Spending records set by:

Note: This page is currently undergoing updates. Fields marked with an * have been updated to reflect the 2016 election.

STATEWIDE INITIATIVES

MOST MONEY SPENT TO SUPPORT AN INITIATIVE (top 5)
MEASURE YEAR AMOUNT SPENT
I-1183 - privatizing liquor sales 2011 $20,115,326
I-1107 - ending sales tax on candy & soda 2010 $16,042,629
Ref 74 - same sex marriage 2012 $14,784,287
I-1240 - charter schools 2012 $11,401,371
I-594 - background checks for gun sales/transfers 2014 $10,480,026

 

MOST MONEY SPENT TO OPPOSE AN INITIATIVE (top 5)
MEASURE YEAR AMOUNT SPENT
I-522 - labelling genetically modififed food 2013 $32,711,222
I-1183 - privatizing liquor sales 2011 $12,351,656
Ref 67 - insurance reform 2007 $11,567,117
I-1100 - privatizing liquor sales 2010 $9,170,340
I-892 - expanding non-tribal gambling 2004 $6,12,582

 

TOP 5 COSTLIEST INITIATIVES (includes spending by both sides)
MEASURE YEAR AMOUNT SPENT
I-522 - labelling genetically modififed food 2013 $42,548,425
I-1183 - privatizing liquor sales 2011 $32,466,982
Ref 74 - same sex marriage 2012 $17,759,849
I-1107 - ending sales tax on candy and soda 2010 $16,469,457
I-330 - healthcare liability reform 2005 $15,978,861

 

LEAST MONEY SPENT TO PASS AN INITIATIVE
MEASURE YEAR AMOUNT SPENT
I-316 - mandatory death penalty 1975 $14,006
I-345 - eliminating sales tax on food 1977 $20,865
I-601 - limiting tax increases 1993 $46,433

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STATEWIDE OFFICES

Governor

TOP 5 HIGHEST SPENDERS*
NAME YEAR AMOUNT SPENT
McKenna 2012 $13,895,225
Gregoire 2008 $13,728,870
Inslee 2012 $12,372,112
Rossi 2008 $11,592,135
Inslee 2016 $9,955,934

 

TOP 5 COSTLIEST RACES (excludes independent expenditures)*
ELECTION YEAR TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT
2012 $26,748,137
2008 $25,333,975
2004 $14,584,1986
2016 $13,895,450
1996 $8,883,283

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Other Statewide Offices

MOST MONEY RAISED & SPENT BY A SINGLE CANDIDATE (top 5)
NAME YEAR OFFICE SOUGHT AMOUNT SPENT
McKenna 2008 Attorney General $1,882,960
Ferguson 2012 Attorney General $1,683,474
Dunn 2012 Attorney General $1,622,086
Goldmark 2008 Commissioner of Public Lands $1,084,477
McKenna 2004 Attorney General $1,254,320

 

MOST MONEY SPENT BY ALL CANDIDATES FOR A SINGLE POSITION
ELECTION YEAR OFFICE SOUGHT TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT
2004 Attorney General $3,378,641
2012 Attorney General $3,305,560
2008 Attorney General $2,473,177
2008 Commissioner of Public Lands $1,765,169
1992 Attorney General $1,488,960

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Senate

TOP 5 HIGHEST SPENDERS*
NAME LEG DIST YEAR AMOUNT SPENT
Connelly 27 2012 $1,031,022
Hill 45 2014 $991,363
Litzow 41 2016 $789,955
Angel 26 2013 $754,519
O'Ban 28 2014 $743,555

 

TOP 5 COSTLIEST RACES (excludes independent expenditures)*
NAMES LEG DIST YEAR TOTAL SPENT
Hill, Isenhower 45 2014 $1,493,175
Angel, Schlicher 26 2013 $1,354,178
Darneille, Connelly 27 2012 $1,297,462
Wellman, Litzow 41 2016 $1,274,485
Probst, Wilson 17 2016 $1,027,105

 

MOST MONEY SPENT TO DEFEAT AN INCUMBENT (by year)
YEAR AMOUNT OPPONENTS DIST
2012 $411,170 Bailey over Haugen 10
2010 $438,352 Baumgartner over Marr 6
2008 $184,779 Becker over Rasmussen 2
2006 $560,081 Marr over Benson 6
2006 $367,016 Weinstein over Horn 41

 

MOST MONEY SPENT TO WIN AN OPEN SEAT (by year)*
YEAR AMOUNT NAME DIST
2014 $407,105 Miloscia 30
2012 $361,920 Mullett 5
2010 $173,828 Ericksen 42
2008 $195,300 Ranker 40
2006 $425,249 Kilmer 26

 

LEAST SPENT TO WIN A CONTESTED RACE (by year)
YEAR AMOUNT NAME DIST
2014 $55,057 Chase 32
2012 $74,970 Hargrove 34
2010 $26,649 Kline 37
2008 $63,259 Regala 27
2006 $39,755 Morton 7

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State House

TOP 5 HIGHEST SPENDERS
NAME LEG DIST YEAR AMOUNT SPENT
Hickel 30 2015 $411,524
Gregory 30 2015 $395,077
Habib 48 2012 $340,771
Sizemore 47 2012 $333,861
Kelley 28 2010 $330,634

 

TOP 5 COSTLIEST RACES
NAMES LEG DIST YEAR TOTAL SPENT
Hickel, Gregory 30 2015 $805,601
Dodson, Kelley, Knighton, Pederson, Pure, Street, Sherman 43 2006 $627,794
Bloss, Burbank,  Carlyle 36 2008 $591,110
Litzow, Maxwell 41 2008 $509,136
Kelley, O'Ban 28 2010 $506,423

 

MOST MONEY SPENT TO DEFEAT AN INCUMBENT (by year)
YEAR AMOUNT OPPONENTS DIST
2014 $297,979 Wilson over Stonier 17
2012 $117,457 Freeman over Asay 30
2010 $199,277 Wilcox over Campbell 2
2008 $213,924 Probst over Dunn 17
2006 $232,868 Hurst over Shabro 31

 

MOST MONEY SPENT TO WIN AN OPEN SEAT (by year)
YEAR AMOUNT NAME DIST
2014 $269,511 Kilduff 28
2012 $340,771 Habib 48
2010 $201,180 Jenkins 27
2008 $316,237 Carlyle 36
2006 $244,435 Kelley 28

 

LEAST SPENT TO WIN A CONTESTED RACE (by year)
YEAR AMOUNT NAME DIST
2014 $70,698 Gregerson 33
2012 $24,355 Hudgins 11
2010 $23,089 Darneille 27
2008 $18,436 Roberts 21
2006 $20,464 Dunn 17

*Updated for 2016