2008 Washington Attorney General election
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November 4, 2008
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  McKenna: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Ladenburg: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 2008 Washington Attorney General election was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, to elect the attorney general 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. 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.
Incumbent Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna was re-elected to a second term in office, defeating Democratic challenger John Ladenburg in a landslide, winning by almost 20 points and carrying all but two counties.[1] As of 2026, this is the last time a Republican was elected Washington Attorney General. Along with the concurrent secretary of state election, this is also the last time King County voted Republican in a statewide election against a Democratic opponent.[a]
Candidates
[edit]Republican Party
[edit]Advanced to general
[edit]- Rob McKenna, incumbent attorney general (2005–2013)[2]
Democratic Party
[edit]Advanced to general
[edit]Primary election
[edit]Results
[edit]
McKenna
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
Ladenburg
- 50–60%
McKenna
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
Ladenburg
- 60–70%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rob McKenna (incumbent) | 783,240 | 56.98 | |
| Democratic | John Ladenburg | 591,254 | 43.02 | |
| Total votes | 1,374,494 | 100.00 | ||
By county
[edit]| County[5] | Rob McKenna
Republican |
John Ladenburg
Democratic |
Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 1,903 | 75.10% | 631 | 24.90% | 1,272 | 50.20% | 2,534 |
| Asotin | 3,040 | 57.79% | 2,220 | 42.21% | 820 | 15.59% | 5,260 |
| Benton | 27,127 | 71.14% | 11,006 | 28.86% | 16,121 | 42.28% | 38,133 |
| Chelan | 11,627 | 68.59% | 5,325 | 31.41% | 6,302 | 37.18% | 16,952 |
| Clallam | 12,906 | 59.19% | 8,898 | 40.81% | 4,008 | 18.38% | 21,804 |
| Clark | 40,625 | 55.97% | 31,960 | 44.03% | 8,665 | 11.94% | 72,585 |
| Columbia | 1,055 | 72.46% | 401 | 27.54% | 654 | 44.92% | 1,456 |
| Cowlitz | 10,890 | 50.82% | 10,539 | 49.18% | 351 | 1.64% | 21,429 |
| Douglas | 5,819 | 69.29% | 2,579 | 30.71% | 3,240 | 38.58% | 8,398 |
| Ferry | 1,274 | 64.51% | 701 | 35.49% | 573 | 29.01% | 1,975 |
| Franklin | 7,523 | 68.87% | 3,401 | 31.13% | 4,122 | 37.73% | 10,924 |
| Garfield | 559 | 73.46% | 202 | 26.54% | 357 | 46.91% | 761 |
| Grant | 10,239 | 69.50% | 4,493 | 30.50% | 5,746 | 39.00% | 14,732 |
| Grays Harbor | 9,462 | 55.56% | 7,569 | 44.44% | 1,893 | 11.12% | 17,031 |
| Island | 14,672 | 60.49% | 9,584 | 39.51% | 5,088 | 20.98% | 24,256 |
| Jefferson | 5,763 | 45.56% | 6,887 | 54.44% | -1,124 | -8.89% | 12,650 |
| King | 174,732 | 50.94% | 168,302 | 49.06% | 6,430 | 1.87% | 343,034 |
| Kitsap | 37,004 | 57.06% | 27,851 | 42.94% | 9,153 | 14.11% | 64,855 |
| Kittitas | 6,380 | 65.85% | 3,308 | 34.15% | 3,072 | 31.71% | 9,688 |
| Klickitat | 2,887 | 56.57% | 2,216 | 43.43% | 671 | 13.15% | 5,103 |
| Lewis | 13,135 | 68.45% | 6,055 | 31.55% | 7,080 | 36.89% | 19,190 |
| Lincoln | 2,677 | 71.22% | 1,082 | 28.78% | 1,595 | 42.43% | 3,759 |
| Mason | 9,823 | 58.31% | 7,023 | 41.69% | 2,800 | 16.62% | 16,846 |
| Okanogan | 5,546 | 64.48% | 3,055 | 35.52% | 2,491 | 28.96% | 8,601 |
| Pacific | 3,255 | 49.18% | 3,364 | 50.82% | -109 | -1.65% | 6,619 |
| Pend Oreille | 2,408 | 63.67% | 1,374 | 36.33% | 1,034 | 27.34% | 3,782 |
| Pierce | 78,228 | 52.88% | 69,708 | 47.12% | 8,520 | 5.76% | 147,936 |
| San Juan | 2,975 | 45.25% | 3,599 | 54.75% | -624 | -9.49% | 6,574 |
| Skagit | 17,744 | 59.53% | 12,065 | 40.47% | 5,679 | 19.05% | 29,809 |
| Skamania | 1,262 | 52.50% | 1,142 | 47.50% | 120 | 4.99% | 2,404 |
| Snohomish | 81,159 | 57.25% | 60,609 | 42.75% | 20,550 | 14.50% | 141,768 |
| Spokane | 64,421 | 60.71% | 41,687 | 39.29% | 22,734 | 21.43% | 106,108 |
| Stevens | 8,470 | 68.18% | 3,953 | 31.82% | 4,517 | 36.36% | 12,423 |
| Thurston | 37,617 | 58.45% | 26,745 | 41.55% | 10,872 | 16.89% | 64,362 |
| Wahkiakum | 766 | 56.95% | 579 | 43.05% | 187 | 13.90% | 1,345 |
| Walla Walla | 8,768 | 66.17% | 4,483 | 33.83% | 4,285 | 32.34% | 13,251 |
| Whatcom | 26,279 | 55.45% | 21,115 | 44.55% | 5,164 | 10.90% | 47,394 |
| Whitman | 4,941 | 61.20% | 3,133 | 38.80% | 1,808 | 22.39% | 8,074 |
| Yakima | 28,279 | 69.50% | 12,410 | 30.50% | 15,869 | 39.00% | 40,689 |
| Totals | 783,240 | 56.98% | 591,254 | 43.02% | 191,986 | 13.97% | 1,374,494 |
By congressional district
[edit]| District[6] | McKenna | Ladenburg | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 57% | 43% | Jay Inslee |
| 2nd | 57% | 43% | Rick Larsen |
| 3rd | 57% | 43% | Brian Baird |
| 4th | 69% | 31% | Doc Hastings |
| 5th | 62% | 38% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
| 6th | 53% | 47% | Norm Dicks |
| 7th | 36% | 64% | Jim McDermott |
| 8th | 63% | 37% | Dave Reichert |
| 9th | 56% | 44% | Adam Smith |
| Elections in Washington (state) |
|---|
 |
General election
[edit]Endorsements
[edit]Rob McKenna (R)
- Statewide officials
- Brian Sonntag, state auditor of Washington (1993–2013) (Democratic)[2]
- Newspapers
John Ladenburg (D)
- Statewide officials
- Christine Gregoire, governor of Washington (2005–2013)[8]
Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rob McKenna (R) |
John Ladenburg (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[9] | October 30 – November 2, 2008 | 663 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 59% | 36% | 6% |
| SurveyUSA[10] | October 26–27, 2008 | 630 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 57% | 36% | 7% |
| SurveyUSA[11] | October 12–13, 2008 | 544 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 54% | 38% | 8% |
| SurveyUSA[12] | September 21–22, 2008 | 682 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 53% | 39% | 8% |
| SurveyUSA[13] | September 5–7, 2008 | 658 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 55% | 40% | 5% |
| SurveyUSA[14] | August 11–12, 2008 | 718 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 51% | 43% | 6% |
| SurveyUSA[15] | July 13–15, 2008 | 666 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 49% | 41% | 10% |
| SurveyUSA[16] | June 7–9, 2008 | 637 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 49% | 42% | 9% |
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rob McKenna (incumbent) | 1,689,764 | 59.46% | +6.48% | |
| Democratic | John Ladenburg | 1,152,174 | 40.54% | –2.73% | |
| Total votes | 2,841,938 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
By county
[edit]| County[18] | Rob McKenna
Republican |
John Ladenburg
Democratic |
Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 3,480 | 76.28% | 1,082 | 23.72% | 2,398 | 52.56% | 4,562 |
| Asotin | 5,812 | 63.20% | 3,384 | 36.80% | 2,428 | 26.40% | 9,196 |
| Benton | 51,092 | 73.68% | 18,248 | 26.32% | 32,844 | 47.37% | 69,340 |
| Chelan | 21,091 | 70.10% | 8,996 | 29.90% | 12,095 | 40.20% | 30,087 |
| Clallam | 22,459 | 62.13% | 13,690 | 37.87% | 8,769 | 24.26% | 36,149 |
| Clark | 95,135 | 56.13% | 74,360 | 43.87% | 20,775 | 12.26% | 169,495 |
| Columbia | 1,600 | 77.07% | 476 | 22.93% | 1,124 | 54.14% | 2,076 |
| Cowlitz | 21,566 | 51.57% | 20,250 | 48.43% | 1,316 | 3.15% | 41,816 |
| Douglas | 10,405 | 72.49% | 3,949 | 27.51% | 6,456 | 44.98% | 14,354 |
| Ferry | 2,164 | 66.32% | 1,099 | 33.68% | 1,065 | 32.64% | 3,263 |
| Franklin | 13,276 | 70.07% | 5,671 | 29.93% | 7,605 | 40.14% | 18,947 |
| Garfield | 994 | 78.21% | 277 | 21.79% | 717 | 56.41% | 1,271 |
| Grant | 18,699 | 71.77% | 7,356 | 28.23% | 11,343 | 43.53% | 26,055 |
| Grays Harbor | 17,051 | 61.29% | 10,771 | 38.71% | 6,280 | 22.57% | 27,822 |
| Island | 25,531 | 64.55% | 14,022 | 35.45% | 11,509 | 29.10% | 39,553 |
| Jefferson | 9,307 | 49.61% | 9,454 | 50.39% | -147 | -0.78% | 18,761 |
| King | 453,330 | 53.56% | 393,111 | 46.44% | 60,219 | 7.11% | 846,441 |
| Kitsap | 71,317 | 60.21% | 47,123 | 39.79% | 24,194 | 20.43% | 118,440 |
| Kittitas | 11,379 | 68.09% | 5,332 | 31.91% | 6,047 | 36.19% | 16,711 |
| Klickitat | 5,166 | 55.49% | 4,144 | 44.51% | 1,022 | 10.98% | 9,310 |
| Lewis | 23,176 | 70.61% | 9,648 | 29.39% | 13,528 | 41.21% | 32,824 |
| Lincoln | 4,185 | 75.43% | 1,363 | 24.57% | 2,822 | 50.87% | 5,548 |
| Mason | 17,019 | 62.79% | 10,084 | 37.21% | 6,935 | 25.59% | 27,103 |
| Okanogan | 9,971 | 63.45% | 5,743 | 36.55% | 4,228 | 26.91% | 15,714 |
| Pacific | 5,460 | 53.67% | 4,714 | 46.33% | 746 | 7.33% | 10,174 |
| Pend Oreille | 4,179 | 67.67% | 1,997 | 32.33% | 2,182 | 35.33% | 6,176 |
| Pierce | 181,792 | 58.20% | 130,550 | 41.80% | 51,242 | 16.41% | 312,342 |
| San Juan | 4,551 | 46.56% | 5,224 | 53.44% | -673 | -6.88% | 9,775 |
| Skagit | 33,530 | 63.34% | 19,410 | 36.66% | 14,120 | 26.67% | 52,940 |
| Skamania | 2,672 | 53.34% | 2,337 | 46.66% | 335 | 6.69% | 5,009 |
| Snohomish | 186,169 | 61.36% | 117,226 | 38.64% | 68,943 | 22.72% | 303,395 |
| Spokane | 134,706 | 65.03% | 72,439 | 34.97% | 62,267 | 30.06% | 207,145 |
| Stevens | 14,841 | 70.30% | 6,270 | 29.70% | 8,571 | 40.60% | 21,111 |
| Thurston | 74,734 | 62.41% | 45,007 | 37.59% | 29,727 | 24.83% | 119,741 |
| Wahkiakum | 1,203 | 57.70% | 882 | 42.30% | 321 | 15.40% | 2,085 |
| Walla Walla | 15,911 | 69.65% | 6,934 | 30.35% | 8,977 | 39.30% | 22,845 |
| Whatcom | 53,466 | 56.95% | 40,419 | 43.05% | 13,047 | 13.90% | 93,885 |
| Whitman | 10,085 | 62.42% | 6,071 | 37.58% | 4,014 | 24.85% | 16,156 |
| Yakima | 51,260 | 68.97% | 23,061 | 31.03% | 28,199 | 37.94% | 74,321 |
| Totals | 1,689,764 | 59.46% | 1,152,174 | 40.54% | 537,590 | 18.92% | 2,841,938 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
By congressional district
[edit]McKenna won eight of nine congressional districts, including five that elected Democrats.[19]
| District | McKenna | Ladenburg | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 61% | 39% | Jay Inslee |
| 2nd | 61% | 39% | Rick Larsen |
| 3rd | 58% | 42% | Brian Baird |
| 4th | 70% | 30% | Doc Hastings |
| 5th | 66% | 34% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
| 6th | 57% | 43% | Norm Dicks |
| 7th | 40% | 60% | Jim McDermott |
| 8th | 66% | 34% | Dave Reichert |
| 9th | 60% | 40% | Adam Smith |
References
[edit]- ↑ https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/rob-mckenna-wins-second-term/
- 1 2 Ward, Don (November 14, 2007). "McKenna announces re-election bid". Sound Politics. Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
- ↑ Garber, Andrew (February 7, 2008). "Pierce County executive to run against McKenna for Attorney General". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ↑ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008). "Attorney General". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on May 5, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ↑ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008). "Attorney General - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on May 2, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
- ↑ "2008 Primary Data". sos.wa.gov. Archived from the original on June 25, 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 22, 2025.
- ↑ https://www.heraldnet.com/news/northwest-briefly-john-ladenburg-launches-bid-for-attorney-general/
- ↑ SurveyUSA
- ↑ SurveyUSA
- ↑ SurveyUSA
- ↑ SurveyUSA
- ↑ SurveyUSA
- ↑ SurveyUSA
- ↑ SurveyUSA
- ↑ SurveyUSA
- ↑ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008). "Attorney General". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on March 25, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ↑ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008). "Attorney General - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on May 8, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ↑ "2008 General Data". sos.wa.gov. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024.
Notes
[edit]- ↑ The 2016 Washington State Treasurer election was contested between 2 Republicans.