2008 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
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November 4, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||
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Kreidler: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Adams: 50–60% 60–70% | ||||||||||||||||
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The 2008 Washington Insurance Commissioner election was held on November 4, 2008, to elect the insurance commissioner of Washington, concurrently with the 2008 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 Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler was re-elected to a third term in a landslide.[1]
Background
Incumbent Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, first elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004, ran for re-election to a third term in office.[2]
Primary election
Washington is one of two states that holds a top-two primary, meaning all candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two advance to the general election.
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
- Mike Kreidler, incumbent Insurance Commissioner (2001–2025)[2]
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
- John Adams, insurance broker[3]
Third-party and independent candidates
Eliminated in primary
- Curtis Fackler (Nonpartisan), chairman of the Spokane County Republican Party[3]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 723,732 | 53.86 | |
| Republican | John Adams | 484,992 | 36.09 | |
| Nonpartisan | Curtis Fackler | 135,113 | 10.05 | |
| Total votes | 1,343,837 | 100.00 | ||
| Elections in Washington (state) |
|---|
 |
General election
Endorsements
Mike Kreidler (D)
- Newspapers
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 1,679,696 | 61.38 | ||
| Republican | John Adams | 1,056,693 | 38.62 | ||
| Total votes | 2,736,389 | 100.00 | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
By county
| County[7] | Mike Kreidler Democratic | John Adams Republican | Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 1,629 | 37.41% | 2,726 | 62.59% | -1,097 | -25.19% | 4,355 |
| Asotin | 4,275 | 48.22% | 4,590 | 51.78% | -315 | -3.55% | 8,865 |
| Benton | 28,779 | 43.33% | 37,634 | 56.67% | -8,855 | -13.33% | 66,413 |
| Chelan | 13,359 | 46.48% | 15,381 | 53.52% | -2,022 | -7.04% | 28,740 |
| Clallam | 20,038 | 57.23% | 14,978 | 42.77% | 5,060 | 14.45% | 35,016 |
| Clark | 89,531 | 54.39% | 75,088 | 45.61% | 14,443 | 8.77% | 164,619 |
| Columbia | 769 | 38.90% | 1,208 | 61.10% | -439 | -22.21% | 1,977 |
| Cowlitz | 24,100 | 58.97% | 16,771 | 41.03% | 7,329 | 17.93% | 40,871 |
| Douglas | 5,947 | 43.52% | 7,719 | 56.48% | -1,772 | -12.97% | 13,666 |
| Ferry | 1,487 | 47.74% | 1,628 | 52.26% | -141 | -4.53% | 3,115 |
| Franklin | 8,102 | 44.03% | 10,300 | 55.97% | -2,198 | -11.94% | 18,402 |
| Garfield | 446 | 37.23% | 752 | 62.77% | -306 | -25.54% | 1,198 |
| Grant | 10,201 | 40.67% | 14,883 | 59.33% | -4,682 | -18.67% | 25,084 |
| Grays Harbor | 17,126 | 64.01% | 9,629 | 35.99% | 7,497 | 28.02% | 26,755 |
| Island | 22,031 | 57.57% | 16,235 | 42.43% | 5,796 | 15.15% | 38,266 |
| Jefferson | 12,726 | 69.91% | 5,478 | 30.09% | 7,248 | 39.82% | 18,204 |
| King | 580,666 | 72.13% | 224,384 | 27.87% | 356,282 | 44.26% | 805,050 |
| Kitsap | 68,696 | 59.96% | 45,878 | 40.04% | 22,818 | 19.92% | 114,574 |
| Kittitas | 8,109 | 50.94% | 7,809 | 49.06% | 300 | 1.88% | 15,918 |
| Klickitat | 4,775 | 52.56% | 4,309 | 47.44% | 466 | 5.13% | 9,084 |
| Lewis | 15,329 | 48.43% | 16,325 | 51.57% | -996 | -3.15% | 31,654 |
| Lincoln | 2,206 | 41.32% | 3,133 | 58.68% | -927 | -17.36% | 5,339 |
| Mason | 16,148 | 61.12% | 10,271 | 38.88% | 5,877 | 22.25% | 26,419 |
| Okanogan | 7,452 | 49.18% | 7,699 | 50.82% | -247 | -1.63% | 15,151 |
| Pacific | 6,112 | 62.15% | 3,722 | 37.85% | 2,390 | 24.30% | 9,834 |
| Pend Oreille | 2,714 | 45.95% | 3,192 | 54.05% | -478 | -8.09% | 5,906 |
| Pierce | 182,132 | 59.76% | 122,622 | 40.24% | 59,510 | 19.53% | 304,754 |
| San Juan | 6,632 | 70.11% | 2,827 | 29.89% | 3,805 | 40.23% | 9,459 |
| Skagit | 29,944 | 58.81% | 20,970 | 41.19% | 8,974 | 17.63% | 50,914 |
| Skamania | 2,690 | 54.88% | 2,212 | 45.12% | 478 | 9.75% | 4,902 |
| Snohomish | 182,605 | 62.29% | 110,531 | 37.71% | 72,074 | 24.59% | 293,136 |
| Spokane | 105,917 | 52.94% | 94,146 | 47.06% | 11,771 | 5.88% | 200,063 |
| Stevens | 8,467 | 42.19% | 11,604 | 57.81% | -3,137 | -15.63% | 20,071 |
| Thurston | 78,485 | 67.28% | 38,175 | 32.72% | 40,310 | 34.55% | 116,660 |
| Wahkiakum | 1,095 | 54.80% | 903 | 45.20% | 192 | 9.61% | 1,998 |
| Walla Walla | 10,173 | 46.12% | 11,885 | 53.88% | -1,712 | -7.76% | 22,058 |
| Whatcom | 55,309 | 61.24% | 35,006 | 38.76% | 20,303 | 22.48% | 90,315 |
| Whitman | 8,259 | 53.46% | 7,189 | 46.54% | 1,070 | 6.93% | 15,448 |
| Yakima | 35,235 | 48.85% | 36,901 | 51.15% | -1,666 | -2.31% | 72,136 |
| Totals | 1,679,696 | 61.38% | 1,056,693 | 38.62% | 623,003 | 22.77% | 2,736,389 |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Kittitas (largest city: Ellensburg)
- Klickitat (largest city: Goldendale)
- Spokane (largest city: Spokane)
- Whitman (largest city: Pullman)
By congressional district
Kreidler won eight of nine congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans.[8]
| District | Kreidler | Adams | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 65% | 35% | Jay Inslee |
| 2nd | 60% | 40% | Rick Larsen |
| 3rd | 58% | 42% | Brian Baird |
| 4th | 46% | 54% | Doc Hastings |
| 5th | 51% | 49% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
| 6th | 63% | 37% | Norm Dicks |
| 7th | 85% | 15% | Jim McDermott |
| 8th | 59% | 41% | Dave Reichert |
| 9th | 62% | 38% | Adam Smith |
References
- ^ https://www.historylink.org/file/8896
- ^ a b https://www.heraldnet.com/news/official-wants-catastrophic-health-insurance-coverage-for-all-in-washington/
- ^ a b https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/jul/23/familiar-ballot-in-insurance-commissioner-race/
- ^ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008). "Insurance Commissioner". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on May 2, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ Editorial Board, The Seattle Times (October 31, 2008). "Seattle Times endorsements for Election Day". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008). "Insurance Commissioner". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on March 5, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008). "Insurance Commissioner - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ "2008 General Data". sos.wa.gov. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024.
External links
Official campaign websites (Archived)
- Mike Kreidler (D) for Insurance Commissioner
- John Adams (R) for Insurance Commissioner
- Curtis Fackler (NP) for Insurance Commissioner
