2016 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
November 8, 2016
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Kreidler: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Schrock: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||
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The 2016 Washington Insurance Commissioner election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the insurance commissioner of Washington, concurrently with the 2016 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. Incumbent Democratic Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler was re-elected to a fifth term in a landslide.[1]
Background
Incumbent Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, first elected in 2000 and re-elected three times, most recently in 2012, ran for re-election to a fifth term in office.[2]
Primary election
Washington is one of two states that holds a top-two primary, meaning all candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two advance to the general election.
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
- Mike Kreidler, incumbent insurance commissioner (2001–2025)[2]
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
- Richard Schrock, Snohomish County Fire District 1 commissioner[3]
Libertarian candidates
Eliminated in primary
- Justin Murta[3]
Endorsements
Mike Kreidler (D)
- Newspapers
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 772,569 | 58.41 | |
| Republican | Richard Schrock | 450,830 | 34.09 | |
| Libertarian | Justin Murta | 99,181 | 7.50 | |
| Total votes | 1,322,580 | 100.00 | ||
| Elections in Washington (state) |
|---|
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Mike Kreidler (D) |
Richard Schrock (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elway Poll[6] | October 20–22, 2016 | 502 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 44% | 28% | 28% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mike Kreidler (incumbent) | 1,763,134 | 58.34 | +0.04 | |
| Republican | Richard Schrock | 1,258,827 | 41.66 | –0.04 | |
| Total votes | 3,021,961 | 100.00 | N/A | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
By county
| County[8] | Mike Kreidler
Democratic |
Richard Schrock
Republican |
Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 1,512 | 34.27% | 2,900 | 65.73% | -1,388 | -31.46% | 4,412 |
| Asotin | 3,627 | 39.64% | 5,522 | 60.36% | -1,895 | -20.71% | 9,149 |
| Benton | 30,142 | 39.43% | 46,296 | 60.57% | -16,154 | -21.13% | 76,438 |
| Chelan | 13,562 | 43.51% | 17,608 | 56.49% | -4,046 | -12.98% | 31,170 |
| Clallam | 19,364 | 52.21% | 17,726 | 47.79% | 1,638 | 4.42% | 37,090 |
| Clark | 94,558 | 50.16% | 93,973 | 49.84% | 585 | 0.31% | 188,531 |
| Columbia | 622 | 31.10% | 1,378 | 68.90% | -756 | -37.80% | 2,000 |
| Cowlitz | 20,282 | 47.59% | 22,332 | 52.41% | -2,050 | -4.81% | 42,614 |
| Douglas | 5,592 | 38.22% | 9,040 | 61.78% | -3,448 | -23.56% | 14,632 |
| Ferry | 1,297 | 38.69% | 2,055 | 61.31% | -758 | -22.61% | 3,352 |
| Franklin | 9,491 | 41.67% | 13,288 | 58.33% | -3,797 | -16.67% | 22,779 |
| Garfield | 365 | 31.71% | 786 | 68.29% | -421 | -36.58% | 1,151 |
| Grant | 9,021 | 33.69% | 17,755 | 66.31% | -8,734 | -32.62% | 26,776 |
| Grays Harbor | 14,621 | 54.13% | 12,392 | 45.87% | 2,229 | 8.25% | 27,013 |
| Island | 22,136 | 54.35% | 18,595 | 45.65% | 3,541 | 8.69% | 40,731 |
| Jefferson | 13,204 | 68.33% | 6,119 | 31.67% | 7,085 | 36.67% | 19,323 |
| King | 672,924 | 73.01% | 248,804 | 26.99% | 424,120 | 46.01% | 921,728 |
| Kitsap | 67,397 | 56.61% | 51,657 | 43.39% | 15,740 | 13.22% | 119,054 |
| Kittitas | 7,901 | 44.92% | 9,688 | 55.08% | -1,787 | -10.16% | 17,589 |
| Klickitat | 4,431 | 44.19% | 5,597 | 55.81% | -1,166 | -11.63% | 10,028 |
| Lewis | 12,134 | 37.62% | 20,123 | 62.38% | -7,989 | -24.77% | 32,257 |
| Lincoln | 1,601 | 29.48% | 3,830 | 70.52% | -2,229 | -41.04% | 5,431 |
| Mason | 13,984 | 52.43% | 12,688 | 47.57% | 1,296 | 4.86% | 26,672 |
| Okanogan | 7,020 | 43.59% | 9,084 | 56.41% | -2,064 | -12.82% | 16,104 |
| Pacific | 5,261 | 52.75% | 4,713 | 47.25% | 548 | 5.49% | 9,974 |
| Pend Oreille | 2,380 | 36.95% | 4,062 | 63.05% | -1,682 | -26.11% | 6,442 |
| Pierce | 184,148 | 55.71% | 146,390 | 44.29% | 37,758 | 11.42% | 330,538 |
| San Juan | 7,085 | 70.02% | 3,033 | 29.98% | 4,052 | 40.05% | 10,118 |
| Skagit | 28,230 | 53.31% | 24,727 | 46.69% | 3,503 | 6.61% | 52,957 |
| Skamania | 2,379 | 45.57% | 2,842 | 54.43% | -463 | -8.87% | 5,221 |
| Snohomish | 187,135 | 57.24% | 139,785 | 42.76% | 47,350 | 14.48% | 326,920 |
| Spokane | 100,839 | 46.46% | 116,194 | 53.54% | -15,355 | -7.07% | 217,033 |
| Stevens | 6,770 | 31.37% | 14,808 | 68.63% | -8,038 | -37.25% | 21,578 |
| Thurston | 77,425 | 62.15% | 47,146 | 37.85% | 30,279 | 24.31% | 124,571 |
| Wahkiakum | 932 | 43.90% | 1,191 | 56.10% | -259 | -12.20% | 2,123 |
| Walla Walla | 10,313 | 43.19% | 13,564 | 56.81% | -3,251 | -13.62% | 23,877 |
| Whatcom | 61,275 | 58.89% | 42,783 | 41.11% | 18,492 | 17.77% | 104,058 |
| Whitman | 8,314 | 51.15% | 7,941 | 48.85% | 373 | 2.29% | 16,255 |
| Yakima | 33,860 | 45.59% | 40,412 | 54.41% | -6,552 | -8.82% | 74,272 |
| Totals | 1,763,134 | 58.34% | 1,258,827 | 41.66% | 504,307 | 16.69% | 3,021,961 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Cowlitz (largest city: Longview)
- Wahkiakum (largest city: Puget Island)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
By congressional district
Kreidler won seven of ten congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.[7]
| District | Kreidler | Schrock | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 56% | 44% | Suzan DelBene |
| 2nd | 61% | 39% | Rick Larsen |
| 3rd | 48% | 52% | Jaime Herrera Beutler |
| 4th | 41% | 59% | Dan Newhouse |
| 5th | 45% | 55% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
| 6th | 58% | 42% | Derek Kilmer |
| 7th | 83% | 17% | Jim McDermott |
| Pramila Jayapal | |||
| 8th | 51% | 49% | Dave Reichert |
| 9th | 72% | 28% | Adam Smith |
| 10th | 59% | 41% | Denny Heck |
References
- ^ Young, Bob (November 8, 2016). "Mike Kreidler wins fifth term as state insurance commissioner". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ a b https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/health-care-inc/2015/09/insurance-commissioner-kreidler-will-seek-re.html
- ^ a b "2016 Primary Candidates Who Have Filed". eledataweb.votewa.gov. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ Editorial Board, The Seattle Times (July 5, 2016). "The Times recommends: Mike Kreidler for insurance commissioner". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 11, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ Wyman, Kim (August 2, 2016). "Insurance Commissioner". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ Elway Poll
- ^ a b "2016 General Data". sos.wa.gov. Archived from the original on March 15, 2025.
- ^ Wyman, Kim (November 8, 2016). "Insurance Commissioner - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.