Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Will it be Murray v. Vance in 2016?

Chris Vance, the former state Republican chairman, may soon announce a challenge to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, who is up for re-election next year, Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times reports.

The state GOP has been woefully short of candidates looking to take on Murray, who will be completing her fourth term next year. She beat some well-regarded Republican opponents in each previous election: U.S. Rep. Rod Chandler to win the seat, then U.S. Rep. Linda Smith. U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt and former state Sen. and gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi in successive re-election campaigns.

Vance was a King County councilman and a state representative before running the state GOP for two terms. During his tenure at the helm, the party challenged the state's primary system in court and tried to get the 2004 gubernatorial election results overturned after Chris Gregoire was declared the winner over Rossi in a hand recount. The first was successful, the second wasn't.

He currently works as a lobbyist for the King County Corrections Guild.



Jim Camden
Jim Camden joined The Spokesman-Review in 1981 and retired in 2021. He is currently the political and state government correspondent covering Washington state.

Follow Jim online: