2012 Washington gubernatorial election

2012 Washington gubernatorial election

← 2008 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →
 
Nominee Jay Inslee Rob McKenna
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,582,802 1,488,245
Percentage 51.4% 48.3%

Inslee:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
McKenna:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      50%      No votes

Governor before election

Christine Gregoire
Democratic

Elected Governor

Jay Inslee
Democratic

The 2012 Washington gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012.[1] Candidates in the election were chosen in an August 7, 2012[2] primary election, under the state's nonpartisan blanket primary system, which allows voters to vote for any candidate running in the race, regardless of party affiliation. The two candidates who received the most votes in the primary election qualified for the general election.[3]

Incumbent Governor Christine Gregoire decided to retire rather than seek a third term.[4] She endorsed fellow Democrat Jay Inslee, a U.S. Congressman, as her successor. On March 20, 2012, Inslee resigned from Congress in order to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.[5]

Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna, the Attorney General of Washington, advanced to the general election. Inslee narrowly won the election, and McKenna conceded three days later.[6]

  1. ^ "Washington's 2012 elections". Balletopedia - The Encyclopedia of American Politics. Balletopedia. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "RCW 29a.04.311: Primaries". apps.leg.wa.gov. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  3. ^ Pages - Top 2 Primary Archived April 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Garber, Andrew (June 13, 2011). "2 terms and out for Gov. Chris Gregoire". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  5. ^ Grygiel, Chris (March 10, 2012). "US Rep. Inslee to resign for Wash. gov. race". The News Tribune. Associated Press.[dead link]
  6. ^ Brunner, Jim (November 10, 2012). "McKenna concedes; Inslee to be governor". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2012.