Key state races to watch on election night in Washington

STATE OF WASHINGTON – On Election Day, Washington residents will not only vote for a new president, but also decide several important state elections.

There are 5 million registered voters statewide, according to the Washington Department of State, which oversees all elections statewide. This year's November election in Washington features 11 races for U.S. Congress, as well as 25 races for state Senate, 98 races for state representative, nine statewide executive races, three races for state Supreme Court and 53 other races the state's judiciary.

The Secretary of State's Office is responsible for certifying all results and conducting any recounts. The candidates who made it on the ballot advanced after the August primary.

Here's a look at some of the top state races to watch in Washington:

governor

Washingtonians will vote on who will fill Gov. Jay Inslee's seat. Inslee was elected in 2012 and served three terms as governor of Washington.

The seat of the governor is the state's top executive official. The governor is responsible for implementing state laws and oversees the state's executive branch during his four-year term.

The governor's seat is the only executive office elected in all 50 states.

According to his website, Democratic candidate Bob Ferguson has been Washington's attorney general since 2013. He won 44.88% of the vote in the August primary election and advanced to the November general election.

According to his website, Republican candidate Dave Reichert is a former King County Sheriff and U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th Congressional District. Reichert won a spot in the November election after receiving 27.48% of the vote in the primary.

Lieutenant Governor

The lieutenant governor is the highest official in the state after the governor and serves a four-year term. He assumes this role as acting governor when the governor is not in the state or is unable to assume office.

The Lieutenant Governor also serves as President of the Washington State Senate.

Democratic candidate Denny Heck is running for re-election as lieutenant governor. He was elected to office in 2020. Heck won 48.62% of the vote in the August primary.

According to his website, Republican candidate Dan Matthews is a U.S. Air Force Reserve veteran and pilot. Matthews won 22.99% of the vote in the primary and advanced to the general election.

Foreign Minister

The Secretary of State in Washington is the chief election official and is responsible for conducting elections throughout the state for a four-year term.

This role is second in line to the governor's line of succession to the lieutenant governor.

Democratic candidate Steve Hobbs is running for re-election after being elected in 2022. He was appointed secretary of state by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2021 to replace Kim Wyman, who left the post to take a role in the Biden administration. In the primary election, Hobbs received 48.38% of the vote.

Republican candidate Dale Whitaker is a tax and accounting expert. He won 36.87% of the vote in the August primary.

Treasurer

The Treasurer serves as the state's chief financial officer. The position is responsible for managing the cash flow, investments and debt of all major government accounts during a four-year term.

According to the State Department, the treasurer also serves as a member of the State Investment Board by providing guidance on long-term debt management and investments.

Democratic candidate Mike Pellicciotti is seeking re-election after being elected to the position in 2020. Pellicciotti won 58.32% of the vote in the primary.

According to her website, Republican candidate Sharon Hanek previously worked as a certified public accountant before turning to tax and financial advice for small businesses and clients. She received 41.6% of the vote in the primary.

auditor

The comptroller is an elected state executive position who conducts audits of financial information at all levels of state government. The term of office is four years.

Democratic candidate Pat McCarthy is the incumbent, having been elected to the office in 2016. In the primary election, McCarthy won 58.82% of the vote.

According to his website, Republican candidate Matt Hawkins has worked in investment banking and private business ownership for over 40 years in various industries. In August, Hawkins won 41.09% of the primary vote.

Attorney General

The attorney general serves as the state's chief judicial official. The Attorney General represents both state clients and the public interest in accordance with state law during a four-year term.

Bob Ferguson, a gubernatorial candidate, currently serves as the state's attorney general. He was elected to office in 2012.

Democratic candidate Nick Brown has worked as general counsel for Gov. Jay Inslee and as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, according to his website. Brown won 35.28% of the vote in the primary.

Republican candidate Pete Serrano worked as a lawyer for the U.S. Department of Energy. He won 42.11% of the vote in the August primary.

Commissioner of Public Lands

The Commissioner of Public Lands is responsible for the management of all public lands throughout the state, including coastal waters, managed forests, and agricultural operations. The commissioner oversees the Washington Department of Natural Resources. This role is responsible for environmental protection in the state.

During the primary election, the Commissioner of Public Lands results underwent a mandatory statewide manual recount. After the recount, the Secretary of State certified the results and confirmed that Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler and Democrat Dave Upthegrove would advance to the November general election.

Beutler previously served as the U.S. House Representative for Washington's 3rd Congressional District from 2011 to 2023. She also previously served in the Washington State House of Representatives from 2007 to 2010, according to her website.

In the primary, Beutler received 22.03% of the vote.

Upthegrove was chairman of the King County Council and was appointed to the Washington House of Representatives in 2001, where he served until 2013.

During the August primary, Upthegrove won 20.82% of the vote.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is responsible for overseeing the state's K-12 education system for a four-year term. The superintendent works with the state's 295 public school districts and six state tribal education compact schools.

Chris Reykdal is running for re-election as an incumbent with no party preference. He has been head of public instruction since 2017. He won 39.3% of the vote in the primary.

David Olson is also running without a party preference in this election. He is a member of the Peninsula Board of Directors and represents District 5. Olson won 31.22% of the vote in the primary election.

Insurance Commissioner

The Washington State Insurance Commissioner is responsible for the state's insurance industry. They regulate insurance companies doing business in Washington.

According to her website, Democratic candidate Patty Kuderer has been a member of the Washington State Senate since 2015, representing District 48. In the primary, Kuderer received 45.18% of the vote.

According to his website, Republican candidate Phil Fortunato has been a member of the Washington State Senate since taking office in 2017, representing District 31. He also served as state representative for the 47th District from 1998 to 2000.

In the August primary election, Fortunato won 28.52% of the vote.

More election coverage:

This link will take you to the full list of candidates. You can view the results of the August primary election using this link.

All photos included in this article were providedto KOMO Newsby the candidates.