1980 Washington gubernatorial election
November 4, 1980
 
Nominee John Spellman Jim McDermott
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 981,083 749,813
Percentage 56.7% 43.3%
County results
Spellman:      50–60%      60–70%
McDermott:      50–60%
Governor before election

Dixy Lee Ray
Democratic

 Elected Governor

John Spellman
Republican

The 1980 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic Governor Dixy Lee Ray ran for a second term, but lost in the primary to State Representative Jim McDermott. McDermott was defeated in the general election by Republican candidate John Spellman, the King County Executive. As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican was elected Governor of Washington, thus beginning the longest streak for Democrats holding any of the 50 state governorships once Spellman left office.

Blanket primary

Candidates

Democratic

  • Jim McDermott, psychiatrist, state senator, and candidate for governor in 1972
  • Dixy Lee Ray, incumbent Governor of Washington
  • Caroline "Hope" Diamond

Republican

Results

Blanket primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim McDermott 321,256 33.04%
Democratic Dixy Lee Ray (incumbent) 234,252 24.09%
Republican John Spellman 162,426 16.70%
Republican Duane Berentson 154,724 15.91%
Republican Bruce Chapman 70,875 7.29%
Republican Patrick Sean McGowan 7,324 0.75%
Democratic Caroline Diamond 4,184 0.43%
Total votes 955,041 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

Governor of Washington election, 1980[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Spellman 981,083 56.68
Democratic Jim McDermott 749,813 43.32
Total votes 1,730,896 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

References

  1. ↑ "Election Search Results - Elections & Voting - WA Secretary of State". Sos.wa.gov. Retrieved July 13, 2018.


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