The 1996 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1996. Though eligible for a second term, incumbent governor Mike Lowry chose not to run for reelection following a series of personal and public scandals, including allegations of sexual harassment. This gubernatorial race was especially significant in that it resulted in the first Asian American governor in the mainland United States (after George Ariyoshi of island state Hawaii), Democrat Gary Locke.
Primary election
Candidates
Democratic
- Max Englerius
- Jay Inslee, U.S. representative from the 4th congressional district and future governor
- Gary Locke, King County Executive and former state representative
- Norm Rice, current mayor of Seattle
- Mohammad H. Said
- Briam Zetlen
Republican
- Nona Brazier
- Ellen Craswell, president pro tempore of the Washington Senate
- Dale Foreman, majority leader of the Washington House of Representatives
- Warren E. Hanson
- Norm Maleng, King County Prosecuting Attorney
- Pam Roach, state senator
- Bob Tharp
- Jim Waldo
General election
Candidates
- Gary Locke (D), King County Executive and former state representative
- Third-generation Chinese-American
- Campaigned on election reform, worker retraining, and the development of social services
- Cultivated an image of technocratic expertise
- Ellen Craswell (R), president pro tempore of the Washington Senate
- Born-again Christian
- Campaigned on tax cuts, restructuring of state government, and an application of biblical principles to social reform
- Likened her policy positions to Reaganite conservatism, espousing a philosophy of small government, rights and freedoms, together with moral values
Campaign controversies
- Gary Locke's race drew many donors from the Asian-American community, including local Buddhist temples. He also raised significant funds from national donors in California and New York.
- Ellen Craswell integrated evangelical prayer networks with her fundraising and mobilization network, reaching more than 1000 small donors in October, whereas Locke received large contributions from business groups and Seattle elites.
- Craswell opposed expanding school funding and suggested cutting English as a second language programs, delegating curriculum control to local school boards, and eliminating the superintendent of public instruction.
- An independent political action committee made false claims that two sitting senators had endorsed Locke in a mailer. They later recanted.
- The WA State GOP ran television ads, stating Locke's support for a harm reduction program including sex education, counseling and condom distribution provided material support for prostitution.
Debates
- Complete video of debate, September 26, 1996 - C-SPAN
- Complete video of debate, October 9, 1996 - C-SPAN
Results
By county
This is the most recent gubernatorial election in which Kittitas County voted for a Democrat.
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Asotin
- Clark
- Cowlitz
- Island
- Kitsap
- Mason
- Skagit
- Skamania
- Spokane
- Wahkiakum
- Walla Walla
- Whatcom
- Whitman
Subsequent controversies
The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission opened an investigation in 1997 relating to campaign contributions received from the Chinese Americans and foreign nationals. In example, the Ling Chen Zhe Buddhist temple, where a $5000 cash donation was accepted, returned and five $1000 donations were given in its place. Together with official campaign events held at the Harmony Palace restaurant, co-owned by a leader of the Chinese gang Ghost Shadows. In total, six fundraising events for the Locke campaign were organized by John Huang, who donated $750 personally, with similar occurrences at each one.
This investigation was subsequently picked up (as part of a probe into the 1996 campaign finance scandal) by the IRS, who requested records extending to 1990, the time of Locke's campaign for King County executive. Locke testified before Congress in 2006 and denied knowingly accepting campaign contributions from Chinese foreign agents. In 2015, the Locke gubernatorial campaign plead guilty to breaking three campaign fundraising laws relating to the limits for individual contribution, timely reporting of contributions, and failure to deposit cash contributions.
Ellen Craswell suffered from cancer immediately following the election, retired in 2005, and died in 2008.