2020 Washington Referendum 90
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November 3, 2020
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Washington Comprehensive Sexual Health Education | |||||||||||||
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 County results Congressional district results
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Referendum 90 was a Washington state referendum to approve or reject the March 2020 bill that would mandate that comprehensive sex education is taught in all public schools in the state. On June 24, 2020, state officials announced that enough signatures in favor of the referendum had been submitted and scheduled the referendum to appear on the ballot in the November 3 general election.[1] The law was upheld by voters in the November 3, 2020 election by a final margin of 15.6% (57.8% approve, 42.2% reject).[2] This measure was the nation's first ballot measure pertaining to sex education to be decided by voters.[3]
Senate Bill 5395 was passed by both chambers of the Washington State Legislature, the Washington State Senate and Washington House of Representatives, during the 2020 regular legislative session. It passed each chamber on a party line and required all school districts in the state to teach comprehensive sex education. Governor Jay Inslee signed the bill after it was sent to his desk. Prior to the law passing, each school district was able to decide whether to teach sex education. The law allowed parents or guardians to view materials and opt their students out of any or all of it.[4] Republicans and religious conservatives collected signatures to force a vote on the issue.[5]
Endorsements
Yes
Statewide officials
- Jay Inslee, incumbent governor of Washington (Democratic)[6]
No
Political parties
Polling
Results
Referendum 90 passed with 58% of the vote.[9]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 2,283,630 | 57.82 | |
| Against | 1,665,906 | 42.18 | |
| Total | 3,949,536 | 100.00 | |
| Source: Washington Secretary of State | |||
By county
| County[10] | Yes | No | Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 1,768 | 30.94% | 3,947 | 69.06% | -2,179 | -38.13% | 5,715 |
| Asotin | 5,559 | 48.20% | 5,974 | 51.80% | -415 | -3.60% | 11,533 |
| Benton | 37,867 | 37.53% | 63,043 | 62.47% | -25,176 | -24.95% | 100,910 |
| Chelan | 19,244 | 47.48% | 21,285 | 52.52% | -2,041 | -5.04% | 40,529 |
| Clallam | 24,246 | 51.92% | 22,452 | 48.08% | 1,794 | 3.84% | 46,698 |
| Clark | 144,843 | 56.92% | 109,618 | 43.08% | 35,225 | 13.84% | 254,461 |
| Columbia | 789 | 32.44% | 1,643 | 67.56% | -854 | -35.12% | 2,432 |
| Cowlitz | 25,409 | 43.34% | 33,212 | 56.66% | -7,803 | -13.31% | 58,621 |
| Douglas | 8,390 | 40.36% | 12,399 | 59.64% | -4,009 | -19.28% | 20,789 |
| Ferry | 1,399 | 33.22% | 2,812 | 66.78% | -1,413 | -33.55% | 4,211 |
| Franklin | 11,952 | 37.74% | 19,717 | 62.26% | -7,765 | -24.52% | 31,669 |
| Garfield | 435 | 30.21% | 1,005 | 69.79% | -570 | -39.58% | 1,440 |
| Grant | 11,768 | 32.77% | 24,145 | 67.23% | -12,377 | -34.46% | 35,913 |
| Grays Harbor | 16,456 | 44.14% | 20,826 | 55.86% | -4,370 | -11.72% | 37,282 |
| Island | 28,459 | 54.62% | 23,640 | 45.38% | 4,819 | 9.25% | 52,099 |
| Jefferson | 16,433 | 68.47% | 7,567 | 31.53% | 8,866 | 36.94% | 24,000 |
| King | 853,102 | 73.19% | 312,424 | 26.81% | 540,678 | 46.39% | 1,165,526 |
| Kitsap | 89,068 | 57.74% | 65,178 | 42.26% | 23,890 | 15.49% | 154,246 |
| Kittitas | 12,224 | 48.17% | 13,152 | 51.83% | -928 | -3.66% | 25,376 |
| Klickitat | 6,067 | 47.82% | 6,619 | 52.18% | -552 | -4.35% | 12,686 |
| Lewis | 14,515 | 32.72% | 29,847 | 67.28% | -15,332 | -34.56% | 44,362 |
| Lincoln | 1,780 | 25.82% | 5,115 | 74.18% | -3,335 | -48.37% | 6,895 |
| Mason | 17,095 | 47.10% | 19,202 | 52.90% | -2,107 | -5.80% | 36,297 |
| Okanogan | 8,986 | 43.33% | 11,753 | 56.67% | -2,767 | -13.34% | 20,739 |
| Pacific | 6,677 | 48.97% | 6,959 | 51.03% | -282 | -2.07% | 13,636 |
| Pend Oreille | 2,757 | 33.05% | 5,584 | 66.95% | -2,827 | -33.89% | 8,341 |
| Pierce | 239,142 | 52.85% | 213,379 | 47.15% | 25,763 | 5.69% | 452,521 |
| San Juan | 9,176 | 72.16% | 3,540 | 27.84% | 5,636 | 44.32% | 12,716 |
| Skagit | 36,629 | 51.51% | 34,482 | 48.49% | 2,147 | 3.02% | 71,111 |
| Skamania | 3,477 | 49.38% | 3,564 | 50.62% | -87 | -1.24% | 7,041 |
| Snohomish | 239,765 | 56.10% | 187,600 | 43.90% | 52,165 | 12.21% | 427,365 |
| Spokane | 134,160 | 46.37% | 155,180 | 53.63% | -21,020 | -7.26% | 289,340 |
| Stevens | 7,857 | 28.40% | 19,813 | 71.60% | -11,956 | -43.21% | 27,670 |
| Thurston | 93,864 | 57.56% | 69,219 | 42.44% | 24,645 | 15.11% | 163,083 |
| Wahkiakum | 1,265 | 43.58% | 1,638 | 56.42% | -373 | -12.85% | 2,903 |
| Walla Walla | 14,988 | 49.41% | 15,347 | 50.59% | -359 | -1.18% | 30,335 |
| Whatcom | 81,015 | 59.91% | 54,207 | 40.09% | 26,808 | 19.83% | 135,222 |
| Whitman | 11,697 | 56.59% | 8,974 | 43.41% | 2,723 | 13.17% | 20,671 |
| Yakima | 43,307 | 46.49% | 49,845 | 53.51% | -6,538 | -7.02% | 93,152 |
| Totals | 2,283,630 | 57.82% | 1,665,906 | 42.18% | 617,724 | 15.64% | 3,949,536 |
By congressional district
"Yes" won eight of ten congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.[11]
| District | Yes | No | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 57% | 43% | Suzan DelBene |
| 2nd | 60% | 40% | Rick Larsen |
| 3rd | 51% | 49% | Jaime Herrera Beutler |
| 4th | 40% | 60% | Dan Newhouse |
| 5th | 45% | 55% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
| 6th | 57% | 43% | Derek Kilmer |
| 7th | 83% | 17% | Pramila Jayapal |
| 8th | 52% | 48% | Kim Schrier |
| 9th | 71% | 29% | Adam Smith |
| 10th | 55% | 45% | Denny Heck (116th Congress) |
| Marilyn Strickland (117th Congress) | |||
Notes
- ↑ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
Partisan clients
- ↑ Poll sponsored by the Northwest Progressive Institute
References
- ↑ "Referendum 90 on Washington 2020 ballot asks voters to approve or reject comprehensive sexual health education in public schools". June 30, 2020.
- ↑ Furfaro, Hannah (November 3, 2020). "Sex education Referendum 90 passes in Washington state election results". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Inslee wins third term, voters weigh in on sex ed".
- 1 2 "Sex education on the ballot: Four things to know about Referendum 90". October 18, 2020.
- ↑ "How the sex education referendum made it to your ballot, and what it means". October 20, 2020.
- ↑ "Referendum to repeal sex ed law gathers record number of signatures despite pandemic". June 10, 2020.
- ↑ Public Policy Polling (D)
- ↑ SurveyUSA/KING-TV
- ↑ Wyman, Kim (December 1, 2020). "Canvass of the Returns of the General Election Held on November 3, 2020" (PDF). Secretary of State of Washington. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 29, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ↑ Wyman, Kim (November 3, 2020). "Referendum Measure No. 90 - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on November 7, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ↑ "2020Gen Results by Congressional District" (PDF). sos.wa.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 22, 2024.
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