2016 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election
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 County results Congressional district resultsFranz: 50–60% 60–70% 80–90% McLaughlin: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||
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The 2016 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the Washington Public Lands Commissioner, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the U.S. Senate and various state and local elections, including for U.S. House and governor of Washington.
Incumbent Democratic Public Lands Commissioner Peter J. Goldmark retired.[1] Democratic conservation attorney Hilary Franz defeated Republican Steve McLaughlin to succeed Goldmark.[2]
Golmark was first elected in 2008, defeating then-incumbent public lands commissioner Doug Sutherland.[3] He retired after serving two terms.[1]
Candidates
Washington is one of two states that holds a top-two primary, meaning that all candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two move on to the general election.
Democratic Party
Advanced to general
- Hilary Franz, conservation attorney and former Bainbridge Island city councilor[4]
Eliminated in primary
- Karen Porterfield, nominee of Washington's 8th congressional district in 2012[5]
- John Stillings, former competitive rower[6]
- Dave Upthegrove, King County Councilor[7]
- Mary Verner, former mayor of Spokane[8]
Declined
- Peter J. Goldmark, incumbent public lands commissioner (2009–2017)[1]
Republican Party
Advanced to general
- Steve McLaughlin, retired United States Navy Commander[9]
Libertarian Party
Eliminated in primary
- Steven Nielson, former chairman of the Libertarian Party of Washington[10]
Primary election
Endorsements
Dave Upthegrove (D)
Newspapers
Results
Five Democrats, one Republican, and one Libertarian competed in the primary. Steve McLaughlin (R) and Hilary Franz (D) finished as the top two and advanced to the general election.
McLaughlin
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
Franz
- 20–30%
- 30–40%
McLaughlin
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 60–70%
Franz
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve McLaughlin | 494,416 | 37.95 | |
| Democratic | Hilary Franz | 297,074 | 22.80 | |
| Democratic | Dave Upthegrove | 183,976 | 14.12 | |
| Democratic | Mary Verner | 159,564 | 12.25 | |
| Libertarian | Steven Nielson | 63,056 | 4.84 | |
| Democratic | Karen Porterfield | 61,710 | 4.74 | |
| Democratic | John Stillings | 43,129 | 3.31 | |
| Total votes | 1,302,925 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Post-primary endorsements
Hilary Franz (D)
Newspapers
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Hilary Franz (D) |
Steve McLaughlin (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elway Poll[14] | October 20–22, 2016 | 502 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 36% | 31% | 33% |
| Elway Poll[15] | August 9–13, 2016 | 500 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 33% | 32% | 35% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Hilary Franz | 1,630,369 | 53.16% | –5.58% | |
| Republican | Steve McLaughlin | 1,436,817 | 46.84% | +5.58% | |
| Total votes | 3,067,186 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
By county
| County[17] | Hilary Franz
Democratic |
Steve McLaughlin
Republican |
Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 1,234 | 27.64% | 3,230 | 72.36% | -1,996 | -44.71% | 4,464 |
| Asotin | 3,170 | 34.08% | 6,131 | 65.92% | -2,961 | -31.84% | 9,301 |
| Benton | 24,734 | 31.85% | 52,916 | 68.15% | -28,182 | -36.29% | 77,650 |
| Chelan | 11,780 | 36.93% | 20,118 | 63.07% | -8,338 | -26.14% | 31,898 |
| Clallam | 17,198 | 45.64% | 20,480 | 54.36% | -3,282 | -8.71% | 37,678 |
| Clark | 91,651 | 47.90% | 99,706 | 52.10% | -8,055 | -4.21% | 191,357 |
| Columbia | 496 | 24.00% | 1,571 | 76.00% | -1,075 | -52.01% | 2,067 |
| Cowlitz | 18,012 | 41.47% | 25,418 | 58.53% | -7,406 | -17.05% | 43,430 |
| Douglas | 4,467 | 29.90% | 10,471 | 70.10% | -6,004 | -40.19% | 14,938 |
| Ferry | 1,084 | 31.44% | 2,364 | 68.56% | -1,280 | -37.12% | 3,448 |
| Franklin | 8,196 | 35.31% | 15,015 | 64.69% | -6,819 | -29.38% | 23,211 |
| Garfield | 250 | 21.28% | 925 | 78.72% | -675 | -57.45% | 1,175 |
| Grant | 7,536 | 27.56% | 19,808 | 72.44% | -12,272 | -44.88% | 27,344 |
| Grays Harbor | 12,215 | 44.47% | 15,255 | 55.53% | -3,040 | -11.07% | 27,470 |
| Island | 20,223 | 48.89% | 21,145 | 51.11% | -922 | -2.23% | 41,368 |
| Jefferson | 12,680 | 64.38% | 7,015 | 35.62% | 5,665 | 28.76% | 19,695 |
| King | 648,376 | 69.25% | 287,877 | 30.75% | 360,499 | 38.50% | 936,253 |
| Kitsap | 61,344 | 50.94% | 59,070 | 49.06% | 2,274 | 1.89% | 120,414 |
| Kittitas | 6,822 | 37.58% | 11,333 | 62.42% | -4,511 | -24.85% | 18,155 |
| Klickitat | 4,126 | 39.97% | 6,196 | 60.03% | -2,070 | -20.05% | 10,322 |
| Lewis | 9,564 | 28.89% | 23,545 | 71.11% | -13,981 | -42.23% | 33,109 |
| Lincoln | 1,117 | 20.18% | 4,417 | 79.82% | -3,300 | -59.63% | 5,534 |
| Mason | 12,015 | 44.48% | 15,000 | 55.52% | -2,985 | -11.05% | 27,015 |
| Okanogan | 6,064 | 36.65% | 10,481 | 63.35% | -4,417 | -26.70% | 16,545 |
| Pacific | 4,576 | 45.02% | 5,589 | 54.98% | -1,013 | -9.97% | 10,165 |
| Pend Oreille | 1,958 | 29.59% | 4,659 | 70.41% | -2,701 | -40.82% | 6,617 |
| Pierce | 164,672 | 49.35% | 169,007 | 50.65% | -4,335 | -1.30% | 333,679 |
| San Juan | 7,075 | 68.49% | 3,255 | 31.51% | 3,820 | 36.98% | 10,330 |
| Skagit | 25,529 | 47.10% | 28,667 | 52.90% | -3,138 | -5.79% | 54,196 |
| Skamania | 2,248 | 41.92% | 3,115 | 58.08% | -867 | -16.17% | 5,363 |
| Snohomish | 172,034 | 51.90% | 159,412 | 48.10% | 12,622 | 3.81% | 331,446 |
| Spokane | 89,715 | 40.64% | 131,038 | 59.36% | -41,323 | -18.72% | 220,753 |
| Stevens | 5,815 | 26.25% | 16,334 | 73.75% | -10,519 | -47.49% | 22,149 |
| Thurston | 67,195 | 53.84% | 57,619 | 46.16% | 9,576 | 7.67% | 124,814 |
| Wahkiakum | 826 | 37.75% | 1,362 | 62.25% | -536 | -24.50% | 2,188 |
| Walla Walla | 8,995 | 37.03% | 15,299 | 62.97% | -6,304 | -25.95% | 24,294 |
| Whatcom | 58,346 | 55.16% | 47,436 | 44.84% | 10,910 | 10.31% | 105,782 |
| Whitman | 7,565 | 45.46% | 9,075 | 54.54% | -1,510 | -9.07% | 16,640 |
| Yakima | 29,466 | 39.33% | 45,463 | 60.67% | -15,997 | -21.35% | 74,929 |
| Totals | 1,630,369 | 53.16% | 1,436,817 | 46.84% | 193,552 | 6.31% | 3,067,186 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles)
- Clark (largest city: Vancouver)
- Cowlitz (largest city: Longview)
- Grays Harbor (largest city: Aberdeen)
- Island (largest city: Oak Harbor)
- Mason (largest city: Shelton)
- Pacific (largest city: Raymond)
- Pierce (largest city: Tacoma)
- Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon)
- Skamania (largest city: Carson)
- Spokane (largest city: Spokane)
- Wahkiakum (largest city: Puget Island)
- Whitman (largest city: Pullman)
Swing by countyLegend
-
Republican — +0–2.5%
-
Republican — +2.5–5%
-
Republican — +5–7.5%
-
Republican — +7.5–10%
-
Republican — +10–12.5%
-
Republican — +12.5–15%
-
Republican — +>15%
Trend relative to the state by countyLegend
-
Democratic — +10-12.5%
-
Democratic — +7.5-10%
-
Democratic — +5–7.5%
-
Democratic — +2.5–5%
-
Democratic — +0–2.5%
-
Republican — +0–2.5%
-
Republican — +2.5–5%
-
Republican — +5–7.5%
-
Republican — +7.5–10%
-
Republican — +10–12.5%
-
Republican — +12.5–15%
-
Republican — +>15%
County flipsLegend
-
Democratic
HoldRepublican
HoldGain from Democratic
By congressional district
Franz won six of ten congressional districts.[16]
| District | Franz | McLaughlin | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 51% | 49% | Suzan DelBene |
| 2nd | 56% | 44% | Rick Larsen |
| 3rd | 44% | 56% | Jaime Herrera Beutler |
| 4th | 34% | 66% | Dan Newhouse |
| 5th | 39% | 61% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
| 6th | 52% | 48% | Derek Kilmer |
| 7th | 80% | 20% | Jim McDermott |
| Pramila Jayapal | |||
| 8th | 46% | 54% | Dave Reichert |
| 9th | 68% | 32% | Adam Smith |
| 10th | 52% | 48% | Denny Heck |
References
- 1 2 3 Bernton, Hal (April 5, 2016). "State lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark won't run for re-election". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ↑ Young, Bob (November 8, 2016). "Hilary Franz well ahead of Steve McLaughlin for state lands commissioner". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ↑ Heffter, Emily; Cornwall, Warren (November 7, 2008). "Goldmark declares victory in lands-commissioner race, Sutherland won't concede". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ↑ Connelly, Joel (April 20, 2016). "Conservation attorney launches campaign for state lands commissioner". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ↑ Bull, Arla Shephard. "Election 2016: Public lands candidates share philosophies at Belfair forum". Kitsap Sun.
- ↑ https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article89199117.html
- ↑ "Dave Upthegrove announces run for Comm. of Public Lands | Westside Seattle". www.westsideseattle.com.
- ↑ SeattlePI, Joel Connelly (April 26, 2016). "Ex-Spokane Mayor Mary Verner runs for public lands commissioner".
- ↑ "McLaughlin speaks at Chewelah City Park". ChewelahIndependent.com. August 17, 2016.
- ↑ https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article81013597.html
- ↑ Editorial Board, The Seattle Times (July 14, 2016). "The Times recommends: Dave Upthegrove for Commissioner of Public Lands". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ↑ Wyman, Kim (August 2, 2016). "Commissioner of Public Lands". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ↑ Editorial Board, The Seattle Times (October 21, 2016). "The Times recommends: Hilary Franz for commissioner of public lands". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Elway Poll 102416 | DocumentCloud". embed.documentcloud.org.
- ↑ "The Elway Poll, Aug. 16, 2016 | PDF". Scribd.
- 1 2 "2016 General Data". sos.wa.gov. Archived from the original on March 15, 2025.
- ↑ Wyman, Kim (November 8, 2016). "Commissioner of Public Lands - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
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