2024 Washington Insurance Commissioner election
November 5, 2024
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Kuderer: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Fortunato: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Washington (state) |
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The 2024 Washington Insurance Commissioner election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the next insurance commissioner of Washington, concurrently with the 2024 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 eligible to seek re-election to a seventh term but instead chose to retire.[1] Democratic state Senator Patty Kuderer won the election over Republican state Senator Phil Fortunato.[2]
Background
Incumbent Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, first elected in 2000 and re-elected five times, most recently in 2020, retired.[1]
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
Eliminated in primary
- Bill Boyd, insurance broker[4]
- Chris Chung[4]
- John Pestinger, project manager at the Office of the Insurance Commissioner[4]
Declined
- Mike Kreidler, incumbent insurance commissioner (2001–2025)[1]
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
- Phil Fortunato, state senator[5]
Eliminated in primary
- Justin Murta[4]
Third-party and independent candidates
Eliminated in primary
- Jonathan Hendrix (Independent), insurance executive[4]
- Tim Verzal (Independent), retired auto body mechanic[4]
Endorsements
John Pestinger (D)
Newspapers
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Bill Boyd (D) |
Chris Chung (D) |
Phil Fortunato (R) |
Jonathan Hendrix (NP) |
Patty Kuderer (D) |
Justin Murta (R) |
John Pestinger (D) |
Tim Verzal (NP) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D)[7][A] | July 24–25, 2024 | 581 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 3% | 2% | 13% | 2% | 8% | 10% | 5% | 2% | 56% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Patty Kuderer | 845,148 | 45.18 | |
| Republican | Phil Fortunato | 533,560 | 28.52 | |
| Republican | Justin Murta | 189,582 | 10.13 | |
| Democratic | John Pestinger | 103,986 | 5.56 | |
| No party preference | Jonathan Hendrix | 68,961 | 3.69 | |
| Democratic | Bill Boyd | 57,387 | 3.07 | |
| Democratic | Chris D. Chung | 54,469 | 2.91 | |
| No party preference | Tim Verzal | 15,742 | 0.84 | |
| Write-in | 1,738 | 0.09 | ||
| Total votes | 1,870,573 | 100.00 | ||
By county
| County[9] | Patty Kuderer
Democratic |
Phil Fortunato
Republican |
Justin Murta
Republican |
John Pestinger
Democratic |
Other candidates
Various parties |
Margin | Total votes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 369 | 15.78% | 1,132 | 48.42% | 497 | 21.26% | 71 | 3.04% | 269 | 11.51% | -635 | -27.16% | 2,338 |
| Asotin | 1,502 | 27.44% | 2,181 | 39.84% | 986 | 18.01% | 143 | 2.61% | 662 | 12.09% | -679 | -12.40% | 5,474 |
| Benton | 12,970 | 26.94% | 19,411 | 40.31% | 8,863 | 18.41% | 1,909 | 3.96% | 4,997 | 10.38% | -6,441 | -13.38% | 48,150 |
| Chelan | 6,481 | 31.63% | 8,450 | 41.24% | 2,783 | 13.58% | 613 | 2.99% | 2,164 | 10.56% | -1,969 | -9.61% | 20,491 |
| Clallam | 11,958 | 43.06% | 8,041 | 28.95% | 3,016 | 10.86% | 1,604 | 5.78% | 3,154 | 11.36% | 3,917 | 14.10% | 27,773 |
| Clark | 52,045 | 40.45% | 43,832 | 34.06% | 13,467 | 10.47% | 6,178 | 4.80% | 13,158 | 10.23% | 8,213 | 6.38% | 128,680 |
| Columbia | 198 | 16.45% | 581 | 48.26% | 239 | 19.85% | 23 | 1.91% | 163 | 13.54% | -342 | -28.41% | 1,204 |
| Cowlitz | 7,588 | 27.52% | 11,154 | 40.46% | 4,443 | 16.12% | 750 | 2.72% | 3,633 | 13.18% | -3,566 | -12.94% | 27,568 |
| Douglas | 2,308 | 22.43% | 4,673 | 45.41% | 1,881 | 18.28% | 235 | 2.28% | 1,193 | 11.59% | -2,365 | -22.98% | 10,290 |
| Ferry | 434 | 19.22% | 1,065 | 47.17% | 431 | 19.09% | 60 | 2.66% | 268 | 11.87% | -631 | -27.95% | 2,258 |
| Franklin | 3,205 | 23.41% | 6,343 | 46.33% | 2,320 | 16.95% | 387 | 2.83% | 1,435 | 10.48% | -3,138 | -22.92% | 13,690 |
| Garfield | 79 | 11.74% | 365 | 54.23% | 146 | 21.69% | 10 | 1.49% | 73 | 10.85% | -219 | -32.54% | 673 |
| Grant | 2,476 | 15.75% | 7,636 | 48.58% | 3,295 | 20.96% | 282 | 1.79% | 2,030 | 12.91% | -4,341 | -27.62% | 15,719 |
| Grays Harbor | 5,775 | 31.16% | 6,151 | 33.19% | 2,953 | 15.93% | 576 | 3.11% | 3,078 | 16.61% | -376 | -2.03% | 18,533 |
| Island | 11,735 | 42.20% | 8,378 | 30.13% | 2,751 | 9.89% | 1,519 | 5.46% | 3,426 | 12.32% | 3,357 | 12.07% | 27,809 |
| Jefferson | 9,467 | 62.21% | 2,580 | 16.95% | 908 | 5.97% | 848 | 5.57% | 1,414 | 9.29% | 6,887 | 45.26% | 15,217 |
| King | 317,912 | 60.18% | 90,677 | 17.16% | 26,677 | 5.05% | 47,031 | 8.90% | 46,005 | 8.71% | 227,235 | 43.01% | 528,302 |
| Kitsap | 37,687 | 46.91% | 22,743 | 28.31% | 6,794 | 8.46% | 4,244 | 5.28% | 8,879 | 11.05% | 14,944 | 18.60% | 80,347 |
| Kittitas | 2,888 | 26.40% | 4,592 | 41.97% | 1,713 | 15.66% | 448 | 4.10% | 1,299 | 11.87% | -1,704 | -15.58% | 10,940 |
| Klickitat | 2,430 | 33.89% | 2,544 | 35.48% | 1,218 | 16.99% | 287 | 4.00% | 692 | 9.65% | -114 | -1.59% | 7,171 |
| Lewis | 4,477 | 20.02% | 10,224 | 45.72% | 4,481 | 20.04% | 481 | 2.15% | 2,697 | 12.06% | -5,743 | -25.68% | 22,360 |
| Lincoln | 546 | 14.60% | 1,825 | 48.78% | 889 | 23.76% | 86 | 2.30% | 395 | 10.56% | -936 | -25.02% | 3,741 |
| Mason | 5,894 | 32.02% | 6,383 | 34.68% | 2,612 | 14.19% | 739 | 4.02% | 2,777 | 15.09% | -489 | -2.66% | 18,405 |
| Okanogan | 3,555 | 31.52% | 4,145 | 36.76% | 2,049 | 18.17% | 320 | 2.84% | 1,208 | 10.71% | -590 | -5.23% | 11,277 |
| Pacific | 2,487 | 32.66% | 2,458 | 32.28% | 1,188 | 15.60% | 234 | 3.07% | 1,247 | 16.38% | 29 | 0.38% | 7,614 |
| Pend Oreille | 978 | 22.67% | 1,787 | 41.42% | 888 | 20.58% | 118 | 2.74% | 543 | 12.59% | -809 | -18.75% | 4,314 |
| Pierce | 85,366 | 42.11% | 67,094 | 33.09% | 20,858 | 10.29% | 8,055 | 3.97% | 21,360 | 10.54% | 18,272 | 9.01% | 202,733 |
| San Juan | 4,623 | 63.05% | 1,334 | 18.19% | 292 | 3.98% | 448 | 6.11% | 635 | 8.66% | 3,289 | 44.86% | 7,332 |
| Skagit | 14,994 | 42.81% | 10,130 | 28.92% | 3,956 | 11.29% | 1,915 | 5.47% | 4,031 | 11.51% | 4,864 | 13.89% | 35,026 |
| Skamania | 1,270 | 33.07% | 1,494 | 38.91% | 556 | 14.48% | 135 | 3.52% | 385 | 10.03% | -224 | -5.83% | 3,840 |
| Snohomish | 87,035 | 45.15% | 53,065 | 27.52% | 19,004 | 9.86% | 10,150 | 5.26% | 23,535 | 12.21% | 33,970 | 17.62% | 192,789 |
| Spokane | 48,804 | 35.68% | 49,743 | 36.37% | 17,468 | 12.77% | 4,485 | 3.28% | 16,273 | 11.90% | -939 | -0.69% | 136,773 |
| Stevens | 2,945 | 19.39% | 7,139 | 47.01% | 3,020 | 19.89% | 459 | 3.02% | 1,624 | 10.69% | -4,119 | -27.12% | 15,187 |
| Thurston | 40,379 | 48.33% | 20,591 | 24.65% | 9,167 | 10.97% | 4,265 | 5.11% | 9,138 | 10.94% | 19,788 | 23.69% | 83,540 |
| Wahkiakum | 481 | 29.29% | 585 | 35.63% | 318 | 19.37% | 38 | 2.31% | 220 | 13.40% | -104 | -6.33% | 1,642 |
| Walla Walla | 4,161 | 29.93% | 5,298 | 38.11% | 2,063 | 14.84% | 494 | 3.55% | 1,885 | 13.56% | -1,137 | -8.18% | 13,901 |
| Whatcom | 34,487 | 50.75% | 17,752 | 26.12% | 7,078 | 10.42% | 2,669 | 3.93% | 5,967 | 8.78% | 16,735 | 24.63% | 67,953 |
| Whitman | 2,755 | 32.09% | 2,887 | 33.62% | 1,333 | 15.53% | 325 | 3.79% | 1,286 | 14.98% | -132 | -1.54% | 8,586 |
| Yakima | 10,404 | 25.42% | 17,097 | 41.77% | 6,981 | 17.05% | 1,352 | 3.30% | 5,099 | 12.46% | -6,693 | -16.35% | 40,933 |
| Totals | 845,148 | 45.18% | 533,560 | 28.52% | 189,582 | 10.13% | 103,986 | 5.56% | 198,297 | 10.60% | 311,588 | 16.66% | 1,870,573 |
General election
Post-primary endorsements
Patty Kuderer (D)
Newspapers
Polling
Hypothetical polling
Patty Kuderer vs. Chris Corry
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Patty Kuderer (D) |
Chris Corry (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D)[7][A] | May 15–16, 2023 | 615 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 39% | 31% | 29% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Patty Kuderer | 2,091,969 | 56.62 | –8.77 | |
| Republican | Phil Fortunato | 1,598,032 | 43.26 | +9.13 | |
| Write-in | 4,430 | 0.12 | –0.36 | ||
| Total votes | 3,694,431 | 100.00 | N/A | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
By county
| County[12] | Patty Kuderer
Democratic |
Phil Fortunato
Republican |
Write-in
Various |
Margin | Total votes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 1,334 | 26.05% | 3,768 | 73.58% | 19 | 0.37% | -2,434 | -47.53% | 5,121 |
| Asotin | 3,864 | 35.69% | 6,948 | 64.17% | 16 | 0.15% | -3,084 | -28.48% | 10,828 |
| Benton | 35,459 | 36.96% | 60,407 | 62.96% | 85 | 0.09% | -24,948 | -26.00% | 95,951 |
| Chelan | 16,633 | 42.15% | 22,793 | 57.77% | 32 | 0.08% | -6,160 | -15.61% | 39,458 |
| Clallam | 23,851 | 52.22% | 21,780 | 47.68% | 45 | 0.10% | 2,071 | 4.53% | 45,676 |
| Clark | 132,987 | 51.81% | 123,228 | 48.01% | 482 | 0.19% | 9,759 | 3.80% | 256,697 |
| Columbia | 590 | 25.21% | 1,745 | 74.57% | 5 | 0.21% | -1,155 | -49.36% | 2,340 |
| Cowlitz | 21,995 | 39.11% | 34,183 | 60.78% | 59 | 0.10% | -12,188 | -21.67% | 56,237 |
| Douglas | 6,927 | 34.58% | 13,079 | 65.29% | 25 | 0.12% | -6,152 | -30.71% | 20,031 |
| Ferry | 1,259 | 31.91% | 2,685 | 68.06% | 1 | 0.03% | -1,426 | -36.15% | 3,945 |
| Franklin | 11,413 | 37.38% | 19,099 | 62.55% | 22 | 0.07% | -7,686 | -25.17% | 30,534 |
| Garfield | 300 | 23.27% | 988 | 76.65% | 1 | 0.08% | -688 | -53.37% | 1,289 |
| Grant | 10,252 | 29.82% | 24,102 | 70.12% | 20 | 0.06% | -13,850 | -40.29% | 34,374 |
| Grays Harbor | 16,373 | 45.74% | 19,364 | 54.10% | 55 | 0.15% | -2,991 | -8.36% | 35,792 |
| Island | 27,515 | 55.25% | 22,196 | 44.57% | 93 | 0.19% | 5,319 | 10.68% | 49,804 |
| Jefferson | 16,900 | 71.08% | 6,862 | 28.86% | 14 | 0.06% | 10,038 | 42.22% | 23,776 |
| King | 773,243 | 72.89% | 286,357 | 27.00% | 1,177 | 0.11% | 486,886 | 45.90% | 1,060,777 |
| Kitsap | 85,257 | 57.42% | 63,074 | 42.48% | 143 | 0.10% | 22,183 | 14.94% | 148,474 |
| Kittitas | 9,817 | 39.63% | 14,921 | 60.24% | 33 | 0.13% | -5,104 | -20.60% | 24,771 |
| Klickitat | 5,468 | 42.92% | 7,255 | 56.95% | 17 | 0.13% | -1,787 | -14.03% | 12,740 |
| Lewis | 13,567 | 31.77% | 29,077 | 68.09% | 60 | 0.14% | -15,510 | -36.32% | 42,704 |
| Lincoln | 1,516 | 22.14% | 5,323 | 77.73% | 9 | 0.13% | -3,807 | -55.59% | 6,848 |
| Mason | 16,089 | 46.33% | 18,588 | 53.52% | 51 | 0.15% | -2,499 | -7.20% | 34,728 |
| Okanogan | 8,093 | 41.06% | 11,593 | 58.82% | 24 | 0.12% | -3,500 | -17.76% | 19,710 |
| Pacific | 6,486 | 48.53% | 6,854 | 51.28% | 25 | 0.19% | -368 | -2.75% | 13,365 |
| Pend Oreille | 2,408 | 29.58% | 5,719 | 70.24% | 15 | 0.18% | -3,311 | -40.67% | 8,142 |
| Pierce | 219,159 | 52.52% | 197,725 | 47.38% | 416 | 0.10% | 21,434 | 5.14% | 417,300 |
| San Juan | 8,941 | 73.66% | 3,180 | 26.20% | 17 | 0.14% | 5,761 | 47.46% | 12,138 |
| Skagit | 34,199 | 52.12% | 31,358 | 47.79% | 56 | 0.09% | 2,841 | 4.33% | 65,613 |
| Skamania | 2,922 | 42.93% | 3,874 | 56.92% | 10 | 0.15% | -952 | -13.99% | 6,806 |
| Snohomish | 219,767 | 56.75% | 167,015 | 43.13% | 441 | 0.11% | 52,752 | 13.62% | 387,223 |
| Spokane | 123,170 | 45.10% | 149,557 | 54.76% | 386 | 0.14% | -26,387 | -9.66% | 273,113 |
| Stevens | 7,115 | 26.40% | 19,790 | 73.44% | 43 | 0.16% | -12,675 | -47.04% | 26,948 |
| Thurston | 90,149 | 58.05% | 64,968 | 41.83% | 190 | 0.12% | 25,181 | 16.21% | 155,307 |
| Wahkiakum | 1,134 | 39.38% | 1,743 | 60.52% | 3 | 0.10% | -609 | -21.15% | 2,880 |
| Walla Walla | 12,246 | 43.21% | 16,069 | 56.70% | 23 | 0.08% | -3,823 | -13.49% | 28,338 |
| Whatcom | 78,967 | 60.53% | 51,382 | 39.39% | 106 | 0.08% | 27,585 | 21.15% | 130,455 |
| Whitman | 9,706 | 51.25% | 9,209 | 48.63% | 22 | 0.12% | 497 | 2.62% | 18,937 |
| Yakima | 34,898 | 40.93% | 50,174 | 58.85% | 189 | 0.22% | -15,276 | -17.92% | 85,261 |
| Totals | 2,091,969 | 56.62% | 1,598,032 | 43.26% | 4,430 | 0.12% | 493,937 | 13.37% | 3,694,431 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Chelan (largest city: Wenatchee)
- Franklin (largest city: Pasco)
- Grays Harbor (largest city: Aberdeen)
- Kittitas (largest city: Ellensburg)
- Klickitat (largest city: Goldendale)
- Mason (largest city: Shelton)
- Okanogan (largest city: Omak)
- Pacific (largest city: Raymond)
- Skamania (largest city: Carson)
- Spokane (largest city: Spokane)
- Walla Walla (largest city: Walla Walla)
- Yakima (largest city: Yakima)
By congressional district
Kuderer won six of ten congressional districts, with the remaining four going to Fortunato, including two that elected Democrats.[13]
| District | Kuderer | Fortunato | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 61% | 39% | Suzan DelBene |
| 2nd | 59% | 40% | Rick Larsen |
| 3rd | 47% | 53% | Marie Gluesenkamp Perez |
| 4th | 38% | 62% | Dan Newhouse |
| 5th | 42% | 58% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers (118th Congress) |
| Michael Baumgartner (119th Congress) | |||
| 6th | 57% | 43% | Derek Kilmer (118th Congress) |
| Emily Randall (119th Congress) | |||
| 7th | 85% | 15% | Pramila Jayapal |
| 8th | 49% | 51% | Kim Schrier |
| 9th | 68% | 31% | Adam Smith |
| 10th | 57% | 43% | Marilyn Strickland |
Notes
Partisan clients
- ^ a b Poll sponsored by the Northwest Progressive Institute
References
- ^ a b c "Longtime WA Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler will not seek reelection". May 2023.
- ^ "Patty Kuderer defeats Phil Fortunato in insurance commissioner race". The Seattle Times. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ "State Senator Kuderer to Run for Washington Insurance Commissioner".
- ^ a b c d e f Dennis, Ellen (July 29, 2024). "Washington will soon elect a new insurance commissioner for the first time in decades. Here's a look at who's running and why you should care". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ "Candidates vie for Washington insurance commissioner job". July 29, 2024.
- ^ Editorial Board, The Seattle Times (July 8, 2024). "The Seattle Times editorial board recommends: John Pestinger for insurance commissioner". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 2, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ^ a b Public Policy Polling (D)
- ^ Hobbs, Steve (August 22, 2024). "Canvass of the Returns of the Primary Held on August 6, 2024" (PDF). Secretary of State of Washington. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 6, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ^ Hobbs, Steve (August 6, 2024). "Insurance Commissioner - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on February 27, 2025. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^ Editorial Board, The Seattle Times (August 29, 2024). "The Seattle Times editorial board recommends: Patty Kuderer for WA insurance commissioner". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 13, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ^ Hobbs, Steve (December 4, 2024). "Canvass of the Returns of the General Election Held on November 5, 2024" (PDF). Secretary of State of Washington. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ Hobbs, Steve (November 5, 2024). "Insurance Commissioner - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on May 29, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ "2024Gen Results by Congressional District" (PDF). sos.wa.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2024.
External links
Official campaign websites