1992 United States Senate election in Washington
November 3, 1992
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County results Murray: 50–60% 60–70% Chandler: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Washington (state) |
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The 1992 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Democratic Senator Brock Adams chose not to run for re-election to a second term after eight different women made allegations that he had engaged in various acts of sexual misconduct, including harassment and rape.[1] Adams denied the allegations, but his popularity statewide was weakened considerably by them, and he chose to retire rather than risk costing the party his seat.
State Senator Patty Murray defeated Republican U.S. Representative Rod Chandler in the race to succeed Adams. Chandler seemed to have the upper hand in one of the debates until, for some unknown reason, he quoted the Roger Miller song "Dang Me."[2] He was further damaged by the unpopularity of President George H. W. Bush in the Pacific Northwest.
Blanket primary
Candidates
Democratic
- Don Bonker, former U.S. Representative from Vancouver and candidate for Senate in 1988
- Gene Hart
- Patty Murray, State Senator from Bothell
- Jeffery Brian Venezia
Independent
- LaPriel C. Barnes
Republican
- Rod Chandler, U.S. Representative from Bellevue
- Leo K. Thorsness, State Senator from Renton
- Tim Hill, King County Executive
Socialist Workers
- Mark Severs
Washington Taxpayers
- William Cassius Goodloe, former Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Patty Murray | 318,455 | 28.32% | |
| Republican | Rod Chandler | 228,083 | 20.28% | |
| Democratic | Don Bonker | 208,321 | 18.52% | |
| Republican | Leo K. Thorsness | 185,498 | 16.49% | |
| Republican | Tim Hill | 128,232 | 11.40% | |
| Democratic | Gene D. Hart | 15,894 | 1.41% | |
| Democratic | Marshall | 11,659 | 1.04% | |
| Washington Taxpayers | William Cassius Goodloe | 10,877 | 0.97% | |
| Democratic | Jeffery Brian Venezia | 7,259 | 0.65% | |
| Independent | LaPriel C. Barnes | 7,044 | 0.63% | |
| Socialist Workers | Mark Severs | 3,309 | 0.29% | |
| Total votes | 1,124,631 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Patty Murray | 1,197,973 | 53.99% | +3.33% | |
| Republican | Rod Chandler | 1,020,829 | 46.01% | –2.66% | |
| Total votes | 2,218,802 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
By county
| County[4] | Patty Murray
Democratic |
Rod Chandler
Republican |
Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 1,656 | 36.52% | 2,879 | 63.48% | -1,223 | -26.97% | 4,535 |
| Asotin | 3,686 | 49.88% | 3,703 | 50.12% | -17 | -0.23% | 7,389 |
| Benton | 19,180 | 37.08% | 32,542 | 62.92% | -13,362 | -25.83% | 51,722 |
| Chelan | 9,174 | 41.01% | 13,195 | 58.99% | -4,021 | -17.98% | 22,369 |
| Clallam | 13,896 | 49.34% | 14,268 | 50.66% | -372 | -1.32% | 28,164 |
| Clark | 57,767 | 55.71% | 45,923 | 44.29% | 11,844 | 11.42% | 103,690 |
| Columbia | 728 | 39.22% | 1,128 | 60.78% | -400 | -21.55% | 1,856 |
| Cowlitz | 18,955 | 56.73% | 14,457 | 43.27% | 4,498 | 13.46% | 33,412 |
| Douglas | 4,407 | 40.72% | 6,416 | 59.28% | -2,009 | -18.56% | 10,823 |
| Ferry | 1,213 | 48.70% | 1,278 | 51.30% | -65 | -2.61% | 2,491 |
| Franklin | 4,852 | 40.79% | 7,042 | 59.21% | -2,190 | -18.41% | 11,894 |
| Garfield | 468 | 36.28% | 822 | 63.72% | -354 | -27.44% | 1,290 |
| Grant | 8,485 | 39.97% | 12,741 | 60.03% | -4,256 | -20.05% | 21,226 |
| Grays Harbor | 15,265 | 57.04% | 11,495 | 42.96% | 3,770 | 14.09% | 26,760 |
| Island | 13,721 | 50.74% | 13,320 | 49.26% | 401 | 1.48% | 27,041 |
| Jefferson | 7,382 | 58.59% | 5,218 | 41.41% | 2,164 | 17.17% | 12,600 |
| King | 458,177 | 59.64% | 310,014 | 40.36% | 148,163 | 19.29% | 768,191 |
| Kitsap | 43,413 | 49.92% | 43,547 | 50.08% | -134 | -0.15% | 86,960 |
| Kittitas | 6,366 | 52.37% | 5,789 | 47.63% | 577 | 4.75% | 12,155 |
| Klickitat | 3,547 | 54.13% | 3,006 | 45.87% | 541 | 8.26% | 6,553 |
| Lewis | 10,066 | 37.79% | 16,573 | 62.21% | -6,507 | -24.43% | 26,639 |
| Lincoln | 1,782 | 36.44% | 3,108 | 63.56% | -1,326 | -27.12% | 4,890 |
| Mason | 10,606 | 54.40% | 8,890 | 45.60% | 1,716 | 8.80% | 19,496 |
| Okanogan | 5,855 | 46.15% | 6,832 | 53.85% | -977 | -7.70% | 12,687 |
| Pacific | 5,464 | 60.42% | 3,579 | 39.58% | 1,885 | 20.84% | 9,043 |
| Pend Oreille | 2,158 | 47.65% | 2,371 | 52.35% | -213 | -4.70% | 4,529 |
| Pierce | 128,681 | 54.99% | 105,346 | 45.01% | 23,335 | 9.97% | 234,027 |
| San Juan | 4,008 | 58.64% | 2,827 | 41.36% | 1,181 | 17.28% | 6,835 |
| Skagit | 21,037 | 52.55% | 18,992 | 47.45% | 2,045 | 5.11% | 40,029 |
| Skamania | 2,059 | 59.42% | 1,406 | 40.58% | 653 | 18.85% | 3,465 |
| Snohomish | 107,217 | 54.45% | 89,689 | 45.55% | 17,528 | 8.90% | 196,906 |
| Spokane | 77,585 | 46.61% | 88,857 | 53.39% | -11,272 | -6.77% | 166,442 |
| Stevens | 5,847 | 41.58% | 8,214 | 58.42% | -2,367 | -16.83% | 14,061 |
| Thurston | 47,337 | 56.78% | 36,038 | 43.22% | 11,299 | 13.55% | 83,375 |
| Wahkiakum | 932 | 54.60% | 775 | 45.40% | 157 | 9.20% | 1,707 |
| Walla Walla | 9,093 | 47.46% | 10,067 | 52.54% | -974 | -5.08% | 19,160 |
| Whatcom | 29,836 | 52.54% | 26,950 | 47.46% | 2,886 | 5.08% | 56,786 |
| Whitman | 6,610 | 45.88% | 7,798 | 54.12% | -1,188 | -8.25% | 14,408 |
| Yakima | 29,462 | 46.62% | 33,734 | 53.38% | -4,272 | -6.76% | 63,196 |
| Totals | 1,197,973 | 53.99% | 1,020,829 | 46.01% | 177,144 | 7.98% | 2,218,802 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Asotin (Largest city: Clarkston)
- Ferry (Largest city: Republic)
- Kitsap (Largest city: Bremerton)
- Pend Oreille (Largest city: Newport)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Island (Largest city: Oak Harbor)
- Kittitas (Largest city: Ellensburg)
- San Juan (Largest city: Friday Harbor)
- Skagit (Largest city: Mount Vernon)
See also
References
- ^ Boardman, D.; Gilmore, S.; Nalder, E.; Pryne, E. (March 1, 1992). "8 More Women Accuse Adams--Allegations of Two Decades of Sexual Harassment, Abuse - And a Rape". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ^ Cantwell snubs McGavick on debates By Joel Connelly Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- ^ "Elections Search Results - September 1992 Primary". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Munro, Ralph (November 3, 1992). "Elections Search Results November 1992 General U. S. Senator". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved January 22, 2026.