Statewide party caucuses and primaries were held in the spring of 2016 to determine the allocation of state delegates to the respective Democratic and Republican party national conventions. Bernie Sanders won the Democratic caucus in March, defeating Hillary Clinton and taking 73 percent of delegates;[4]Donald Trump won the Republican primary, taking 76 percent of delegates. A non-binding primary for the Democratic party held in May resulted in a victory for Hillary Clinton.[5][6]
Incumbent Democratic senior Senator Patty Murray ran for re-election to a fifth term in office,[9] defeating Republican challenger Chris Vance by 18 points.[10]
Four Democrats (three of whom were state senators), four Republicans, two third-party candidates, and one independent competed in the primary election. Marty McClendon (R) and Cyrus Habib (D) finished as top two and advanced to the general election, which Habib won by 9 points.[17]
Incumbent state auditor Troy Kelley, elected as a Democrat in 2012, was indicted over federal charges of felony theft and money laundering. Several attempts to remove him from office, including a threat of impeachment by the legislature, proved unsuccessful.[21] Kelley did not file to run for a second term.[22]
Two Democratic, one Republican and two independent candidates competed in the primary. Mark Miloscia (R) and Pat McCarthy (D) finished as top two and advanced to the general election. McCarthy won by 5 points.[23]
Incumbent James McIntire announced on December 16, 2015, that he would not seek a third term as Washington State Treasurer.[24] Five candidates are running to succeed him: state senator Marko Liias, former Port of Seattle commissioner Alec Fisken, pension consultant John Paul Comerford, Benton County treasurer Duane Davidson, and investment firm executive Michael Waite.[25] Liias, Fisken, and Comerford are running as Democrats; Davidson and Waite, as Republicans.[25]
Duane Davidson and Michael Waite, both Republicans, finished as top two in the primary election and advanced to the general election, marking the first time since the top-two system had been instituted that both of the primary slots in any statewide race had been won by Republicans.[26]
In the general election, Duane Davidson received the endorsements of every county treasurer in Washington state, both Democrat and Republican, as well as Washington Secretary of StateKim Wyman. Michael Waite was endorsed by former Democratic state Auditor Brian Sonntag and former state Attorney General Rob McKenna.[27]
Davidson won the general election for Treasurer. This was the first time a Republican had been elected to the office of Treasurer of Washington in more than 50 years.[26]
Incumbent Public Lands Commissioner Peter J. Goldmark, elected in 2008 and reelected in 2012, announced his intention to not seek a third term in office.[28]
Five Democrats, one Republican, and one Libertarian competed in the primary. Steve McLaughlin (R) and Hilary Franz (D) finished as top two and advanced to the general election. Franz was elected with 53% of the vote.[29]
Incumbent Randy Dorn declined to run for a third term as Superintendent of Public Instruction.[30] Nine candidates ran in the nonpartisan election. Erin Jones and Chris Reykdal finished as top two and advanced to the general election. In a close race, Reykdal edged out Jones by one point.[31] Jones conceded the election on November 22.[32]
Twenty-five of the forty-nine seats in the Washington State Senate were up for election. Republicans held a narrow majority in the Senate, taking 26 seats compared to 23 for the Democrats.[1] Seven incumbent senators retired, creating vacancies that had the potential to swing the split of party votes.[33] A Democrat defeated the Republican incumbent in District 41, leaving Republicans with a one-seat majority.
All 98 seats in the Washington House of Representatives were up for election. The outgoing House had a narrow Democratic majority, with 50 seats compared to the Republicans' 48.[1] Both parties picked up seats from the other party, resulting in the same overall composition.
Voters approved a minimum wage increase by a 57% vote. The initiative calls for increasing the state’s minimum wage to $13.50 an hour by 2020 from $9.47.[35]
Voters approved Sound Transit 3, building 62 Miles of Light Rail.[36]
Voters approved a firearms access ballot measure; the initiative calls for allowing courts to issue “extreme risk protection orders” to temporarily prevent people from owning or obtaining firearms if there is a risk of harm to themselves or others.[37]
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