2016 United States attorney general elections

For related races, see 2016 United States elections.

The 2016 United States attorney general elections were held on November 8, 2016, in 10 states.^[2] The previous attorney general elections for eight of the 10 states took place in 2012. The last attorney general elections for Utah and Vermont took place in 2014, as Utah held a special election due to the resignation of John Swallow, while the attorney general of Vermont serves two-year terms.^[3] The elections took place concurrently with the 2016 presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, and numerous state and local elections.

2016 United States attorney general elections

← 2015 November 8, 2016 2018 →
2017 (VA) →
10 attorney general offices 10 states[a]
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Seats before 23 20 Seats after 24 19 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 10,444,739[1] 11,149,338 Percentage 45.82% 48.92% Seats up 4 6 Seats won 5 5
Democratic hold      Republican hold      Republican gain      No election

Six state attorneys general ran for reelection and four did not. Missouri was only state that changed partisan control, where Republican Josh Hawley won the open seat, replacing outgoing Democrat Chris Koster.^[4] The four other open seats were won by the party which previously held the office, and all five incumbents who ran won re-election. Republicans expanded their majority control of popularly elected state attorneys general.

Results summary

State	Attorney General	Party	First elected	Result	Candidates
Indiana	Greg Zoeller	Republican	2008	Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Representative. New attorney general elected. Republican hold.	Y Curtis Hill (Republican) 62.3% Lorenzo Arredondo (Democratic) 37.7%
Missouri	Chris Koster	Democratic	2008	Incumbent retired to run for Governor of Missouri. New attorney general elected. Republican gain.	Y Josh Hawley (Republican) 58.5% Teresa Hensley (Democratic) 41.5%
Montana	Tim Fox	Republican	2012	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Tim Fox (Republican) 67.8% Larry Jent (Democratic) 32.3%
North Carolina	Roy Cooper	Democratic	2000	Incumbent retired to run for Governor of North Carolina. New attorney general elected. Democratic hold.	Y Josh Stein (Democratic) 50.3% Buck Newton (Republican) 49.7%
Oregon	Ellen Rosenblum	Democratic	2012[b]	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Ellen Rosenblum (Democratic) 55.2% Daniel Crowe (Republican) 41.4% Lars Hedbor (Libertarian) 3.2%
Pennsylvania	Bruce Beemer	Democratic	2016[c]	Incumbent retired. New attorney general elected. Democratic hold.	Y Josh Shapiro (Democratic) 51.4% John Rafferty Jr. (Republican) 48.6%
Utah	Sean Reyes	Republican	2013[d]	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Sean Reyes (Republican) 65.4% Jon Harper (Democratic) 25.1% Andrew McCullough (Libertarian) 6.7% Michael Isbell (Ind. American) 2.8%
Vermont	William Sorrell	Democratic	1997[e]	Incumbent retired. New attorney general elected. Democratic hold.	Y T. J. Donovan (Democratic) 66.6% Deborah Bucknam (Republican) 29.4% Rosemarie Jackowski (Liberty Union) 4.0%
Washington	Bob Ferguson	Democratic	2012	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Bob Ferguson (Democratic) 66.9% Joshua Trumbull (Libertarian) 32.8%
West Virginia	Patrick Morrisey	Republican	2012	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Patrick Morrisey (Republican) 51.6% Doug Reynolds (Democratic) 42.0% Karl Kolenich (Libertarian) 3.5% Michael Sharley (Mountain) 3.0%

Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

1. North Carolina, 0.4% (20,232 votes)

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

1. Pennsylvania, 2.8% (165,685 votes)

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. West Virginia, 9.7% (67,192 votes)

Indiana

2016 Indiana Attorney General election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Curtis Hill Lorenzo Arredondo Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,643,689 994,085 Percentage 62.3% 37.7%

County results Hill:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Arredondo:      50–60%      60–70%

Attorney General before election Greg Zoeller Republican Elected Attorney General Curtis Hill Republican

Main article: 2016 Indiana Attorney General election

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Greg Zoeller declined to run for a third term in order to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.^[5] Republicans chose Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill over former Attorney General Steve Carter, state senator Randall Head, and Deputy Attorney General Abby Kuzma at the Republican state convention on June 11.^[6] Democrats nominated Lorenzo Arredondo, former Lake County Circuit Judge.^[7] Hill won the election.

Indiana general election^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Curtis Hill	1,643,689	62.31
	Democratic	Lorenzo Arredondo	994,085	37.69
Total votes			2,637,774	100.00
	Republican hold

Missouri

2016 Missouri Attorney General election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Josh Hawley Teresa Hensley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,607,550 1,140,252 Percentage 58.5% 41.5%

County results Hawley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Hensley:      50–60%      70–80%

Attorney General before election Chris Koster Democratic Elected Attorney General Josh Hawley Republican

Main article: 2016 Missouri Attorney General election

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster chose not to run for re-election to a third term, but instead ran for Governor of Missouri.^[9][10][11]

Former Cass County prosecuting attorney Tereasa Hensley was nominated in the Democratic primary over St. Louis County assessor Jake Zimmerman.^[12][13] State senator Scott Sifton also announced his candidacy, but withdrew before the primary in order to run for re-election.^[14] The Republican nominee was MU law professor Josh Hawley, who was nominated over state senator Kurt Schaefer.^[15][16]

Although early polling showed a tighter race, Hawley won the election by a wide margin, becoming the first Republican attorney general since William L. Webster left office in 1993.

Missouri Democratic primary^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Teresa Hensley	167,626	52.72
	Democratic	Jake Zimmerman	150,322	47.28
Total votes			317,948	100.00

Missouri Republican primary^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Josh Hawley	415,702	64.22
	Republican	Kurt Schaefer	231,657	35.79
Total votes			647,359	100.00

Missouri general election^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Josh Hawley	1,607,550	58.50
	Democratic	Teresa Hensley	1,140,252	41.50
Total votes			2,747,802	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Montana

2016 Montana Attorney General election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Tim Fox Larry Jent Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 332,766 158,970 Percentage 67.7% 32.3%

County results Fox:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Jent:      50–60%      60–70%

Attorney General before election Tim Fox Republican Elected Attorney General Tim Fox Republican

Main article: 2016 Montana Attorney General election

Incumbent Republican Tim Fox ran for re-election to a second term and was unopposed in the Republican primary. The Democratic nominee was state senator Larry Jent, who also ran for the nomination unopposed. Fox easily won re-election.^[19]

Montana Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tim Fox (incumbent)	140,173	100.00
Total votes			140,173	100.00

Montana Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Larry Jent	102,171	100.00
Total votes			102,171	100.00

Montana general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tim Fox (incumbent)	332,766	67.67
	Democratic	Larry Jent	158,970	32.33
Total votes			491,736	100.00
	Republican hold

North Carolina

2016 North Carolina Attorney General election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Josh Stein Buck Newton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,303,619 2,279,006 Percentage 50.3% 49.7%

County results Stein:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Newton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Attorney General before election Roy Cooper Democratic Elected Attorney General Josh Stein Democratic

Main article: 2016 North Carolina Attorney General election

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper chose not to run for re-election to a fifth term in office, but instead successfully ran for Governor.^[20]

Primary elections were held on March 15. Democratic former state senator Josh Stein defeated Republican state senator Buck Newton in the general election.^[21][22]

North Carolina Democratic primary^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Josh Stein	510,003	53.37
	Democratic	Marcus Williams	445,524	46.63
Total votes			955,527	100.00

North Carolina Republican primary^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Buck Newton	503,880	54.89
	Republican	Jim O'Neill	414,073	45.11
Total votes			917,953	100.00

North Carolina general election^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Josh Stein	2,303,619	50.27
	Republican	Buck Newton	2,279,006	49.73
Total votes			4,582,625	100.00
	Democratic hold

Oregon

2016 Oregon Attorney General election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Ellen Rosenblum Daniel Crowe Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,035,361 776,664 Percentage 55.2% 41.4%

County results Rosenblum:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Crowe:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Attorney General before election Ellen Rosenblum Democratic Elected Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum Democratic

Main article: 2016 Oregon Attorney General election

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum ran for re-election to a second full term. She won the election over Republican nominee Daniel Zene Crowe.^[25]

Oregon general election^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ellen Rosenblum (incumbent)	1,011,761	54.97
	Republican	Daniel Zene Crowe	766,753	41.66
	Libertarian	Lars Hedbor	58,609	3.18
	Write-in		3,507	0.19
Total votes			1,840,630	100.00
	Democratic hold

Pennsylvania

2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Josh Shapiro John Rafferty Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 3,057,010 2,891,325 Percentage 51.4% 48.6%

County results Shapiro:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90% Rafferty:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Attorney General before election Bruce Beemer Democratic Elected Attorney General Josh Shapiro Democratic

Main article: 2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Kathleen Kane originally indicated her intention to seek re-election, but dropped out after she was criminally charged with violating grand jury secrecy laws stemming from alleged leaks of grand jury investigation details to embarrass a political enemy.^[27][28] Inspector General Bruce Beemer was appointed to fill out the remainder of her term, although he did not seek election to a full term.

Democratic candidates included Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli,^[29] Montgomery County Board of Supervisors chair Josh Shapiro,^[30] and Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala.^[31] The Republican primary was between two candidates: state senator John Rafferty Jr. and former prosecutor Joe Peters.^[32][33] Shapiro and Rafferty won their respective primaries.^[34]

Governing rated this election as a tossup.^[35] Shapiro narrowly defeated Rafferty in the general election.

Pennsylvania Democratic primary^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Josh Shapiro	725,168	47.03
	Democratic	Stephen Zappala	566,501	36.74
	Democratic	John Morganelli	250,097	16.22
Total votes			1,541,766	100.00

Pennsylvania Republican primary^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Rafferty Jr.	819,510	63.82
	Republican	Joe Peters	464,491	36.18
Total votes			1,284,001	100.00

Pennsylvania general election^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Josh Shapiro	3,057,010	51.39
	Republican	John Rafferty Jr.	2,891,325	48.61
Total votes			5,948,335	100.00
	Democratic hold

Utah

2016 Utah Attorney General election

← 2014 (special) November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Sean Reyes Jon Harper Andrew McCullough Party Republican Democratic Libertarian Popular vote 719,064 275,571 73,975 Percentage 65.4% 25.1% 6.7%

County results Reyes:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Harper:      40–50%

Attorney General before election Sean Reyes Republican Elected Attorney General Sean Reyes Republican

Main article: 2016 Utah Attorney General election

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Sean Reyes ran for re-election to a full term after serving the remainder of John Swallow's term. He easily won the general election, defeating Democratic nominee Jon Harper and Libertarian nominee Andrew McCullogh.^[37]

Utah general election^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sean Reyes (incumbent)	719,064	65.41
	Democratic	Jon Harper	275,571	25.07
	Libertarian	Andrew McCullough	73,975	6.73
	Independent American	Michael Isbell	30,687	2.79
Total votes			1,099,297	100.00
	Republican hold

Vermont

2016 Vermont Attorney General election

← 2014 November 8, 2016 2018 →

Nominee T. J. Donovan Deborah Bucknam Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 200,020 88,431 Percentage 66.6% 29.4%

County results Donovan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Buckman:      40–50%

Attorney General before election William Sorrell Democratic Elected Attorney General T. J. Donovan Democratic

Main article: 2016 Vermont Attorney General election

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General William Sorrell, the state's longest-serving Attorney General (since 1997), did not run for re-election.^[39] Democratic nominee T.J. Donovan won the general election.^[40]

Vermont Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	T. J. Donovan	49,017	80.16
	Democratic	H. Brooke Paige	11,917	19.49
	Write-in		214	0.35
Total votes			61,148	100.00

Vermont Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Deborah Bucknam	31,173	95.48
	Write-in		1,477	4.52
Total votes			32,650	100.00

Vermont general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	T. J. Donovan	200,020	66.56
	Republican	Deborah Bucknam	88,431	29.43
	Liberty Union	Rosemarie Jackowski	11,844	3.94
	Write-in		202	0.07
Total votes			300,497	100.00
	Democratic hold

Washington

2016 Washington Attorney General election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Bob Ferguson Joshua B. Trumbull Party Democratic Libertarian Popular vote 2,000,804 979,105 Percentage 66.9% 32.8%

County results Ferguson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Trumbull:      50–60%

Attorney General before election Bob Ferguson Democratic Elected Attorney General Bob Ferguson Democratic

Main article: 2016 Washington Attorney General election

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson sought re-election, opposed by Joshua B. Trumbull, who ran as a Libertarian.^[41] In the general election, Ferguson won re-election to a second term, defeating Trumbull.^[42]

Washington blanket primary^[43]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Ferguson (incumbent)	906,493	72.61
	Libertarian	Joshua B. Trumbull	341,932	27.39
Total votes			1,248,425	100.00

Washington general election^[44]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Ferguson (incumbent)	2,000,804	66.93
	Libertarian	Joshua B. Trumbull	979,105	32.75
	Write-in		9,567	0.32
Total votes			2,989,476	100.00
	Democratic hold

West Virginia

2016 West Virginia Attorney General election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Patrick Morrisey Doug Reynolds Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 358,424 291,232 Percentage 51.6% 42.0%

County results Morrisey:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Reynolds:      40–50%      50–60%

Attorney General before election Patrick Morrisey Republican Elected Attorney General Patrick Morrisey Republican

Main article: 2016 West Virginia Attorney General election

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey ran for re-election to a second term. He faced Democratic state delegate Doug Reynolds in the general election, with both being unopposed in their respective primaries. Morrisey won the general election.^[45]

West Virginia Republican primary^[46]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Patrick Morrisey (incumbent)	157,369	100.00
Total votes			157,369	100.00

West Virginia Democratic primary^[46]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Doug Reynolds	187,786	100.00
Total votes			187,786	100.00

West Virginia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Patrick Morrisey (incumbent)	358,424	51.64
	Democratic	Doug Reynolds	291,232	41.96
	Libertarian	Karl Kolenich	24,023	3.46
	Mountain	Michael Sharley	20,475	2.95
Total votes			694,154	100.00
	Republican hold

Notes

1. Seat tallies and popular vote do not include states that do not elect attorneys general or territorial attorneys general.
2. Rosenblum took office after her predecessor (John Kroger) resigned. She was subsequently elected in the 2012 Oregon Attorney General election.
3. Beemer took office after his predecessor (Kathleen Kane) resigned.
4. Reyes took office after his predecessor (John Swallow) resigned. He was subsequently elected in the 2014 Utah Attorney General special election.
5. Sorrell took office after his predecessor (Jeffrey Amestoy) resigned. He was subsequently elected in 1998.