2020 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election


The 2020 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Washington Public Lands Commissioner, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the U.S. Senate and various state and local elections, including for [2020 United States House of Representatives 2020 United States Senate elections|elections in Washington|U.S. House] and governor of Washington. Incumbent Democratic Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz was re-elected to a second term in office.

Background

Franz was elected in 2016 against Republican Steve McLaughlin, winning 53% of the vote to succeed fellow Democrat Peter J. Goldmark.

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

Eliminated in primary

Declined

Republican Party

Advanced to general

  • Sue Kuehl Pederson, retired utility manager

Eliminated in primary

  • Maryam Abasbarzy
  • Steve Sharon, businessman
  • Cameron Whitney, planning commissioner of Grand Coulee

Libertarian Party

Eliminated in primary

General election

Results

By county

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Franz won seven of ten congressional districts.
DistrictFranzKuehl PedersonRepresentative
56%44%Suzan DelBene
60%40%Rick Larsen
46%54%Jaime Herrera Beutler
39%61%Dan Newhouse
43%57%Cathy McMorris Rodgers
56%44%Derek Kilmer
83%17%Pramila Jayapal
50.0%49.9%Kim Schrier
71%28%Adam Smith
55%45%Denny Heck
55%45%Marilyn Strickland