The 2016 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2016.
Under Washington's top-two primary law, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the August 2 primary, residents voted for one of several candidates from a range of party affiliations. The top two finishers, incumbent Governor Jay Inslee (Democratic) and Port of Seattle Commissioner Bill Bryant (Republican), moved on to the November general election, which Inslee won.
Pacific County voted for a Republican gubernatorial candidate for the first time since 1964 and Grays Harbor County did so for the first time since 1924. As of 2026, this was the last gubernatorial election in Washington in which the margin of victory was within single digits.
Background
Democratic governor Christine Gregoire declined to seek a third term in 2012. Democratic former U.S. Representative Jay Inslee was elected to succeed her, defeating Republican Rob McKenna, the outgoing Attorney General of Washington, by 51.5% to 48.5%.
Primary election
Democratic Party
Declared
- James Robert Deal
- Johnathan Dodds
- Jay Inslee, incumbent governor
- Patrick O'Rourke
Republican Party
Declared
- Bill Bryant, former Seattle Port Commissioner
- Goodspaceguy, perennial candidate
- Bill Hirt
Declined
- Andy Hill, state senator
- Steve Litzow, state senator (running for reelection)
- Rob McKenna, former Attorney General of Washington and candidate for governor in 2012
- Dave Reichert, U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th congressional district (ran for reelection)
Third Party and independent candidates
Declared
- David Blomstrom (Fifth Republic)
- Christian Joubert (Holistic)
- Mary Martin (Socialist Workers)
- Steve Rubenstein (Independent)
Declined
- Randy Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
General election
Debates
- Complete video of debate, October 19, 2016 - C-SPAN
Endorsements
Jay Inslee (D)
Bill Bryant (R)
U.S. Senators
- Slade Gorton, former U.S. Senator from Washington
U.S. Representatives
- Sid Morrison, former U.S. Representative from Washington's 4th congressional district
- Dan Newhouse, U.S. Representative from Washington's 4th congressional district
Statewide officials
- Dan Evans, 16th Governor of Washington and former U.S. Senator from Washington
- Rob McKenna, 17th Attorney General of Washington and runner up for governor in 2012
State legislators
- Jan Angel, state senator
- Mary Dye, state representative
- Curtis King, state senator
- Brad Klippert, state representative
- Matt Manweller, state representative
- Joe Schmick, state representative
- Maureen Walsh, state representative
Newspapers
- The Spokesman-Review
- Tri-City Herald
- Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
- Yakima Herald-Republic
Polling
Aggregate polls
%support01020304050602015/05/172016/10/31Jay InsleeBill BryantUndecidedOpinion polling for the 2016 Washington gube...
Results
By county
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Grays Harbor (largest city: Aberdeen)
- Pacific (largest city: Raymond)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Island (largest city: Oak Harbor)
- Kitsap (largest city: Bremerton)
- Pierce (largest city: Tacoma)
By congressional district
Inslee won six of ten congressional districts.