2000 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election
November 7, 2000
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Sutherland: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Lowry: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2000 Washington Public Lands Commissioner election was held on November 7, 2000, to elect the Washington Public Lands Commissioner, concurrently with the 2000 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.
Two-term incumbent Democratic Public Lands Commissioner Jennifer Belcher initially ran for re-election to a third term in office but ultimately decided to retire.[1][2] Republican Pierce County Executive Doug Sutherland defeated Democratic former Governor Mike Lowry to succeed Belcher.[3]
Candidates
Republican Party
Advanced to general
- Doug Sutherland, Pierce County Executive (1993–2001)[1]
Eliminated in primary
- Patrick A. Parrish[4]
Withdrew
- Bruce Mackey[1]
Democratic Party
Advanced to general
- Mike Lowry, former governor of Washington (1993–1997)[5]
Eliminated in primary
- Georgia Gardner, state senator (1998–2003)[4]
- Mike the Mover, perennial candidate[4]
- Jim O'Donnell[4]
- Bob Penhale[4]
- Tim Reid[4]
Withdrew
- Jennifer Belcher, incumbent public lands commissioner (1993–2001)[1][2]
Libertarian Party
Advanced to general
- Steve Layman[4]
Primary election
The blanket primary was held on September 19.[4]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Doug Sutherland | 391,558 | 32.99 | |
| Democratic | Mike Lowry | 346,197 | 29.17 | |
| Democratic | Georgia Gardner | 142,795 | 12.03 | |
| Republican | Patrick A. Parrish | 92,191 | 7.77 | |
| Democratic | Jim O'Donnell | 76,022 | 6.41 | |
| Democratic | Tim Reid | 48,317 | 4.07 | |
| Libertarian | Steve Layman | 39,786 | 3.35 | |
| Democratic | Mike the Mover | 34,168 | 2.88 | |
| Democratic | Bob Penhale | 15,862 | 1.34 | |
| Total votes | 1,186,896 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Endorsements
Doug Sutherland (R)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Doug Sutherland | 1,154,048 | 49.48 | ||
| Democratic | Mike Lowry | 1,052,366 | 45.12 | ||
| Libertarian | Steve Layman | 125,985 | 5.40 | ||
| Total votes | 2,332,399 | 100.00 | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | |||||
By county
| County[9] | Mike Lowry Democratic |
Doug Sutherland Republican |
Steve Layman Libertarian |
Margin | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 1,504 | 31.77% | 3,067 | 64.79% | 163 | 3.44% | 1,563 | 33.02% | 4,734 |
| Asotin | 3,445 | 46.12% | 3,665 | 49.06% | 360 | 4.82% | 220 | 2.95% | 7,470 |
| Benton | 17,945 | 32.10% | 35,622 | 63.72% | 2,334 | 4.18% | 17,677 | 31.62% | 55,901 |
| Chelan | 7,529 | 30.08% | 16,271 | 65.01% | 1,227 | 4.90% | 8,742 | 34.93% | 25,027 |
| Clallam | 10,503 | 35.00% | 17,489 | 58.28% | 2,018 | 6.72% | 6,986 | 23.28% | 30,010 |
| Clark | 52,745 | 42.00% | 65,815 | 52.40% | 7,035 | 5.60% | 13,070 | 10.41% | 125,595 |
| Columbia | 543 | 27.44% | 1,374 | 69.43% | 62 | 3.13% | 831 | 41.99% | 1,979 |
| Cowlitz | 14,606 | 42.07% | 18,103 | 52.14% | 2,012 | 5.79% | 3,497 | 10.07% | 34,721 |
| Douglas | 3,525 | 28.72% | 8,124 | 66.19% | 624 | 5.08% | 4,599 | 37.47% | 12,273 |
| Ferry | 937 | 32.17% | 1,784 | 61.24% | 192 | 6.59% | 847 | 29.08% | 2,913 |
| Franklin | 4,616 | 35.34% | 7,928 | 60.70% | 518 | 3.97% | 3,312 | 25.36% | 13,062 |
| Garfield | 411 | 33.12% | 786 | 63.34% | 44 | 3.55% | 375 | 30.22% | 1,241 |
| Grant | 7,410 | 32.49% | 14,210 | 62.30% | 1,188 | 5.21% | 6,800 | 29.81% | 22,808 |
| Grays Harbor | 10,362 | 41.30% | 13,336 | 53.15% | 1,391 | 5.54% | 2,974 | 11.85% | 25,089 |
| Island | 12,757 | 41.25% | 16,367 | 52.92% | 1,802 | 5.83% | 3,610 | 11.67% | 30,926 |
| Jefferson | 7,295 | 48.51% | 6,850 | 45.55% | 892 | 5.93% | -445 | -2.96% | 15,037 |
| King | 395,988 | 54.20% | 297,596 | 40.73% | 37,078 | 5.07% | -98,392 | -13.47% | 730,662 |
| Kitsap | 42,695 | 43.42% | 50,012 | 50.86% | 5,629 | 5.72% | 7,317 | 7.44% | 98,336 |
| Kittitas | 4,986 | 37.17% | 7,704 | 57.43% | 724 | 5.40% | 2,718 | 20.26% | 13,414 |
| Klickitat | 2,915 | 38.39% | 4,212 | 55.47% | 466 | 6.14% | 1,297 | 17.08% | 7,593 |
| Lewis | 7,822 | 27.23% | 19,235 | 66.97% | 1,664 | 5.79% | 11,413 | 39.74% | 28,721 |
| Lincoln | 1,507 | 30.64% | 3,206 | 65.18% | 206 | 4.19% | 1,699 | 34.54% | 4,919 |
| Mason | 8,419 | 39.47% | 11,508 | 53.95% | 1,403 | 6.58% | 3,089 | 14.48% | 21,330 |
| Okanogan | 4,380 | 31.44% | 8,745 | 62.76% | 808 | 5.80% | 4,365 | 31.33% | 13,933 |
| Pacific | 3,937 | 44.21% | 4,541 | 50.99% | 427 | 4.80% | 604 | 6.78% | 8,905 |
| Pend Oreille | 1,853 | 35.86% | 2,916 | 56.44% | 398 | 7.70% | 1,063 | 20.57% | 5,167 |
| Pierce | 108,201 | 42.04% | 134,340 | 52.20% | 14,831 | 5.76% | 26,139 | 10.16% | 257,372 |
| San Juan | 4,068 | 52.05% | 3,213 | 41.11% | 535 | 6.84% | -855 | -10.94% | 7,816 |
| Skagit | 17,137 | 39.85% | 23,647 | 54.99% | 2,221 | 5.16% | 6,510 | 15.14% | 43,005 |
| Skamania | 1,535 | 38.55% | 2,063 | 51.81% | 384 | 9.64% | 528 | 13.26% | 3,982 |
| Snohomish | 108,434 | 45.48% | 116,384 | 48.82% | 13,582 | 5.70% | 7,950 | 3.33% | 238,400 |
| Spokane | 70,854 | 43.95% | 82,721 | 51.31% | 7,647 | 4.74% | 11,867 | 7.36% | 161,222 |
| Stevens | 5,695 | 33.16% | 10,419 | 60.66% | 1,062 | 6.18% | 4,724 | 27.50% | 17,176 |
| Thurston | 38,561 | 42.50% | 46,459 | 51.21% | 5,711 | 6.29% | 7,898 | 8.70% | 90,731 |
| Wahkiakum | 602 | 32.74% | 1,153 | 62.70% | 84 | 4.57% | 551 | 29.96% | 1,839 |
| Walla Walla | 7,215 | 35.71% | 12,109 | 59.93% | 882 | 4.37% | 4,894 | 24.22% | 20,206 |
| Whatcom | 29,220 | 42.69% | 35,307 | 51.58% | 3,925 | 5.73% | 6,087 | 8.89% | 68,452 |
| Whitman | 6,665 | 44.17% | 7,815 | 51.79% | 611 | 4.05% | 1,150 | 7.62% | 15,091 |
| Yakima | 23,544 | 36.03% | 37,952 | 58.08% | 3,845 | 5.88% | 14,408 | 22.05% | 65,341 |
| Totals | 1,052,366 | 45.12% | 1,154,048 | 49.48% | 125,985 | 5.40% | 101,682 | 4.36% | 2,332,399 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Cowlitz (largest city: Longview)
- Grays Harbor (largest city: Aberdeen)
- Kitsap (largest city: Bremerton)
- Mason (largest city: Shelton)
- Pacific (largest city: Raymond)
- Pierce (largest city: Tacoma)
- Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon)
- Snohomish (largest city: Everett)
- Thurston (largest city: Lacey)
- Whatcom (largest city: Bellingham)
References
- ^ a b c d Partlow, Bob (January 6, 2000). "Pierce official to take on Belcher". The Olympian. Olympia, Washington. p. B1. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
- ^ a b https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/apr/02/jennifer-belcher-washingtons-first-female-public-l/
- ^ https://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/2000/11/25/sutherland-to-scuttle-live-aboard-challenges/
- ^ a b c d e f g h https://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/2000/08/02/candidates-line-up-for-campaigns/
- ^ https://www.nwpb.org/nw-news/2017-05-01/former-washington-gov-mike-lowry-dies
- ^ Munro, Ralph (September 19, 2000). "Elections Search Results September 2000 Primary". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
- ^ Editorial Board, The Seattle Times (October 20, 2008). "Goldmark for Public Lands commissioner". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
After twice endorsing Sutherland...
- ^ https://www.heraldnet.com/2000/11/12/sheldons-decision-allows-democrats-to-maintain-slim-majority/
- ^ a b Munro, Ralph (November 7, 2000). "Elections Search Results November 2000 General". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved February 28, 2026.