Political_party_strength_in_Washington_(state)

Political party strength in Washington (state)

Political party strength in Washington (state)

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Washington ratified its constitution and held its first state elections in 1889, the year it was admitted to the union as a state. It established the positions of governor, lieutenant governor, Secretary of State, attorney general, state treasurer, state auditor, Commissioner of Public Lands, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. The position of insurance commissioner was legislatively established in 1907. All positions are elected to four-year terms, concurrent with presidential elections. Washington is one of three states that elects nine separate statewide officials, while six others elect ten.

The table also indicates the historical party composition in the State Senate, State House of Representatives, State delegation to the U.S. Senate, and State delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives. State senators are elected to four-year terms, with half elected every two years. State representatives are elected to two-year terms, and two from each of 49 legislative districts in separate elections.

While the U.S. state of Washington is considered a solidly Democratic state, it mainly elected Republican candidates during its first forty years of statehood. It currently holds the longest streak of Democratic governors in the nation, having last elected a Republican to the top executive office in 1980.[1][2][lower-alpha 1] The office of auditor has been held continuously by Democrats since 1933, when the national wave for President Franklin Roosevelt swept the party into every statewide race and congressional district except the uncontested office of superintendent of public instruction. That position was made nonpartisan in 1940. At the presidential level, Washington is part of the "blue wall", having voted for all Democratic nominees since 1988.

Prior to statehood, the President of the United States appointed a territorial governor and secretary of state, who served as acting governor when the governor was absent from the state. The position of attorney general was established in 1887, and only one person held office before statehood. A non-voting delegate was elected to the House of Representatives.

The nine members of the Washington Supreme Court are also elected statewide to six-year terms but on a nonpartisan basis and are not listed here. However all members of the court are considered liberal-leaning, matching the state's overall electorate.[3][4]

Voters do not register as members of political parties.

The tables below show the history of officeholders elected to statewide executive offices, the state legislature, and the U.S. Congress, as well as the winners of the state's electoral college votes.

For years in which a presidential election was held, the table indicates which party's nominees received the state's electoral votes.

Washington Territory

The first territorial superintendent of public education was elected by the legislature in 1861 to a three-year term, but the position was disestablished after just one year. It was reestablished in 1871, elected by the legislature to a two-year term.[5] The superintendent was chair of the governor-appointed board of education, which met in the hometown of the superintendent in several cities around the state until statehood when the office remained in Olympia.

More information Year, Executive offices ...

State of Washington

At statehood, the constitution established eight positions that would be elected statewide. The officials take office in the January following their election. The insurance commissioner was first elected in 1908.

More information Year, Executive offices ...
Key to party colors and abbreviations for members of the U.S. Congress and other politicians or officials
Alaskan Independence (AKIP)
American (Know Nothing) (KN)
American Labor (AL)
Anti-Jacksonian (Anti-J)
National Republican (NR)
Anti-Administration (AA)
Anti-Masonic (Anti-M)
Conservative (Con)
Democratic (D)
Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL)
Dixiecrat (Dix),
States' Rights (SR)
Democratic-Republican (DR)
Farmer–Labor (FL)
Federalist (F)
Pro-Administration (PA)
Free Soil (FS)
Fusion (Fus)
Greenback (GB)
Independence (IPM)
Independent Democrat (ID)
Independent Republican (IR)
Jacksonian (J)
Liberal (Lib)
Libertarian (L)
National Union (NU)
Nonpartisan League (NPL)
Democratic–Nonpartisan
League (D-NPL)
Nullifier (N)
Opposition Northern (O)
Opposition Southern (O)
Populist (Pop)
Progressive (Prog)
Prohibition (Proh)
Readjuster (Rea)
Republican (R)
Silver (Sv)
Silver Republican (SvR)
Socialist (Soc)
Unionist (U)
Unconditional Unionist (UU)
Vermont Progressive (VP)
Whig (W)
Independent (I)
Nonpartisan (NP)
  1. This statistic includes only states; the District of Columbia has been controlled by elected Democrats since 1975.
  2. A coalition between Democrats, Populists, and Silver Republicans elected a Populist, W.H. Plummer, as President Pro Tempore, and organized the chamber.[28]
  3. A coalition between Democrats and Populists elected a Populist-turned-Democrat, Augustus High, as President Pro Tempore, and organized the chamber.[29]
  4. Died in office.
  5. Resigned.
  6. As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
  7. Initially appointed by Governor to fill vacancy; later elected in his own right.
  8. As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.
  9. A coalition of Republicans and nine conservative Democrats elected a Republican President Pro Tempore, Victor Zednick.[30]
  10. A power-sharing agreement was negotiated, and co-Speakers from both parties were elected. All committees were co-chaired and evenly divided between the parties.
  11. A legislator switched parties from Democratic to Republican, giving the Republicans the majority.
  12. A special election flipped a seat from the Republicans to the Democrats.
  13. A special election flipped a seat from the Democrats to the Republicans, flipping the chamber.
  14. A legislator switched parties from Democratic to Republican.
  15. A special election flipped a seat from the Democrats to the Republicans.
  16. A power-sharing agreement was negotiated, and co-Speakers from both parties were elected. All committees were co-chaired and evenly divided between the parties.
  17. A special election flipped a seat from the Republicans to the Democrats, breaking the tie and flipping the chamber.
  18. A legislator switched parties from Republican to Democratic.
  19. A coalition of 2 Democrats and 23 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority.
  20. One conservative Democrat caucuses as part of the Republicans.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "What 2014 elections say about 2016 governor's race". SeattlePI. September 29, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  2. [2]
    Brunner, Jim (August 11, 2012). "McKenna win would end drought for GOP in races for governor". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  3. [3]
    "State Supreme Court: activist justices, or just different?". The Seattle Times. 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  4. [4]
    "Political outlook of state supreme court justices - Ballotpedia". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  5. [5]
    Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction. 1917.
  6. [6]
    "Washington Territorial and State Governors - Washington State Library - WA Secretary of State". Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  7. [7]
    Ficken, Robert (2005). "Figureheads of State" (PDF). Washington State Historical Society.
  8. [8]
    Taylor, Briahna. The Citizen's Advocate: History of the Washington State Auditor's Office Washington State Auditor's Office. Olympia: Washington State Department of Printing, 2007.
  9. [9]
    "Daniel Richardson Bigelow". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  10. [10]
    "Henry R. Crosbie". Washington Secretary of State.
  11. [11]
    "Message from Acting Governor L. Jay S. Turney to the Ninth Annual Session of the Legislative Assembly, Washington Territory, December 19, 1861 · Civil War Pathways". pathways.omeka.net. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  12. [12]
    "Library Jewel #3: Letters, photos of 1860s secretary of WA Territory". From Our Corner. 2015-04-28. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  13. [13]
    Barton, C.M. Legislative Manual of Washington, 1891-1892 (PDF). p. 262.
  14. [14]
    "Elections Search Results: President/Vice President". Washington Secretary of State.
  15. [15]
    "Elections Search Results: Governor". Washington Secretary of State.
  16. [16]
    "Elections Search Results: Lieutenant Governor". Washington Secretary of State.
  17. [17]
    "Washington's Secretaries of State - Past and Present - Office - WA Secretary of State". Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  18. [18]
    "Elections Search Results: Attorney General". Washington Secretary of State.
  19. [19]
    "Our History; Washington State Treasurers Past and Present". Washington State Treasurer. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  20. [20]
    "Elections Search Results: State Treasurer". Washington Secretary of State.
  21. [21]
    "Elections Search Results: State Auditor". Washington Secretary of State.
  22. [22]
    "Elections Search Results: Commissioner of Public Lands". Washington Secretary of State.
  23. [23]
    Washington State Yearbook: The Evergreen State Government Directory. Olympia, WA: Washington Roll Call. 2017.
  24. [24]
    "Elections Search Results: Insurance Commissioner". Washington Secretary of State.
  25. [25]
    "Elections Search Results: Superintendent of Public Instruction". Washington Secretary of State.
  26. [26]
    "Elections Search Results: U.S. Senator". Washington Secretary of State.
  27. [27]
    "Elections Search Results: U.S. Senator". Washington Secretary of State.
  28. [28]
    p. 52
  29. [29]
    p. 38 p. 54
  30. [30]
    p. 142, p. 140
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