Governor
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Jay Inslee (D) | 461,387 | 48.57% |
| Bill Bryant (R) | 366,393 | 38.57% |
| Bill Hirt (R) | 37,002 | 3.90% |
| Patrick O’Rourke (D) | 26,771 | 2.82% |
| Steve Rubenstein (I) | 15,110 | 1.59% |
| Johnathan Dodds (D) | 10,706 | 1.13% |
| James Robert Deal (D) | 9,887 | 1.04% |
| Goodspaceguy (R) | 9,552 | 1.01% |
| Mary Martin (S) | 7,105 | 0.75% |
| David W. Blomstrom (F) | 3,353 | 0.35% |
| Christian Pierre Joubert (H) | 2,674 | 0.28% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
About the Race
See candidate’s stances on different issues in the Washington governor issues grid
Featured Candidates
Jay Inslee
- Party:
- Democratic
- Age:
- 73
- City:
- Bainbridge Island, Washington
Education: Earned bachelor’s degree from University of Washington; earned law degree from Willamette University Law School.
Work experience: Former prosecuting attorney, author.
Political experience: Elected governor in 2012 and 2016; member of state Legislature, 1989-92; member U.S. House 1993-94; 1999-2012. Ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, but dropped out before any primary or caucus.
Family: Married to Trudi Inslee. Has three children.
Campaign financing: Raised $6.7 million in contributions as of Oct. 2, 2020, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission, including almost $1.4 million from state Democratic Central Committee and $328,000 in small contributions under $25.
Bill Bryant
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 64
- City:
- Seattle, WA
Education: School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Work experience: Founder of agriculture export assistance company; former vice president NW Horticultural Council; former director of Governor’s Council on International Trade.
Political experience: Twice elected to Seattle Port Commission
Family: Married
Complete Coverage
Elway Poll: Advantage Clinton, Inslee, most Dems
The latest Elway Poll suggests Washington’s statewide races will trend Democratic blue on Nov. 8.
Inslee, Clinton still atop latest polls in Washington
The latest polling in Washington state shows incumbent Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee capturing more than 50 percent of voter support, and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton with a 17-point lead over Republican Donald Trump.
Jay Inslee, Bill Bryant vying to lead on education in Washington governor’s race
For decades, Democrats and Republicans have run for governor in Washington promising to be “the education governor.” This year is no different. If anything, there are times when the gubernatorial candidates seem to be running for state school superintendent, a different office altogether.
Bryant offers more engaged leadership
Gov. Jay Inslee has a sunny re-election pitch: Economy has rebounded; big investments in education and transportation; definitive action on climate change. And while much of that occurred while he was governor, it’s a stretch to say he led the charge on any of those issues except for climate change, where he imposed carbon caps on certain industries after the Legislature failed to act. The economic revival is driven by the Seattle boom. The economy looks far different elsewhere. Inslee stumped for a transportation revenue package, but the heavy lifting was done at the legislative level.
Governor debate: Inslee and Bryant spar in 3rd contest
Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee and Republican challenger Bill Bryant clashed over the death penalty, Hanford lawsuits and their visions of the state in their third debate on Wednesday.
‘Progress’ or ‘failed’? Inslee, Bryant debate issues
Gov. Jay Inslee and his Republican opponent Bill Bryant sparred Monday night over education, taxes and government oversight in their second debate.
Washington governor’s debate will follow Monday’s presidential debate
Incumbent Gov. Jay Inslee and Republican challenger Bill Bryant will debate immediately following Monday’s presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Bryant blasts Inslee over problems at mental hospital
Washington state gubernatorial candidate Bill Bryant stood behind a table holding 25,000 keys on Wednesday and called on Gov. Jay Inslee to release reports on staffing and other problems at the state’s largest psychiatric hospital.
Gonzaga hosting Senate debate as one of 4 statewide matchups
U.S. Senate candidates debate in Spokane next month.
Right to peaceably assemble doesn’t guarantee clear message
Because this is the seat of state government, it is also a magnet for people eager to exercise their right to peaceably assemble to petition for redress of grievances, even in the summer when lawmakers are nowhere to be found and the bureaucracy is less populated than normal.
Washington employees rally for higher wages
Hundreds of state employees rally in Olympia for better wages and benefits.
Unexpected visitor watches as state workers rally at Capitol
State workers rally for higher wages and better benefits in the Capitol Rotunda as GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bill Bryant watches and chats with union members.
Spin Control: Spokane could have two holidays honoring Native Americans
Does Spokane need an Indigenous Peoples Day when the state already has Native American Heritage Day?
New oil train rule will give emergency responders advance notice of shipments
Emergency responders in Spokane and other Washington communities along oil train routes will start getting advance notice of shipments on Oct. 1.
Agency director leaving
Results Washington director to step down. Interim replacement is former Spokesman-Review reporter Rich Roesler
Inslee declares state of emergency
Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency for 20 counties in response to wildfires in Eastern Washington. The proclamation directs state agencies to do everything reasonably possible to assist affected local governments in responding to and recovering from the fires, calls for staff at the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate state firefighting efforts and allows the use of the Washington National Guard if local jurisdictions need more resources, according to a governor’s news release.
Inslee to get briefing on area fires
Gov. Jay Inslee will visit the operation center Tuesday morning for a briefing on the fires burning in Spokane and around Eastern Washington.
Gary Crooks: Quiet panic behind school funding debate
Plan after plan has been agreed upon over the years only to fall apart when it came to time to screw up the courage and find the funding. Last session, the Legislature agreed on a plan to make plan to do just that. Now Bryant is a man with a plan for a plan.
Today’s unusual campaign Tweet
Bill Bryant’s gubernatorial campaign has superimposed Gov. Jay Inslee in a strange place.
$300 million silicon smelter plan promises jobs in Usk
Usk was chosen as the site for a proposed silicon smelter. The Canadian company will get state assistance to build a $300 million facility.