2012 Washington Attorney General election

The 2012 Washington Attorney General election was held on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the other statewide elections and the gubernatorial election. Incumbent Republican State Attorney General Rob McKenna retired to run for governor. Democratic King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson won the general election over Republican King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn.

2012 Washington Attorney General election

← 2008 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →
 
Nominee Bob Ferguson Reagan Dunn
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,564,443 1,361,010
Percentage 53.5% 46.5%

Ferguson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Dunn:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      50%      No votes

Attorney General before election

Rob McKenna
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Bob Ferguson
Democratic

Primary election

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Blanket primary results by county
  Ferguson
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Dunn
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%

Democratic candidates

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Republican candidates

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  • Reagan Dunn, King County Councilmember[2]
  • Stephen Pidgeon, attorney and anti-gay activist[3]

Results

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Primary election results
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

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Polling

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Graphical summary

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Reagan
Dunn (R)
Bob
Ferguson (D)
Undecided
Washington Poll[4] October 18–31, 2012 632 (LV) ± 3.9% 34% 45% 21%
Elway Research[5] October 18–21, 2012 451 (RV) ± 4.5% 36% 38% 25%
Elway Research[6] September 9–12, 2012 405 (RV) ± 5.0% 27% 40% 33%
SurveyUSA[7] September 7–9, 2012 524 (RV) ± 4.4% 33% 42% 24%
Elway Research[8] June 13–16, 2012 408 (RV) ± 5.0% 28% 26% 46%
Public Policy Polling (D)[9] February 22, 2012 1,264 (RV) ± 2.8% 34% 32% 34%
SurveyUSA[10] September 26, 2011 529 (RV) ± 4.3% 34% 39% 26%

Results

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General election results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
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

By congressional district

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Ferguson won 6 of 10 congressional districts.[12]

District Dunn Ferguson Representative
1st 49% 51% Suzan DelBene
2nd 43% 57% Rick Larsen
3rd 53% 47% Jaime Herrera Beutler
4th 65% 35% Doc Hastings
5th 58% 42% Cathy McMorris Rodgers
6th 45% 55% Norm Dicks
Derek Kilmer
7th 23% 77% Jim McDermott
8th 54% 46% Dave Reichert
9th 36% 64% Adam Smith
10th 46% 54% Denny Heck

References

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  1. ^ Rosenthal, Brian M. (August 7, 2012). "AG hopeful Bob Ferguson: Primary a "dream start"". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  2. ^ Young, Bob (October 11, 2012). "Attorney general's race: Republican Dunn carves his own path". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "Snub claim a sign of discord among gay-marriage foes". February 20, 2012.
  4. ^ Washington Poll
  5. ^ Elway Research
  6. ^ Elway Research
  7. ^ SurveyUSA
  8. ^ Elway Research
  9. ^ Public Policy Polling (D)
  10. ^ SurveyUSA
  11. ^ "November 06, 2012 General Election Results: Attorney General". Washington State Secretary of State. November 27, 2012. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  12. ^ Results. sos.wa.gov (Report).