2008_Washington_elections Knowpia

2008 Washington Attorney General election
<img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Flag_of_Washington.svg/50px-Flag_of_Washington.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="30" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="1106" data-file-height="658">
← 2004 2012 →
	<img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/2008_Washington_Attorney_General_election.svg/275px-2008_Washington_Attorney_General_election.svg.png" decoding="async" width="275" height="182" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="810" data-file-height="535"> County results; McKenna: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% ; Ladenburg: 50–60%
Attorney General before election; Rob McKenna; Republican	Elected Attorney General ; Rob McKenna; Republican

Washington has 9 Executive seats, all elected at large. In 2008, all 9 positions were up for reelection. As of 2022^[update], this was the last set of statewide elections in Washington in which any Republicans won by double digits.

Offices and Candidates edit

Governor edit

Governor of Washington election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Christine Gregoire (incumbent)	1,598,738	53.00
	Republican	Dino Rossi	1,404,124	46.55
	Write-in		13,502	0.45
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes			3,016,364	100.00
Turnout
	Democratic hold

Lt. Governor edit

Brad Owen was the incumbent and has held this position since 1996.

Lt. Governor of Washington election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Brad Owen (incumbent)	1,718,033	60.80
	Republican	Marcia McCraw	1,107,634	39.20
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes			2,825,667	100.00
Turnout
	Democratic hold

Secretary of State edit

Sam Reed, who held this position since 2000, was reelected.

Secretary of State of Washington election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sam Reed (incumbent)	1,644,587	58.33
	Democratic	Jason Osgood	1,175,086	41.67
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes			2,819,673	100.00
Turnout
	Republican hold

State Treasurer edit

Mike Murphy (D) retired.

Treasurer of Washington election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim McIntire	1,420,022	51.08
	Republican	Allen Martin	1,360,063	48.92
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes			2,780,085	100.00
Turnout
	Democratic hold

State Auditor edit

Brian Sonntag has held this position since 1993.

Washington State Auditor election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Brian Sonntag (incumbent)	1,770,977	63.54
	Republican	J. Richard (Dick) McEntee	1,016,396	36.46
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes
Turnout
	Democratic hold

Attorney general edit

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna ran for re-election, facing Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, a Democrat, in the general election. McKenna won re-election in a landslide, winning by almost 20 points and carrying all but 2 counties. As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican was elected Washington Attorney General.

Polling edit

General election edit

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Rob McKenna (R)	John Ladenburg (D)	Undecided
SurveyUSA	October 30 – November 2, 2008	663 (LV)	± 3.8%	59%	36%	6%
SurveyUSA	October 26–27, 2008	630 (LV)	± 3.9%	57%	36%	7%
SurveyUSA	October 12–13, 2008	544 (LV)	± 4.3%	54%	38%	8%
SurveyUSA	September 21–22, 2008	682 (LV)	± 3.8%	53%	39%	8%
SurveyUSA	September 5–7, 2008	658 (LV)	± 3.9%	55%	40%	5%
SurveyUSA	August 11–12, 2008	718 (LV)	± 3.7%	51%	43%	6%
SurveyUSA	July 13–15, 2008	666 (LV)	± 3.9%	49%	41%	10%
SurveyUSA	June 7–9, 2008	637 (LV)	± 4.0%	49%	42%	9%

Attorney General of Washington election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rob McKenna (incumbent)	1,689,764	59.46
	Democratic	John Ladenburg	1,152,174	40.54
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes			2,841,938	100.00
Turnout
	Republican hold

Commissioner of Public Lands edit

Polling edit

General election edit

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Doug Sutherland (R)	Peter Goldmark (D)	Undecided
SurveyUSA	October 30 – November 2, 2008	663 (LV)	± 3.9%	48%	42%	10%
SurveyUSA	October 26–27, 2008	630 (LV)	± 4.0%	45%	43%	12%
SurveyUSA	October 12–13, 2008	544 (LV)	± 4.3%	47%	38%	15%

Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Peter J. Goldmark	1,416,904	50.55
	Republican	Doug Sutherland (incumbent)	1,385,903	49.45
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes			2,667,247	100.00
Turnout
	Democratic gain from Republican

Superintendent of Public Instruction edit

Polling edit

General election edit

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Terry Bergeson	Randy Dorn	Undecided
SurveyUSA	October 30 – November 2, 2008	663 (LV)	± 3.9%	37%	45%	18%
SurveyUSA	October 26–27, 2008	630 (LV)	± 4.0%	38%	43%	19%
SurveyUSA	October 12–13, 2008	544 (LV)	± 4.3%	31%	43%	26%
SurveyUSA	September 21–22, 2008	682 (LV)	± 3.8%	35%	40%	25%
SurveyUSA	September 5–7, 2008	658 (LV)	± 3.9%	36%	41%	23%
SurveyUSA	August 11–12, 2008	718 (LV)	± 3.7%	32%	43%	25%
SurveyUSA	July 13–15, 2008	666 (LV)	± 3.9%	34%	32%	35%