Governor
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Jay Inslee (D) | 2,294,243 | 56.74% |
| Loren Culp (R) | 1,749,066 | 43.26% |
* 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.
The 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.
Loren Culp
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 63
- City:
- Republic, Washington
Education: Attended Republic High School and obtained GED in 1978. Graduated from Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy during active duty 1980-1984.
Political experience: Ran for governor of Washington as a Republican in 2020, losing to Democrat Jay Inslee.
Work experience: Served in U.S. Army 1980-1986, worked as police officer in Republic 2010-2020. Campaigning full-time since 2020 gubernatorial race.
Family: Married to Barb Culp. Has two adult children.
Campaign contributions: As of June 30, raised $300,000 and had $53,000 on hand.
Complete Coverage
Spokane still can’t move to Phase 2, but Gov. Inslee offers more flexibility in reopening plan
Regions may now move forward to Phase 2 if they meet three out of the four metrics, slightly looser than the previous requirement to meet all four, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday in a news conference.
New COVID-19 rules give some Washington restaurants ability to open inside dining (but bring a coat)
As soon as he could, Jim Rhoades rolled up the garage door that takes up an entire wall of Rock City Grill to take advantage of Washington state’s new guidelines loosening some COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants.
Former gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp drops election fraud lawsuit after Washington state threatens legal sanctions
In an ignominious retreat, losing Republican gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp has withdrawn his lawsuit against Secretary of State Kim Wyman alleging widespread election irregularities and fraud.
Washington is moving toward ‘new normal’ post-COVID, Inslee says in third inaugural address
In a pre-recorded video shown to a virtual joint session of the Legislature, Inslee delivered his third inaugural address, touting big ideas, but little specifics, for moving the state through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Five issues to watch in the Washington Legislature in 2021
The only thing lawmakers must do this session is pass a budget for the next biennium, but that won’t be the only thing they discuss. Here’s what to look out for this legislative session.
After day of resignations and calls for his ouster, Trump changes tune, promises transfer of power
Sen. Patty Murray and all seven Democratic members of of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington are among those calling on Trump’s cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment.
Spin Control: Some awards to mark 2020’s political highs and lows
Before slamming shut the book on 2020 – a year the numerical equivalent of perfect vision but which often made us wish we could close our eyes and keep them shut – Spin Control wants to keep with tradition and award some of the political and government highlights and lowpoints of 2020.
Mead church to argue Wednesday for fewer restrictions on in-person worshipping in time for Christmas
Christ’s Church of Mount Spokane filed a lawsuit in May alleging First Amendment violations in Gov. Jay Inslee’s proclamation limiting attendance during the pandemic. Emboldened by the Diocese of Brooklyn’s legal victory against the state of New York last month, and one by two churches seeking similar permission to worship in-person in Nevada, Christ’s Church asked U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice last week to permit indoor gatherings exceeding Inslee’s current restrictions.
As he lobs baseless fraud claims, losing GOP governor candidate Loren Culp’s own campaign spending draws scrutiny
More than a month since losing to Gov. Jay Inslee, Republican Loren Culp has continued to raise money with unsubstantiated claims of vote fraud.
Riccelli joins Inslee to support funding and restructuring public health systems
The proposals include creating a new fund to help pay for improvements in public health programs long-term as well restructuring local public health jurisdictions statewide.
Washington’s single-use bag ban is on hold. How the pandemic led to Inslee’s decision
OLYMPIA – Don’t worry about bringing those reusable bags to the supermarket after New Year’s. The ban on single-use plastic bags has been put on hold.
Inslee proposes $57.6 billion budget that fights COVID-19, raises taxes, taps reserves
OLYMPIA – Washington’s government would spend $57.6 billion over the next two years in its efforts to fight COVID-19, shore up the economy and clean up the environment, under plans released Thursday by Gov. Jay Inslee.
Back to school: Inslee releases guidelines to bring kids back to the classroom
Washington students, particularly those younger than high school could soon be returning to the classroom.
Inslee to push familiar ideas to fight climate change in 2021 session
Gov. Jay Inslee and legislative Democrats will renew a push for more state efforts to combat pollution and climate change with a series of initiatives in next year’s legislative session.
Panel of experts gives COVID-19 vaccine OK for use in Washington
OLYMPIA – A special panel of experts reviewing the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has given its approval for use in Washington and three other western states, Gov. Jay Inslee said Sunday.
Inslee extends COVID-19 restrictions
Washington residents are being asked to continue precautions against COVID-19, and certain businesses are ordered to enforce limits or close, into the new year.
Record numbers of ballots cast in Washington but failed candidate questions results
Washington certified its 2020 election Tuesday with some 750,000 more ballots cast and counted than ever before, and a turnout just a shade under the record set in 2008.
The Supreme Court blocked New York’s COVID-19 restrictions for places of worship. What does that mean for Washington?
The U.S. Supreme Court late Wednesday night blocked New York’s COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings, marking a shift in the court that could lead to similar decisions in lawsuits in other states but will likely leave Washington unaffected as of now.
With COVID-19 hospitalizations rising, Inslee warns of ‘catastrophic loss’ from current trajectory
In a news conference just two days before Thanksgiving, Inslee and other health officials again urged residents of the importance of not gathering, as hospitals may not be able to handle it.
Spokane religious academy advertised musical three nights this week despite governor’s orders
While cases continued to climb in Spokane and the state had rolled back to tighter restrictions, Mount Saint Michael’s Academy was announcing ticket sales for three showings of their high school musical, Willy Wonka, Jr., according to the academy’s website as of Friday.