Everyone thought Washington was going to be a nail-biter this time around. Honestly, with Jay Inslee stepping aside after over a decade in the governor's mansion, the stage was set for a massive political shift. But when the dust settled on the 2024 washington gubernatorial election results, the outcome felt both familiar and surprisingly nuanced.
Bob Ferguson won. That’s the headline.
He didn't just win; he kept the Democratic streak alive, marking 11 consecutive victories for the party in the governor’s race. That is the longest winning streak for any state party in the country. Ferguson, the state’s longtime Attorney General, pulled in 55.51% of the vote. His opponent, former Congressman and King County Sheriff Dave Reichert, snagged 44.28%.
The Blue Wall and the Clallam Factor
If you look at a map of the state, you've probably seen the usual sea of red in Eastern Washington and the dense blue block around the Puget Sound. That’s standard. But the real story of the 2024 washington gubernatorial election results is hidden in the margins of the swing counties.
Take Clallam County. For years, Clallam was the ultimate bellwether, the only county in the nation to pick every winning president from 1980 to 2016. In this race, Ferguson became the first Democrat to carry Clallam since the year 2000. That’s a big deal. It suggests that the "moderate" appeal Reichert was banking on didn't quite penetrate the way he needed it to in those critical independent pockets.
Reichert was a strong candidate on paper. He had the "Sheriff" brand. He had a history of winning in swing districts. But Ferguson’s campaign was a juggernaut. He outspent Reichert significantly—raising about $14 million compared to Reichert’s $7 million. Money isn't everything, but in a state where you have to reach voters from Bellingham to Pullman, it definitely buys a lot of airtime.
Why the "Two Bobs" Drama Didn't Work
Remember the weirdness in the primary? Some conservative activists tried to recruit two other men named Bob Ferguson to run. The goal was simple: confuse voters and split the Democratic vote. It was a chaotic week in Washington politics.
The "real" Bob Ferguson threatened legal action, and eventually, the other Bobs withdrew. If anything, it gave Ferguson a massive publicity boost right when he needed to solidify his image as a fighter. By the time the general election rolled around, the stunt was a distant memory, replaced by heavy-hitting ads about abortion rights and public safety.
The Turnout Mystery
People were expecting record-breaking turnout. We had over 4.9 million registered voters—a milestone for the state. But the actual participation was a bit of a mixed bag.
While the national average was around 64%, Washington hit about 70.2%. That sounds high, but it’s actually a dip from the 76.2% we saw in 2020. Why? Young people. Turnout for voters aged 18 to 24 dropped by about 8.5 percentage points. It seems like the excitement that fueled the last cycle just wasn't there for the younger crowd this time.
What People Get Wrong About Reichert's Loss
There is a narrative that Reichert lost because he wasn't "Trumpian" enough. Actually, it might be the opposite.
He was stuck in a political no-man's-land. The state GOP endorsed Semi Bird in the primary, a much further-right candidate who eventually got eliminated but refused to endorse Reichert for the general. Bird basically said Reichert didn't align with his values.
So, you had a Republican candidate who was:
- Too moderate for the MAGA base.
- Too conservative for the Seattle suburbs.
- Lacking the unified support of his own party leadership.
It's a tough spot to be in. Ferguson, meanwhile, leaned hard into his record as Attorney General, specifically his numerous lawsuits against the federal government during the Trump administration. For blue voters in Washington, that was a major selling point.
The Three Big Issues That Decided Everything
If you talked to anyone on the ground during the campaign, the same three things kept coming up: abortion, the cost of living, and public safety.
Ferguson made abortion rights the centerpiece of his campaign. He framed himself as the only one who would protect the state's existing laws. Reichert tried to pivot to "balance" and "common sense," but the Democratic ads were relentless.
Public safety was supposed to be Reichert’s home turf. He’s the guy who caught the Green River Killer, after all. But Ferguson countered by highlighting his work on consumer protection and holding big corporations accountable. It turned into a battle of two different definitions of "safety."
What Happens Now?
With the 2024 washington gubernatorial election results certified, the transition is in full swing. Ferguson has promised to be a "reformer" governor. He’s looking at housing affordability and climate change as his top priorities.
But he’s walking into a state that is deeply divided geographically. While he won the popular vote comfortably, many rural counties feel completely disconnected from the politics of Olympia. His biggest challenge won't be passing bills—he has a friendly legislature for that—it’ll be proving to the "red" parts of the state that he actually hears them.
Your Next Steps
If you want to stay on top of how the new administration is actually performing, keep an eye on these three things over the next few months:
- The Budget Proposal: Watch how Ferguson handles the projected $800 million in potential cuts. This will tell you exactly what his real priorities are.
- Appointees: Who he picks for his cabinet will signal if he’s leaning toward the progressive wing or trying to keep things more centrist.
- Local Impact: Check the Washington Secretary of State's website for the final, granular data on your specific precinct. It’s often surprising to see how your immediate neighbors actually voted compared to the rest of the state.
The election is over, but the work of governing is just starting. Whether you're happy with the results or not, the policy shifts coming out of the Governor's office in 2026 are going to affect everything from your gas prices to your property taxes.
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Actionable Insight: If you're concerned about specific state policies, the best way to have an impact is to track the "Pre-Filed Bills" for the upcoming legislative session. You can sign up for alerts on the Washington State Legislature website to see exactly what laws are being proposed before they even hit the floor for a vote.