September 15

Primary results

July 31

Total Number: 5

To Watch:
Measure 200: Anti-Affirmative Action
"Would prohibit state and local government entities from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin."

Measure 688: Minimum Wage
Would increase the minimum wage for those under 18 years of age in 1999 and 2000 and thereafter adjust it for inflation.

Measure 692: Medical Use of Marijuana
Would allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes for "qualifying patients," including those with HIV, cancer, multiple sclerosis and glaucoma.

Measure 694: Partial-Birth Abortion
Would make abortion a crime except when it is necessary to save the life of the mother.

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PARTY CONTROL

Governor: Democrat
U.S. Senate: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican
U.S. House of Representatives: 3 Democrats, 6 Republicans
State Senate: 23 Democrats, 26 Republicans
State House of Representatives: 41 Democrats, 57 Republicans

Senate: 24 seats up
House: All 98 seats up

None

State Projected Voting Age Population: 4,115,000 (1996)
Registered Voters: (As of 01/09/98) 3,082,192

11

Clinton won in 1996; Clinton in 1992; Dukakis in 1988; Reagan in 1984; Reagan in 1980; Ford in 1976; Nixon in 1972; Humphrey in 1968; Johnson in 1964; Nixon in 1960.

LAST TIME VOTED DEMOCRATIC FOR PRESIDENT: 1996

PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN 1996:

Clinton 50%
Dole 37%
Perot 9%
Other 4%

PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN 1992:

Clinton 43.4%
Bush 32%
Perot 23.7%

PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN 1988:

Dukakis 50%
Bush 48.5%

PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN 1984:

Reagan 56%
Mondale 43%

PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN 1980:

Reagan 50%
Carter 37%
Anderson 11%

1992:

• President
• Senate
• Governor

1994:

• Senate

1996:

• President
• Governor

Historical voter turnout as a percentage of the voting age population 1996-1960

Population: 5,533,000 (1996)
(% of voting age population)

White: 89.9%
African American: 2.8%
Asian: 4.1%
Native American: 1.4%
Other/Undeclared: 1.9%

Persons of Hispanic origin account for 3.6% of the voting population (from 1990 Census)

State Capital: Olympia
State Nickname: Evergreen State, Chinook State

Washington had been historically Democratic for years. But changes in the state's economy and an influx of newcomers has led to political instability in the Evergreen State. In recent times, while the state has voted Democratic in the last three presidential contests (it was one of the nine states, plus the District of Columbia, that Democrat Michael Dukakis won in 1988), Washington voted Republican for president in the four previous contests (in the 1970s and 1980s). A Democrat has held the governor's mansion since 1984. Control in the Senate, House and state Legislature is split. In 1994, Washington's House delegation shifted more than any other state's, with six of nine seats moving from Democratic to Republican. Conservative Republicans maintained their dominance in these same races in 1996. Democratic Sen. Patty Murray is one of three women elected in 1992 ("The Year of the Woman") who is seeking re-election this year. Murray ran her campaign in 1992 with the slogan "Mom in tennis shoes." The other woman Senator seeking re-election this year is Maryland Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski. Democrat Gary Locke made history in 1997 when he became the nation's first governor of Chinese ancestry.

NOTE: External sites will open in a new browser window.

Government:

Washington Secretary of State Home Page
http://www.wa.gov/sec/
Washington State Elections Division
http://www.wa.gov/sec/elections.htm
Washington Gov. Gary Locke's Home Page
http://www.wa.gov/governor/
Washington State Senate
http://www.leg.wa.gov/www/senate.htm
Washington State House of Representatives
http://www.leg.wa.gov/www/house/members/housepg.htm

News Media:

CNN Affiliates

KIRO-TV (Seattle)
http://206.63.60.125/index.htm
KSTW (Seattle)
http://www.paramountstations.com/KSTW/
KXLY (Spokane)
http://www.kxly.com/default.asp

State Newspapers

Seattle Times
http://www.seattletimes.com
Spokane Spokesman-Review
http://www.virtuallynw.com
Tacoma News Tribune
http://www.tribnet.com

General Interest:

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