The 2024 Washington gubernatorial election will be held on November 5, 2024. The top-two primary was held on August 6. Incumbent Democratic governor Jay Inslee announced on May 1, 2023, that he would not run for a fourth term.[1] Inslee, who previously served in the U.S. House, was first elected governor in 2012 and won re-election in 2016 and 2020 by increasing margins each time.
Washington has not had a Republican governor since John Spellman left office in 1985,[2] the longest streak of Democratic leadership of any state in the country and the third longest streak of one-party leadership after South Dakota (which has not had a Democratic governor since Harvey Wollman left office in 1979) and Utah (which has not had a Democratic governor since Scott Matheson left office nine days prior to Spellman in 1985).[3][4][5] Ferguson is considered by analysts to be the favorite to win the election, due to Washington's strong Democratic lean.