Patty Murray

In the 2022 Senate race for WA Senate seat, Patty Murray (D) won with 57.1% of the vote, defeating Tiffany Smiley (R) who received 42.6%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Patty Murray's 14.5-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Maria Cantwell (D) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Democrat, Patty Murray won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Democrat Biden was in office).

In the 2016 Senate race for WA Senate seat, Patty Murray (D) defeated Chris Vance (R) 59.0% to 41.0%. Patty Murray received 1,913,979 votes compared to 1,329,338 for Chris Vance, a comfortable 18.0-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Maria Cantwell (D) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2016 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.