Washington Treasurer election, 2024
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←2020 |
| Washington Treasurer |
|---|
 |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: May 10, 2024 |
| Primary: August 6, 2024 General: November 5, 2024 Pre-election incumbent(s): Mike Pellicciotti (D) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: Poll opening hours vary; close at 8 p.m. Voting in Washington |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
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IncumbentMike Pellicciotti (D) defeatedSharon Hanek (R) in the general election forWashington Treasurer on November 5, 2024. As of the election, the treasurer managed the state's debts, investments, and cash.[1]
Pellicciotti was first elected as treasurer in2020, when he defeated incumbentDuane Davidson (R) 53.4% to 46.5%. Pellicciotti represented the 30th District in thestate House from 2017 to 2021.[2] During his tenure, Pellicciotti worked as an assistant attorney general in theWashington Attorney General's office.[2][3] He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and economics and a master's degree in rural development.[3] He earned his law degree from Gonzaga University and was a law clerk at theWashington Supreme Court before working as a deputy prosecuting attorney inKing County.[4]
Pellicciotti ran on his record as treasurer. In an interview withKATU News, Pellicciotti said during his time as treasurer, "Washington has maintained a Moody’s AAA credit rating. ... Washington now has one of the best funded pensions in America, and U.S. News just ranked Washington #1 in the nation for longterm fiscal stability."[5] Pellicciotti said he prioritized transparency as treasurer and created a transparency portal for state financial data on the treasurer website.[2] He said, "The more we can demystify public finances and financial issues more generally, the more the public can participate and communicate to their elected officials on how they want their money being spent.”[2]
Hanek grew up on U.S. military bases in Japan.[6] Her father was an interpreter in the U.S. Military Intelligence Service during World War II and then served as a liaison between the U.S. and Japanese governments.[2] Her family later moved to Washington, where Hanek earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting.[6] Hanek began working as a certified public accountant in 1980 and later started a private practice.[6] Hanek first sought elected office in 2008, when she ran unsuccessfully for state representative.[2] She was awrite-in candidate for state treasurer in2012 and was elected chair of thePierce County Charter Review Commission in 2016.[6][2]
Hanek said she ran because of "an increase of concerns in the security of the State's financial system."[7] She ran on her experience as an accountant and said, "The role of a CPA has some different skill sets it brings with it, not just overseeing, administrating and managing but you get into understanding financial systems."[2] Referring to errors Hanek said she found in a public financial report, Hanek said, "Those are the little things that are the way a CPA thinks. I would view things in a little bit different manner to make sure that the reports are reasonable looking, that they add up, and that’s engrained in me.”[2] Hanek said her priority as treasurer would be "strengthening the protection of our cash flow. This area is where I believe we have been lacking and incidences of mismanagement of funds seems to be increasing."[7] She also said she would work to improve fiscal transparency.[7]
As of the October fundraising reports, Pellicciotti had raised $356,021 and spent $194,080, and Hanek had raised $49,889 and spent $46,038. To read more about campaign finance reports,click here.
This was one of thirteen statewide elections in Washington alongside elections forPresident,U.S. Senate,Governor,Lieutenant Governor,Attorney General,Secretary of State,Auditor,Superintendent of Public Instruction,Public Lands Commissioner,Insurance Commissioner, and threeWashington Supreme Court seats. To read more about Washington's elections in 2024,click here.
Washington was one of 48 states that has a treasurer and one of10 states that held an election for treasurer in 2024. Heading into the election, 12 states had a Democratic treasurer, 24 states had a Republican treasurer, and 12 states had a nonpartisan treasurer.
Candidates and election results
General election
General election for Washington Treasurer
IncumbentMike Pellicciotti defeatedSharon Hanek in the general election for Washington Treasurer on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Pellicciotti (D) | 57.3 | 2,148,764 |
 | Sharon Hanek (R) | 42.6 | 1,600,370 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 3,261 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 3,752,395 | ||
 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington Treasurer
IncumbentMike Pellicciotti andSharon Hanek advanced from the primary for Washington Treasurer on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Pellicciotti (D) | 58.3 | 1,118,500 |
| ✔ | | Sharon Hanek (R) | 41.6 | 797,824 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 1,684 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 1,918,008 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Voting information
- See also:Voting in Washington
Election information inWashington: Nov. 5, 2024, election.
What was the voter registration deadline?
- In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
- By mail: Received by Oct. 28, 2024
- Online: Oct. 28, 2024
Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?
What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?
- In-person: N/A
- By mail: N/A by N/A
- Online: N/A
What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?
- In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
- By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 5, 2024
Was early voting available to all voters?
What were the early voting start and end dates?
Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?
When were polls open on Election Day?
Candidate comparison
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, clickhere.
Party:Democratic Party
Incumbent: Yes
Political Office:
- Washington Treasurer (Assumed office: 2021)
- Washington House of Representatives (2017-2021)
Biography: Pellicciotti earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and economics, a master's degree in rural development, and a law degree. He worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney in King County and an assistant attorney general.
Key Messages
The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages,click here.
Pellicciotti's campaign website said, "He has always rejected all corporate campaign donations. ... He proves that government best serves the people when elected officials say no to corporate campaign money."
Pellicciotti said, "My Office’s local daily investment returns are 50 times higher than 2021, sending $3 million more to local governments each day! Our state investments are creating $1.8 billion in new money for Washington State over the next four years to help lower tax burdens."
Pellicciotti said he would focus on "maintaining Washington State’s strong longterm fiscal health during times of potential political and economic instability."
Show sources
Sources:Mike Pellicciotti 2024 campaign website, "Meet Treasurer Mike," accessed September 20, 2024;KATU News, "Know Your Candidates 2024: Mike Pellicciotti, Washington State Treasurer," July 20th, 2024; Tacoma Weekly, "Election Preview 2024: Washington State Treasurer," September 16, 2024;Mike Pellicciotti 2024 campaign website, "Meet Treasurer Mike," accessed September 20, 2024;Linkedin, "Mike Pellicciotti," accessed September 20, 2024
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Washington Treasurer in 2024.
Party:Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Biography: Hanek earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting. She began working as a certified public accountant in 1980 and later began a private CPA practice. She also provided tax and financial advisory services. She became Chair of the Pierce County Charter Review Commission in 2016.
Key Messages
The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages,click here.
Regarding her accounting experience, Hanek said, "In order to make wise choices, you need good information. I will be your professional accountant who can analyze the books and create useful reports for the decisionmakers."
Hanek said, "I think Washington's finances are in a good position but it is time to have leadership that will help strengthen our system in the face of new challenges of cybersecurity."
On transparency, Hanek said her approach would include "creating better reporting and disclosure of information so the public can understand how their tax dollars are spent."
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Washington Treasurer in 2024.
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
No candidate in this race completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign ads
This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, pleaseemail us.
Mike Pellicciotti
Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Mike Pellicciotti while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, pleaseemail us.
Sharon Hanek
Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for John Smith while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, pleaseemail us.
Election competitiveness
Polls
We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation fromFiveThirtyEight andRealClearPolitics, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, pleaseemail us.
Endorsements
Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, pleaseemail us.
Election spending
Campaign finance
The tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. The data is gathered and made available byTransparency USA. Transparency USA tracks loans separately from total contributions. View each candidates’ loan totals, if any, by clicking “View More” in the table below and learn more about this datahere.
Satellite spending
- See also:Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees,super PACs, trade associations, and501(c)(4)nonprofit groups.[8][9][10]
If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add,email us.
Election analysis
Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.
- Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the state.
- Statewide elections - Information about recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections in the state.
- State partisanship - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
- Demographics - Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.
Cook PVI by congressional district
| Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index for Washington, 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| District | Incumbent | Party | PVI |
| Washington's 1st | Suzan DelBene |  Democratic | D+13 |
| Washington's 2nd | Rick Larsen | Democratic | D+9 |
| Washington's 3rd | Marie Gluesenkamp Perez | Democratic | R+5 |
| Washington's 4th | Dan Newhouse |  Republican | R+11 |
| Washington's 5th | Cathy McMorris Rodgers | Republican | R+8 |
| Washington's 6th | Derek Kilmer | Democratic | D+6 |
| Washington's 7th | Pramila Jayapal | Democratic | D+36 |
| Washington's 8th | Kim Schrier | Democratic | D+1 |
| Washington's 9th | Adam Smith | Democratic | D+21 |
| Washington's 10th | Marilyn Strickland | Democratic | D+7 |
2020 presidential results by 2024 congressional district lines
| 2020 presidential results in congressional districts based on 2024 district lines, Washington[11] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Joe Biden | Donald Trump | ||
| Washington's 1st | 64.0% | 33.3% | ||
| Washington's 2nd | 60.1% | 37.2% | ||
| Washington's 3rd | 46.6% | 50.8% | ||
| Washington's 4th | 40.3% | 57.2% | ||
| Washington's 5th | 43.5% | 53.5% | ||
| Washington's 6th | 57.1% | 39.9% | ||
| Washington's 7th | 86.8% | 11.3% | ||
| Washington's 8th | 52.0% | 45.3% | ||
| Washington's 9th | 71.5% | 26.3% | ||
| Washington's 10th | 57.3% | 39.6% | ||
2012-2020
How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections:Solid,Trending,Battleground, andNew. Click [show] on the table below for examples:
| County-level voting pattern categories | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | |||||||
| Status | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | ||||
| Solid Democratic | D | D | D | ||||
| Trending Democratic | R | D | D | ||||
| Battleground Democratic | D | R | D | ||||
| New Democratic | R | R | D | ||||
| Republican | |||||||
| Status | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | ||||
| Solid Republican | R | R | R | ||||
| Trending Republican | D | R | R | ||||
| Battleground Republican | R | D | R | ||||
| New Republican | D | D | R | ||||
Following the 2020 presidential election,72.5% of Washingtonians lived in one of the state's11 Solid Democratic counties, which voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 2012 to 2020, and22.3% lived in one of22 Solid Republican counties. Overall, Washington wasSolid Democratic, having voted forBarack Obama (D) in 2012,Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016, andJoe Biden (D) in 2020. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in Washington following the 2020 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.
| Washington county-level statistics, 2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Democratic | 11 | 72.5% | |||||
| Solid Republican | 22 | 22.3% | |||||
| Trending Republican | 4 | 3.6% | |||||
| Battleground Democratic | 1 | 1.0% | |||||
| Trending Democratic | 1 | 0.6% | |||||
| Total voted Democratic | 13 | 74.1% | |||||
| Total voted Republican | 26 | 25.9% | |||||
Historical voting trends
Washington presidential election results (1900-2020)
- 17Democratic wins
- 13Republican wins
- 1other win
| Year | 1900 | 1904 | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winning Party | R | R | R | P[12] | D | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.
U.S. Senate elections
The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in Washington.
| U.S. Senate election results in Washington | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race | Winner | Runner up |
| 2022 | 57.1% | 42.6% |
| 2018 | 58.3% | 41.5% |
| 2016 | 58.8% | 40.9% |
| 2012 | 60.4% | 39.5% |
| 2010 | 52.1% | 47.4% |
| Average | 57.3 | 42.4 |
Gubernatorial elections
- See also:Governor of Washington
The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in Washington.
| Gubernatorial election results in Washington | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race | Winner | Runner up |
| 2020 | 56.6% | 43.1% |
| 2016 | 54.2% | 45.5% |
| 2012 | 51.4% | 48.3% |
| 2008 | 53.0% | 46.6% |
| 2004 | 48.9% | 48.9% |
| Average | 52.8 | 46.5 |
Congressional delegation
The table below displays the partisan composition of Washington's congressional delegation as of May 2024.
| Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Washington | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total |
| Democratic | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| Republican | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vacancies | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 10 | 12 |
State executive
The table below displays the officeholders in Washington's top four state executive offices as of May 2024.
| State executive officials in Washington, May 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Office | Officeholder |
| Governor | Jay Inslee |
| Lieutenant Governor | Denny Heck |
| Secretary of State | Steve Hobbs |
| Attorney General | Bob Ferguson |
State legislature
Washington State Senate
| Party | As of February 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 29 | |
| Republican Party | 20 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | |
Washington House of Representatives
| Party | As of February 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 58 | |
| Republican Party | 40 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 98 | |
Trifecta control
The table below shows the state's trifecta status from 1992 until the 2024 election.
Washington Party Control: 1992-2024
Eighteen years of Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
The table below details demographic data in Washington and compares it to the broader United States as of 2022.
| Demographic Data for Washington | ||
|---|---|---|
| Washington | United States | |
| Population | 7,705,281 | 331,449,281 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 66,455 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 69.9% | 65.9% |
| Black/African American | 3.9% | 12.5% |
| Asian | 9.2% | 5.8% |
| Native American | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.7% | 0.2% |
| Other (single race) | 5.2% | 6% |
| Multiple | 9.9% | 8.8% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 13.5% | 18.7% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 92.1% | 89.1% |
| College graduation rate | 38% | 34.3% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $90,325 | $75,149 |
| Persons below poverty level | 6.3% | 8.8% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau,"Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau,"American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2017-2022). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere. | ||
Election context
Ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for candidates for treasurer in Washington in the 2024 election cycle. Candidates filed for election by paying a fee. If candidates could not afford the filing fee, they could choose to submit petitions. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Washington,click here.
| Filing requirements for Washington Treasurer candidates, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Filing fee | Signatures required | Filing deadline | Source | ||
| Filing fee | $1,625.55[14] | N/A | 5/10/2024 | 1,2 | ||
| Petitions | N/A | 1,626[15] | 5/10/2024 | 1,2 | ||
Past elections
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2012.
2020
- See also:Washington Treasurer election, 2020
General election candidates
- Duane Davidson (Incumbent) (Republican Party)
- Mike Pellicciotti (Democratic Party) ✔
Primary candidates
- Duane Davidson (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Mike Pellicciotti (Democratic Party) ✔
2016
- See also:Washington Treasurer election, 2016
The general election for treasurer was held on November 8, 2016.
Duane Davidson defeatedMichael Waite in the Washington treasurer election.
| Washington Treasurer, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Duane Davidson | 58.15% | 1,576,580 | |
| Republican | Michael Waite | 41.85% | 1,134,843 | |
| Total Votes | 2,711,423 | |||
| Source:Washington Secretary of State | ||||
2012
IncumbentJames McIntire (D) won re-election on November 6, 2012. He defeated one challenger,RepublicanSharon Hanek.
- 2012 General Election Results for Washington Treasurer
| Washington Treasurer General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | James McIntireIncumbent | 58.7% | 1,695,401 | |
| Republican | Sharon Hanek | 41.3% | 1,192,150 | |
| Total Votes | 2,887,551 | |||
| Election results viaWashington Secretary of State | ||||
About state financial officers (SFO's)
| Environmental, social, and corporate governance |
|---|
 |
| •What is ESG? •Arguments for and against ESG •Opposition to ESG •Economy and Society: Ballotpedia's weekly ESG newsletter •State financial officer stances on ESG, 2022-2023 |
Different states have different names for state financial officers, but they all fall into three groups:treasurers,auditors, andcontrollers.
Broadly, these officials are responsible for things like auditing other government offices, managing payroll, and overseeing pensions. In some states, certain SFOs are also responsible for investing state retirement and trust funds, meaning they decide where that public money goes.
Because of the role SFOs play in managing public investments, they have been involved in debates overenvironmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). ESG refers to an investment or corporate governance approach that involves considering the extent to which corporations conform to certain standards related to environmental, social, and corporate governance issues (such as net carbon emission or corporate board diversity goals) and making business and investment decisions that promote those standards.
2024 battleground elections
- See also:Battlegrounds
This was abattleground election. Other 2024 battleground elections included:
- California's 13th Congressional District election, 2024
- Missouri gubernatorial election, 2024 (August 6 Republican primary)
- Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Democratic primary)
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑Washington Treasurer, "Role of the State Treasurer," accessed September 20, 2024
- ↑2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.72.8Tacoma Weekly, "Election Preview 2024: Washington State Treasurer," September 16, 2024
- ↑3.03.1Mike Pellicciotti 2024 campaign website, "Meet Treasurer Mike," accessed September 20, 2024
- ↑Linkedin, "Mike Pellicciotti," accessed September 20, 2024
- ↑KATU News, "Know Your Candidates 2024: Mike Pellicciotti, Washington State Treasurer," July 20th, 2024
- ↑6.06.16.26.3Sharon Hanek 2024 campaign website, "About Sharon Hanek," accessed September 20, 2024
- ↑7.07.17.2KATU News, "Know Your Candidates 2024: Sharon Hanek, Washington State Treasurer," July 20, 2024
- ↑OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
- ↑Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020, 2016, and 2012," accessed December 15, 2023
- ↑Progressive Party
- ↑Democrats gained full control of the state Senate after a special election on November 7, 2017.
- ↑The filing fee is equal to 1% of the annual income for the office. At the time of the 2024 filing deadline, the income for Washington Treasurer was $162,555.
- ↑The number of signatures required is equal to 1% of the annual income for the office. At the time of the 2024 filing deadline, the income for Washington Attorney General was $162,555
