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United States Senate election in Washington, 2024 (August 6 top-two primary)

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2022
U.S. Senate, Washington
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Top-two primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: May 10, 2024
Primary: August 6, 2024
General: November 5, 2024

Pre-election incumbent:
Maria Cantwell (Democratic)
How to vote
Poll times: Poll opening hours vary; close at 8 p.m.
Voting in Washington
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic
DDHQ and The Hill: Safe Democratic
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2024
See also
U.S. Senate, Washington
U.S. Senate1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
Washington elections, 2024
U.S. Congress elections, 2024
U.S. Senate elections, 2024
U.S. House elections, 2024

A top-two primary took place on August 6, 2024, in Washington to determine which two candidates would run in the state's general election on November 5, 2024.

Incumbent Maria Cantwell and Raul Garcia advanced from the primary for U.S. Senate Washington.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
May 10, 2024
August 6, 2024
November 5, 2024


Heading into the election, the incumbent was Maria Cantwell (Democratic), who was first elected in 2000.

Washington uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot, for congressional and state-level elections. The top two vote-getters move on to the general election, regardless of their party affiliation. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.[1][2]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on Washington's United States Senate top-two primary. For more in-depth information on the general election, see the following page:

Candidates and election results

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. Senate Washington

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Maria Cantwell
Maria Cantwell (D)
 
57.2
 
1,114,327
Image of Raul Garcia
Raul Garcia (R) Candidate Connection
 
22.1
 
431,182
Image of Scott Nazarino
Scott Nazarino (R)
 
5.7
 
111,386
Image of Isaac Holyk
Isaac Holyk (R) Candidate Connection
 
5.7
 
110,701
Image of Melanie Ram
Melanie Ram (R)
 
4.5
 
86,956
Image of Charlie Jackson
Charlie Jackson (Independent Party)
 
1.1
 
21,055
Image of David Tilton
David Tilton (No party preference) Candidate Connection
 
0.9
 
17,561
Image of Paul Giesick
Paul Giesick (D) Candidate Connection
 
0.9
 
17,433
Image of GoodSpaceGuy
GoodSpaceGuy (R)
 
0.9
 
16,826
Image of Thor Amundson
Thor Amundson (Independent Party)
 
0.5
 
10,587
Image of Henry Dennison
Henry Dennison (Socialist Workers Party)
 
0.4
 
7,840
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
2,862

Total votes: 1,948,716
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Image of Raul Garcia

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I’m not a career politician. I’m an Emergency Room doctor who for 26 years has served patients at their most vulnerable moments. I’m also not a born American, but an adopted one who had a love for this country before even stepping foot on it. I was 11 years old when my mother and I escaped communist Cuba and found refuge in America. America has given me the opportunity to make the American Dream a reality. So, when I see the problems facing our state and our nation, I will step up and work to help resolve them. Washington is a wonderful place to live, filled with enormous human and natural resources, but we have lost our way. We’re in the midst of serious crises that need more attention than they are getting."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Fentanyl is the worst killer I've seen in 26 years as a doctor. We are losing a human life almost every five minutes in this country. In the Emergency Room, I treat two to five overdoses on every single shift. The government's response has been totally inadequate. We need to take drastic measures. I want to bring my scientific approach to politics. I’ve put together a plan, based on methods that have worked elsewhere. My Americans Against Fentanyl Act would target serious fentanyl dealers with felony charges and significant prison time. It would also help addicts with a mandatory treatment and recovery program.


Another major crisis that must be solved is the high cost of living. We’ve all seen the rise in prices at the store, at the gas station, whenever we pay our bills. Housing and childcare in Washington is prohibitively expensive. Washington is the fourth most-expensive state for groceries, and the eighth overall. Inflation is putting terrible financial pressure on people across Washington. We can't go on like this. At the federal level, we must stop the reckless federal spending that is sending our national debt to dangerous levels. And we must promote policies that make our economy more productive and reduce prices for consumers.


For years now, women in many parts of Washington have faced an OB-GYN crisis, losing access to local healthcare services. Our leaders, including the incumbent, have done nothing to stop this crisis. As a physician who has delivered babies and provided healthcare to women, I will listen to the women of Washington and help solve this crisis now. I believe Democrats and Republicans should, can and must work together on these problems instead of wasting time on political partisanship. The people of Washington deserve a government of solutions.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate Washington in 2024.

Image of Paul Giesick

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I am a catholic. I am a hard working, blue collar, average American. I am your neighbor and your advocate for liberty and prosperity. I love U.S. and world history. I am a Washingtonian. I grew up and currently live in the pacific northwest. I joined and served in the United States Marine Corps. after high school and received a bachelors degree in Operations Management using the GI Bill. I am currently a Production Manager. I love taking advantage of the beautiful mountains and hiking when i can. It is important for each citizen to learn about the mistakes of past societies so we can see the warning signs of tyranny long before it becomes a crisis."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Significantly reduce the federal spending and pay down the debt.


Bring our military personnel back home, stop the endless war cycle and close the more than 700 military bases we have abroad.


We need to audit the federal reserve and systematically transition to a gold backed currency system.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate Washington in 2024.

Image of Isaac Holyk

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I am born and raised in Washington state. I come from 5 generations of small business owners. My father is a master carpenter and trained me to be a master carpenter as well. I switched careers recently and now develop software applications and big data solutions in C# and ASP.net. I currently own a software development and production company helping other candidates for office shoot campaign videos for free. I am a Christ follower and I believe in conserving America's faith, family, and traditions. I am not running to enrich myself, I am running to bring the deep state down, end the career politician corruption, and restore the power to the people."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


That you are NOT politically homeless.


A nation must have secure borders


America is the greatest country on earth and our constitution is the greatest guarantor of freedom the world has ever seen.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate Washington in 2024.

Image of David Tilton

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: No party preference

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "As a proud United States Air Force veteran, I have served my country with honor and distinction through extensive overseas deployments, gaining a profound understanding of global affairs and the intricacies of different cultures. I've lived and raised my family in Washington for 20+ years, seeing some of the best and worst of our state. My journey is one of service and dedication: in retail, real estate, youth education, and business data analytics (local and international). The retail opportunities empowered my skill set with a keen understanding of customer needs and market dynamics from direct customer interaction to managerial roles. Real estate involvement gave me insights into property markets, management, investment strategies, and the ever-changing landscape of housing demands. I have dedicated myself to nurturing the minds of our youth, serving as a summer school instructor, math tutor, and church youth leader. This commitment to shaping the next generation underscores my belief in the importance of education and the potential of every child. My most recent role in business data analytics, both local and international, spanning 7+ years delving into complex datasets, and uncovering actionable insights that drive innovation and growth. Combining these diverse experiences I offer a multifaceted understanding of various industries, and a strong set of leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


I am dedicated to upholding a non-partisan stance that resists undue influence from any single party or special interest. As a Senator, it is my responsibility to serve all citizens with impartiality, devoid of bias or preference. I advocate for a government that embraces inclusivity, championing the concerns of every individual, regardless of their affiliation or background. By attentively listening to the diverse array of voices within our community, I endeavor to cultivate common ground that honors our distinctions and cultivates an environment conducive to the flourishing of all. It is through our collective unity and mutual understanding that we can fully leverage the strength of our diversity and propel our society towards progress.


Our hardworking citizens, the bedrock of our nation, face the challenge of rising taxes and living costs outpacing wage increases. Upholding fiscal responsibility demands effective budgeting, the eradication of wasteful spending, a reduction in debt accumulation, and the redistribution of gains back to the people to invigorate our society. Transparency at every stage of this endeavor is paramount to foster and restore confidence that this framework will bolster, rather than undermine, the interests of our citizens.


With compassion and dignity, we must prioritize the well-being of the most vulnerable members of our society. Investing in robust education and healthcare systems is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity for societal prosperity. Quality education empowers individuals to break the chains of poverty, fostering innovation and economic growth. Accessible healthcare safeguards the health and dignity of all citizens, enhances productivity, and alleviates societal burdens. These investments not only fulfill our duty to care for one another but also lay the groundwork for a more equitable and prosperous future.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate Washington in 2024.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Washington

Election information in Washington: Aug. 6, 2024, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: Aug. 6, 2024
  • By mail: Received by July 29, 2024
  • Online: July 29, 2024

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: N/A
  • By mail: N/A by N/A
  • Online: N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: Aug. 6, 2024
  • By mail: Postmarked by Aug. 6, 2024

Was early voting available to all voters?

N/A

What were the early voting start and end dates?

July 19, 2024 to Aug. 6, 2024

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

N/A


Campaign finance

This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[3] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[4]

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Maria Cantwell Democratic Party $13,025,510 $12,984,191 $611,211 As of December 31, 2024
Paul Giesick Democratic Party $0 $6,910 $210 As of July 22, 2024
Raul Garcia Republican Party $773,709 $773,709 $0 As of December 31, 2024
GoodSpaceGuy Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Isaac Holyk Republican Party $8,343 $7,964 $40 As of December 31, 2024
Scott Nazarino Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Melanie Ram Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Thor Amundson Independent Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Charlie Jackson Independent Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
David Tilton No party preference $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Henry Dennison Socialist Workers Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2024. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.


Ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Washington in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Washington, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Washington U.S. Senate Ballot-qualified party 1,740[5] $1,740.00 5/10/2024

Source

Washington U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 1,000 N/A 8/2/2024 Source

Election analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.

  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the state.
  • Statewide elections - Information about recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections in the state.
  • State partisanship - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
  • Demographics - Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.


See also: Presidential voting trends in Washington and The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Cook PVI by congressional district

Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index for Washington, 2024
District Incumbent Party PVI
Washington's 1st Suzan DelBene Electiondot.png Democratic D+13
Washington's 2nd Rick Larsen Electiondot.png Democratic D+9
Washington's 3rd Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Electiondot.png Democratic R+5
Washington's 4th Dan Newhouse Ends.png Republican R+11
Washington's 5th Cathy McMorris Rodgers Ends.png Republican R+8
Washington's 6th Derek Kilmer Electiondot.png Democratic D+6
Washington's 7th Pramila Jayapal Electiondot.png Democratic D+36
Washington's 8th Kim Schrier Electiondot.png Democratic D+1
Washington's 9th Adam Smith Electiondot.png Democratic D+21
Washington's 10th Marilyn Strickland Electiondot.png Democratic D+7


2020 presidential results by 2024 congressional district lines

2020 presidential results in congressional districts based on 2024 district lines, Washington[6]
District Joe Biden Democratic Party Donald Trump Republican Party
Washington's 1st 64.0% 33.3%
Washington's 2nd 60.1% 37.2%
Washington's 3rd 46.6% 50.8%
Washington's 4th 40.3% 57.2%
Washington's 5th 43.5% 53.5%
Washington's 6th 57.1% 39.9%
Washington's 7th 86.8% 11.3%
Washington's 8th 52.0% 45.3%
Washington's 9th 71.5% 26.3%
Washington's 10th 57.3% 39.6%


2012-2020

How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. Click [show] on the table below for examples:


Following the 2020 presidential election, 72.5% of Washingtonians lived in one of the state's 11 Solid Democratic counties, which voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 2012 to 2020, and 22.3% lived in one of 22 Solid Republican counties. Overall, Washington was Solid Democratic, having voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2012, Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016, and Joe Biden (D) in 2020. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in Washington following the 2020 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.

Historical voting trends

Washington presidential election results (1900-2020)

  • 17 Democratic wins
  • 13 Republican wins
  • 1 other win
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020
Winning Party R R R P[7] D R R R D D D D D R R R D D R R R R D D D D D D D D D

This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.

U.S. Senate elections

See also: List of United States Senators from Washington

The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in Washington.

U.S. Senate election results in Washington
Race Winner Runner up
2022 57.1%Democratic Party 42.6%Republican Party
2018 58.3%Democratic Party 41.5%Republican Party
2016 58.8%Democratic Party 40.9%Republican Party
2012 60.4%Democratic Party 39.5%Republican Party
2010 52.1%Democratic Party 47.4%Republican Party
Average 57.3 41.8

Gubernatorial elections

See also: Governor of Washington

The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in Washington.

Gubernatorial election results in Washington
Race Winner Runner up
2020 56.6%Democratic Party 43.1%Republican Party
2016 54.2%Democratic Party 45.5%Republican Party
2012 51.4%Democratic Party 48.3%Republican Party
2008 53.0%Democratic Party 46.6%Republican Party
2004 48.9%Democratic Party 48.9%Republican Party
Average 52.8 46.5
See also: Party control of Washington state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Washington's congressional delegation as of May 2024.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Washington
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 2 8 10
Republican 0 2 2
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 10 12

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Washington's top four state executive offices as of May 2024.

State executive officials in Washington, May 2024
Office Officeholder
Governor Democratic Party Jay Inslee
Lieutenant Governor Democratic Party Denny Heck
Secretary of State Democratic Party Steve Hobbs
Attorney General Democratic Party Bob Ferguson

State legislature

Washington State Senate

Party As of NFebruary 2024
     Democratic Party 29
     Republican Party 20
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 49

Washington House of Representatives

Party As of February 2024
     Democratic Party 58
     Republican Party 40
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 98

Trifecta control

The table below shows the state's trifecta status from 1992 until the 2024 election.

Washington Party Control: 1992-2024
Eighteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Governor D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
Senate R D D D D R R D D D D R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R[8] D D D D D D D
House D D D R R R R S S S D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

The table below details demographic data in Washington and compares it to the broader United States as of 2022.

Demographic Data for Washington
Washington United States
Population 7,705,281 331,449,281
Land area (sq mi) 66,455 3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White 69.9% 65.9%
Black/African American 3.9% 12.5%
Asian 9.2% 5.8%
Native American 1.2% 0.8%
Pacific Islander 0.7% 0.2%
Other (single race) 5.2% 6%
Multiple 9.9% 8.8%
Hispanic/Latino 13.5% 18.7%
Education
High school graduation rate 92.1% 89.1%
College graduation rate 38% 34.3%
Income
Median household income $90,325 $75,149
Persons below poverty level 6.3% 8.8%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2017-2022).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. NCSL, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 3, 2024
  2. Washington Secretary of State, "Top 2 Primary: FAQs for Candidates," accessed October 3, 2024
  3. Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
  4. Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
  5. Petition signatures only required in lieu of filing fee.
  6. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020, 2016, and 2012," accessed December 15, 2023
  7. Progressive Party
  8. Democrats gained full control of the state Senate after a special election on November 7, 2017.


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
Democratic Party (10)
Republican Party (2)