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{{Short description|American politician (born 1950)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}

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2023}}

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}}{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Party positions{{nobold|2001–{{wj}}2023}}

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}}| jr/sr10 = United States SenatorWashington (state)>Washington| alongside10 = Maria Cantwell| predecessor10 = Brock Adams| term_start10 = January 3, 1993| state_senate11 = WashingtonWashington's 1st legislative district>1st| term_start11 = January 9, 1989| term_end11 = January 3, 1993| predecessor11 = Bill Kiskaddon| successor11 = Rosemary McAuliffeDemocratic Party (United States)>Democratic| birth_name = Patricia Lynn Johns195011}}| birth_place = Bothell, Washington, U.S.| death_date = Rob Murray|1972}}| children = 2murray.senate.gov|Senate website}}Washington State University (Bachelor of Arts>BA)Politicianeducator}}| signature =pos=centerfilename=Patty Murray speaks in opposition to legislation that would enact nationwide abortion restrictions.oggtype=speech|description=Patty Murray speaks in opposition to legislation that would enact nationwide abortion restrictionsRecorded September 14, 2022}}}}Patricia Lynn Murray ({{née|Johns}}; born October 11, 1950) is an American politician who has served as president pro tempore of the United States Senate since 2023 and the senior United States Senator from Washington since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, Murray served in the Washington State Senate from 1989 to 1993. She was Washington's first female U.S. senator and is the first woman in American history to hold the position of president pro tempore. Murray is also the youngest senator to occupy the office of president pro tempore in more than five decades.WEB, Sen. Patty Murray expected to become third in line for presidency,weblink KING-5, November 16, 2022, November 17, 2022, As president pro tempore, Murray is third in the line of succession to the U.S. presidency.{{efn|Murray was second in the line of succession from October 3 to 25, when the Speakership of the House of Representatives was vacant following the removal of Kevin McCarthy on October 3, 2023, until the election of Mike Johnson, as speaker.}}Born and raised in Bothell, Washington, Murray graduated from Washington State University with a degree in physical education. She worked as a pre-school teacher and, later, as a parenting teacher at Shoreline Community College. A long-time advocate for environmental and education issues, Murray was elected to serve on her local school board in King County. She ran for the Washington State Senate in 1988, and defeated two-term incumbent Bill Kiskaddon. She served one term before launching a campaign for the United States Senate in 1992. She has been re-elected five times, most recently in 2022.As a senator, Murray has been a part of party leadership since 2001, having served as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Conference secretary, and assistant Democratic leader. She currently chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. Before assuming her current roles, Murray has previously chaired at various times, the Veterans' Affairs Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Murray garnered national attention in 2013, when she and Republican representative Paul Ryan announced that they had negotiated a two-year, bipartisan budget, known as the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. Murray is currently the third-most senior senator,WEB, Senate Seniority,weblink 2023-10-09, United States Senate Periodical Press Gallery, en-US, the most senior Senate Democrat, the longest serving woman to ever serve in the Senate, and the dean of Washington's congressional delegation.{{TOC limit|3}}

Early life and education

One of seven children, Murray was born in Bothell, Washington, a daughter of David L. Johns and Beverly A. McLaughlin.WEB,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080127052125weblink">weblink dead, January 27, 2008, patty murray, freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com, Her mother was an accountant. Her father served in World War II and was awarded a Purple Heart. Her ancestry includes Welsh, Irish, Scottish, and French-Canadian. When she was a teenager, her family was forced to apply for welfare assistance when her father became disabled due to multiple sclerosis. He had been the manager of a five-and-ten store.WEB,weblink Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA Takes Hard Line on Fiscal Cliff, C-SPAN, July 21, 2012, September 30, 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120930182925weblink">weblink dead, Murray attended Saint Brendan Catholic School as a young child.Murray received a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from Washington State University in 1972.

Early career

Murray was a preschool teacher for several years, and taught a parenting class at Shoreline Community College from 1984 to 1987.WEB, MURRAY, Patty (1950) - Biography,weblink August 24, 2007, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, As a citizen-lobbyist for environmental and educational issues, Murray has said that a state representative once told her she could not make a difference because she was just a "mom in tennis shoes".NEWS, Egan, Timothy, Timothy Egan, September 17, 1992, Another Win By a Woman, This One 'Mom', A16, The New York Times,weblink February 12, 2021, 0362-4331, The phrase stuck, and she later used it in her successful campaigns for the Shoreline School District board of directors (1985–89), Washington State Senate (1989–93), and United States Senate (1993–present). Murray was successful in gathering grassroots support to strike down proposed preschool program budget cuts.WEB, About Patty, Office of Senator Patty Murray, murray.senate.gov,weblink October 16, 2020, January 7, 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170107010900weblink">weblink dead, WEB,weblink Senator Patty Murray co-chairs the deficit commission but can't connect dots, freedomsphoenix.com, August 11, 2011, February 11, 2013, In 1988, Murray unseated two-term incumbent Republican state Senator Bill Kiskaddon.WEB,weblink Legislator Bill Kiskaddon was one of last to benefit from partisan redistricting, Smith, Evan, December 11, 2015, The Everett Herald, April 22, 2020,

U.S. Senate (1993–present)

Murray has served in the United States Senate since her election in 1992. For the 118th Congress in 2023, she was elected Senate president pro tempore after Patrick Leahy retired from the Senate; the office is usually held by the longest served senior senator of the majority party, but Senator Dianne Feinstein (who was also elected in 1992, but took her seat a few months prior to Murray because she won a special election, rather than a regularly scheduled one) declined the post due to ailing health, leaving Murray the next in line for the position. Murray would ultimately become the most senior serving Democrat upon Feinstein's death later that year. Murray is the first woman to hold the position.NEWS, Jalonik, Mary Clare, January 4, 2023, Murray becomes first female president pro tempore in Senate, en, 2023–01–04,weblink January 4, 2023, As president pro tempore of the Senate, she is currently third in the United States presidential line of succession. Murray is also the current chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.Murray is the first woman, and 33rd senator overall, to have cast 10,000 votes in the Senate, having reached the threshold on April 20, 2023.NEWS,weblink Sen. Murray becomes first woman to cast 10,000 votes in the Senate, Knutson, Jake, April 20, 2023, April 20, 2023, Axios (website), Axios,

Elections

1992

{{see also|1992 United States Senate election in Washington}}In 1992, Murray announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate after The Seattle Times published a series of articles alleging that incumbent Democratic Senator Brock Adams had sexually assaulted a number of women.NEWS, Mark Matassa and David Schaefer, Who'll Run for Adams' Seat? -- Scramble on After Senator Withdraws, Seattle Times, March 2, 1992, WEB, Wilma, David, September 10, 2004, Adams, Brock (1927–2004),weblink February 24, 2007, HistoryLink, Adams denied the allegations, but his popularity weakened considerably and he chose to retire rather than risk losing the seat for his party. Murray defeated Congressman Don Bonker for the Democratic nomination. In the general election she defeated Republican Congressman Rod Chandler, 54% to 46%, despite being outspent by a wide margin. Chandler seemed to have the upper hand in one of the debates until he responded to Murray's criticism for spending $120,000 on congressional mailings during rising unemployment and declining family income as part of an economic recession by quoting the Roger Miller song "Dang Me".WEB, Connelly, Joel, September 19, 2006, Cantwell snubs McGavick on debates,weblink Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Chandler was further damaged by the unpopularity in the Pacific Northwest of President George H. W. Bush, who was largely blamed for the recession.{{Election box begin no change {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box total no change }}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box total no change }}{{Election box hold with party link no swing| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}

1998

{{see also|1998 United States Senate election in Washington}}In 1998, Murray faced Congresswoman Linda Smith, a staunch conservative and maverick who was one of nine House Republicans to vote against confirming U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich in early 1997, opposed gay rights and viewed homosexuality as a "morally unfit inclination".WEB, SMITH, Linda,weblink October 17, 2020, history.house.gov, Murray heavily outspent her and was reelected, 58% to 42%.{{Election box begin no change {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box total no change }}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box total no change }}{{Election box hold with party link no swing| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}

2004

{{see also|2004 United States Senate election in Washington}}In 2004, Murray faced Republican U.S. Representative George Nethercutt. Term limits became an issue in the campaign, as Democrats seized on Nethercutt's broken term-limits pledge that he had made when he unexpectedly unseated Speaker Tom Foley in 1994. Nethercutt was also hampered by his lack of name recognition in the more densely populated western part of the state, home to two-thirds of the state's population. Washington has not elected a senator from east of the Cascades since Miles Poindexter in 1916. Other important issues included national security and the war in Iraq. Nethercutt supported the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, while Murray opposed it. Nethercutt was a heavy underdog from the start and his campaign never gained much traction. Murray was reelected, 55% to 43%.{| class="wikitable"! colspan="4" |Democratic primary election results|Party|Candidate|Votes|%|Democratic|Patty Murray (incumbent)|709,477|92.20|Democratic|Warren Hanson|46,487|6.04|Democratic|Mohammad Said|13,526|1.76{{Election box begin no change | title=General election resultsWEB,weblinkweblink March 4, 2016, dead, Official November 2, 2004 General Election Abstract, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| }}{{Election box total no change }}{{Election box hold with party link no swing| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}

2010

{{see also|2010 United States Senate election in Washington}}The 2010 election was the first Senate election to be held under the new blanket primary since Initiative 872 had passed in 2004. In the August 17 primary, Murray appeared on the ballot alongside four other Democratic candidates, six Republican candidates, a Reform Party candidate and three independent candidates. She received a plurality, 46%, and advanced to the general election along with her main Republican challenger, former state Senator and two-time gubernatorial nominee Dino Rossi, who received 33%.NEWS, Balter, Joni, January 29, 2010, Dino Rossi and the Scott Brown effect in Washington, The Seattle Times,weblink October 17, 2020, MAGAZINE, Trende, Sean, April 24, 2010, Bad Polling News for Murray,weblink dead, Time,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100426115824weblink">weblink April 26, 2010, Leading up to the election, several prominent Washington State newspapers endorsed Murray.WEB, October 8, 2010, The Times endorses the re-election of Sen. Patty Murray,weblink October 17, 2020, The Seattle Times, Re-elect Patty Murray to the U.S. Senate {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905080418weblink|date=September 5, 2012}}, The News Tribune, October 10, 2010.WEB, Editorial board, October 11, 2010, Murray has earned a fourth term,weblink Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WEB, October 24, 2010, On balance, Murray is better choice for Senate,weblink October 17, 2020, The Spokesman-Review, Rossi conceded the election to Murray on November 4, 2010, two days after election day. She won 52.08% of the vote to Rossi's 47.37%, Murray's smallest reelection margin to date.{{Election box begin no changeBlanket primary election resultsHTTP://VOTE.WA.GOV/ELECTIONS/WEI/RESULTS.ASPX?RACETYPECODE=O&JURISDICTIONTYPEID=1&ELECTIONID=36&VIEWMODE=RESULTS PUBLISHER=VOTE.WA.GOV ACCESS-DATE=AUGUST 21, 2010 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20100821041354/HTTP://VOTE.WA.GOV/ELECTIONS/WEI/RESULTS.ASPX?RACETYPECODE=O&JURISDICTIONTYPEID=1&ELECTIONID=36&VIEWMODE=RESULTS WORK=POLITICO, August 21, 2010, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| candidate = Patty Murray (incumbent)| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 670,284| percentage = 46.22}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| candidate = Dino Rossi| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 483,305| percentage = 33.33}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Clint Didier| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 185,034| percentage = 12.76}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Paul Akers| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 37,231| percentage = 2.57}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Skip Mercer Independent| votes = 12,122| percentage = 0.84}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Charles Allen| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 11,525| percentage = 0.79}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Bob Burr| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 11,344| percentage = 0.78}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Norma Gruber| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 9,162| percentage = 0.63}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Michael Latimer| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 6,545| percentage = 0.45}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Mike the Mover| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 6,019| percentage = 0.42}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Goodspaceguy| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 4,718| percentage = 0.33}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = William Baker| party = Reform Party (United States)| votes = 4,593| percentage = 0.32}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Mohammad Said Independent| votes = 3,387| percentage = 0.23}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Schalk Leonard Independent| votes = 2,818| percentage = 0.19}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = William Chovil| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 2,039| percentage = 0.14}}{{Election box total no change| votes = 1,450,126| percentage=100}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change | title=General election resultsWEB,weblink U.S. Senator, results.vote.wa.gov, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| }}{{Election box write-in with party link no change }}{{Election box total no change }}{{Election box hold with party link no swing| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}

2016

{{see also|2016 United States Senate election in Washington}}Murray ran for a fifth term in 2016. She faced three Democratic challengers in the August 2, 2016, primary election.{{citation |title=Candidates |url=https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVoteOLVR/OnlineVotersGuide?language=en&electionId=62&countyCode=xx&Group=Federal |website=eledataweb.votewa.gov |publisher=Washington Secretary of State}} In the general election, she faced King County Councilman Chris Vance. She defeated Vance, 59% to 41%.{{Election box begin no changeBlanket primary election resultsHTTP://RESULTS.VOTE.WA.GOV/RESULTS/CURRENT/US-SENATOR.HTML PUBLISHER=WASHINGTON SECRETARY OF STATE ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20160822014859/HTTP://RESULTS.VOTE.WA.GOV/RESULTS/CURRENT/US-SENATOR.HTML URL-STATUS=DEAD, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| candidate = Patty Murray (incumbent)| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 745,421| percentage = 53.82%}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no changeChris Vance (politician)>Chris Vance| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 381,004| percentage = 27.51%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Eric John Makus| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 57,825| percentage = 4.18%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Phil Cornell| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 46,460| percentage = 3.35%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Scott Nazarino| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 41,542| percentage = 3.00%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Mike Luke| party = Libertarian Party (United States)| votes = 20,988| percentage = 1.52%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Mohammad Said| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 13,362| percentage = 0.96%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Donna Rae Lands| party = Conservative| votes = 11,472| percentage = 0.83%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Ted Cummings| party = Independent (United States)| votes = 11,028| percentage = 0.80%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Sam Wright| party = Human Rights| votes = 10,751| percentage = 0.78%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Uncle Mover| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 8,569| percentage = 0.62%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Jeremy Teuton| party = System Reboot| votes = 7,991| percentage = 0.58%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Thor Amundson| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 7,906| percentage = 0.57%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Chuck Jackson| party = Independent (United States)| votes = 6,318| percentage = 0.46%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Pano ChurchillLincoln Caucus| votes = 5,150| percentage = 0.37%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Zach Haller| party = Independent (United States)| votes = 5,092| percentage = 0.37%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Alex Tsimerman| party = StandUpAmerica| votes = 4,117| percentage = 0.30%}}{{Election box total no change| votes = 1,384,996| percentage=100.00%}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change | title=General election resultsWEB,weblink November 8, 2016 General Election Results - U.S. Senator, results.vote.wa.gov, October 17, 2020, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| }}{{Election box write-in with party link no change| }}{{Election box total no change }}{{Election box hold with party link no swing| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}

2022

{{see also|2022 United States Senate election in Washington}}In the 2022 election, Murray won reelection to a sixth term over Republican Tiffany Smiley.NEWS, Patty Murray defeats Tiffany Smiley in U.S. Senate race,weblink The Seattle Times, November 8, 2022, {{Election box begin no change|title=Blanket primary election results}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Patty Murray (incumbent)|votes=1002811|percentage=52.22%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Tiffany Smiley|votes=646917|percentage=33.69%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Trump Republican|candidate=Leon Lawson|votes=59134|percentage=3.08%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=John Guenther|votes=55426|percentage=2.89%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Ravin Pierre|votes=22172|percentage=1.15%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=JFK Republican|candidate=Dave Saulibio|votes=19341|percentage=1.01%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Naz Paul|votes=18858|percentage=0.98%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bill Hirt|votes=15276|percentage=0.8%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mohammad Hassan Said|votes=13995|percentage=0.73%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Socialist Workers Party (United States)|candidate=Henry Clay Dennison|votes=13,901|percentage=0.72%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Dr Pano Churchill|votes=11859|percentage=0.62%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Bryan Solstin|votes=9627|percentage=0.5%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Charlie (Chuck) Jackson|votes=8604|percentage=0.45%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Jon Butler|votes=5413|percentage=0.28%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Thor Amundson|votes=5133|percentage=0.27%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=No party preference|candidate=Martin D. Hash|votes=4725|percentage=0.25%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=No party preference|candidate=Dan Phan Doan|votes=3049|percentage=0.16%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Sam Cusmir|votes=2688|percentage=0.14%}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=1,511|percentage=0.08%}}{{Election box total no change|votes=|percentage=100.00%}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no changePUBLISHER=SECRETARY OF STATE OF WASHINGTON, November 9, 2022, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| candidate = Patty Murray (incumbent)| party = Democratic Party (United States)| votes = 1,741,827| percentage = 57.15}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change| candidate = Tiffany Smiley| party = Republican Party (United States)| votes = 1,299,322| percentage = 42.63}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change| votes = 6,751| percentage = 0.22| change = N/A}}{{Election box total no change| votes = 3,047,900| percentage = 100.00%}}{{Election box hold with party link no swing| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}

Committee assignments

File:MURRAYROBERTS.jpg|thumb|right| Senator Murray at the podium, joined by (left to right), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), launching an interactive website regarding the nomination of Judge John Roberts as the Chief Justice of the United StatesChief Justice of the United StatesMurray's committee assignments for the 118th Congress are as follows:WEB,weblink Committee Assignments of the 118th Congress, 2023-03-17, United States Senate,

• Committee on Appropriations (chair)
  • As chair, Murray is an ex officio member of all subcommittees. Nevertheless, she also chairs the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies in an individual capacity.
• Committee on the Budget
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
  • Subcommittee on Children and Families
  • Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Caucus memberships

• Senate Oceans Caucus
• Senate Aerospace Caucus
• Afterschool CaucusesWEB, Members,weblink Afterschool Alliance, April 17, 2018,
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 CaucusWEB, Members,weblink Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus, June 8, 2018, June 12, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180612142643weblink">weblink dead,
• Congressional Coalition on AdoptionWEB, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute,weblink en,

Legislation

On February 28, 2013, Murray introduced the Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act into the Senate. The bill would prevent the United States Forest Service from removing a building from the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area in the state of Washington unless the agency determines that the structure is unsafe for visitors.WEB, S.404 - Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act,weblink congress.gov, United States Congress, April 5, 2014, Murray argued that the bill should be passed in order to help the tourism industry in the area while protecting the lookout point in question.NEWS, Cox, Ramsey, Senate approves small bill to help Oso recovery,weblink April 8, 2014, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, April 3, 2014, The bill would be "a very small step in what will be a very long recovery" and would "provide a glimmer of hope for the long-term recovery of this area", she said, referring to the area's recovery from the casualties and damage caused by the 2014 Oso mudslide. The bill passed both the House and the Senate.

Political positions

Abortion

Murray supports abortion rights. She opposed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill criminalizing abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, saying on the Senate floor: "I oppose the fact that we are still voting on whether women and doctors are best equipped to make health care decisions — or politicians here in D. C."NEWS,weblink 20-week abortion ban fails to advance in the Senate, January 29, 2018, CNN, Ashley, Killough, October 16, 2020, She also voted against restricting US funding for UN family planning programs.WEB,weblink Patty Murray on Abortion, On the Issues, January 23, 2019,

Agriculture

In March 2019, Murray was one of 38 senators to sign a letter to United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue warning that dairy farmers "have continued to face market instability and are struggling to survive the fourth year of sustained low prices" and urging his department to "strongly encourage these farmers to consider the Dairy Margin Coverage program".NEWS,weblink U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on Trump Administration to Implement Farm Bill Dairy Improvements for Wisconsin Dairy Farmers, April 1, 2019, Urban Milwaukee, October 16, 2020, In June 2019, Murray and 18 other Democratic senators sent USDA Inspector General (IG) Phyllis K. Fong a letter requesting that the IG investigate USDA instances of retaliation and political decision-making and asserting that not to do so would mean these "actions could be perceived as a part of this administration’s broader pattern of not only discounting the value of federal employees, but suppressing, undermining, discounting, and wholesale ignoring scientific data produced by their own qualified scientists".NEWS,weblink Menendez, Booker Join Call for Investigation at USDA amid Reports of Scientific Data Suppression, Insider NJ, June 26, 2019, October 16, 2020,

Environmental policy

In October 2017, Murray was one of 19 senators to sign a letter to Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Scott Pruitt questioning Pruitt's decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan, asserting that the repeal's proposal used "mathematical sleights of hand to overstate the costs of industry compliance with the 2015 Rule and understate the benefits that will be lost if the 2017 repeal is finalized", and that denying science and fabricating math would fail to "satisfy the requirements of the law, nor will it slow the increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the inexorable rise in sea levels, or the other dire effects of global warming that our planet is already experiencing".NEWS, Manchester, Julia,weblink 19 sens question EPA methodology behind Clean Power Plan repeal, The Hill, In February 2019, in response to reports of the EPA intending to decide against setting drinking water limits for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as part of an upcoming national strategy to manage the aforementioned class of chemicals, Murray was one of 20 senators to sign a letter to Acting EPA Administrator Andrew R. Wheeler calling on the EPA "to develop enforceable federal drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS, as well as institute immediate actions to protect the public from contamination from additional per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)".NEWS, Cama, Timothy,weblink Senators call on EPA to restrict key drinking water contaminants, February 1, 2019, The Hill,

Federal budget

On December 10, 2013, Murray announced that she and Republican Representative Paul Ryan had reached a compromise agreement on a two-year, bipartisan budget bill, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.NEWS, Wasson, Eric, Berman, Russell,weblink Ryan deal gets positive review at closed-door GOP conference, December 11, 2013, The Hill, December 11, 2013, The deal was scheduled to be voted on first in the House and then the Senate. Some believed House Democrats would pass the deal as a way to reduce the sequester cuts,NEWS, Kasperowicz, Pete, Wednesday: Assessing the budget deal,weblink December 11, 2013, The Hill, December 11, 2013, but the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, Chris Van Hollen, said on December 12, 2013, that members of his party were outraged that House Republicans are planning to adjourn without addressing unemployment benefits.NEWS, Cusack, Bob, Van Hollen: 'Too early to say' if most Democrats will back budget deal,weblink December 12, 2013, The Hill, December 12, 2013, Van Hollen said that "it is too early to say" whether a majority of House Democrats would vote for the budget bill. The deal was also unpopular with many conservatives.NEWS, Wasson, Erik, Conservatives: Ryan not tarnished by 'bad' deal,weblink December 11, 2013, The Hill, December 11, 2013, Murray put the controversial intelligence ports-data project Global Trade Exchange into the Homeland Security budget.BOOK, usa, ibp, US Senate Health, Education, Labor, And Pensions Committee Handbook (World Strategic and Business Information Library), 2014, 978-1433057588, 14, 2014,weblink

Foreign relations

Central America

In April 2019, Murray was one of 34 senators to sign a letter to President Trump, encouraging him "to listen to members of your own Administration and reverse a decision that will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America", asserting that Trump had "consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance" since becoming president, and that he was "personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national security and economic prosperity" through preventing the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding. The senators argued that foreign assistance to Central American countries created less migration to the U.S., citing the funding's helping to improve conditions in those countries.NEWS, Frazin, Rachel,weblink More than 30 Senate Dems ask Trump to reconsider Central American aid cuts, April 4, 2019, The Hill,

Myanmar

Murray condemned the genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, and called for a stronger response to the crisis.NEWS, Sen. Todd Young urges action to end Muslim genocide in Myanmar,weblink Hussein, Fatima, IndyStar, October 22, 2017,

Russia

In December 2010, Murray voted for the ratification of New START,WEB, Mark, Memmott,weblink Senate Ratifies START, NPR, December 22, 2010, December 22, 2010, a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and the Russian Federation obliging both countries to have no more than 1,550 strategic warheads as well as 700 launchers deployed during the next seven years along with providing a continuation of on-site inspections that halted when START I expired the previous year. It was the first arms treaty with Russia in eight years.NEWS,weblink Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71-26, Peter, Baker, The New York Times, December 22, 2010, In December 2018, after United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the Trump administration was suspending its obligations in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 60 days in the event that Russia continued to violate the treaty, Murray was one of 26 senators to sign a letter expressing concern over the administration "now abandoning generations of bipartisan U.S. leadership around the paired goals of reducing the global role and number of nuclear weapons and ensuring strategic stability with America's nuclear-armed adversaries" and calling on Trump to continue arms negotiations.NEWS, Mitchell, Ellen,weblink Senate Dems urge Trump to continue nuclear arms control negotiations after treaty suspension, December 13, 2018, The Hill,

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

File:Manned Ground Vehicle briefing in D.C..jpg|thumb|Major General Galen Jackman briefs Senator Patty Murray on the Manned Ground Vehicle program in Washington, D.C.]]In October 2002, Murray was one of 21 Democrats in the Senate to vote against the War Authorization for invading Iraq. Quoted from her Senate speech:Mr. President, if we do take action in Iraq, there is no doubt that our armed forces will prevail. We will win a war with Iraq decisively, and, God willing, we will win it quickly. But what happens after the war? That will have as big an impact on our future peace and security. Will we be obligated to rebuild Iraq? If so, how? Our economy is reeling, our budget is in deficit, and we have no estimate of the cost of rebuilding. And with whom? As The New York Times columnist Tom Friedman points out, there's a retail store mentality that suggests to some—if "you break it, you buy it."In December 2002, speaking to students at Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Murray made a number of remarks about Osama bin Laden as she attempted to explain why the US had such problems winning hearts and minds in the Muslim world, and how bin Laden had garnered support among some in the Middle East. Among other things, she said that bin Laden has "been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building daycare facilities, building health care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. He's made their lives better. We have not done that." This attracted attention from political opponents, who argued that this was inaccurate and constituted support for bin Laden.NEWS,weblink Nethercutt uses Osama bin Laden in ad assailing Murray, USA Today, September 29, 2004, February 24, 2007, NEWS,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20021228073027weblink">weblink December 28, 2002, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray – Senator asks students to ponder, The Columbian, Gregg Herrington, December 19, 2002, February 24, 2007, NEWS,weblink Murray's remarks on bin Laden draw GOP ire, Associated Press, December 21, 2002, October 14, 2010, Seattle Post-Intelligencer,

Health care

In 2014, Murray introduced legislation in the Senate called The Emergency Contraception Access and Education Act. The bill would require hospitals that receive federal funding to provide rape victims with emergency contraception.MAGAZINE,weblink Lawmakers Push Increased Access to Emergency Contraception, Alter, Charlotte, September 23, 2014, Time (magazine), Time, September 26, 2014, In July 2014, she introduced an amendment to a bill in the Senate to require health insurance plans to offer contraceptive coverage to patients regardless of employers' beliefs, religious or otherwise. Her amendment required 60 votes to move forward, and all but three Republicans voted against the measure.NEWS,weblink Senate GOP blocks Patty Murray's contraception coverage bill, Song, Kyung M., July 16, 2014, The Seattle Times, September 26, 2014, In December 2018, Murray was one of 42 senators to sign a letter to Trump administration officials Alex Azar, Seema Verma, and Steven Mnuchin, arguing that the administration was improperly using Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act to authorize states to "increase health care costs for millions of consumers, while weakening protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions". The senators requested the administration withdraw the policy and "re-engage with stakeholders, states, and Congress".NEWS,weblink U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on Trump Administration to Stop Pushing Health Insurance Plans that Weaken Pre-Existing Condition Protections, December 20, 2018, urbanmilwaukee.com,

Labor

In July 2019, Murray signed a letter to United States Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta that advocated that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiate a full investigation into a complaint filed on May 20 by a group of Chicago-area employees of McDonald's that detailed workplace violence incidents, including interactions with customers such as customers throwing hot coffee and threatening employees with firearms. The senators argued that McDonald's could and must "do more to protect its employees, but employers will not take seriously their obligations to provide a safe workplace if OSHA does not enforce workers rights to a hazard-free workplace".NEWS,weblink Democratic senators press McDonald's on workplace violence, July 2, 2019, Business Insurance, Gloria, Gonzalez, October 16, 2020, In response to a February 2021 report by the Congressional Budget Office on the effects of a minimum wage increase,WEB, February 2021, The Budgetary Effects of the Raise the Wage Act of 2021,weblink December 2, 2022, Congressional Budget Office, Murray said: "Today's report makes clear what we've known all along: raising the minimum wage — which hasn't increased since 2009 — to $15 an hour isn't just the right thing to do, it's good policy."NEWS,weblink CBO report finds $15 minimum wage would cost jobs but lower poverty levels, Eli, Rosenberg, The Washington Post, February 8, 2021, February 21, 2021, She was among the 42 Democrats to vote unsuccessfully to include a federal raise of the minimum wage to per hour in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.WEB, Everett, Burgess, 8 Democrats defect on $15 minimum wage hike,weblink March 30, 2021, Politico, March 5, 2021, en,

LGBTQIA+ rights

In 1996, Murray voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage by limiting the definition of marriage to the union of a man and a woman.NEWS, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray's admirable change of heart on gay marriage,weblink 15 March 2023, The Seattle Times, DOMA was ruled unconstitutional in 2015, and later in 2023, she reversed her previous position and spoke in support of the Respect for Marriage Act, which officially repealed DOMA.WEB, Senator Murray Statement On Senate Passage of Bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act,weblink Senator Patty Murray, 15 March 2023, 29 November 2022, In September 2014, Murray was one of 69 members of the House and Senate to sign a letter to then-Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell, requesting that the FDA revise its policy banning donation of corneas and other tissues by men who have had sex with another man in the preceding five years.WEB, 9.8.14 Bicameral Letter to HHS on MSM Policies,weblink 8 October 2023, www.baldwin.senate.gov, JOURNAL,weblinkweblink Tissue Guidances, Center for Biologics Evaluation and, Research, December 4, 2020, March 19, 2008, FDA, www.fda.gov,

Opioids

In March 2017, Murray was one of 21 senators to sign a letter led by Ed Markey to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that noted that 12% of adult Medicaid beneficiaries had some form of substance abuse disorder, in addition to one third of treatment for opioid and other substance-use disorders in the United States being financed through Medicaid, and opined that the American Health Care Act could "very literally translate into a death spiral for those with opioid use disorders" due to the insurance coverage lacking adequate funds for care, often causing people to abandon treatment.NEWS,weblink Baldwin, Democratic Senators Call TrumpCare Disastrous for Battle Against Opioid Crisis, March 21, 2017, urbanmilwaukee.com,

Veterans

In August 2013, Murray was one of 23 Democratic senators to sign a letter to the Defense Department, warning of some payday lenders "offering predatory loan products to service members at exorbitant triple digit effective interest rates and loan products that do not include the additional protections envisioned by the law", and asserting that service members, along with their families, "deserve the strongest possible protections and swift action to ensure that all forms of credit offered to members of our armed forces are safe and sound".NEWS, Cox, Ramsey,weblink Senate Dems ask DOD to protect service members from predatory lenders, August 15, 2013, The Hill, In December 2018, Murray was one of 21 senators to sign a letter to United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie, calling it "appalling that the VA is not conducting oversight of its own outreach efforts", in spite of suicide prevention being the VA's highest clinical priority, and requesting Wilkie "consult with experts with proven track records of successful public and mental health outreach campaigns, with a particular emphasis on how those individuals measure success".NEWS,weblink U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Presses VA for Answers on Misuse Of Suicide Prevention Funds, January 4, 2019, urbanmilwaukee.com,

Gun control

Murray supports gun control. She supports a national assault weapons ban.WEB, Blumenthal, Murphy join other Democratic senators to introduce assault weapons ban, November 8, 2017,weblink 8 November 2017, 45,

Other positions

In May 2006, Murray, along with 38 of 44 Senate Democrats, voted in favor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (S. 2611).WEB,weblink Roll Call Vote 109th Congress - 2nd Session: On Passage of the Bill (S. 2611 As Amended), senate.gov, United States Senate, May 25, 2006, February 24, 2007, The bill includes provisions to improve border security, increases fines and other punishments for employers of illegal immigrants, and creates a guest worker program (which includes an almost doubling of the number of H-1B visas)NEWS,weblink Senate immigration bill raises H-1B limit, InfoWorld, Grant, Gross, May 25, 2006, February 24, 2007, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070427120849weblink">weblink April 27, 2007, and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country.WEB,weblink S.2611, Library of Congress, February 24, 2007, May 25, 2006, November 27, 2008,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20081127205953weblink">weblink dead, The bill, with support from some in the GOP leadership, passed 62–36.Murray repeatedly cosponsored legislation to create the Wild Sky Wilderness area in the Washington Cascade Range.NEWS,weblink Wild Sky wilderness bill back in Congress, The Seattle Times, Sam, Goldfarb, February 7, 2007, October 17, 2020, She eventually succeeded, with the bill signed by President George W. Bush on May 8, 2008.NEWS,weblink Bush signs bill for Wild Sky Wilderness, The Seattle Times, October 17, 2020, Matthew, Daly, May 8, 2008, Murray has also supported legislation to increase the size of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, also in the Washington Cascades.NEWS,weblink More land sought for Alpine Lakes Wilderness, The Seattle Times, Lynda V., Mapes, March 27, 2009, October 16, 2020, On January 30, 2008, Murray endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries.PRESS RELEASE,weblink Washington Senator Patty Murray Endorses Clinton, hillaryclinton.com, January 30, 2008, February 29, 2008, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080227220642weblink">weblink February 27, 2008, One month later, the Washington Democratic caucus awarded two-thirds of its delegates to Barack Obama and one-third to Clinton. After Clinton's June 7 concession, Murray endorsed Obama.NEWS,weblink Murray Gets Behind Obama, The Columbian, June 9, 2008, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20080613011541weblink">weblink June 13, 2008, On May 28, 2021, Murray abstained from voting on the creation of the January 6 commission.NEWS, Washington Post, May 28, 2021, Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission,weblink She cited a "personal family matter" for the abstention. Murray had expressed support for the commission and had talked about her experience on the day of the insurrection.WEB, Brunner, Jim, Sen. Patty Murray misses vote on Jan. 6 commission, citing 'personal family matter',weblink The Seattle Times, May 28, 2021, May 30, 2021,

Electoral history{| class"wikitable"

! colspan="5" |Washington State Senate District 1 election, 1988|Party|Candidate|Votes|%|±%|Democratic|Patty Murray|22,948|53%||Republican|Bill Kiskaddon (inc.)|20,480|47%|{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"List of United States senators from Washington>U.S. senator from Washington (Class III) results: 1992–2022WEB,weblink Election Statistics, August 8, 2007, Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, !|Year!!|Democratic!|Votes!|Pct!!|Republican!|Votes!|Pct!!|3rd Party!|Party!|Votes!|Pct!!|3rd Party!|Party!|Votes!|Pct!United States Senate election in Washington, 1992>1992|{{nowrap|Patty Murray}}1,197,97354%|{{nowrap|Rod Chandler}}1,020,82946%|United States Senate election in Washington, 1998>1998|Patty Murray (incumbent)1,103,18458%|Linda Smith785,37742%|United States Senate election in Washington, 2004>2004|Patty Murray (incumbent)1,549,70855%|George Nethercutt1,204,58443%|J. MillsLibertarian34,0551%|Mark B. WilsonGreen30,3041%|United States Senate election in Washington, 2010>2010|Patty Murray (incumbent)1,314,93052%|Dino Rossi1,196,16447%|United States Senate election in Washington, 2016>2016|Patty Murray (incumbent)1,913,97959%|Chris Vance1,329,33841%|2022 United States Senate election in Washington>2022|Patty Murray (incumbent)1,741,82757%|Tiffany Smiley1,299,32243%|

Personal life

Murray is married to Rob Murray and has two grown children: Sara and Randy. She lives on Whidbey Island.NEWS, Brunner, Jim, Patty Murray to seek fifth Senate term in 2016,weblink October 17, 2015, The Seattle Times, February 9, 2014, On August 2, 2006, The New York Times wrote that in 1994, Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina attempted to grope his then-freshman colleague Patty Murray of Washington. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that Murray asked for, and received, an apology. Through a spokeswoman, Murray declined to comment further on the incident.NEWS,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130208015518weblink">weblink dead, 2013-02-08, Sen. Thurmond's mixed race daughter dies at 87, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Joel, Connelly, February 4, 2013, April 24, 2013, WEB, Book Says Thurmond Groped Murray Washington Senator Won’t Talk About Elevator Incident,weblink

See also

• Women in the United States Senate

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}

External links

{{Sister project links |wikt=no |b=no |d=Q258825 |n=no |v=no}}

• U.S. Senator Patty Murray official U.S. Senate website
• Patty Murray for Senate campaign website
• {{Curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/Washington/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Patty_Murray_%5BD%5D}}
• {{C-SPAN|25277}}

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