The 2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the lieutenant governor of Washington concurrently with the 2020 Washington elections. The top-two primary was held on August 4, and Democrats Denny Heck and Marko Liias advanced to the general election, which Heck won.
Incumbent Cyrus Habib surprised the state by announcing he was foregoing a run for re-election in order to join the Society of Jesus. The position was of special importance due to speculation that the incumbent governor, Jay Inslee, could have been appointed to a position in a Democratic presidential cabinet after winning his third term.
Background
Habib's retirement came after Gov. Inslee dropped out of the presidential election, which caused many potential statewide candidates in Washington to change their plans and drop exploratory bids.
At the time of Habib's announcement former Seattle City Council candidate Ann Davison Sattler and former US House candidate Joseph Brumbles had already been running as Republicans. On the day of his retirement, State Senator Steve Hobbs announced his second campaign for the office of lieutenant governor, after losing in the 2016 primary to then-State Senator Habib.
Nonpartisan blanket primary
Democratic Party candidates
Declared
- Denny Heck, U.S. Representative for Washington's 10th congressional district
- Michelle Jasmer, entrepreneur
- Marko Liias, State Senator from Washington's 21st legislative district and candidate for Washington State Treasurer in 2016
- James Rafferty, machinist
Withdrew
- Steve Hobbs, State Senator from Washington's 44th legislative district
Declined
- Lisa Brown, Washington Secretary of Commerce, former Congressional candidate, and former State Senate Majority Leader
- Dow Constantine, King County Executive
- Cyrus Habib, incumbent lieutenant governor (endorsed Liias)
Endorsements
Steve Hobbs (D) (withdrawn)
State politicians
- Gary Locke, former governor (1997–2005)
- Brad Owen, former lieutenant governor (1997–2017)
Marko Liias (D)
State politicians
- Cyrus Habib, incumbent lieutenant governor (2017–2021)
Republican Party candidates
- Joseph Brumbles, former Congressional candidate
- Ann Davison Sattler, former Seattle City Council candidate, former staffer for John Paul Hammerschmidt
- Marty McClendon, perennial candidate
- Dick Muri, former State Representative from Washington's 28th legislative district
- Bill Penor, candidate for lieutenant governor in 2016
Minor party candidates
Declared
- Jared Frerichs (Libertarian), former Candidate for Walla Walla County Commission, consultant
- Mark Greene (Revived Citizens Party), perennial candidate
Results
A top-two primary took place on August 4. All candidates were listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two advanced to the general election in November.
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Clark (largest city: Vancouver)
- Cowlitz (largest city: Longview)
- Grays Harbor (largest city: Aberdeen)
- Mason (largest city: Shelton)
General election
After being eliminated in the August 4th gubernatorial primary, Joshua Freed announced he would be running for lieutenant governor as a write-in candidate. A debate between Heck and Liias was held on October 22.
Candidates
- Denny Heck (Democratic), U.S. Representative for Washington's 10th congressional district
- Marko Liias (Democratic), State Senator from Washington's 21st legislative district and candidate for Washington State Treasurer in 2016
- Joshua Freed (Republican, write-in), former mayor of Bothell and candidate for Governor in 2020