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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Patty Murray

A candidate for U.S. Senator, State of Washington in the 2022 Washington Primary Election, Aug. 2

Party: Democratic

Age: 74

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.

Contact information

Related Coverage

Murray and Smiley debate: Ukraine

Sen. Patty Murray and her opponent in the November election, Tiffany Smiley, respond to a question about Ukraine at a debate hosted by The Spokesman-Review, the League of Women Voters and KSPS at Gonzaga University on Oct. 23, 2022.

Murray and Smiley debate: Immigration

Sen. Patty Murray and her opponent in the November election, Tiffany Smiley, respond to a question about immigration at a debate hosted by The Spokesman-Review, the League of Women Voters and KSPS at Gonzaga University on Oct. 23, 2022.

Murray and Smiley debate: Affordable Care Act

Sen. Patty Murray and her opponent in the November election, Tiffany Smiley, respond to a question about the Affordable Care Act at a debate hosted by The Spokesman-Review, the League of Women Voters and KSPS at Gonzaga University on Oct. 23, 2022.

Only debate between Patty Murray and Tiffany Smiley in Spokane includes attacks on policing, inflation, abortion and Jan. 6

The candidates sparred on the campus of Gonzaga University in a debate hosted by the university, The Spokesman-Review, the League of Women Voters and KSPS-TV. Recent polls have showed a tightening in a race that Murray is the favorite to win, in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican U.S. senator since 1994. 

Patty Murray and Tiffany Smiley in their own words on Jan. 6, gun control and climate change

Patty Murray and Tiffany Smiley tackled 20 questions during a debate on Gonzaga University’s campus Sunday evening. Here are a few key moments of the debate in the candidates’ own words. They’ve been lightly edited for clarity.

Truth testing the debate between Patty Murray and Tiffany Smiley

When candidates debate, they can get a bit careless with the facts or simplify complicated issues. Sunday’s debate between U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Republican challenger Tiffany Smiley was no exception

Murray, Smiley race for U.S. Senate narrows as candidates head into debate in Spokane on Sunday

The two will face off in a debate hosted by the Spokesman-Review and the League of Women Voters in partnership with the Washington State Debate Coalition. Tickets for the debate are sold out, but it will air on KSPS, as well as a number of other media outlets, at 5 p.m. on Sunday from the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center at Gonzaga University. 

Murray and Smiley debate: Jan. 6

Sen. Patty Murray and her opponent in the November election, Tiffany Smiley, respond to a question about the Jan. 6 insurrection at a debate hosted by The Spokesman-Review, the League of Women Voters and KSPS at Gonzaga University on Oct. 23, 2022.

Murray and Smiley debate: Gun control

Sen. Patty Murray and her opponent in the November election, Tiffany Smiley, respond to a question about gun control at a debate hosted by The Spokesman-Review, the League of Women Voters and KSPS at Gonzaga University on Oct. 23, 2022.