In this election, Washington had 12 electors to the Electoral College . Incumbent Democratic president Barack Obama safely carried the state, gaining all 12 electoral votes against Republican nominee Mitt Romney .
Incumbent Democratic senator Maria Cantwell won re-election to a third term against Republican state senator Michael Baumgartner .
2012 United States Senate election in Washington[ 2] [ 3]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Maria Cantwell (incumbent)
626,360
55.42
Republican
Michael Baumgartner
344,729
30.50
Republican
Art Coday
59,255
5.24
Democratic
Timothy Wilson
26,850
2.38
Republican
Chuck Jackson
21,870
1.94
Republican
Glenn R. Stockwell
21,731
1.92
Republican
Mike the Mover
16,459
1.46
Reform
Will Baker
12,865
1.14
Total votes
1,130,119
100.00
General election
Democratic
Maria Cantwell (incumbent)
1,855,493
60.36
Republican
Michael Baumgartner
1,213,924
39.49
Write-in
4,644
0.15
Total votes
3,074,061
100.00
Democratic hold
Due to the results of the 2010 United States Census , Washington elected U.S. Representatives from ten congressional districts , a gain of one seat.
Incumbents Rick Larsen (D-2nd ), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-3rd ), Doc Hastings (R-4th ), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5th ), Jim McDermott (D-7th ), Dave Reichert (R-8th ), and Adam Smith (R-9th ) ran for re-election and won. Incumbents Jay Inslee (D-1st ) and Norman D. Dicks (D-6th ) retired and were respectively succeeded by Suzan DelBene (D) and Derek Kilmer (D). Denny Heck (D) was elected to the newly created 10th district .
The resulting composition was six Democrats and four Republicans.
Incumbent Democratic governor Christine Gregoire declined to run for a third term. Democratic congressman Jay Inslee ran to succeed her, earning Gregoire's endorsement.[ 4] He faced Republican attorney general Rob McKenna in the general election, defeating him by a small margin.[ 5]
2012 Washington gubernatorial election[ 6]
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Jay Inslee
664,534
47.13
Republican
Rob McKenna
604,872
42.90
Republican
Shahram Hadian
46,169
3.27
Democratic
Rob Hill
45,453
3.22
Independent
James White
13,764
0.98
Independent
Christian Joubert
10,457
0.74
Independent
L. Dale Sorgen
9,734
0.69
Republican
Max Sampson
8,753
0.62
Republican
Javier O. Lopez
6,131
0.43
Total votes
1,409,867
100.00
General election
Democratic
Jay Inslee
1,582,802
51.40
Republican
Rob McKenna
1,488,245
48.33
Write-in
8,592
0.28%
Total votes
3,079,639
100.00
Democratic hold
2012 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election
Owen : 50–60% 60–70% Finkbeiner : 50–60% 60–70%
Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Brad Owen ran for re-election to a fifth term.
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Marginof error
Brad Owen (D)
Bill Finkbeiner (R)
Undecided
Elway Research
October 18–21, 2012
451 (RV)
± 4.5%
42%
32%
26%
Elway Research
September 9–12, 2012
405 (RV)
± 5.0%
43%
27%
29%
Blanket primary results by county Tie
2012 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (incumbent)
648,110
48.52
Republican
Bill Finkbeiner
352,195
26.36
Independent Republican
Glenn Anderson
229,318
17.17
Independent
Jimmy Deal
53,694
4.02
Independent
Clifford Mark Greene
46,534
3.48
Independent
Dave T. Sumner IV
6,057
0.45
Total votes
1,335,908
100.00
General election
Democratic
Brad Owen (incumbent)
1,575,133
53.68
Republican
Bill Finkbeiner
1,359,212
46.32
Total votes
2,934,345
100.00
Democratic hold
Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed declined to run for re-election to a fourth term. The general election was won by Republican Thurston County auditor Kim Wyman , who defeated Democratic state senator Kathleen Drew by under one percentage point, resulting in the smallest statewide margin in 2012.
2012 Washington Secretary of State election
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Kim Wyman
528,754
39.76
Democratic
Kathleen Drew
289,052
21.73
Democratic
Gregory J. Nickels
210,832
15.85
Democratic
Jim Kastama
185,425
13.94
Constitution
Karen Murray
50,888
3.83
Independent
David J. Anderson
44,276
3.33
Human Rights
Sam Wright
20,809
1.57
Total votes
1,330,036
100.00
General election
Republican
Kim Wyman
1,464,741
50.38
Democratic
Kathleen Drew
1,442,868
49.62
Total votes
2,907,609
100.00
Republican hold
Incumbent Republican attorney general Rob McKenna retired to run for governor and did not seek a third term. Two King County Councilmembers , Republican Reagan Dunn and Democrat Bob Ferguson , faced off in the general election. Ferguson ultimately won the election.
2012 Washington Attorney General election
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Bob Ferguson
685,346
51.68
Republican
Reagan Dunn
506,524
38.20
Republican
Stephen Pidgeon
134,185
10.12
Total votes
1,326,055
100.00
General election
Democratic
Bob Ferguson
1,564,443
53.48
Republican
Reagan Dunn
1,361,010
46.52
Total votes
2,925,453
100.00
Democratic gain from Republican
2012 Washington State Treasurer election
McIntire : 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Hanek : 50–60% 60–70%
Incumbent Democratic Treasurer James McIntire ran for re-election to a second term.
2012 Washington State Auditor election
Kelley : 50–60% 60–70% Watkins : 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Incumbent Democratic Auditor Brian Sonntag declined to run for re-election to a sixth term. Democratic state representative Troy Kelley won the election, defeating Republican James Watkins.
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Marginof error
Troy Kelley (D)
James Watkins (R)
Undecided
Elway Research
October 18–21, 2012
451 (RV)
± 4.5%
34%
29%
37%
Elway Research
September 9–12, 2012
405 (RV)
± 5.0%
36%
27%
38%
Blanket primary results by county 30–40%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
2012 Washington State Auditor election
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
James Watkins
584,444
46.09
Democratic
Troy Kelley
291,335
22.98
Democratic
Craig Pridemore
268,220
21.15
Democratic
Mark Miloscia
123,936
9.78
Total votes
1,267,935
100.00
General election
Democratic
Troy Kelley
1,512,620
52.95
Republican
James Watkins
1,344,137
47.05
Total votes
2,856,757
100.00
Democratic hold
Insurance Commissioner
edit
2012 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
Kreidler : 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Adams : 50–60% 60–70%
Incumbent Democratic Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler ran for re-election to a fourth term, defeating Republican John Adams with 58% of the vote.
Blanket primary results by county 30–40%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
2012 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Mike Kreidler (incumbent)
712,095
54.91
Republican
John Adams
279,052
21.52
Republican
Scott Reilly
241,377
18.61
Independent
Brian C. Berend
64,303
4.96
Total votes
1,296,827
100.00
General election
Democratic
Mike Kreidler (incumbent)
1,662,555
58.31
Republican
John Adams
1,188,926
41.70
Total votes
2,851,481
100.00
Democratic hold
Commissioner of Public Lands
edit
2012 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election
Goldmark : 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Didier : 50–60% 60–70%
Incumbent Democratic Commissioner of Public Lands Peter J. Goldmark ran for re-election to a second term, defeating Republican Clint Didier .
2012 Washington Commissioner of Public Lands election
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Peter J. Goldmark (incumbent)
683,448
51.88
Republican
Clint Didier
540,907
41.06
Independent
Stephen A. Sharon
92,993
7.06
Total votes
1,317,348
100.00
General election
Democratic
Peter J. Goldmark (incumbent)
1,692,083
58.74
Republican
Clint Didier
1,188,411
41.26
Total votes
2,880,494
100.00
Democratic hold
Superintendent of Public Instruction
edit
Blanket primary results by county 30–40%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
Incumbent Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn ran for re-election to a second term. He was unopposed in the general election. The superintendent is the only nonpartisan statewide election.
2012 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Primary election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Nonpartisan
Randy Dorn (incumbent)
634,314
56.22
Nonpartisan
Ron Higgins
172,331
15.27
Nonpartisan
James Bauckman
149,370
13.24
Nonpartisan
Donald Hansler
104,360
9.25
Nonpartisan
John P. Blair
67,898
6.02
Total votes
1,128,273
100.00
General election
Nonpartisan
Randy Dorn (incumbent)
2,164,163
100.00
Total votes
2,164,163
100.00
Democratic hold
The Democrats won on election night, but in early December two Democrats formed a conservative coalition with the Republican Caucus.
State House of Representatives
edit
Initiative 502
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
1,724,209
55.70
No
1,371,235
44.30
Initiative 1185
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
1,892,969
63.91
No
1,069,083
36.09
Initiative 1240
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
1,525,807
50.69
No
1,484,125
49.31
Referendum 74
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
1,659,915
53.70
No
1,431,285
46.30
^ "November 06, 2012 General Election Results: President/Vice President" . www.wa.gov . Washington Secretary of State . Retrieved December 5, 2020 .
^ "August 07, 2012 Primary Results - U.S. Senator" . Washington Secretary of State . August 28, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2022 .
^ "November 06, 2012 General Election Results - U.S. Senator" . Washington Secretary of State . November 27, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2022 .
^ "Inslee Announcement Prompts More Democratic Interest" , Roll Call Politics
^ Brunner, Jim (November 9, 2012). "McKenna concedes; Inslee to be governor" . The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016 .
^ "Governor" . Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012 .
^ a b c d "Voters' Guide - 2012 General Election" . Washington Secretary of State . Retrieved June 24, 2022 .