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

Patty Murray

A candidate for U.S. Senator in the 2010 Washington General Election

Party: Democrat

Age: 75

City: Seattle, Washington

Education: Received a bachelor's degree in physical education from Washington State University in 1972. 

Work experience: Worked as a preschool teacher.

Political experience: Served as Washington's U.S. Senator since 1993. Served as a state senator from 1989 to 1993. Served on the Shoreline School District Board from 1985 to 1989.

Family: Married to Rob Murray. Has two children.

Candidate Channels

Race Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Patty Murray (D) 1,262,778 52.15%
Dino Rossi (R) 1,158,708 47.85%

Details & headlines

Related Coverage

Murray, Rossi focus on economy in first debate

The first debate between U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and her Republican opponent Dino Rossi came down to who’s to blame for the sluggish economy. Murray, a Democrat running for a fourth term, warned that a vote for Rossi would reverse progress.

Economy the focus of Murray-Rossi debate

The first debate between U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and her Republican opponent Dino Rossi came down to who’s to blame for the current sluggish economy.

Man arrested for waving meat cleaver at Murray supporters

Police arrested a man around 5 p.m. Thursday outside KSPS studios after he drove by a group of Sen. Patty Murray supporters waving a meat cleaver. Johnny J. Sieler, 50, first drove by the group with a knife, shouting profanities about Murray. He upgraded his weapon to a meat cleaver and drove by a second time, according to Spokane police.

Senate debate: Candidates in, cleaver out

Senate debate: Candidates in, cleaver out

Live tonight from Spokane: Rossi v. Murray

Live tonight from Spokane: Rossi v. Murray

Biden making another trip for Murray

Biden making another trip for Murray

Dems to party, too, for debate

Dems to party, too, for debate

Rossi counting on anger with status quo, Murray

With all the shrill attack ads savaging Democrat Patty Murray as an incompetent spendthrift or Republican Dino Rossi as a slippery bagman, it’s pretty easy to forget the two candidates for Senate have some common traits. Both had hardscrabble beginnings, growing up in large Catholic families without much money. Murray’s father was a World War II vet left jobless by multiple sclerosis; she volunteered at a Veterans Administration hospital. Rossi’s parents were teachers; he waxed floors to work his way through college.

Washington U.S. Senate race

As a three-term incumbent Democrat in a state that supported Barack Obama, John Kerry and Al Gore, Patty Murray theoretically should have an easy time winning a fourth term. But elections aren’t about theory, and Washington’s Senate race is anything but easy for Murray or Republican challenger Dino Rossi.

Obama to stump for Murray in Seattle

President Obama will return to Washington next week to campaign for Sen. Patty Murray’s re-election.