Political party strength in Washington (state)

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Washington ratified its constitution and held its first state elections in 1889, the year it was admitted to the union as a state. It established the positions of governor, lieutenant governor, Secretary of State, attorney general, state treasurer, state auditor, Commissioner of Public Lands, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. The position of insurance commissioner was legislatively established in 1907. All positions are elected to four-year terms, concurrent with presidential elections. Washington is one of three states that elects nine separate statewide officials, while six others elect ten.

The table also indicates the historical party composition in the State Senate, State House of Representatives, State delegation to the U.S. Senate, and State delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives. State senators are elected to four-year terms, with half elected every two years. State representatives are elected to two-year terms, and two from each of 49 legislative districts in separate elections.

While the U.S. state of Washington is considered a solidly Democratic state, it mainly elected Republican candidates during its first forty years of statehood. It currently holds the longest streak of Democratic governors in the nation, having last elected a Republican to the top executive office in 1980.[1][2][a] The office of auditor has been held continuously by Democrats since 1933, when the national wave for President Franklin Roosevelt swept the party into every statewide race and congressional district except the uncontested office of superintendent of public instruction. That position was made nonpartisan in 1940. At the presidential level, Washington is part of the "blue wall", having voted for all Democratic nominees since 1988.

Prior to statehood, the President of the United States appointed a territorial governor and secretary of state, who served as acting governor when the governor was absent from the state. The position of attorney general was established in 1887, and only one person held office before statehood. A non-voting delegate was elected to the House of Representatives.

The nine members of the Washington Supreme Court are also elected statewide to six-year terms but on a nonpartisan basis and are not listed here. However all members of the court are considered liberal-leaning, matching the state's overall electorate.[3][4]

Voters do not register as members of political parties.

The tables below show the history of officeholders elected to statewide executive offices, the state legislature, and the U.S. Congress, as well as the winners of the state's electoral college votes.

For years in which a presidential election was held, the table indicates which party's nominees received the state's electoral votes.

Washington Territory[edit]

The first territorial superintendent of public education was elected by the legislature in 1861 to a three-year term, but the position was disestablished after just one year. It was reestablished in 1871, elected by the legislature to a two-year term.[5] The superintendent was chair of the governor-appointed board of education, which met in the hometown of the superintendent in several cities around the state until statehood when the office remained in Olympia.

Year Executive offices Territorial Legislature United States Congress
Governor[6][7] Sec. of Territory[7] Attorney General Treasurer Auditor[8] Supt. of Pub. Inst.[5] Territorial Senate Territorial House Delegate
1853 Isaac Stevens (D) Charles H. Mason no such office no such office no such office no such office [?] [?] Columbia Lancaster (D)
1854 William Cock Daniel R. Bigelow[9]
1855 James Patton Anderson (D)
1856 J. M. Walker
1857 Fayette McMullen (D) Henry R. Crosbie[10] Isaac Stevens (D)
1858 David L. Phillips Urban E. Hicks
1859 Richard D. Gholson (D) W. C. Rutledge
1860 Henry M. McGill Andrew Jackson Moses
1861 William H. Wallace (R) Leander Jay Sharpe Turney (D)[11][12] Uzal G. Warbass James Clark Head Benjamin C. Lippincott William H. Wallace (R)
1862 William Pickering (R) no such office
1863 Elwood Evans (D)[12] David L. Phillips R. M. Walker George Edward Cole (D)
1864 William Cock
1865 Daniel R. Bigelow[9] Urban E. Hicks Arthur A. Denny (R)
1866 George Edward Cole (D) Benjamin F. Harned
1867 Marshall F. Moore (R) Ezra Leonard Smith James Tilton Alvan Flanders (R)
1868 Benjamin F. Harned John M. Murphy
1869 Alvan Flanders (R) Selucius Garfielde (R)
1870 Edward S. Salomon (R)
1871 James F. Scott Hill Harmon J. G. Sparks Nelson Rounds
1872 Elisha P. Ferry (R) Josiah H. Munson N. S. Potter
1873 Joseph C. Clements John M. Murphy Obadiah B. McFadden (D)
1874 Henry G. Struve (R) Elisha Treat Gunn
1875 Francis Tarbell John R. Wheat Orange Jacobs (R)
1876
1877 Thomas M. Reed (R) John Paul Judson
1878 Nicholas Owings (R)
1879 Jonathan S. Houghton Thomas Hurley Brents (R)
1880 William A. Newell (R)
1881 Thomas N. Ford Charles W. Wheeler
1882
1883 Robert C. Kerr
1884 Watson C. Squire (R)
1885 J. C. Lawrence Charles Stewart Voorhees (D)
1886 William McMicken
1887 Eugene Semple (D) James B. Metcalfe (D) J. H. Morgan
1888 John M. Murphy
1889 Miles Conway Moore (R) Oliver Cromwell White Frank Irvin Blodgett John B. Allen (R)
Year Governor[6][7] Sec. of Territory[7] Attorney General Treasurer Auditor[8] Supt. of Pub. Inst.[5] Territorial Senate Territorial House Delegate
Executive offices Territorial Legislature United States Congress

State of Washington[edit]

At statehood, the constitution established eight positions that would be elected statewide. The officials take office in the January following their election. The insurance commissioner was first elected in 1908.

Year Executive offices[13] State Legislature United States Congress Electoral
votes[14]
Governor[6][15] Lt. Governor[16] Sec. of State[17] Attorney General[18] Treasurer[19][20] Auditor[21][8] Comm. of
Pub. Lands[22][23] 		Insurance Comm.[24] Supt. of
Pub. Inst.[25] 		State Senate State House U.S. Senator
(Class I)[26] 		U.S. Senator
(Class III)[27] 		U.S.
House
1889 Elisha P. Ferry (R) Charles E. Laughton (R) Allan Weir (R) William Carey Jones (R) Addison Alexander
Lindsley (R) 		Thomas M. Reed (R) William T. Forrest (R) no such office Robert Bruce Bryan (R) 34R, 1D 61R, 8D, 1I John B. Allen (R) Watson C. Squire (R) 1R
1890
1891 30R, 4D 60R, 18D
1892 Harrison/
Reid (R) Red XN
1893 John McGraw (R) F. H. Luce (R) James Price (R) Orzo A. Bowen (R) Leban R. Grimes (R) Charles W. Bean (R) 25R, 9D 50R, 20D, 8P vacant 2R
1894
1895 John E. Frost (R) 26R, 5D, 3Pop 54R, 20Pop, 4D John L. Wilson (R)
1896 2 – Bryan/
Sewall (D/SvR) Red XN
2 – Bryan/
Watson (Pop) Red XN
1897 John Rankin Rogers (Pop) Thurston Daniels (Pop) Will Jenkins (Pop) Patrick Henry Winston (Pop) Cyrus Wilber Young (Pop) Neal Cheetham (Pop) Robert Bridges (Pop) Frank J. Browne (Pop) 15Pop, 13R, 4D, 2SvR[b] 45Pop, 12R, 11SvR, 10D George Turner (D) 1D, 1SvR
1898
1899 15R, 12Pop, 7D[c] 68R, 9Pop, 1Cit Addison G. Foster (R) 2R
1900 McKinley/
Roosevelt (R) Green tickY
1901 John Rankin Rogers (D)[d] Henry McBride (R) Sam Nichols (R)[e] Wickliffe Stratton (R) C. W. Maynard (R) John D. Atkinson (R) S. A. Callvert (R) Robert Bruce Bryan (R) 26R, 8D 59R, 21D
Henry McBride (R)[f] vacant
1902
1903 33R, 9D 80R, 14D Levi Ankeny (R) 3R
1904 Roosevelt/
Fairbanks (R) Green tickY
1905 Albert E. Mead (R) Charles E. Coon (R) John Atkinson (R) George G. Mills (R) Charles W. Clausen (R) E. W. Ross (R) 38R, 4D 90R, 4D Samuel H. Piles (R)
1906
1907 85R, 9D
1908 Taft/
Sherman (R) Green tickY
1909 Samuel G. Cosgrove (R)[d] Marion E. Hay (R) Walter Bell (R) John G. Lewis (R) John H. Schively (R) Henry B. Dewey (R) 39R, 3D 88R, 6D Wesley Livsey Jones (R)
Marion E. Hay (R)[f] vacant Ithamar Howell (R)[d][g]
1910
1911 William V. Tanner (R) 38R, 4D 84R, 13D Miles Poindexter (R)
1912 Roosevelt/
Johnson (Prog) Red XN
1913 Ernest Lister (D)[d] Louis F. Hart (R) Edward Meath (R) Clark V. Savidge (R) Herbert O. Fishback (R) Josephine Corliss Preston (R) 27R, 9D, 6Prog 49R, 29Prog, 19D Miles Poindexter (Prog) 3R, 2Prog
1914
1915 29R, 7Prog, 6D 79R, 13D, 5Prog Miles Poindexter (R) 4R, 1D
1916 Wilson/
Marshall (D) Green tickY
1917 William Watts
Sherman (R) 		37R, 5D 83R, 14D
1918
1919 Louis F. Hart (R)[h] vacant Lindsay Levant Thompson (R) 39R, 3D 87R, 10D 5R
1920 Jay Hinkle (R)[g] Harding/
Coolidge (R) Green tickY
1921 William J. Coyle (R) Clifford L. Babcock (R) 40R, 1D, 1FL 94R, 2FL, 1D
1922
1923 John H. Dunbar (R) 39R, 2FL, 1D 84R, 9D, 4FL Clarence Dill (D)
4R, 1D
1924 Coolidge/
Dawes (R) Green tickY
1925 Roland H. Hartley (R) W. Lon Johnson (R) W. G. Potts (R) 40R, 2D 92R, 5D
1926
1927 89R, 8D
1928 Hoover/
Curtis (R) Green tickY
1929 John Arthur Gellatly (R) Charles W. Hinton (R) Noah D. Showalter (R) 41R, 1D 91R, 6D
1930
1931 90R, 7D
1932 Elijah S. Grammer (R) Roosevelt/
Garner (D) Green tickY
1933 Clarence D. Martin (D) Victor Aloysius Meyers (D) Ernest Hutchinson (D)[d] Garrison Hamilton (D) Otto A. Case (D) Cliff Yelle (D) Albert C. Martin (D) William A. Sullivan (D) 25D, 21R 70D, 29R Homer Bone (D) 6D
1934
1935 41D, 5R 93D, 6R Lewis B. Schwellenbach (D)
1936
1937 Phil H. Gallagher (D) Stanley F. Atwood (D) 37D, 9R 91D, 8R
1938 Belle Reeves (D)[d][g]
1939 40D, 6R 73D, 26R
1940 Roosevelt/
Wallace (D) Green tickY
1941 Arthur B. Langlie (R) Smith Troy (D) Otto A. Case (D) Jack Taylor (D) Pearl Anderson Wanamaker (NP/D) 37D, 9R 68D, 31R Monrad Wallgren (D)
1942
1943 27D, 19R 59D, 40R 3D, 3R
1944 Roosevelt/
Truman (D) Green tickY
1945 Monrad Wallgren (D) Russell H. Fluent (D) Otto A. Case (D) 32D, 14R 63D, 36R Hugh Mitchell (D) Warren Magnuson (D) 4D, 2R
1946
1947 23R, 23D[i] 72R, 27D Harry P. Cain (R) 5R, 1D
1948 Earl Coe (D)[g] Truman/
Barkley (D) Green tickY
1949 Arthur B. Langlie (R) Tom Martin (D) Jack Taylor (D) 27R, 19D 67D, 32R 4R, 2D
1950
1951 25D, 21R 54D, 45R
1952 Eisenhower/
Nixon (R) Green tickY
1953 Emmett T. Anderson (R) Don Eastvold (R) Charles R. Maybury (R) Otto A. Case (D) 25R, 21D 58R, 41D Henry M. Jackson (D) 6R, 1D
1954
1955 24R, 22D 50D, 49R
1956
1957 Albert Rosellini (D) John Cherberg (D) Victor Aloysius Meyers (D) John J. O'Connell (D) Tom Martin (D) Bert L. Cole (D) Lloyd J. Andrews (NP/R) 31D, 15R 56D, 43R
1958
1959 35D, 14R 66D, 33R
1960 Nixon/
Lodge (R) Red XN
1961 Lee I. Kueckelhan (D) Louis Bruno (NP) 36D, 13R 60D, 39R 5R, 2D
1962
1963 32D, 17R 51D, 48R 6R, 1D
1964 Johnson/
Humphrey (D) Green tickY
1965 Daniel J. Evans (R) Lud Kramer (R)[e] Robert S. O'Brien (D) Robert V. Graham (D) 60D, 39R 5D, 2R
1966
1967 29D, 20R 55R, 44D
1968 Humphrey/
Muskie (D) Red XN
1969 Slade Gorton (R) Karl Hermann (D) 27D, 22R 56R, 43D
1970
1971 29D, 20R 51R, 48D 6D, 1R
1972 Nixon/
Agnew (R) Green tickY
1973 Frank Brouillet (NP/D) 30D, 19R 57D, 41R
1974
1975 Bruce Chapman (R)[g] 62D, 36R
1976 Ford/
Dole (R) Red XN
1977 Dixy Lee Ray (D) Richard G. Marquardt (R) 5D, 2R
1978
1979 49D, 49R[j] 6D, 1R
1980 Reagan/
Bush (R) Green tickY
1981 John Spellman (R) Ralph Munro (R) Ken Eikenberry (R) Brian Boyle (R) 25R, 24D[k] 56R, 42D Slade Gorton (R) 5D, 2R
1982 55R, 43D[l]
1983 26D, 23R 54D, 44R Daniel J. Evans (R) 5D, 3R
1984 53D, 45R
1985 Booth Gardner (D) 27D, 22R
1986
1987 25D, 24R 61D, 37R Brock Adams (D)
1988 25R, 24D[m] Dukakis/
Bentsen (D) Red XN
1989 Joel Pritchard (R) Dan Grimm (D) Judy Billings (NP/D)[e] 63D, 35R Slade Gorton (R)
1990
1991 58D, 40R
1992 Clinton/
Gore (D) Green tickY
1993 Mike Lowry (D) Christine Gregoire (D) Brian Sonntag (D) Jennifer Belcher (D) Deborah Senn (D) 28D, 21R 65D, 33R Patty Murray (D) 8D, 1R
1994
1995 25D, 24R 61R, 37D[n] 7R, 2D
1996 62R, 36D[n]
1997 Gary Locke (D) Brad Owen (D) Mike Murphy (D) Terry Bergeson (NP/D) 26R, 23D 56R, 42D 6R, 3D
1998 57R, 41D[o]
1999 27D, 23R 49D, 49R[p] 5D, 4R
2000 Gore/
Lieberman (D) Red XN
2001 Sam Reed (R) Doug Sutherland (R) Mike Kreidler (D) 25D, 24R Maria Cantwell (D) 6D, 3R
2002 50D, 48R[q]
2003 25R, 24D 52D, 46R
2004 Kerry/
Edwards (D) Red XN
2005 Christine Gregoire (D) Rob McKenna (R) 26D, 23R 55D, 43R
2006
2007 32D, 17R 62D, 36R
2008 63D, 35R[r] Obama/
Biden (D) Green tickY
2009 Jim McIntire (D) Peter J. Goldmark (D) Randy Dorn (NP/D) 31D, 18R 62D, 36R
2010 61D, 37R[o]
2011 27D, 22R 56D, 42R 5D, 4R
2012
2013 Jay Inslee (D) Kim Wyman (R)[e] Bob Ferguson (D) Troy Kelley (D) 26D, 23R[s] 55D, 43R 6D, 4R
2014 25D, 24R[o]
2015 25R, 24D[t] 51D, 47R
2016 50D, 48R[o] Clinton/
Kaine (D) Red XN
2017 Cyrus Habib (D) Duane Davidson (R) Pat McCarthy (D) Hilary Franz (D) Chris Reykdal (NP/D)
2018 25D, 24R[l][t]
2019 28D, 21R[t] 57D, 41R 7D, 3R
2020 Biden/
Harris (D) Green tickY
2021 Denny Heck (D) Mike Pellicciotti (D)
2022 Steve Hobbs (D)[g]
2023 29D, 20R 58D, 40R 8D, 2R
2024 [to be determined]
Year Governor Lt. Governor Sec. of State Attorney
General		 Treasurer Auditor Comm. of
Pub. Lands		 Comm. of Ins. Supt. of
Pub. Inst.		 State Senate State House U.S. Senator (Class I) U.S. Senator (Class III) U.S.
House		 Electoral
votes
Executive offices State Legislature United States Congress
Key to party colors and abbreviations for members of the U.S. Congress and other politicians or officials
Alaskan Independence (AKIP)
American (Know Nothing) (KN)
American Labor (AL)
Anti-Jacksonian (Anti-J)
National Republican (NR)
Anti-Administration (AA)
Anti-Masonic (Anti-M)
Conservative (Con)
Democratic (D)
Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL)
Dixiecrat (Dix),
States' Rights (SR)
Democratic-Republican (DR)
Farmer–Labor (FL)
Federalist (F)
Pro-Administration (PA)
Free Soil (FS)
Fusion (Fus)
Greenback (GB)
Independence (IPM)
Independent Democrat (ID)
Independent Republican (IR)
Jacksonian (J)
Liberal (Lib)
Libertarian (L)
National Union (NU)
Nonpartisan League (NPL)
Democratic–Nonpartisan
League (D-NPL)
Nullifier (N)
Opposition Northern (O)
Opposition Southern (O)
Populist (Pop)
Progressive (Prog)
Prohibition (Proh)
Readjuster (Rea)
Republican (R)
Silver (Sv)
Silver Republican (SvR)
Socialist (Soc)
Unionist (U)
Unconditional Unionist (UU)
Vermont Progressive (VP)
Whig (W)
Independent (I)
Nonpartisan (NP)
  1. ^ This statistic includes only states; the District of Columbia has been controlled by elected Democrats since 1975.
  2. ^ A coalition between Democrats, Populists, and Silver Republicans elected a Populist, W.H. Plummer, as President Pro Tempore, and organized the chamber.[28]
  3. ^ A coalition between Democrats and Populists elected a Populist-turned-Democrat, Augustus High, as President Pro Tempore, and organized the chamber.[29]
  4. ^ a b c d e f Died in office.
  5. ^ a b c d Resigned.
  6. ^ a b As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Initially appointed by Governor to fill vacancy; later elected in his own right.
  8. ^ As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.
  9. ^ A coalition of Republicans and nine conservative Democrats elected a Republican President Pro Tempore, Victor Zednick.[30]
  10. ^ A power-sharing agreement was negotiated, and co-Speakers from both parties were elected. All committees were co-chaired and evenly divided between the parties.
  11. ^ A legislator switched parties from Democratic to Republican, giving the Republicans the majority.
  12. ^ a b A special election flipped a seat from the Republicans to the Democrats.
  13. ^ A special election flipped a seat from the Democrats to the Republicans, flipping the chamber.
  14. ^ a b A legislator switched parties from Democratic to Republican.
  15. ^ a b c d A special election flipped a seat from the Democrats to the Republicans.
  16. ^ A power-sharing agreement was negotiated, and co-Speakers from both parties were elected. All committees were co-chaired and evenly divided between the parties.
  17. ^ A special election flipped a seat from the Republicans to the Democrats, breaking the tie and flipping the chamber.
  18. ^ A legislator switched parties from Republican to Democratic.
  19. ^ A coalition of 2 Democrats and 23 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority.
  20. ^ a b c One conservative Democrat caucuses as part of the Republicans.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "What 2014 elections say about 2016 governor's race". SeattlePI. September 29, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  2. ^ Brunner, Jim (August 11, 2012). "McKenna win would end drought for GOP in races for governor". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  3. ^ "State Supreme Court: activist justices, or just different?". The Seattle Times. 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  4. ^ "Political outlook of state supreme court justices - Ballotpedia". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  5. ^ a b c Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction. 1917.
  6. ^ a b c "Washington Territorial and State Governors - Washington State Library - WA Secretary of State". Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  7. ^ a b c d Ficken, Robert (2005). "Figureheads of State" (PDF). Washington State Historical Society.
  8. ^ a b c Taylor, Briahna. The Citizen's Advocate: History of the Washington State Auditor's Office Washington State Auditor's Office. Olympia: Washington State Department of Printing, 2007.
  9. ^ a b "Daniel Richardson Bigelow". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  10. ^ "Henry R. Crosbie". Washington Secretary of State.
  11. ^ "Message from Acting Governor L. Jay S. Turney to the Ninth Annual Session of the Legislative Assembly, Washington Territory, December 19, 1861 · Civil War Pathways". pathways.omeka.net. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  12. ^ a b "Library Jewel #3: Letters, photos of 1860s secretary of WA Territory". From Our Corner. 2015-04-28. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  13. ^ Barton, C.M. Legislative Manual of Washington, 1891-1892 (PDF). p. 262.
  14. ^ "Elections Search Results: President/Vice President". Washington Secretary of State.
  15. ^ "Elections Search Results: Governor". Washington Secretary of State.
  16. ^ "Elections Search Results: Lieutenant Governor". Washington Secretary of State.
  17. ^ "Washington's Secretaries of State - Past and Present - Office - WA Secretary of State". Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  18. ^ "Elections Search Results: Attorney General". Washington Secretary of State.
  19. ^ "Our History; Washington State Treasurers Past and Present". Washington State Treasurer. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  20. ^ "Elections Search Results: State Treasurer". Washington Secretary of State.
  21. ^ "Elections Search Results: State Auditor". Washington Secretary of State.
  22. ^ "Elections Search Results: Commissioner of Public Lands". Washington Secretary of State.
  23. ^ Washington State Yearbook: The Evergreen State Government Directory. Olympia, WA: Washington Roll Call. 2017.
  24. ^ "Elections Search Results: Insurance Commissioner". Washington Secretary of State.
  25. ^ "Elections Search Results: Superintendent of Public Instruction". Washington Secretary of State.
  26. ^ "Elections Search Results: U.S. Senator". Washington Secretary of State.
  27. ^ "Elections Search Results: U.S. Senator". Washington Secretary of State.
  28. ^ p. 52
  29. ^ p. 38 p. 54
  30. ^ p. 142, p. 140

External links[edit]

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