Denny Heck leads in race for lieutenant governor in early results
Nov 3, 2020, 8:28 PM | Updated: Oct 7, 2024, 9:13 am
Denny Heck (left) and Marko Liias (right).
(right)
Denny Heck (47%) is in the lead over Marko Liias (34%) in the race for Washington state’s Lieutenant Governor, according to early election results.
Check election results across Washington state
Current Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib announced in March that he wouldn’t run again for the office as he’s joining the Jesuits. His vacated seat prompted 11 candidates to run, with Democrats Denny Heck and Marko Liias emerging as the top two candidates in the August Primary.
In addition to being the first in line of succession if the governor were to die, resign, or be removed from office, the Lt. Governor is also the president of the Washington State Senate.
Liias has been a state senator since 2014. Liias served in the state House of Representatives, representing District 21-Position 2 since 2008. Before that, Liias lost in the 2016 primary election in a race for state treasurer. Liias also served on the Mukilteo City Council.
Rep. Heck first ran for Congress in 2010 for Washington’s 3rd District. After advancing out of the primary, he ultimately lost to Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler, before going on to win the newly-created District 10 seat in 2012. Before that, he served as the Majority Leader in the Washington State House of Representatives.
Heck announced his retirement from Congress in December 2019, citing long hours working on potential election interference by Russia. When asked why he doesn’t just step aside and enjoy his retirement, Heck explained that he only said he was retiring from Congress, not all of politics.
