In the presidential primaries, Washington voters chose the Republican Party's nominee; the Democratic Party used the caucus system, and the Green Party's nominee was chosen in a convention. Although Clinton's 52.5% percent of the vote was a reduction from Barack Obama's 55.8% in 2012,[2] Trump receiving an even greater drop in percentage compared to Mitt Romney's 41.0% made Washington one of 11 states (along with the District of Columbia) where Clinton improved upon Obama's margin of victory.[3] This was the first presidential election in which the Republican Party won Grays Harbor and Pacific counties since 1928 and 1952, respectively.[4]
This election was also the first time that the Republican Party had won Cowlitz County since 1980, and the first time they had won Mason County since 1984.[5] Additionally, Trump became the first Republican ever to win the White House without carrying Island County, as well as the first to do so without carrying Whitman County since William McKinley in 1900.[citation needed] Despite Clinton's victory, four Democratic electors defected:[6] Three voted for former U.S. secretary of state Colin Powell, making him the first African-American Republican to receive electoral votes,[7] while Native American activist Robert Satiacum Jr. cast his vote for fellow activist Faith Spotted Eagle, making her the first Native American to receive an electoral vote for president.[8]
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