The 1988 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic Governor Booth Gardner won his second term over Republican State Representative Bob Williams in a landslide. This election was the first time since 1960 that an incumbent Democratic Governor of Washington was re-elected.

As of the 2020 election, this is the most one sided gubernatorial election in Washington State since Clarence Martin in 1936.

Blanket primary

Candidates

Democratic

  • Booth Gardner, incumbent governor of Washington
  • Jeanne Dixon
  • Richard "Onery Dick" Short
  • Ted Parker Fix

Republican

Independent

  • Baba Jeanne "BJ" Mangaoang, party leader

Results

Blanket primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Booth Gardner (incumbent) 539,243 57.64%
Republican Bob Williams 187,797 22.07%
Republican Norm Maleng 139,274 14.89%
Democratic Jeanne Dixon 31,917 3.41%
Democratic Richard "Onery Dick" Short 14,782 1.58%
Democratic Ted Parker Fix 9,302 0.99%
Republican Paul Dean Santos 7,370 0.79%
Independent Baba Jeanne Mangaoang 5,818 0.62%
Total votes 796,229 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Debates

Results

1988 Washington gubernatorial election results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Booth Gardner (incumbent) 1,166,448 62.21
Republican Bob Williams 708,481 37.79
Total votes 1,874,929 100.00
Democratic hold

References