1980 Washington gubernatorial election

The 1980 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic governor Dixy Lee Ray ran for a second term, but lost in the primary to State Representative Jim McDermott. McDermott was defeated in the general election by Republican candidate John Spellman, the King County Executive. As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican was elected Governor of Washington, thus beginning the longest streak for Democrats holding any of the 50 state governorships once Spellman left office.

1980 Washington gubernatorial election

← 1976 November 4, 1980 1984 →
 
Nominee John Spellman Jim McDermott
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 981,083 749,813
Percentage 56.68% 43.32%

County results
Spellman:      50–60%      60–70%
McDermott:      50–60%

Governor before election

Dixy Lee Ray
Democratic

Elected Governor

John Spellman
Republican

Primary election

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Candidates

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Democratic

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  • Robert L. Baldwin, Sr.
  • Douglas P. Bestle
  • Caroline "Hope" Diamond
  • Lloyd G. Isley
  • Jef Jaisum
  • Jim McDermott, psychiatrist, state senator, and candidate for governor in 1972
  • Dixy Lee Ray, incumbent governor of Washington

Republican

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Results

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Blanket primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim McDermott 321,256 33.04%
Democratic Dixy Lee Ray (incumbent) 234,252 24.09%
Republican John Spellman 162,426 16.70%
Republican Duane Berentson 154,724 15.91%
Republican Bruce Chapman 70,875 7.29%
Republican Patrick Sean McGowan 7,324 0.75%
Democratic Caroline Diamond 4,184 0.43%
Democratic Robert L. Baldwin Sr. 3,578 0.37%
Socialist Workers Mary Nell Bockman 2,833 0.29%
Democratic Lloyd G. Isley 2,723 0.28%
Republican Louise A. Saluteen 2,622 0.27%
Democratic Douglas P. Bestle 2,481 0.26%
Republican Rabbine Matthew Sutich 1,606 0.17%
Democratic Jef Jaisun 1,476 0.15%
Total votes 972,360 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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Results

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1980 Washington gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Spellman 981,083 56.68% +12.25%
Democratic Jim McDermott 749,813 43.32% −9.82%
Majority 231,270 13.36%
Total votes 1,730,896 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing +22.08%

Results by county

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John Spellman was the first Republican to carry Franklin County, Mason County, and Pierce County since Roland H. Hartley in 1928. Franklin County has voted Republican in every subsequent gubernatorial election. Spellman is the most recent Republican to have won King County and Thurston County. Snohomish County and Whatcom County have voted Republican only once since this election.[a]

County[2] John Spellman
Republican
Jim McDermott
Democratic
Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # %
Adams 3,259 68.08% 1,528 31.92% 1,731 36.16% 4,787
Asotin 3,817 57.17% 2,859 42.83% 958 14.35% 6,676
Benton 30,710 69.25% 13,637 30.75% 17,073 38.50% 44,347
Chelan 11,734 60.47% 7,670 39.53% 4,064 20.94% 19,404
Clallam 12,729 57.09% 9,567 42.91% 3,162 14.18% 22,296
Clark 39,225 54.79% 32,364 45.21% 6,861 9.58% 71,589
Columbia 1,352 66.86% 670 33.14% 682 33.73% 2,022
Cowlitz 14,160 50.45% 13,910 49.55% 250 0.89% 28,070
Douglas 5,248 60.25% 3,462 39.75% 1,786 20.51% 8,710
Ferry 956 47.26% 1,067 52.74% -111 -5.49% 2,023
Franklin 7,249 61.94% 4,454 38.06% 2,795 23.88% 11,703
Garfield 974 65.99% 502 34.01% 472 31.98% 1,476
Grant 10,839 60.80% 6,989 39.20% 3,850 21.60% 17,828
Grays Harbor 12,971 49.76% 13,098 50.24% -127 -0.49% 26,069
Island 11,285 61.72% 6,998 38.28% 4,287 23.45% 18,283
Jefferson 3,961 49.11% 4,105 50.89% -144 -1.79% 8,066
King 327,941 55.10% 267,218 44.90% 60,723 10.20% 595,159
Kitsap 36,372 60.10% 24,150 39.90% 12,222 20.19% 60,522
Kittitas 5,783 54.53% 4,822 45.47% 961 9.06% 10,605
Klickitat 2,944 48.29% 3,152 51.71% -208 -3.41% 6,096
Lewis 14,230 62.38% 8,580 37.62% 5,650 24.77% 22,810
Lincoln 3,471 64.52% 1,909 35.48% 1,562 29.03% 5,380
Mason 7,414 53.84% 6,357 46.16% 1,057 7.68% 13,771
Okanogan 6,710 53.89% 5,741 46.11% 969 7.78% 12,451
Pacific 3,379 42.08% 4,650 57.92% -1,271 -15.83% 8,029
Pend Oreille 2,045 54.78% 1,688 45.22% 357 9.56% 3,733
Pierce 98,289 56.62% 75,305 43.38% 22,984 13.24% 173,594
San Juan 2,587 52.77% 2,315 47.23% 272 5.55% 4,902
Skagit 17,003 55.41% 13,683 44.59% 3,320 10.82% 30,686
Skamania 1,361 45.92% 1,603 54.08% -242 -8.16% 2,964
Snohomish 75,203 55.38% 60,587 44.62% 14,616 10.76% 135,790
Spokane 84,400 59.76% 56,827 40.24% 27,573 19.52% 141,227
Stevens 7,178 62.42% 4,322 37.58% 2,856 24.83% 11,500
Thurston 31,803 57.90% 23,122 42.10% 8,681 15.81% 54,925
Wahkiakum 767 45.30% 926 54.70% -159 -9.39% 1,693
Walla Walla 11,993 63.30% 6,954 36.70% 5,039 26.60% 18,947
Whatcom 23,722 51.64% 22,215 48.36% 1,507 3.28% 45,937
Whitman 9,773 57.60% 7,195 42.40% 2,578 15.19% 16,968
Yakima 36,246 60.55% 23,612 39.45% 12,634 21.11% 59,858
Totals 981,083 56.68% 749,813 43.32% 231,270 13.36% 1,730,896

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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Notes

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  1. ^ In 2004 and 1992, respectively

References

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  1. ^ "Elections Search Results September 1980 Primary". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Elections Search Results November 1980 General". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved August 12, 2024.