2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election

The 2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the lieutenant governor of Washington concurrently with the 2020 Washington elections. The top-two primary was held on August 4, and Democrats Denny Heck and Marko Liias advanced to the general election, which Heck won.

2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election

November 3, 2020

Nominee Denny Heck Marko Liias Write-in Party Democratic Democratic N/A Popular vote 1,658,405 1,218,548 759,076 Percentage 45.61% 33.51% 20.88%

Lieutenant Governor before election Cyrus Habib Democratic Elected Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck Democratic

Incumbent Cyrus Habib surprised the state by announcing he was foregoing a run for re-election in order to join the Order of Jesuits.[1] The position was of special importance due to speculation that the incumbent Governor, Jay Inslee could have been appointed to a position in a Democratic Presidential Cabinet after winning his third term.[2]

Background

Habib's retirement came after Gov. Inslee dropped out of the presidential election[3][4] which caused many potential statewide candidates in Washington to change their plans and drop exploratory bids.

At the time of Habib's announcement former Seattle City Council candidate Ann Davison Sattler and former US House candidate Joseph Brumbles had already been running as Republicans.[5][6] The day of his retirement State Senator Steve Hobbs announced his 2nd campaign for the office of Lieutenant Governor,[6] after losing in the 2016 Primary to then-State Senator Habib.[7]

Nonpartisan blanket primary

Declared

• Denny Heck, U.S. Representative for Washington's 10th congressional district[8]
• Marko Liias, State Senator from Washington's 21st legislative district and candidate for Washington State Treasurer in 2016[9]

Withdrawn

• Steve Hobbs, State Senator from Washington's 44th legislative district[10]

Declined

• Lisa Brown, Washington Secretary of Commerce, former Congressional Candidate, and former State Senate Majority Leader[6][11]
• Dow Constantine, King County Executive[11]
• Cyrus Habib, incumbent Lieutenant Governor[1][6]

Endorsements

Denny Heck

State politicians

• Christine Gregoire, former Governor (2005-2013)[12]

Steve Hobbs (withdrawn)

State politicians

• Gary Locke, former Governor (1997-2005)[10]
• Brad Owen, former Lieutenant Governor (1997-2017)[10]

Republican Party candidates

• Joseph Brumbles, former Congressional candidate[6][13]
• Ann Davison Sattler, former Seattle City Council candidate, former staffer for John Paul Hammerschmidt[5][6][14]
• Marty McClendon, Perennial Candidate[15]
• Dick Muri, former State Representative from Washington's 28th legislative district[15]

Declared

• Jared Frerichs (Libertarian), former Candidate for Walla Walla County Commission, Consultant[16]
• Mark Greene (Revived Citizens Party), Perennial Candidate[17]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 1]	Margin of error	Joseph Brumbles (R)	Ann Sattler (R)	Denny Heck (D)	Steve Hobbs (D)	Marko Liias (D)	Other / Undecided
SurveyUSA/KING 5	July 22-27, 2020	513 (LV)	± 5.4%	14%	10%	34%	–	14%	29%[lower-alpha 2]
SurveyUSA/KING 5	May 16-19, 2020	650 (LV)	± 5.6%	10%	9%	15%	10%	6%	50%[lower-alpha 3]

Results

A top-two primary took place on August 4. All candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation and the top two will advance to the general election in November.

2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Denny Heck	596,289	25.01
	Democratic	Marko Liias	441,791	18.53
	Republican	Ann Davidson Sattler	285,597	11.98
	Republican	Marty McClendon	271,995	11.41
	Republican	Richard Muri	241,939	10.15
	Democratic	Michelle Jasmer	212,387	8.91
	Republican	Joseph Brumbles	174,823	7.33
	Democratic	James R. Rafferty	57,405	2.41
	Republican	Bill Penor	49,225	2.06
	Libertarian	Matt Seymour	27,125	1.14
	Libertarian	Jared Frerichs	20,847	0.87
	Write-in		5,205	0.22
Total votes			2,384,628	100

General election

After being eliminated in the August 4th gubernatorial primary, Joshua Freed announced that he would be running for lieutenant governor as a write-in candidate.[19][20] A debate between Heck and Liias was held on October 22.[21]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 1]	Margin of error	Denny Heck (D)	Marko Liias (D)	Undecided
PPP/NPI	October 14–15, 2020	610 (LV)	± 4%	32%	16%	52%
SurveyUSA/KING-TV	October 8–10, 2020	591 (LV)	± 5.2%	31%	18%	52%

Results

2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Denny Heck	1,658,405	45.61%
	Democratic	Marko Liias	1,218,548	33.51%
	Write-in		759,076	20.88%
Total votes			3,636,029	100.00%
	Democratic hold

By congressional district

Heck won 9 of 10 congressional districts with the remaining one going to Liias.[23]

District	Heck	Liias	Write-in	Representative
1st	43%	33%	24%	Suzan DelBene
2nd	44%	36%	20%	Rick Larsen
3rd	43%	30%	27%	Jaime Herrera Beutler
4th	37%	28%	34%	Dan Newhouse
5th	41%	32%	27%	Cathy McMorris Rodgers
6th	51%	30%	19%	Derek Kilmer
7th	47%	48%	5%	Pramila Jayapal
8th	45%	29%	26%	Kim Schrier
9th	51%	39%	10%	Adam Smith
10th	52%	27%	21%	Denny Heck
				Marilyn Strickland

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. "Some other candidate" with 5%; Undecided with 24%
3. Undecided with 50%

References

1. "Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib: Why I am giving up elected office and joining the Jesuits". America Magazine. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
2. "Opinion | A 'Team of Rivals' for the Democrats?". The New York Times. 2020-02-27. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
3. "Inslee to seek third term as WA governor after dropping longshot presidential bid | Crosscut". crosscut.com. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
4. "Gov. Inslee's re-election bid cools other Democrats' ambitions — for now | Crosscut". crosscut.com. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
5. "Former Seattle council candidate switching parties, running for lieutenant governor". MyNorthwest.com. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
6. "Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib will not run for reelection, says he plans to join Jesuit religious order". The Seattle Times. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
7. "It'll be Jay Inslee vs. Bill Bryant in Washington governor race | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
8. Drew, James (April 3, 2020). "U.S. Rep. Heck files paperwork to run for state Lieutenant Governor". The News Tribune. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
9. Cornfield, Jerry (2020-03-24). "Sen. Marko Liias to launch campaign for lieutenant governor". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
10. Cornfield, Jerry (May 18, 2020). "Hobbs withdraws from crowded race for lieutenant governor". HeraldNet.com.
11. Mar 20, Rich Smith •; Am, 2020 at 11:28. "As Cyrus Habib Joins the Priesthood, a Handful of People Say They're Running for Lt. Gov". The Stranger. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
12. "Congressman Denny Heck to run for Washington lieutenant governor". The Seattle Times. April 9, 2020.
13. Cornfield, Jerry (2019-10-09). "A boring election for state seats in 2020? Try nine of them". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
14. "Homelessness, pragmatism at issue in Seattle City Council race pitting incumbent Juarez against challenger Sattler". The Seattle Times. 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
15. Roegner, Bob (2020-06-15). "Democrats have the edge in WA's 2020 elections". Kent Reporter. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
16. "public". apollo.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
17. "public". apollo.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
18. "August 4, 2020 Primary Results". Washington Secretary of State. Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
19. "Former Bothell Mayor Joshua Freed announces write-in campaign for lieutenant governor". www.seattletimes.com. Seattle Times. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
20. "Joshua Freed official write-in candidate for WA state Lt. Governor race". www.lynnwoodtimes.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
21. "Washington Gov. Inslee, Republican challenger Culp agree to televised debate Oct.7". www.opb.org. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
22. "General Election Results". Washington Secretary of State. Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
23. Results. sos.wa.gov (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-11-24.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Denny Heck (D) for Lieutenant Governor
• Marko Liias (D) for Lieutenant Governor
• Joshua Freed (R) for Lieutenant Governor