2016 United States presidential election in Washington (state)



The 2016 United States presidential election in Washington took place on November 8, 2016 as part of the 2016 United States presidential election. Washington was won by Hillary Clinton, who won the state with 52.54% of the vote over Donald Trump's 36.83%, a margin of 15.71%. All of the state's 12 electoral votes were assigned to Clinton, though four defected. Trump prevailed in the presidential election nationally.

In the presidential primaries, Washington voters chose the Republican Party's nominee; the Democratic Party used the caucus system, and the Green Party's nominee was chosen in a convention. Although Clinton's 52.5% percent of the vote was a reduction from Barack Obama's 55.8% in 2012, Trump receiving an even greater drop in percentage compared to Mitt Romney's 41.0% made Washington one of 11 states where Clinton improved upon Obama's margin of victory. This was the first presidential election in which the Republican Party won Grays Harbor and Pacific counties since 1928 and 1952, respectively.

This election was also the first time that the Republican Party had won Cowlitz County since 1980, and the first time they had won Mason County since 1984. Additionally, Trump became the first Republican ever to win the White House without carrying Island County, as well as the first to do so without carrying Whitman County since William McKinley in 1900. Despite Clinton's victory, four Democratic electors defected: Three voted for former U.S. secretary of state Colin Powell, making him the first African-American Republican to receive electoral votes, while Native American activist Robert Satiacum Jr. cast his vote for fellow activist Faith Spotted Eagle, making her the first Native American to receive an electoral vote for president.

Primaries and Caucuses
Washington has voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1988. While the state's Senate was majority Republican in 2016, both of Washington's United States Senators are Democrats, as well as a majority of the state's U.S. House delegation. Barack Obama defeated John McCain by 17.08% in 2008 and Mitt Romney by 14.87% in 2012.

Democratic caucus
Bernie Sanders bested Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential caucus on March 26, 2016:

The state also held a non-binding presidential primary on May 24, the same date as the state's Republican primary. Hillary Clinton won the preference vote.

Republican primary
Four candidates appeared on the Republican presidential primary ballot on May 24, 2016:


 * Ben Carson (withdrawn)
 * Ted Cruz (withdrawn)
 * John Kasich (withdrawn)
 * Donald Trump

Green convention
This state's Green Party state convention was on May 15. Ballots were emailed to members within a week after the convention.

Polling
Democrat Hillary Clinton won every pre-election poll and all but one by double digits. The average of the final three polls showed Hillary Clinton leading Donald Trump 50.3% to 36%.

State voting history
Washington joined the Union in November 1889 and has participated in all elections from 1892 onwards.

Since 1900, Washington voted Democratic 51.72 percent of the time and Republican 44.83 percent of the time. Since 1988, Washington had voted for the Democratic Party in each presidential election, and the same was expected to happen in 2016.

By county
[[File:Washington County Flips 2016.svg|thumb|County Flips:

Democratic {{legend|#92c5de|Hold}} {{legend|#0671b0|Gain from Republican}}

Republican {{legend|#f48882|Hold}} {{legend|#ca0120|Gain from Democratic}} ]]

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles)
 * Cowlitz (largest city: Longview)
 * Grays Harbor (largest city: Aberdeen)
 * Mason (largest city: Shelton)
 * Pacific (largest city: Raymond)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

 * Whitman (largest city: Pullman)

By congressional district
Clinton won 7 of 10 congressional districts including one represented by a Republican.