Election 2020

Maia Espinoza (left) and Chris Reykdal

Incumbent wins Washington state’s superintendent race

Chris Reykdal won another four-year term with 56% of the vote over challenger Maia Espinoza.

Maia Espinoza (left) and Chris Reykdal
Top (L-R): Ron Muzzall, Helen Price Johnson, Greg Gilday, Angie Homola, Kim Wyman. Bottom (L-R): Bill Bruch, Dave Paul, Mark James, April Berg, Gael Tarleton.

As ballots are counted, three legislative races tighten

Democrats Paul, Homola and Price Johnson saw their leads shrink in a trio of 10th District races.

Top (L-R): Ron Muzzall, Helen Price Johnson, Greg Gilday, Angie Homola, Kim Wyman. Bottom (L-R): Bill Bruch, Dave Paul, Mark James, April Berg, Gael Tarleton.
People demonstrate outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol to urge that all votes be counted, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, in Harrisburg, Pa., following Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Biden pushes closer to victory in race for the White House

To win, Trump would need to win Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia and Nevada.

People demonstrate outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol to urge that all votes be counted, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, in Harrisburg, Pa., following Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Robby Thurston, left, and Tamika Morris, right, volunteers for the rival Trump and Biden campaigns, wave signs in St. Petersburg, Fla.., a state where pollsters incorrectly predicted a close victory for Joe Biden. MUST CREDIT: photo for The Washington Post by Zack Wittman.

Comment: Here’s what we know: The pollsters and media blew it

Despite forecasts of covid dominating the decision, the election came down to red and blue tribalism.

Robby Thurston, left, and Tamika Morris, right, volunteers for the rival Trump and Biden campaigns, wave signs in St. Petersburg, Fla.., a state where pollsters incorrectly predicted a close victory for Joe Biden. MUST CREDIT: photo for The Washington Post by Zack Wittman.

Comment: Trump’s legal argument neither legal, nor an argument

Trump can demand the Supreme Court stop the count, but there’s nothing for Trump to take to court.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee receives a congratulatory kiss from his wife Trudi before addressing the media after winning his third term as governor, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 in Olympia, Wash. (Steve Bloom/The Olympian via AP)

Inslee surges to big win as he secures a rare third term

Schools chief Chris Reykdal was winning. Secretary of State Wyman was locked in tight race.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee receives a congratulatory kiss from his wife Trudi before addressing the media after winning his third term as governor, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 in Olympia, Wash. (Steve Bloom/The Olympian via AP)
Jerry Cornfield

Jerry Cornfield: Likely wins, probable losses, tight races

Our man in Olympia summarizes the early election results in Washington state and Snohomish County.

Jerry Cornfield
President Donald Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House early Wednesday (AP Photo/Evan Vucci), and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to supporters early Wednesday in Wilmington, Delaware (AP Photo/Paul Sancya).

Presidency hinges on tight races in battleground states

Trump claimed victory and said he would take the election to the Supreme Court to stop the counting.

President Donald Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House early Wednesday (AP Photo/Evan Vucci), and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to supporters early Wednesday in Wilmington, Delaware (AP Photo/Paul Sancya).
FILE—John Hickenlooper, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Colorado, speaks during a car rally for Doug Emhoff, husband of Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, at East High School late Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, in Denver. More than 70 motorists took part in the rally to urge people to get out and vote in the upcoming election. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Democrats losing paths to Senate control as GOP hangs on

Several races remained undecided into Wednesday and at least one headed to a runoff in January.

FILE—John Hickenlooper, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Colorado, speaks during a car rally for Doug Emhoff, husband of Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, at East High School late Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, in Denver. More than 70 motorists took part in the rally to urge people to get out and vote in the upcoming election. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Washington State Representative candidate April Berg, right, and daughters Simone Nowak, 16, center, and Camille Nowak, 14, right, react to election results putting her ahead of Mark James on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 in Mill Creek, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Democrats take narrow leads in swing-district state seats

But most of the Legislature’s Snohomish County incumbents were sailing to re-election.

Washington State Representative candidate April Berg, right, and daughters Simone Nowak, 16, center, and Camille Nowak, 14, right, react to election results putting her ahead of Mark James on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 in Mill Creek, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Andrew Hougardy, a worker at the King County election headquarters in Renton, Wash., views an "alternative format" ballot held up by a co-worker during ballot processing and counting, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. Washington is a vote by mail state, and thousands of ballots have already been mailed back, dropped off in boxes, or cast in person. Although counting has begun, no results will be known to workers or released until the night of election day. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Editorial: Calling on the ’brethern of the same principle’

We can seem far from Jefferson’s ideal of shared purpose, but it’s there if we listen to each other.

Andrew Hougardy, a worker at the King County election headquarters in Renton, Wash., views an "alternative format" ballot held up by a co-worker during ballot processing and counting, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. Washington is a vote by mail state, and thousands of ballots have already been mailed back, dropped off in boxes, or cast in person. Although counting has begun, no results will be known to workers or released until the night of election day. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
FILE - In this March 30, 2018, file photo, Kim Schrier, left, a Democrat and the representative for Washington state's 8th District, poses for a photo in Issaquah, Wash., and Jesse Jensen, right, the Republican challenging Schrier for the seat, poses for a photo outside his campaign office Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, in Pacific, Wash. Jensen is an Army veteran from Bonney Lake who did four combat tours in Afghanistan. Schrier is trying to hold on to her seat after becoming the first Democrat to represent the district since it was founded in the early 1980s. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Schrier, Herrera Beutler hold early leads in House races

In the 10th District, Strickland had an early lead over state Rep. Beth Doglio, a fellow Democrat.

FILE - In this March 30, 2018, file photo, Kim Schrier, left, a Democrat and the representative for Washington state's 8th District, poses for a photo in Issaquah, Wash., and Jesse Jensen, right, the Republican challenging Schrier for the seat, poses for a photo outside his campaign office Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, in Pacific, Wash. Jensen is an Army veteran from Bonney Lake who did four combat tours in Afghanistan. Schrier is trying to hold on to her seat after becoming the first Democrat to represent the district since it was founded in the early 1980s. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Sex-education measure Referendum 90 leading in early returns

If it passes, Washington will be the first state to have voters approve a sex ed requirement.

Sid Logan (left) and Rob Toyer

Incumbent Logan winning race to represent District 1 for PUD

Sid Logan leads former Marysville City Council member Rob Toyer with 68.6% of the vote.

Sid Logan (left) and Rob Toyer
Brenda Carrington (left) and Jared Mead

Mead likely to win 1 more year on Snohomish County Council

The councilman got twice the votes of his contender. In county judge race, Lopez-Shaw took the lead.

Brenda Carrington (left) and Jared Mead
Top (L-R): Suzan DelBene, Jeffrey Beeler, Rick Larsen. Bottom (L-R): Pramila Jayapal, Craig Keller, Tim Hazelo.

Larsen, DelBene and Jayapal cruising toward re-election

Incumbent House Democrats hold solid leads in contests to represent Snohomish County in Congress

Top (L-R): Suzan DelBene, Jeffrey Beeler, Rick Larsen. Bottom (L-R): Pramila Jayapal, Craig Keller, Tim Hazelo.
A voter fills out a ballot outside of the County Public Meeting Room on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Last-minute votes roll in on a tense election day

Many in Snohomish County had more than just the presidential race in mind on Tuesday.

A voter fills out a ballot outside of the County Public Meeting Room on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Doris Callaghan, 100, at her assisted living home on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 in Mukilteo, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Centenarian helps pick the prez: ‘If I can’t vote, who am I?’

Doris Callaghan, 100, and her avid roomies will stay up past their 7 p.m. bedtime on election night.

Doris Callaghan, 100, at her assisted living home on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 in Mukilteo, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In this Nov. 8, 2016, photo, staff members of The Associated Press Television Network work in master control at the Washington bureau of The Associated Press in Washington, as returns come in during election night. The Associated Press says it plans to peel back the curtain and let people know how its experts declare winners and losers on election night. Given high interest in the presidential race, the complicating factor of strong early voting and President Donald Trump's warnings about potential fraud, television executives are making similar promises of transparency. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Comment: Media and public will need patience as votes tallied

Now more than ever, the media must resist the urge to declare a winner before the result is clear.

In this Nov. 8, 2016, photo, staff members of The Associated Press Television Network work in master control at the Washington bureau of The Associated Press in Washington, as returns come in during election night. The Associated Press says it plans to peel back the curtain and let people know how its experts declare winners and losers on election night. Given high interest in the presidential race, the complicating factor of strong early voting and President Donald Trump's warnings about potential fraud, television executives are making similar promises of transparency. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Commentary: Debunking the myth of the ‘shy’ Trump voter

Yes, the polls might yet again be wrong, but it’s not because Trump voters are lying to the pollsters.