Washington state election summary
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks before signing multiple bills in April 2023, at the Capitol in Olympia. On Monday, May 1, 2023, Inslee announced he does not plan to seek a fourth term. He was most recently re-elected in 2020, making him only the second Washington state governor to serve three consecutive terms.
FILE PHOTO
OLYMPIA — Washington state general elections will be held Nov. 5, with a primary election Aug. 6. According to the Washington Office of the Secretary of State website, the primary is a “top 2” primary, which allows voters to choose among all candidates running for each office.
Voters do not have to declare a party affiliation to vote in the primary. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary election qualify for the general election. The filing deadline for potential candidates is May 10.
State Executive Offices
According to the WA SoS website, the Governor is the chief executive officer of the state and makes appointments for hundreds of state positions. The Governor has the power to sign or veto legislation and annually submits a budget recommendation and reports on state affairs to the Legislature. Incumbent Governor Jay Inslee announced in May 2023 that he would not seek reelection for a fourth term.
The WA SoS website indicates that the Lieutenant Governor is elected independent of the Governor, and serves as the presiding officer of the state Senate. The Lieutenant Governor is first in line of succession and becomes Acting Governor whenever the Governor leaves the state or is otherwise unable to serve.
The Secretary of State leads the state Elections Division, Corporations and Charities Division, state archives and library, the WA SoS website says. They also manage corporation and charity filings, collect and preserve historical state records, govern the use of the state flag and seal and are second in line of succession for Governor.
According to the WA SoS website, the State Treasurer acts as the state’s finance officer, managing the cash flow, investments, and debt of all major state accounts. The Treasurer serves on the State Investment Board, guiding the management of long-term debt and investments, and chairs the Public Deposit Protection Commission.
The State Auditor works with state and local governments to conduct independent financial and performance audits, according to the WA SoS website.
According to the WA SoS website, the Attorney General serves as legal counsel to the Governor, members of the Legislature, state officials, and more than 200 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges and universities.
The Commissioner of Public Lands is the head of the Department of Natural Resources, overseeing the management of more than 5 million acres of state forest, agricultural, range, aquatic and commercial lands, the WA SoS website says.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction heads the state education agency and is chief executive officer of the state Board of Education. The Superintendent is responsible for the administration of the state’s kindergarten through twelfth-grade education program. The office certifies teaching personnel, approves and accredits programs, and distributes state and local funds.
Finally, the WA SoS website states the Office of the Insurance Commissioner regulates insurance companies doing business in Washington, licenses agents and brokers, reviews policies and rates, examines the operations and finances of insurers, and handles inquiries and complaints from the public.
State Legislature
State Senators are elected to four-year terms and approximately one-half the membership of the Senate is up for election each even-numbered year, according to the WA SoS. Senator Mark Schoesler, representing Washington’s ninth legislative district, and Brad Hawkins, representing the 12th legislative district, are both up for re-election.
According to the WA SoS website, State Representatives are elected to two-year terms, so the total membership of the House is up for election each even-numbered year.
State Judicial Offices
According to the WA SoS website, all state judicial offices are non-partisan positions, including the Washington Supreme Court Justices. The Washington Supreme Court is the highest judiciary in the state. State Supreme Court justices hear appeals and decide cases from Courts of Appeals and other lower courts, according to the website. Nine justices are elected statewide to serve six-year terms.
Court of Appeals judges hear appeals from Superior Courts, the WA SoS website states. A total of 22 judges serve three divisions headquartered in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane. Court of Appeals judges serve six-year terms.
Superior Courts hear felony criminal cases, civil matters, divorces, juvenile cases, and appeals from the lower courts, the WA SoS website says. Superior Courts are organized by county into 30 districts, and Superior Court judges serve four-year terms.