Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, speaks at a press conference on the upcoming Senate procedural vote on the codification of Roe v. Wade at the U.S. Capitol on May 5, 2022 in Washington. , DC.
TNS
Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray leads after ballots are counted Tuesday night in the primary.
Murray won 57.5% of the vote in the first statewide mail-in vote count, while Republican Tiffany Smiley trailed with 42.33%. This is reported on the website of the Secretary of State.
Recent polls have shown the race is tightening, however, and some pollsters noted that this could be Murray’s closest race since her 2010 victory over Republican challenger Dino Rossi, whom she defeated by 5 points. Murray has served in the US Senate since 1993.
Now is the election for the US Senate is in the top 25 for the highest spending in the U.S., according to a report by KING 5. Murray spent about $21 million on her campaign, while Smiley spent about $15 million, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Both candidates are out of step with many politicians, so voters had a clear choice.
Smiley campaigned on issues such as cutting “wasteful spending,” crime and permanently extending former President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. She also strongly opposed President Joe Biden’s student loan debt relief.
During her campaign, Smiley was asked to clarify her stance on a number of issues, such as whether she believes Biden was elected fairly and whether she believes climate change is human-caused. When asked directly, she acknowledged Biden’s victory and agreed that humans have contributed to climate change, both statements contradicting her previous statements.
Meanwhile, Murray’s campaign focused on abortion rights, education and health care. After Roe v. Wade was overturned in June, the senator campaigned hard to support federal protections for reproductive health. Murray also fully supported Biden’s debt recovery for student loan borrowers.
During the primary, Murray won nearly 52% of the vote, while Smiley won about 33% of the vote.
Ballot counting will continue until the results are officially certified by each precinct on November 29. They will be certified by the Secretary of State on December 8.
