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2008 Washington elections

(Redirected from Washington attorney general election, 2008)

Washington has 9 Executive seats, all elected at large. In 2008, all 9 positions were up for reelection. As of 2024, this was the last set of statewide elections in Washington in which any Republicans won by double digits.

2008 Washington Statewide Executive Offices elections
← 2004 November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04) 2012 →
All 9 Statewide Executive Offices
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 6 3
Seats won 7 2
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 1
Percentage 57.12% 42.88%
Swing Increase 0.30% Increase 3.22%

Offices and Candidates

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Governor

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Main article: 2008 Washington gubernatorial election

Incumbent Democratic governor Christine Gregoire ran for re-election, defeating Republican nominee Dino Rossi. In contrast to the previous election, where Gregoire narrowly defeated Rossi by only 129 votes, Gregoire won by 6.5%.

2008 Washington gubernatorial election[1]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Christine Gregoire 696,306 48.27
Republican Dino Rossi 668,571 46.35
Republican John W. Aiken, Jr. 21,564 1.49
Democratic Christian Joubert 16,646 1.15
Independent James White 10,884 0.75
Green Duff Badgley 9,702 0.67
Nonpartisan Christopher Tudor 5,600 0.39
Reform Will Baker 5,201 0.36
Republican Javier O. Lopez 4,981 0.35
Nonpartisan Mohammad Hasan Said 3,002 0.21
Total votes 1,442,457 100.00
General election
Democratic Christine Gregoire (incumbent) 1,598,738 53.24
Republican Dino Rossi 1,404,124 46.76
Total votes 3,002,862 100.00
Democratic hold

Lt. Governor

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2008 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election
 
← 2004 November 4, 2008 2012 →
     
Nominee Brad Owen Marcia McCraw
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,718,033 1,107,634
Percentage 60.8% 39.2%
 
Owen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
McCraw:      50–60%
Lieutenant Governor of Washington before election

Brad Owen
Democratic

Elected Lieutenant Governor of Washington

Brad Owen
Democratic

Brad Owen, who has held this position since 1996, ran for re-election to a fourth term. He defeated Republican nominee Marcia McCraw in a landslide, winning over 60% of the vote.

2008 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brad Owen (incumbent) 706,641 52.08
Republican Marcia McCraw 347,551 25.62
Republican Jim Wiest 193,752 14.28
Democratic Randel Bell 53,694 4.02
Constitution Arlene A. Peck 48,887 3.60
Total votes 1,335,908 100.00
General election
Democratic Brad Owen (incumbent) 1,718,033 60.80
Republican Marcia McCraw 1,107,634 39.20
Total votes 2,825,667 100.00
Democratic hold

Secretary of State

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2008 Washington secretary of state election
 
← 2004 November 4, 2008 2012 →
     
Nominee Sam Reed Jason Osgood
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,644,587 1,175,086
Percentage 58.3% 41.7%
 
County results
Reed:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Osgood:      50–60%
Secretary of State before election

Sam Reed
Republican

Elected Secretary of State

Sam Reed
Republican

Sam Reed, who held this position since 2000, was re-elected to a third and final term, defeating Democrat Jason Osgood. As of 2022, this is the last time a Republican won the Secretary of State position by over 10%.

2012 Washington Secretary of State election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Reed 816,171 59.40
Democratic Jason Osgood 446,222 32.48
Constitution Marilyn Montgomery 88,728 6.46
Independent Mark Greene 22,800 1.66
Total votes 1,330,036 100.00
General election
Republican Sam Reed (incumbent) 1,644,587 58.33
Democratic Jason Osgood 1,175,086 41.67
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes 2,819,673 100.00
Turnout
Republican hold

State Treasurer

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2008 Washington State Treasurer election
 
← 2004 November 4, 2008 2012 →
     
Nominee James McIntire Allan Martin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,420,022 1,360,063
Percentage 51.1% 48.9%
 
McIntire:      50–60%      60–70%
Martin:      50–60%      60–70%
State Treasurer before election

Mike Murphy
Democratic

Elected State Treasurer

James McIntire
Democratic

Incumbent State Treasurer Mike Murphy (D) retired. Democratic State Representative James McIntire and Republican Allan Martin advanced to the general election, where McIntire narrowly won the open seat.

2008 Washington State Treasurer election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Allan Martin 613,595 45.33
Democratic James McIntire 533,443 39.41
Democratic ChangMook Sohn 206,457 15.25
Total votes 1,353,495 100.00
General election
Democratic Jim McIntire 1,420,022 51.08
Republican Allen Martin 1,360,063 48.92
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes 2,780,085 100.00
Turnout
Democratic hold

State Auditor

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2008 Washington State Auditor election
 
← 2004 November 4, 2008 2012 →
 
Nominee Brian Sonntag Richard "Dick" McEntee
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,770,977 1,016,396
Percentage 63.5% 36.5%
 
Sonntag:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
McEntee:      50–60%
State Auditor before election

Brian Sonntag
Democratic

Elected State Auditor

Brian Sonntag
Democratic

Incumbent State Auditor Brian Sonntag, who has held this position since 1993, ran for re-election to a fifth term. Sonntag defeated Republican Richard "Dick" McEntee with over 63% of the vote. As of 2022, this is the last election where the Democratic candidate for State Auditor received over 60% of the vote.

2008 Washington State Auditor election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brian Sonntag (incumbent) 812,352 59.48
Republican J. Richard (Dick) McEntee 459,327 33.63
Constitution Glenn Freeman 94,148 6.89
Total votes 1,267,935 100.00
General election
Democratic Brian Sonntag (incumbent) 1,770,977 63.54
Republican J. Richard (Dick) McEntee 1,016,396 36.46
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes
Turnout
Democratic hold

Attorney general

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2008 Washington Attorney General election
 
← 2004
2012 →
     
Nominee Rob McKenna John Ladenburg
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,689,764 1,152,174
Percentage 59.5% 40.5%
 
County results
McKenna:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Ladenburg:      50–60%
Attorney General before election

Rob McKenna
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Rob McKenna
Republican

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna ran for re-election, facing Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, a Democrat, in the general election. McKenna won re-election in a landslide, winning by almost 20 points and carrying all but 2 counties. As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican was elected Washington Attorney General.

Polling

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General election
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Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Rob
McKenna (R) 		John
Ladenburg (D) 		Undecided
SurveyUSA[2] October 30 – November 2, 2008 663 (LV) ± 3.8% 59% 36% 6%
SurveyUSA[3] October 26–27, 2008 630 (LV) ± 3.9% 57% 36% 7%
SurveyUSA[4] October 12–13, 2008 544 (LV) ± 4.3% 54% 38% 8%
SurveyUSA[5] September 21–22, 2008 682 (LV) ± 3.8% 53% 39% 8%
SurveyUSA[6] September 5–7, 2008 658 (LV) ± 3.9% 55% 40% 5%
SurveyUSA[7] August 11–12, 2008 718 (LV) ± 3.7% 51% 43% 6%
SurveyUSA[8] July 13–15, 2008 666 (LV) ± 3.9% 49% 41% 10%
SurveyUSA[9] June 7–9, 2008 637 (LV) ± 4.0% 49% 42% 9%
2008 Washington Attorney General election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rob McKenna (incumbent) 783,240 56.98
Democratic John Ladenburg 591,254 43.02
Total votes 1,374,494 100.00
General election
Republican Rob McKenna (incumbent) 1,689,764 59.46
Democratic John Ladenburg 1,152,174 40.54
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes 2,841,938 100.00
Turnout
Republican hold

Commissioner of Public Lands

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2008 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election
 
← 2004 November 4, 2008 2012 →
 
Candidate Peter J. Goldmark Doug Sutherland
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,416,904 1,385,903
Percentage 50.55% 49.45%
 
Goldmark:      50–60%      60–70%
Sutherland:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Public Lands Commissioner before election

Doug Sutherland
Republican

Elected Public Lands Commissioner

Peter J. Goldmark
Democratic

Incumbent Doug Sutherland (R), who had first been elected in 2000, ran for re-election against rancher Peter J. Goldmark in a highly contested race. Despite polls before the election showing Sutherland leading, on election day Goldmark narrowly defeated Sutherland.

Polling

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General election
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Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Doug
Sutherland (R) 		Peter
Goldmark (D) 		Undecided
SurveyUSA[2] October 30 – November 2, 2008 663 (LV) ± 3.9% 48% 42% 10%
SurveyUSA[3] October 26–27, 2008 630 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 43% 12%
SurveyUSA[10] October 12–13, 2008 544 (LV) ± 4.3% 47% 38% 15%
2008 Washington Commissioner of Public Lands election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Doug Sutherland (incumbent) 691,145 51.13
Democratic Peter J. Goldmark 660,714 48.87
Total votes 1,351,859 100.00
General election
Democratic Peter J. Goldmark 1,416,904 50.55
Republican Doug Sutherland (incumbent) 1,385,903 49.45
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes 2,802,807 100.00
Turnout
Democratic gain from Republican

Superintendent of Public Instruction

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2008 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election
 
← 2004
2012 →
 
Nominee Randy Dorn Terry Bergeson
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 1,333,290 1,211,909
Percentage 52.4% 47.6%
 
Results by county
Dorn:      50–60%
Bergeson:      50–60%
Superintendent of Public Instruction before election

Terry Bergeson
Nonpartisan

Elected Superintendent of Public Instruction

Randy Dorn
Nonpartisan

Incumbent Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson ran for re-election to a third term. She was defeated by Randy Dorn. The superintendent is the only nonpartisan statewide election.

Polling

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General election
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Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Terry
Bergeson 		Randy
Dorn 		Undecided
SurveyUSA[2] October 30 – November 2, 2008 663 (LV) ± 3.9% 37% 45% 18%
SurveyUSA[3] October 26–27, 2008 630 (LV) ± 4.0% 38% 43% 19%
SurveyUSA[11] October 12–13, 2008 544 (LV) ± 4.3% 31% 43% 26%
SurveyUSA[12] September 21–22, 2008 682 (LV) ± 3.8% 35% 40% 25%
SurveyUSA[13] September 5–7, 2008 658 (LV) ± 3.9% 36% 41% 23%
SurveyUSA[14] August 11–12, 2008 718 (LV) ± 3.7% 32% 43% 25%
SurveyUSA[15] July 13–15, 2008 666 (LV) ± 3.9% 34% 32% 35%
 
Blanket primary results by county
  Bergeson
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  Dorn
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
2008 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Terry Bergeson (incumbent) 477,130 39.31
Nonpartisan Randy Dorn 414,313 34.13
Nonpartisan Don Hansler 108,984 8.98
Nonpartisan John P. Blair 90,508 7.46
Nonpartisan Enid Duncan 78,983 6.51
Nonpartisan David Blomstrom 43,984 3.62
Total votes 1,213,902 100.00
General election
Nonpartisan Randy Dorn 1,333,290 52.38
Nonpartisan Terry Bergeson (incumbent) 1,211,909 47.62
Total votes 2,545,199 100.00
Democratic hold

Insurance Commissioner

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2012 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Kreidler (incumbent) 723,732 53.86
Republican John Adams 484,992 36.09
Nonpartisan Curtis Fackler 135,113 10.05
Total votes 1,343,837 100.00
General election
Democratic Mike Kreidler (incumbent) 1,679,696 61.38
Republican John Adams 1,056,693 38.62
Total votes 2,736,389 100.00
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ "Governor". Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c SurveyUSA
  3. ^ a b c SurveyUSA
  4. ^ SurveyUSA
  5. ^ SurveyUSA
  6. ^ SurveyUSA
  7. ^ SurveyUSA
  8. ^ SurveyUSA
  9. ^ SurveyUSA
  10. ^ SurveyUSA
  11. ^ SurveyUSA
  12. ^ SurveyUSA
  13. ^ SurveyUSA
  14. ^ SurveyUSA
  15. ^ SurveyUSA
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