2016 United States Presidential Election in Washington
The 2016 United States presidential election in Washington was a notable event in the state's political history. Held on November 8, 2016, this election saw Hillary Clinton securing the state with 52.54% of the vote against Donald Trump's 36.83%, marking a 15.71% margin of victory. All of Washington's 12 electoral votes were allocated to Clinton, though four electors defected. Nationally, however, Trump triumphed in the presidential race.
During the primaries, Washington's voters selected the Republican Party's nominee through a primary system, while the Democratic Party used a caucus system. The Green Party's nominee was chosen via a convention. Despite Clinton's win, her 52.5% was a reduction from Barack Obama's 55.8% in 2012. Nevertheless, Trump's percentage drop from Mitt Romney's 41.0% in 2012 made Washington one of the 11 states where Clinton improved upon Obama's margin of victory.
Interestingly, this election marked a few significant shifts: it was the first time since 1928 and 1952, respectively, that the Republican Party won in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. Additionally, it was the first time the Republicans had won Cowlitz County since 1980 and Mason County since 1984. Trump also became the first Republican to win the presidency without carrying Island County and the first since William McKinley in 1900 to do so without carrying Whitman County.
Despite Clinton's statewide victory, four Democratic electors defected. Three voted for former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, making him the first African-American Republican to receive electoral votes. 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.
2020 United States Presidential Election in Washington
The 2020 presidential election in Washington, held on November 3, 2020, further cemented the state's Democratic leanings. In this election, Washington's 12 electoral votes were at stake, with incumbent President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence representing the Republican Party against Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris.
Forecasts predicted a Biden victory, categorizing Washington as a safe blue state. Biden indeed won with a substantial margin of 19.2%, the largest margin for a presidential candidate in the state since 1964. He also flipped Clallam County, a swing county with a long history of voting for the national winner since 1980, and secured the highest vote total in the state's history, with 2,369,612 votes.
The Seattle metropolitan area, which comprises almost two-thirds of the state's population, strongly supported Biden. Even without the votes from King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties, Biden would have still carried the state by over 4,000 votes. Trump, however, maintained a stronghold in rural counties, winning over 70% of the vote in areas like Columbia. Eastern Washington, characterized by its rural and socially conservative demographic, leaned Republican, mirroring neighboring Idaho's GOP stronghold.
Biden's performance in Washington was bolstered by diverse voter demographics. He garnered 59% support among white voters, 73% among Latinos, and 79% among Asian-Americans. Additionally, Biden was favored by 78% of irreligious voters and received significant backing from Native Americans, with some tribes showing over 80% support.
Despite these gains, Biden became the first Democrat since Washington's statehood to win the presidency without winning Mason County. He was also the first Democrat since John F. Kennedy in 1960 to prevail without winning Cowlitz County, and the first since Woodrow Wilson in 1916 to win without carrying Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.
2024 United States Presidential Election in Washington
Looking ahead, the 2024 United States presidential election in Washington is scheduled for November 5, 2024. As part of the broader 2024 elections, Washington's 12 electoral votes will once again be up for grabs. The state retained its electoral vote count following the 2020 census, which saw no changes in its congressional representation.
Historically, Washington was a Republican-leaning swing state until the 1980s. However, since 1988, Democrats have consistently won the state in presidential elections, achieving double-digit margins since 2008. Positioned as part of the Democratic-leaning West Coast, Washington is predicted to comfortably favor Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
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