The 2012 Washington gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012. Candidates in the election were chosen in an August 7, 2012 primary election, under the state's nonpartisan blanket primary system, which allows voters to vote for any candidate running in the race, regardless of party affiliation. The two candidates who received the most votes in the primary election qualified for the general election.
Incumbent Governor Christine Gregoire decided to retire rather than seek a third term. She endorsed fellow Democrat Jay Inslee, a U.S. Congressman, as her successor. On March 20, 2012, Inslee resigned from Congress in order to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.
Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna, the Attorney General of Washington, advanced to the general election. Inslee narrowly won the election, and McKenna conceded three days later.
Aggregate polls<br />
Christine Gregoire vs. Rob McKenna<br />
Christine Gregoire vs. Dave Reichert<br />
Jay Inslee vs. Dave Reichert<br />
Lisa Brown vs. Rob McKenna<br />
The race was close throughout the night, with results too close to call after 60 percent of ballots were counted. Inslee was declared the winner early in the morning three days later; McKenna conceded later in the evening.
Inslee won only eight of the state's 39 counties, relying on heavy margins in the Seattle metropolitan area to push him to victory.
Inslee won five of ten congressional districts, with the remaining five going to McKenna, including one that elected a Democrat.
Partisan clients<br />
Official campaign websites