6
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Norman D. "Norm" Dicks
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Norman D. "Norm" Dicks
  Elected Democratic 205,991 66.86% Congressman Norman D. "Norm" Dicks
Prefers Democratic Party

FEC H6WA06021: $1,390,406
  Candidate Republican 102,081 33.14% Douglas Richard "Doug" Cloud
Prefers Republican Party

FEC H4WA06067: $17,949
Total 308,072 100.00%  

CD 7
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman James A. "Jim" McDermott
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman James A. "Jim" McDermott
  Elected Democratic 291,963 83.65% Congressman James A. "Jim" McDermott
Prefers Democratic Party

FEC H8WA07132: $614,932
  Candidate Republican 57,054 16.35% Steve Beren
Prefers Republican Party

FEC H6WA07391: $34,058
Total 349,017 100.00%  

CD 8
{map}
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Dave Reichert
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Darcy Burner favored over Republican Congressman Dave Reichert
  Elected Republican 191,568 52.78% Congressman Dave Reichert
Prefers Republican Party

FEC H4WA08071: $2,855,897
  Candidate Democratic 171,358 47.22% Darcy Burner
Prefers Democratic Party

FEC H6WA08068: $4,450,646
Total 362,926 100.00%  

CD 9
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Adam Smith
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Adam Smith
  Elected Democratic 176,295 65.45% Congressman Adam Smith
Prefers Democratic Party

FEC H6WA09025: $648,477
  Candidate Republican 93,080 34.55% James Lee Postma
Prefers Republican Party

FEC H8WA09047: $8,635
Total 269,375 100.00%  

Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008

Seat up for election Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed
  Elected Republican 1,644,587 58.33% Secretary of State Sam Reed
Prefers Republican Party
  Candidate Democratic 1,175,086 41.67% Jason Osgood
Prefers Democratic Party
Total 2,819,673 100.00%  

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008

Seat up for election Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna
  Elected Republican 1,689,764 59.46% Attorney General Rob McKenna
Prefers Republican Party
  Candidate Democratic 1,152,174 40.54% John Ladenburg
Prefers Democratic Party
Total 2,841,938 100.00%  

Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008

Seat up for election
Open
Democratic Treasurer Michael J. "Mike" Murphy
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2000, 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Open Seat - Retiring in 2008
 Polls: Democratic Jim McIntire
 ** Open Office (no incumbent) **
  Elected Democratic 1,420,022 51.08% Jim McIntire
Prefers Democratic Party
  Candidate Republican 1,360,063 48.92% Allan Martin
Prefers Republican Party
Total 2,780,085 100.00%  

Auditor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008

Seat up for election Democratic Auditor Brian Sonntag
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 1992; re-elected 1996, 2000, 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Auditor Brian Sonntag
  Elected Democratic 1,770,977 63.54% Auditor Brian Sonntag
Prefers Democratic Party
  Candidate Republican 1,016,396 36.46% J. Richard "Dick" McEntee
Prefers Republican Party
Total 2,787,373 100.00%  

Commissioner of Public Lands  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008

Seat up for election Republican Public Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Public Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland
  Elected Democratic 1,416,904 50.55% Peter James Goldmark
Prefers Democratic Party
  Candidate Republican 1,385,903 49.45% Public Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland
Prefers Republican Party
Total 2,802,807 100.00%  

Insurance Commissioner  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008

Seat up for election Democratic Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler
  Elected Democratic 1,679,696 61.38% Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler
Prefers Democratic Party
  Candidate Republican 1,056,693 38.62% John R. Adams
Prefers Republican Party
Total 2,736,389 100.00%  

Superintendent of Public Instruction  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008

Seat up for election Nonpartisan Public Instruction Superintendent Teresa "Terry" Bergeson
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2000, 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
on General Election ballot - 19 August 2008 Primary
 Polls: Nonpartisan Public Instruction Superintendent Teresa "Terry" Bergeson
  Elected Nonpartisan 1,333,290 52.38% Randy Dorn
  Candidate Nonpartisan 1,211,909 47.62% Public Instruction Superintendent Teresa "Terry" Bergeson
Total 2,545,199 100.00%  
 All candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction appear on the Primary ballot. If any candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the Primary, he or she goes on the General Election ballot alone. If no candidate receives a majority, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes go on the General Election ballot. [RCW 29A.36.171]

Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
  Democratic (affiliates): 13 incumbents, 18 candidates
  Republican: 6 incumbents, 18 candidates
Major Third Parties
  Green (affiliates): 1 candidate
  Libertarian: 1 candidate
Other Third Parties
  Constitution (affiliates): 1 candidate
  Socialism and Liberation: 1 candidate
  Socialist Workers Party: 1 candidate
Independents
  Independent: 1 candidate
  Nonpartisan: 1 incumbent, 2 candidates
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
  Write-in: 2 candidates
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from an election authority that the person so listed will actually appear on the ballot.
 
FEC indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary "Total Receipts" for candidates for Federal Office.

 


  2008 General Election Home  
 
  U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Gubernatorial Popular Vote by Party  
  U.S. House Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Close Contests Summary - Decision by 2% or less  
  Contests Where No Candidate Received a Majority  
 
Electoral College
  Allocation       How Appointed       Meeting Place (15 December)  
  Duly Appointed Electors       Tabulation by Congress (8 January 2009)  
  THE "FAITHLESS ELECTORS" - Presidential Electors who have defected in the past  
  May Electors Defect?  
  DATES OF U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION "EVENTS": 1789 to the present  
  "APPARENT" ELECTORAL VOTE for President of the United States: 1856 to present  
  ELECTORAL VOTE for President of the United States (as pledged and as officially counted)  
  ELECTORAL VOTE for Vice President of the United States (as pledged and as officially counted)  
 
  Contests to Watch and Polling Data  
 
2008 Primaries and Runoffs for Statewide offices/Congress
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  2008 Partisan Composition by State  
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  Senate Electoral Classes  
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  1976-2004 Presidential Election State Voting Trends  
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  Explanation of the Debate Scoring System