Members of Washington’s Electoral College pose for a socially distanced photo along with Gov. Jay Inslee (front row, left) and Secretary of State Kim Wyman (front row right) after they cast their votes at the state Capitol in Olympia on Monday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Members of Washington’s Electoral College pose for a socially distanced photo along with Gov. Jay Inslee (front row, left) and Secretary of State Kim Wyman (front row right) after they cast their votes at the state Capitol in Olympia on Monday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Washington’s 12 electors cast votes for Biden and Harris

The votes were cast were part of Electoral College meetings in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

By Rachel La Corte / Associated Press

OLYMPIA — Washington’s 12 electors on Monday unanimously cast their votes for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who won 58% of the state’s vote last month.

The votes were cast were part of Electoral College meetings in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Washington’s meeting was not open to the general public, but was broadcast live on TVW, the state’s government affairs channel.

The vote, which usually is held in the state reception room, was moved to the Senate chamber to ensure physical distancing between the electors, officials and media.

Nationally, there are 538 electors who vote on the president and vice president. A candidate must receive 270 of the 538 total electoral votes to become president. Democrat Joe Biden won the Nov. 3 election with 306 Electoral College votes, while President Donald Trump finished with 232. Biden received more than 81 million votes, while Trump had more than 74 million.

Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman said that the ceremony and tradition of the meeting mark “an end to one of the most contentious elections of our time and symbolize the foundation of our constitutional republic.”

Wyman got emotional while talking to the 12 electors about the vote they were about to take.

“While some people continue to question the outcome of this election, average citizens from all walks of life will step up today to exercise their responsibility to perform their constitutional duty to the best of their ability,” she said. “This is an important ceremony. This is the American way of governance. This is democracy in action.”

The Electoral College vote is normally a fairly procedural step in the presidential election, but its importance is heightened this year because Trump is refusing to concede his loss. He and his allies have filed roughly 50 lawsuits and most have been dropped or dismissed by judges, including twice by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“There has been an unprecedented attack on the very foundations of democracy in our nation recently, and you are standing against that,” Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee told electors before they cast their votes. “The fact is we had a free and fair election this year, in spite of the challenges of the pandemic. And the people’s voices were heard, and counted, loud and clear.”

Elector Jack Arends cried as he spoke of why he cast his vote for Biden and Harris.

“Today was the chance to begin the end of the Trump administration,” he said. “I was glad to do my duty and rid our nation of a petty dictator.”

There were a record number of voters in the state participating in last month’s election, with more than 4.1 million voters casting a ballot, leading to the state’s second highest turnout percentage of 84.1%.

Elector Sophia Danenberg said that as the daughter of a Japanese mother and an African American father, she was especially proud to cast her vote for Harris, whom she called a “fellow Blasian.”

But she said that she hopes that “one day we will eliminate this byzantine process that distorts our democracy, where we have to wait to see if the candidate who got 7 million more votes actually won the election.”

Talk to us

More in Northwest

Joseph David Emerson, left, 44, was arraigned in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tues., Oct. 24, 2023, in Portland, Ore. Emerson, a pilot, is accused of attempting to disable the engines of a plane on which he was riding while off-duty last Sunday. Emerson pleaded not guilty Tuesday. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP, Pool)
Pilot indicted over Everett in-flight sabotage incident, but not for attempted murder

Joseph David Emerson on Tuesday was indicted on a charge of endangering an aircraft and 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person.

Gov. Jay Inslee chats with attendees during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Evergreen Manor Family Services Center on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Gov. Inslee to seek $50M more toward opioid education, treatment

Inslee announced the plan Monday before meeting with treatment providers, advocates and others in Everett.

Logo for news use, for stories regarding Washington state government — Olympia, the Legislature and state agencies. No caption necessary. 20220331
Washington lawmakers begin to drop bills ahead of upcoming session

Legislation so far covers areas like insulin pricing, unemployment benefits for striking workers, and impounding vehicles for people who drive without insurance.

A suspected gas explosion on Wednesday destroyed a house in the 19700 block of 25TH DR SE in Bothell, Washington. (Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue)
After a newly bought Bothell house exploded, experts urge caution

The owners had closed on their purchase of the house just two days earlier. No one was hurt in the explosion.

The Lynnwood City Council work session on Monday evening, parents and community members expressed concerns about the proximity of a new opioid treatment facility to two youth clubs on January 9, 2023 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Kayla Dunn / The Herald)
In Lynnwood, opioid treatment center sparked outcry amid need for treatment

After a second clinic tried to open, the City Council decided to stop accepting applications for new clinics for six months.

Logo for news use, for stories regarding Washington state government — Olympia, the Legislature and state agencies. No caption necessary. 20220331
Crime, taxes and artificial intelligence on tap as WA lawmakers prep for session

Upcoming hearings offer a preview of issues legislators will encounter when they convene in January.

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz (right), state Sen. T’wina Nobles and Smokey Bear pose in front of a proposed speciality license plate in a Pierce County fire station on Nov. 20, 2023. If approved, Franz said proceeds from sales of the plates will go to public education programs focused on wildfire prevention. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)
Only you (almost) can put Smokey Bear on Washington license plates

A proposal calls for putting the iconic bear on a specialty plate, but it will require public support and approval from lawmakers.

Starbucks workers and allies participate in a strike and picket organized by Starbucks Workers United during the company's Red Cup Day Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at a location near Pike Place Market in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Starbucks workers in Everett, Marysville join national strike

Hundreds of Starbucks union workers at 15 locations across Washington joined the one-day strike.

Sen. June Robinson (D-Everett) speaks during a Healthcare Summit at Everett Community College on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
State hauls in nearly $900M from first year of capital gains tax

Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, anticipates many conversations on how to spend it.

The view from the top of Index Town Wall in Spring 2021. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)
Climbers purchase 20 acres of famed climbing walls in Index

Climbing groups bought the parcel Monday, including Lower Lump and Inner Walls, calling it “the final big piece of the puzzle.”

Ferries pass on a crossing between Mukilteo and Whidbey Island. (Andy Bronson / Herald file)
Most WA transportation services back online following cyberattack

The department was still investigating the cyberattack and could not say Friday what caused it.

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz watches as a team works to remove old toxic pilings from the water as part of larger salmon restoration plan near Ebey Waterfront Park in Marysville, Washington on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Washington Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz drops out of governor’s race

In an announcement Friday, Franz said she decided instead to run to replace retiring Rep. Derek Kilmer who serves the 6th Congressional District.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.