| Cities | Population |
| Afton | 2,886 |
| Bayport | 4,024 |
| Birchwood Village | 863 |
| Cottage Grove | 38,839 |
| Dellwood | 1,063 |
| Forest Lake | 20,611 |
| Grant | 4,096 |
| Hastings | 22,154 |
| Hugo | 14,767 |
| Lake Elmo | 12,899 |
| District 1 | Fran Miron |
| District 2 | Stan Karwoski |
| District 3 | Gary Kriesel |
| District 4 | Wayne A. Johnson |
| District 5 | Lisa Weik |
Washington County voters slightly tend to vote Democratic. In 63% of national elections since 1948, the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).
Like all counties in Minnesota, Washington is governed by an elected and nonpartisan board of commissioners. Each commissioner represents a district of approximately equal population.
Washington County is divided among three congressional districts. Northern Washington County is represented by Minnesota's 6th congressional district (CPVI R+12), central Washington County by Minnesota's 4th congressional district (CPVI D+14), and southern Washington County by Minnesota's 2nd congressional district (CPVI EVEN).
