1983 United States Senate special election in Washington
November 8, 1983
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County results Evans: 50–60% 60–70% Lowry: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Washington (state) |
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The 1983 United States Senate special election in Washington was a special election held to fill the seat which had been held by longtime Senator Henry Jackson, who unexpectedly died on September 1.[1] Three-term former Governor Dan Evans was appointed by Governor John Spellman on September 8,[2][3] and he won the special election over congressman Mike Lowry on November 8.[4] Jackson had won a sixth term the previous year, so more than five years remained in the term.
The legislature ordered a primary election on October 11;[5] it featured 33 candidates (19 Democrats, 13 Republicans, and one Socialist Labor),[6][7] setting the modern record for number of candidates in a Washington U.S. Senate election.[8]
As of 2026, this was the last time King County voted for a Republican U.S. Senate candidate. This was the first time since 1923 that Republicans held both Senate seats in the state.
Blanket primary
Candidates
Democratic
- Mike Lowry, U.S. Representative from the 7th congressional district
- Charles Royer, Mayor of Seattle
- James R.F. Curdy
- Mike Olmer
Republican
- Daniel J. Evans, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Lloyd E. Cooney, former KIRO-TV commentator
- Larry Penberthy
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Daniel J. Evans (incumbent) | 250,046 | 36.68% | |
| Democratic | Mike Lowry | 179,509 | 26.33% | |
| Republican | Lloyd E. Cooney | 133,799 | 19.63% | |
| Democratic | Charles Royer | 103,304 | 15.15% | |
| Republican | Larry Penberthy | 1,642 | 0.24% | |
| Democratic | James R.F. Curdy | 1,206 | 0.18% | |
| Democratic | Mike Olmer | 1,032 | 0.15% | |
| Total votes | 670,538 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Daniel J. Evans (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
- Mike Lowry (D), U.S. Representative from the 7th congressional district
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Daniel J. Evans (incumbent) | 672,326 | 55.41 | |
| Democratic | Mike Lowry | 540,981 | 44.59 | |
| Total votes | 1,213,307 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
By county
| County[9] | Daniel J. Evans
Republican |
Mike Lowry
Democratic |
Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 2,118 | 64.99% | 1,141 | 35.01% | 977 | 29.98% | 3,259 |
| Asotin | 2,486 | 58.38% | 1,772 | 41.62% | 714 | 16.77% | 4,258 |
| Benton | 17,477 | 67.46% | 8,429 | 32.54% | 9,048 | 34.93% | 25,906 |
| Chelan | 8,757 | 64.17% | 4,889 | 35.83% | 3,868 | 28.35% | 13,646 |
| Clallam | 8,849 | 53.75% | 7,613 | 46.25% | 1,236 | 7.51% | 16,462 |
| Clark | 19,924 | 50.24% | 19,731 | 49.76% | 193 | 0.49% | 39,655 |
| Columbia | 879 | 57.68% | 645 | 42.32% | 234 | 15.35% | 1,524 |
| Cowlitz | 9,012 | 49.07% | 9,352 | 50.93% | -340 | -1.85% | 18,364 |
| Douglas | 3,926 | 63.14% | 2,292 | 36.86% | 1,634 | 26.28% | 6,218 |
| Ferry | 697 | 45.92% | 821 | 54.08% | -124 | -8.17% | 1,518 |
| Franklin | 4,107 | 56.35% | 3,182 | 43.65% | 925 | 12.69% | 7,289 |
| Garfield | 649 | 58.36% | 463 | 41.64% | 186 | 16.73% | 1,112 |
| Grant | 7,539 | 61.24% | 4,772 | 38.76% | 2,767 | 22.48% | 12,311 |
| Grays Harbor | 7,977 | 42.50% | 10,791 | 57.50% | -2,814 | -14.99% | 18,768 |
| Island | 8,862 | 63.82% | 5,024 | 36.18% | 3,838 | 27.64% | 13,886 |
| Jefferson | 3,393 | 49.44% | 3,470 | 50.56% | -77 | -1.12% | 6,863 |
| King | 244,145 | 55.94% | 192,264 | 44.06% | 51,881 | 11.89% | 436,409 |
| Kitsap | 23,375 | 54.07% | 19,854 | 45.93% | 3,521 | 8.14% | 43,229 |
| Kittitas | 4,193 | 52.54% | 3,788 | 47.46% | 405 | 5.07% | 7,981 |
| Klickitat | 1,880 | 53.29% | 1,648 | 46.71% | 232 | 6.58% | 3,528 |
| Lewis | 8,681 | 53.28% | 7,613 | 46.72% | 1,068 | 6.55% | 16,294 |
| Lincoln | 2,428 | 59.94% | 1,623 | 40.06% | 805 | 19.87% | 4,051 |
| Mason | 5,661 | 51.06% | 5,426 | 48.94% | 235 | 2.12% | 11,087 |
| Okanogan | 4,480 | 53.58% | 3,881 | 46.42% | 599 | 7.16% | 8,361 |
| Pacific | 2,601 | 42.77% | 3,481 | 57.23% | -880 | -14.47% | 6,082 |
| Pend Oreille | 1,287 | 50.57% | 1,258 | 49.43% | 29 | 1.14% | 2,545 |
| Pierce | 63,447 | 53.43% | 55,291 | 46.57% | 8,156 | 6.87% | 118,738 |
| San Juan | 2,188 | 55.58% | 1,749 | 44.42% | 439 | 11.15% | 3,937 |
| Skagit | 11,815 | 51.98% | 10,916 | 48.02% | 899 | 3.95% | 22,731 |
| Skamania | 950 | 49.92% | 953 | 50.08% | -3 | -0.16% | 1,903 |
| Snohomish | 55,515 | 55.77% | 44,024 | 44.23% | 11,491 | 11.54% | 99,539 |
| Spokane | 49,893 | 55.54% | 39,944 | 44.46% | 9,949 | 11.07% | 89,837 |
| Stevens | 4,499 | 57.50% | 3,326 | 42.50% | 1,173 | 14.99% | 7,825 |
| Thurston | 24,752 | 58.24% | 17,746 | 41.76% | 7,006 | 16.49% | 42,498 |
| Wahkiakum | 535 | 43.67% | 690 | 56.33% | -155 | -12.65% | 1,225 |
| Walla Walla | 6,898 | 58.30% | 4,933 | 41.70% | 1,965 | 16.61% | 11,831 |
| Whatcom | 17,932 | 52.42% | 16,276 | 47.58% | 1,656 | 4.84% | 34,208 |
| Whitman | 6,184 | 62.48% | 3,714 | 37.52% | 2,470 | 24.95% | 9,898 |
| Yakima | 22,335 | 57.97% | 16,196 | 42.03% | 6,139 | 15.93% | 38,531 |
| Totals | 672,326 | 55.41% | 540,981 | 44.59% | 131,345 | 10.83% | 1,213,307 |
See also
References
- ^ "Sen. Henry Jackson is dead". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. September 2, 1983. p. 1.
- ^ "Daniel Evans will succeed Sen. Jackson". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. September 9, 1983. p. 1.
- ^ Balz, Dan (September 9, 1983). "Spellman picks Evans to fill Senate vacancy". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. (Washington Post). p. 1A.
- ^ Moody, Dick (November 9, 1983). "Evans sweeps to Senate victory". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. A1.
- ^ White, John (September 12, 1983). "Senate candidates gear up for primary race". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. p. 6.
- ^ "Today's vote will narrow Senate field". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. staff and wire reports. October 11, 1983. p. 1.
- ^ Moody, Dick (October 12, 1983). "The winners: Evans Lowry". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 1.
- ^ Camden, Jim (May 19, 2018). "U.S. Senate primary: Cantwell and 29 challengers". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ a b Munro, Ralph (November 8, 1983). "Elections Search Results November 1983 General U. S. Senator". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved January 22, 2026.