1992 United States Senate election in Washington

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.

1992 United States Senate election in Washington

← 1986 November 3, 1992 1998 →

Nominee Patty Murray Rod Chandler Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,197,973 1,020,829 Percentage 53.99% 46.01%

County results Murray:      50–60%      60–70% Chandler:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Brock Adams Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Patty Murray Democratic

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

1992 U.S. Senate primary^[3]

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

1992 United States Senate election in Washington^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Patty Murray	1,197,973	53.99%
	Republican	Rod Chandler	1,020,829	46.01%
Total votes			2,218,802	100.0%
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1992 United States Senate elections

References

1. 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.
2. Cantwell snubs McGavick on debates By Joel Connelly Seattle Post-Intelligencer
3. "Elections Search Results - September 1992 Primary". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
4. "Election Search Results - Elections & Voting - WA Secretary of State".