Politics in the Evergreen State usually feels like a foregone conclusion. You know the drill: the I-5 corridor goes deep blue, the east stays red, and the Democrats keep the keys to the governor's mansion. But the 2024 election in Washington state wasn't just a repeat of the same old playlist. Sure, the big-ticket winners looked familiar, but look under the hood and you’ll see some weird shifts that have local political junkies scratching their heads.
Honestly, the biggest story might not be who won, but how the map is changing. We saw a "blue wall" that stayed firm, yet tucked inside those results were some massive rejections of high-profile ballot measures and a governor’s race that felt way more intense than the final 11-point margin suggests.
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The Governor's Race: Why Bob Ferguson Won (and Why it Matters)
For the first time in over a decade, we didn't have Jay Inslee on the ballot. That left a massive vacuum. Bob Ferguson, who spent years as the state’s Attorney General suing the Trump administration (over 100 times, if you're counting), stepped in to keep the seat for the Democrats. He went up against Dave Reichert, a Republican who had a pretty solid "moderate" brand as a former King County Sheriff and Congressman.
Ferguson eventually pulled it off with about 55.6% of the vote. It sounds like a blowout, but the campaign was a total slugfest. Ferguson leaned hard into abortion rights—basically making it the centerpiece of his ads. Reichert tried to pivot to public safety and the cost of living, but in a state where reproductive rights are a top-tier issue for suburban voters, that’s a tough hill to climb.
What’s kinda fascinating? Ferguson actually won Clallam County. For those who don't follow this stuff like it's a sport, Clallam was the nation’s longest-running bellwether county. It had picked the presidential winner in every election since 1980. That streak finally broke in 2024 because while the county went for Kamala Harris (and Ferguson), the rest of the country... well, didn't.
A Quick Look at the Statewide Sweep
It wasn't just the governor's office. Democrats ran the table on basically every major statewide seat.
- Nick Brown took over as Attorney General.
- Steve Hobbs kept his spot as Secretary of State.
- Patty Kuderer won the Insurance Commissioner race.
- Dave Upthegrove grabbed the Commissioner of Public Lands seat.
Basically, if you were a Republican running for a statewide executive office in the 2024 election in Washington state, it was a rough night. The state hasn't elected a GOP governor since the 1980s, and that drought is now officially extended.
The Ballot Measure Rebellion
Now, this is where things get interesting. If you just looked at the candidate races, you’d think Washington was moving further left. But the ballot initiatives told a completely different story. Voters were asked to decide on four major "rollbacks" funded mostly by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood.
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Most people expected these to either all pass or all fail based on party lines. Instead, Washingtonians got picky.
I-2066 was the big surprise. It was designed to protect natural gas and stop the state from phasing it out. Even with the Democratic sweep, this measure passed. It turns out, even people who vote for blue candidates aren't necessarily thrilled about the idea of their energy bills going up or losing their gas stoves.
On the flip side, the other "Big Three" went down in flames:
- I-2117 (The Carbon Tax Repeal): This would have gutted the Climate Commitment Act. Voters said no. They chose to keep the carbon pricing, even with gas prices being what they are.
- I-2109 (The Capital Gains Tax Repeal): This targeted the tax on high-end stock sales (over $250k). It was framed as a "wealth tax" for education. It failed miserably.
- I-2124 (The Long-Term Care Opt-Out): This would have made the WA Cares payroll tax voluntary. Voters decided to stick with the program.
It shows a weirdly nuanced voter base. They want Democratic leaders, they support climate action and taxing the rich, but don't you dare touch their natural gas.
The Presidential Gap and Voter Turnout
Let's talk about the Harris vs. Trump numbers in Washington. Kamala Harris took the state with roughly 57.2% of the vote. That’s a healthy win, obviously. But it’s a slight dip from Biden’s 2020 performance.
Trump actually made gains in places you might not expect. We saw shifts in "Hispanic-heavy" areas like Yakima and Franklin counties. It wasn't enough to flip the state, but it’s a trend that's happening nationwide and Washington isn't immune to it.
Turnout was... okay. We hit about 78.9%. That sounds high compared to the rest of the country, but for Washington, it was actually a bit of a letdown. We usually hover in the 80s for presidential years. In 2020, we were at 84.1%. Maybe it was "voter fatigue," or maybe people just felt the outcome here was too predictable. Either way, about 150,000 fewer people showed up than four years ago.
The Legislative "Supermajority" That Wasn't (But Sorta Is)
Down-ballot, the Democrats actually picked up some ground. They didn't quite get a "supermajority" (which would let them raise taxes without any GOP input), but they got close.
In the State House, Democrats ended up with 59 seats to the Republicans' 39. In the Senate, it's 30 to 19. This gives Bob Ferguson a very friendly path to pass his "Day One" agenda. You can expect a lot of talk about "fixing the ferry system" and "accelerating housing construction" when the session kicks off in Olympia.
Actionable Insights: What This Means For You
If you live in Washington, the 2024 election results are going to hit your daily life in a few specific ways.
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Watch Your Utility Bills
Since I-2066 passed, the immediate "ban" on natural gas is off the table. However, expect legal challenges. If you were planning on switching to a heat pump, the state still has massive rebates available because the Climate Commitment Act (I-2117) survived. You can basically get paid to go green, even if you keep your gas range.
The Tax Landscape
The Capital Gains tax is here to stay. If you’re a high-earner or have big stock payouts, that 7% tax isn't going anywhere. On the bright side, that money is legally earmarked for childcare and school construction, so we should—theoretically—see that reflected in local infrastructure.
Public Safety Focus
Both Ferguson and Reichert talked about police staffing. Washington has some of the lowest "officers-per-capita" numbers in the country. Ferguson has promised $100 million for local law enforcement hiring. If you’ve felt like response times in your neighborhood are lagging, keep an eye on the 2025 budget to see if that money actually materializes.
Get Involved in Local Recounts
Some of these legislative races, like the one in the 18th District (Clark County), were decided by just a couple hundred votes. It’s a cliché, but in Washington’s 2024 cycle, your vote in the small-town races actually carried more weight than the vote for President.
The 2024 election in Washington state proved that while the "Big Blue" identity remains, there is a growing frustration with the cost of living that crosses party lines. The split-ticket voting on the initiatives is a loud signal to the folks in Olympia: we trust you to lead, but we're watching our wallets.
To stay ahead of how these new laws and leadership changes affect your taxes and local services, you should check the official Washington Secretary of State website for the final certified precinct-level data. This will help you see exactly how your specific neighborhood voted compared to the rest of the county. Additionally, keep an eye on the Washington State Ledger for upcoming legislative session previews starting in January.