Honestly, the 2024 Washington elections results felt like a giant tug-of-war where one side had a lot more friends, but the other side managed to walk away with a small prize anyway. You’ve probably seen the headlines about Washington staying "deep blue," and while that's basically true for the big offices, the actual numbers tell a much more nuanced story about where people’s heads are at.
Voter turnout was... okay. Not great, but not a total disaster either. We saw about 79% of registered voters return their ballots, which sounds high until you realize 2020 hit 84%. People just weren't as fired up this time around, especially the younger crowd.
The Big Seats: Ferguson and the Blue Wall
Bob Ferguson is moving into the Governor’s mansion. It wasn't really a shocker, but the margin matters. He pulled in about 55.5% of the vote, defeating Dave Reichert. Reichert was supposed to be the "moderate" Republican who could finally break the 40-year losing streak for his party, but it didn't happen.
Ferguson basically ran on his record as Attorney General, and for a lot of voters, that was enough. He even flipped Clallam County, which is a big deal because that place used to be the ultimate national bellwether. Not anymore.
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Then you’ve got Nick Brown taking over Ferguson’s old job as Attorney General. He beat Pete Serrano, keeping that office in Democratic hands. It was a clean sweep for the Dems in the partisan statewide races.
- Governor: Bob Ferguson (D)
- Lt. Governor: Denny Heck (D) - Incumbent won
- Attorney General: Nick Brown (D)
- Secretary of State: Steve Hobbs (D) - Incumbent won
- Treasurer: Mike Pellicciotti (D) - Incumbent won
It’s kinda fascinating how consistent Washington is with these executive roles. If you have a (D) next to your name and you aren't involved in a massive scandal, you’ve basically got a golden ticket to Olympia.
The Initiatives: Where Things Got Weird
This is where the 2024 Washington elections results actually got interesting. There were four major initiatives on the ballot, mostly backed by a group called Let’s Go Washington. They wanted to repeal some of the state’s biggest (and most controversial) new programs.
Three of them got absolutely crushed.
I-2117, which would have killed the state’s carbon cap-and-invest program, failed with about 62% of people voting No. People seemingly didn't want to lose the funding that goes toward transit and climate projects, even if it means higher gas prices.
I-2109 was the effort to repeal the capital gains tax. That also went down in flames. Turns out, most people don't care about taxing the super-wealthy (it only applies to gains over $250k) if it keeps billions of dollars flowing into schools and childcare.
But then there’s I-2066.
This was the "natural gas" initiative. It was meant to stop the state from discouraging natural gas use in homes. Unlike the others, this one actually passed, though it was super close—roughly 51.6% Yes. It's sort of a weird contradiction. Voters said "keep the climate laws" but also "don't touch my gas stove."
Why the Split?
It usually comes down to money and messaging. The "No" campaign for the carbon tax (I-2117) had millions of dollars from folks like Bill Gates and the Ballmers. They flooded the airwaves. The "No" campaign for the gas initiative (I-2066) was basically broke by comparison.
The Legislature: Tightening the Grip
Democrats didn't just win the big seats; they actually expanded their lead in the State House and Senate. They now have 60% majorities in both chambers.
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Why does that matter?
Because with a 60% majority, they can pass bond votes for things like school construction and transportation without needing a single Republican vote. Historically, these budgets were bipartisan. Now? Not so much. The power dynamic in Olympia is now more lopsided than it's been in years.
What This Means for Your Wallet
If you’re looking for the "so what" of the 2024 Washington elections results, it’s basically status quo—but faster.
- Taxes aren't going anywhere. The capital gains tax is here to stay, and there's already talk in Olympia about potentially expanding it or looking at other wealth-based taxes.
- Climate costs. With the Climate Commitment Act (I-2117) preserved, the state will continue to auction off carbon credits. This keeps the revenue coming in for the state, but it also likely keeps pressure on fuel prices at the pump.
- Natural Gas. The passage of I-2066 means utility companies like Puget Sound Energy can’t just phase out natural gas services for existing customers as easily as they might have planned. Expect some legal battles over how this interacts with existing state climate goals.
Honestly, the biggest takeaway is that Washington is a state of two worlds. You have the Puget Sound corridor that effectively decides every statewide race, and then you have the rest of the state that feels increasingly ignored. But for now, the Sound is calling the shots.
Moving Forward
Keep an eye on the 2025 Legislative Session. With those new supermajorities, the Democrats have a "clear the decks" opportunity to pass big-ticket items that have been stalled for years. If you're a business owner or a homeowner, you should probably be watching the Department of Revenue and the Department of Ecology very closely, as they’ll be the ones implementing the mandates that survived the ballot box.
Check your voter registration status at VoteWA.gov to make sure you're ready for the local cycles. Often, the stuff that happens in your backyard—school boards and city councils—actually hits your daily life harder than who's sitting in the Governor's office.