2012 Washington State Auditor election

none October 2025 2012 Washington State Auditor election Washington presidential no 2008 Washington State Auditor election 2008 2016 Washington State Auditor election 2016 November 6, 2012 Troy Kelley - 2015 (cropped).jpg Troy Kelley Democratic Party (United States) 1,512,620 52.95% File:James Watkins (cropped).jpg James Watkins Republican Party (United States) 1,344,137 47.05% 275px County results 275px Congressional district results Kelley: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80%Watkins: #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% State Auditor Brian Sonntag Democratic Party (United States) Troy Kelley Democratic Party (United States) The 2012 Washington State Auditor election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the Washington State Auditor, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the U.S. Senate and various state and local elections, including for U.S. House and governor of Washington. Washington is one of two states that holds a top-two primary, meaning that all candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two move on to the general election. Five-term incumbent Democratic State Auditor Brian Sonntag retired.https://www.heraldnet.com/news/state-auditor-brian-sonntag-to-end-long-political-career/ Democratic state Representative Troy Kelley defeated Republican James Watkins to succeed Sonntag.https://www.heraldnet.com/news/watkins-concedes-in-state-auditor-race/ The top-two primary was held on August 7. 3 Primary election Democratic Party Advanced to general Troy Kelley, state representative (2007–2013)https://patch.com/washington/universityplace/election-troy-kelley-to-run-for-state-auditor Eliminated in primary Mark Miloscia, state representative (1999–2013)https://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/state-rep-miloscia-enters-race-for-washington-state-auditor/ Craig Pridemore, state senator (2005–2013)https://www.columbian.com/news/2011/nov/02/pridemore-run-state-auditors-post/ Pridemore to run for state auditor’s post The Columbian 2026-10-14 2026-10-14 Declined Brian Sonntag, incumbent state auditor (1993–2013) Republican Party Advanced to general James Watkins, business consultant and candidate for Washington's 1st congressional district in 2010https://nwdailymarker.com/2012/03/james-watkins-enters-race-for-state-auditor-promises-to-be-citizens-watchdog-in-olympia/ Endorsements Troy Kelley (D) Newspapers The Seattle Times (co-endorsement with Watkins)https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/the-times-recommends-kelley-and-watkins-for-state-auditor/ https://web.archive.org/web/20160305201540/http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/the-times-recommends-kelley-and-watkins-for-state-auditor/ 2016-03-05 live The Times recommends: Kelley and Watkins for state auditor Editorial Board The Seattle Times July 26, 2012 The Seattle Times October 25, 2025 subscription James Watkins (R) Newspapers The Seattle Times (co-endorsement with Kelley) Declined to endorse Statewide officials Brian Sonntag, state auditor of Washington (1993–2013) (Democratic) Results thumb|275px|County results #e27f7f Watkins #FFC8CD 30–40% #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% County results thumb|275px|Congressional district results #e27f7f Watkins #FFC8CD 30–40% #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #51C2C2 Pridemore #7DDDDD 40–50% Congressional district results Blanket primary resultshttps://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20120807/state-auditor.html https://web.archive.org/web/20250507113724/https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20120807/state-auditor.html May 7, 2025 live State Auditor Reed Sam Sam Reed August 7, 2012 Secretary of State of Washington October 25, 2025 Washington Republican Party James Watkins 584,444 46.09 Washington Democratic Party Troy Kelley 291,335 22.98 Washington Democratic Party Craig Pridemore 268,220 21.15 Washington Democratic Party Mark Miloscia 123,936 9.77 1,267,935 100.00 By county thumb|275px|Combined partisan vote by county #7996e2 Democratic #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #e27f7f Republican #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Combined partisan vote by county thumb|275px|Combined partisan vote by congressional district #7996e2 Democratic #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #e27f7f Republican #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Combined partisan vote by congressional district +County resultsCountyhttps://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20120807/state-auditor_bycounty.html https://web.archive.org/web/20260124090008/https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20120807/state-auditor_bycounty.html January 24, 2026 live State Auditor - County Results Reed Sam Sam Reed August 7, 2012 Secretary of State of Washington August 24, 2026Troy Kelley DemocraticJames Watkins RepublicanCraig Pridemore DemocraticMark Miloscia DemocraticMarginTotal votes#%#%#%#%#%Adams40716.95%1,73772.34%1676.96%903.75%1,33055.39%2,401Asotin1,02122.46%2,64358.15%57812.72%3036.67%1,62235.69%4,545Benton4,45815.21%19,75367.40%3,48011.88%1,6145.51%15,29552.19%29,305Chelan2,71917.53%10,08365.02%1,92612.42%7805.03%7,36447.49%15,508Clallam3,70020.37%9,92754.66%3,08516.99%1,4517.99%6,22734.28%18,163Clark6,89010.31%32,66848.89%24,13336.12%3,1244.68%8,53512.77%66,815Columbia14113.70%72270.17%10310.01%636.12%58156.46%1,029Cowlitz4,08623.25%8,58748.86%3,55720.24%1,3447.65%4,50125.61%17,574Douglas1,21117.29%4,71767.35%71710.24%3595.13%3,50650.06%7,004Ferry29818.72%99662.56%19612.31%1026.41%69843.84%1,592Franklin1,41116.18%5,98868.65%89110.21%4334.96%4,57752.47%8,723Garfield9216.43%40071.43%386.79%305.36%30855.00%560Grant2,05217.44%7,91867.30%1,18210.05%6135.21%5,86649.86%11,765Grays Harbor3,56727.18%5,87344.76%2,47218.84%1,2109.22%2,30617.57%13,122Island4,59821.99%10,89452.10%3,91418.72%1,5057.20%6,29630.11%20,911Jefferson2,37922.81%4,06839.00%3,11929.90%8648.28%9499.10%10,430King96,00025.34%127,16033.57%108,02828.52%47,59712.57%19,1325.05%378,785Kitsap14,21525.54%26,11446.92%10,03618.03%5,2939.51%11,89921.38%55,658Kittitas1,42118.69%4,58360.26%1,13614.94%4656.11%3,16241.58%7,605Klickitat66917.48%2,20557.60%69718.21%2576.71%1,50839.39%3,828Lewis2,31315.61%9,61164.87%2,04213.78%8495.73%7,29849.26%14,815Lincoln44014.95%2,10071.36%2729.24%1314.45%1,66056.41%2,943Mason3,28623.41%6,96949.65%2,47317.62%1,3099.33%3,68326.24%14,037Okanogan1,45218.62%4,73060.65%1,19515.32%4225.41%3,27842.03%7,799Pacific1,32823.63%2,56945.72%1,26022.42%4628.22%1,24122.09%5,619Pend Oreille65720.19%1,94959.90%42813.15%2206.76%1,29239.70%3,254Pierce41,52129.94%63,19645.57%17,12412.35%16,82612.13%21,67515.63%138,667San Juan91019.24%1,91040.38%1,51632.05%3948.33%3948.33%4,730Skagit5,56822.38%12,90951.90%4,40617.71%1,9928.01%7,34129.51%24,875Skamania39418.42%1,12052.36%48922.86%1366.36%63129.50%2,139Snohomish32,16024.81%58,75945.32%24,78919.12%13,94110.75%26,59920.52%129,649Spokane19,13720.69%51,86856.08%14,33615.50%7,1547.73%32,73135.39%92,495Stevens1,58615.69%6,75766.83%1,18411.71%5835.77%5,17151.15%10,110Thurston11,87722.61%22,66843.15%12,77324.31%5,2209.94%9,89518.83%52,538Wahkiakum26923.31%58750.87%20517.76%938.06%31827.56%1,154Walla Walla1,80915.55%7,39763.56%1,62613.97%8056.92%5,58848.02%11,637Whatcom8,15020.23%20,22050.19%8,42720.92%3,4908.66%11,79329.27%40,287Whitman1,16417.45%3,91258.65%96914.53%6259.37%2,74841.20%6,670Yakima5,97920.48%18,17762.26%3,25111.14%1,7876.12%12,19841.78%29,194Totals291,33522.98%584,44446.09%268,22021.15%123,9369.77%293,10923.12%1,267,935 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Asotin (largest city: Clarkston) Chelan (largest city: Wenatchee) Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles) Douglas (largest city: East Wenatchee) Island (largest city: Oak Harbor) Kittitas (largest city: Ellensburg) Klickitat (largest city: Goldendale) Lewis (largest city: Centralia) Okanogan (largest city: Omak) Pend Oreille (largest city: Newport) Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon) Skamania (largest city: Carson) Spokane (largest city: Spokane) Wahkiakum (largest city: Puget Island) Walla Walla (largest city: Walla Walla) Whatcom (largest city: Bellingham) Whitman (largest city: Pullman) Yakima (largest city: Yakima) right 275px Swing by county Legend #ff2a2a Republican — +10–12.5% #FF0000 Republican — +12.5–15% #D40000 Republican — +>15% 275px Trend relative to the state by county Legend #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0–2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5–5% #ff8080 Republican — +5–7.5% #FF5555 Republican — +7.5–10% #ff2a2a Republican — +10–12.5% #FF0000 Republican — +12.5–15% #D40000 Republican — +>15% 275px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold Republican #f48882 Hold #ca0120 Flip By congressional district District2012 Primary Data https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2012-primary-data.zip sos.wa.gov live https://web.archive.org/web/20250625074646/https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2012-primary-data.zip June 25, 2025 Kelley Watkins Pridemore Miloscia RepresentativeWashington 1 1st 23% 50% 18% 9%Suzan DelBeneWashington 2 2nd 24% 44% 21% 10%Rick LarsenWashington 3 3rd 14% 51% 29% 6%Jaime Herrera BeutlerWashington 4 4th 18% 66% 11% 6%Doc HastingsWashington 5 5th 20% 58% 15% 7%Cathy McMorris RodgersWashington 6 6th 26% 45% 18% 10%Norm DicksWashington 7 7th 26% 23% 40% 11%Jim McDermottWashington 8 8th 22% 54% 14% 11%Dave ReichertWashington 9 9th 26% 34% 23% 16%Adam SmithWashington 10 10th 28% 44% 17% 11%Denny Heck General election Post-primary endorsements Troy Kelley (D) Newspapers The Seattle Timeshttps://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/in-blistering-campaign-for-auditor-troy-kelley-has-the-edge/ https://web.archive.org/web/20240811150341/https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/in-blistering-campaign-for-auditor-troy-kelley-has-the-edge/ 2024-08-11 live In blistering campaign for auditor, Troy Kelley has the edge Editorial Board The Seattle Times October 14, 2012 The Seattle Times October 29, 2025 subscription Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TroyKelley (D) JamesWatkins (R) UndecidedElway ResearchElway ResearchOctober 18–21, 2012451 (RV)± 4.5%34%29%37%Elway ResearchElway ResearchSeptember 9–12, 2012405 (RV)± 5.0%36%27%38% Results 2012 Washington State Auditor election2011 General Data https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/2011-general-data.zip sos.wa.gov live https://web.archive.org/web/20250625074651/https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/2011-general-data.zip June 25, 2025 Washington Democratic Party Troy Kelley 1,512,620 52.95 –10.59 Washington Republican Party James Watkins 1,344,137 47.05 +10.59 2,856,757 100.00 N/A Washington State Democratic Party By county +County resultsCountyhttps://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/state-auditor_bycounty.html https://web.archive.org/web/20250627205131/https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/state-auditor_bycounty.html June 27, 2025 live State Auditor - County Results Reed Sam Sam Reed November 6, 2012 Secretary of State of Washington October 25, 2025Troy Kelley DemocraticJames Watkins RepublicanMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams1,34830.47%3,07669.53%-1,728-39.06%4,424Asotin3,77141.07%5,41158.93%-1,640-17.86%9,182Benton24,98934.20%48,08365.80%-23,094-31.60%73,072Chelan11,01637.36%18,47162.64%-7,455-25.28%29,487Clallam16,21646.21%18,87553.79%-2,659-7.58%35,091Clark82,40546.85%93,48153.15%-11,076-6.30%175,886Columbia57728.33%1,46071.67%-883-43.35%2,037Cowlitz20,78750.36%20,48649.64%3010.73%41,273Douglas4,58633.19%9,23366.81%-4,647-33.63%13,819Ferry1,22138.66%1,93761.34%-716-22.67%3,158Franklin7,73736.13%13,68063.87%-5,943-27.75%21,417Garfield33629.12%81870.88%-482-41.77%1,154Grant8,37732.52%17,38067.48%-9,003-34.95%25,757Grays Harbor14,38154.01%12,24545.99%2,1368.02%26,626Island18,70848.37%19,96751.63%-1,259-3.26%38,675Jefferson11,26361.63%7,01338.37%4,25023.25%18,276King558,93064.58%306,55335.42%252,37729.16%865,483Kitsap58,39051.05%55,98948.95%2,4012.10%114,379Kittitas6,76541.36%9,59058.64%-2,825-17.27%16,355Klickitat4,20944.21%5,31255.79%-1,103-11.58%9,521Lewis11,38136.23%20,03363.77%-8,652-27.54%31,414Lincoln1,60629.40%3,85670.60%-2,250-41.19%5,462Mason13,02649.59%13,23950.41%-213-0.81%26,265Okanogan6,45141.32%9,16258.68%-2,711-17.36%15,613Pacific5,14252.49%4,65447.51%4884.98%9,796Pend Oreille2,38138.34%3,82961.66%-1,448-23.32%6,210Pierce164,75851.90%152,71448.10%12,0443.79%317,472San Juan6,34764.87%3,43735.13%2,91029.74%9,784Skagit24,81848.85%25,98751.15%-1,169-2.30%50,805Skamania2,34746.75%2,67353.25%-326-6.49%5,020Snohomish160,48752.81%143,40347.19%17,0845.62%303,890Spokane90,85544.06%115,34055.94%-24,485-11.87%206,195Stevens7,15634.43%13,62865.57%-6,472-31.14%20,784Thurston63,09454.58%52,51545.42%10,5799.15%115,609Wahkiakum94746.24%1,10153.76%-154-7.52%2,048Walla Walla8,53337.04%14,50462.96%-5,971-25.92%23,037Whatcom50,32553.22%44,23546.78%6,0906.44%94,560Whitman6,80644.05%8,64655.95%-1,840-11.91%15,452Yakima30,14841.72%42,12158.28%-11,973-16.57%72,269Totals1,512,62052.95%1,344,13747.05%168,4835.90%2,856,757 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Asotin (largest city: Clarkston) Chelan (largest city: Wenatchee) Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles) Clark (largest city: Vancouver) Island (largest city: Oak Harbor) Kittitas (largest city: Ellensburg) Klickitat (largest city: Goldendale) Lewis (largest city: Centralia) Mason (largest city: Shelton) Okanogan (largest city: Omak) Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon) Skamania (largest city: Carson) Spokane (largest city: Spokane) Wahkiakum (largest city: Puget Island) Walla Walla (largest city: Walla Walla) Whitman (largest city: Pullman) Yakima (largest city: Yakima) right 275px Swing by county Legend #ff2a2a Republican — +10-12.5% #d40000 Republican — +>15% 275px Trend relative to the state by county Legend #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5-5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0-2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ff8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #ff2a2a Republican — +10-12.5% #d40000 Republican — +>15% 275px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold Republican #f48882 Hold #ca0120 Flip By congressional district Kelley won five of ten congressional districts, with the remaining five going to Watkins, including one that elected a Democrat.2012 General Data https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2012-general-data2.zip sos.wa.gov live https://web.archive.org/web/20240910015641/https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2012-general-data2.zip 2024-09-10 District Kelley Watkins RepresentativeWashington 1 1st 49.7% 50.3%Suzan DelBeneWashington 2 2nd 56% 44%Rick LarsenWashington 3 3rd 46% 54%Jaime Herrera BeutlerWashington 4 4th 37% 63%Doc HastingsWashington 5 5th 42% 58%Cathy McMorris RodgersWashington 6 6th53%47%Norm DicksDerek KilmerWashington 7 7th 75% 25%Jim McDermottWashington 8 8th 46% 54%Dave ReichertWashington 9 9th 64% 36%Adam SmithWashington 10 10th 54% 46%Denny Heck References State auditor Washington Washington State Auditor election