2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election
← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →
 
Nominee Denny Heck Marko Liias
Party Democratic Democratic Write-in
Popular vote 1,658,405 1,218,548 759,076
Percentage 45.6% 33.5% 20.9%
Heck:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Liias:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Write-In:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
     No data
Lieutenant Governor before election

Cyrus Habib
Democratic

Elected Lieutenant Governor

Denny Heck
Democratic

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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.[1]

Incumbent Cyrus Habib surprised the state by announcing he was foregoing a run for re-election in order to join the Society of Jesus.[2] 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.[3]

Background

Habib's retirement came after Gov. Inslee dropped out of the presidential election[4][5] 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.[6][7] The day of his retirement State Senator Steve Hobbs announced his 2nd campaign for the office of Lieutenant Governor,[7] after losing in the 2016 Primary to then-State Senator Habib.[8]

Nonpartisan blanket primary

Democratic Party candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

Denny Heck
State politicians
Steve Hobbs (withdrawn)
State politicians

Republican Party candidates

Minor party candidates

Declared

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		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%[b]
SurveyUSA/KING 5 May 16–19, 2020 650 (LV) ± 5.6% 10% 9% 15% 10% 6% 50%[c]

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 advanced to the general election in November.

2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Denny Heck 596,289 25.01
Democratic Marko Liias 441,791 18.53
Republican Ann Davison Sattler 285,597 11.98
Republican Marty McClendon 271,995 11.41
Republican Dick 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.[20][21] A debate between Heck and Liias was held on October 22.[22]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		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[23]
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.[24]

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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Denny Heck defeats Marko Liias in Washington state lieutenant governor election results". Seattle Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib: Why I am giving up elected office and joining the Jesuits". America Magazine. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  3. ^ "Opinion | A 'Team of Rivals' for the Democrats?". The New York Times. February 27, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "Inslee to seek third term as WA governor after dropping longshot presidential bid | Crosscut". crosscut.com. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  5. ^ "Gov. Inslee's re-election bid cools other Democrats' ambitions — for now | Crosscut". crosscut.com. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Former Seattle council candidate switching parties, running for lieutenant governor". MyNorthwest.com. January 31, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib will not run for reelection, says he plans to join Jesuit religious order". The Seattle Times. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  8. ^ "It'll be Jay Inslee vs. Bill Bryant in Washington governor race | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  9. ^ Drew, James (April 3, 2020). "U.S. Rep. Heck files paperwork to run for state Lieutenant Governor". The News Tribune. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  10. ^ Cornfield, Jerry (March 24, 2020). "Sen. Marko Liias to launch campaign for lieutenant governor". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c Cornfield, Jerry (May 18, 2020). "Hobbs withdraws from crowded race for lieutenant governor". HeraldNet.com.
  12. ^ a b 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 March 21, 2020.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Congressman Denny Heck to run for Washington lieutenant governor". The Seattle Times. April 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Cornfield, Jerry (October 9, 2019). "A boring election for state seats in 2020? Try nine of them". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  15. ^ "Homelessness, pragmatism at issue in Seattle City Council race pitting incumbent Juarez against challenger Sattler". The Seattle Times. October 17, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Roegner, Bob (June 15, 2020). "Democrats have the edge in WA's 2020 elections". Kent Reporter. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  17. ^ "public". apollo.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  18. ^ "public". apollo.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  19. ^ "August 4, 2020 Primary Results". Washington Secretary of State. Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  20. ^ "Former Bothell Mayor Joshua Freed announces write-in campaign for lieutenant governor". www.seattletimes.com. Seattle Times. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  21. ^ "Joshua Freed official write-in candidate for WA state Lt. Governor race". www.lynnwoodtimes.com. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  22. ^ "Washington Gov. Inslee, Republican challenger Culp agree to televised debate Oct.7". www.opb.org. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  23. ^ "General Election Results". Washington Secretary of State. Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  24. ^ Results. sos.wa.gov (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 24, 2020.

External links

Official campaign websites
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