Washington 2020: The Calm Before the Drizzle

[sg0508]

Obviously, more happens during presidential years in WA state, but when was the last statewide race that the GOP carried in WA state? You look back at the 2012 maps, 2008 maps, 2004 maps, 2000 maps, etc and all you see is Democratic wins.  It's scary.  Same thing as OR.

[sg0508]

Unlike it's southern neighbor though where the GOP cupboard is bare, the Republicans have actually put up some halfway decent candidates in WA State, but they still can't win.  Yes, we could make the argument that Gregoire stole the 2004 Gubernatorial race, but she won again in 2008 by a clear margin in Rossi re-match.  It also looks like the eastern most counties in the state are getting bluer as the years pass.

[sg0508]

There is no question that the GOP has some bad luck, particularly that gubernatorial races are less partisan and many minority parties across the country hold the statehouses in their respective states.  Of course, in WA state, these races are held during presidential years where democrats turn out in greater numbers and of course, there is always the "coming home" effect by the majority party in the end, which has hurt the Republicans over and over and over.