A Brief Background on Washington's Political Climate

Washington joined the Union in November 1889. The state has gone through periods during which it voted primarily Democratic and other periods where Republicans usually won. Democrats have been the victors in the last five elections and the state is expected to lean to the Democratic side again in 2008. In 2004, John Kerry defeated George W. Bush by a 53% to 46% margin. The state’s electoral influence has grown in recent decades; in the western half of the country only Texas and California have more than Washington’s 11 electoral votes.