The 2000 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Slade Gorton was seeking reelection to a third consecutive term, and a fourth overall, but he was unseated for a second time by a very narrow margin (the first time being in 1986) by former Congresswoman Maria Cantwell. The race was the most expensive contest in the state's history at the time.[1]
By a margin of 0.09%, this election was the closest race of the 2000 Senate election cycle. Cantwell's victory was credited to her strength in the Puget Sound suburbs of Seattle, where she performed well. The campaign proved an expensive affair, with Cantwell spending almost $10 million of her own money she made at RealNetworks on her campaign.[2]
Maria Cantwell's inauguration marked the first time since 1981 where Democrats held both Senate seats from Washington.
Barbara Lampet, retired nurse, longtime Democratic PCO, and perennial candidate.
Two major Democratic candidates entered the Senate race: Cantwell, a former member of Congress, and Senn, Washington's insurance commissioner. Cantwell was generally considered the more moderate of the two, and touted her private sector success in Seattle's booming technology industry. Senn was considered as a populist, and campaigned as a staunch critic of the insurance industry.[3][4]
In the general election, Cantwell campaigned as a modern candidate with experience in high tech who understood the modern economy; she accused Gorton of offering "19th-century solutions to 21st-century problems".[6] Gorton criticized Cantwell for spending millions on her own campaign, arguing she was trying to buy her way into the Senate.[1]
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Slade Gorton (R)
Maria Cantwell (D)
Other/Undecided
SurveyUSA
October 31 – November 1, 2000
500 (LV)
–
48%
46%
6%
Elway Poll
October 18–20, 2000
400 (RV)
–
48%
45%
7%
Resultsedit
The victor of the race was at first unclear due to the amount of absentee ballots; the certified count on November 22 reported that Cantwell was ahead by 1,953 votes.[6] Following the recount, Cantwell was certified the winner of the election by 2,229 votes out of more than 2.4 million.[7] Cantwell carried only five of the state's 39 counties, but won King County (home to Seattle) by more than a 150,000-vote margin.[7] The result was the second loss in Gorton's political career, after he lost re-election to a second Senate term in 1986.[6]
Approximately 26,000 ballots were rejected during the recount for various issues.[8]
After her victory, Cantwell announced that there was only "One Washington"; she also said she would work to make sure the entire state benefited from the Puget Sound region's prosperity, and that each year she would visit each of the state's 39 counties, interpreted as a gesture to the counties which she had lost.[7] Her victory meant that both of Washington's senators were female (the other being Patty Murray); it was at that time one of three states to hold the distinction, along with California and Maine.[6][7] Cantwell also became the thirteenth woman to serve in the Senate at the same time.[7]
Cantwell's election also meant that Democrats and Republicans would have a 50–50 tie in the Senate.[6][10] At the time the race was called, it was still unclear whether Dick Cheney or Joe Lieberman would be Vice President and thus cast the tie-breaking vote.[6][7] At the time, it was noted that if the Gore-Lieberman ticket were victorious, then Connecticut's Republican governor would appoint Senator Lieberman's replacement, thereby giving Republicans a majority in the chamber; if the Bush-Cheney ticket were elected (the ultimate outcome), with Cantwell the winner of her race, there would be a tie in the chamber.[6]
In a January 2002 appearance on C-Span's Booknotes, Ralph Nader (the 2000 Green Partypresidential nominee) stated that when he met with Democratic Senator Harry Reid after the election, Reid had credited his candidacy with aiding Cantwell's victory; Nader had received 103,000 votes in the state, and since the party didn't run a Senate candidate, his supporters backed Cantwell down the ballot.[10]
^Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
Referencesedit
^ abAyres Jr, B. Drummond (October 19, 2000). . The New York Times. p. 31. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
^Egan, Timothy (November 23, 2000). . The New York Times. p. 24. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
^Searcey, Dionne (September 14, 2000). . The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
^Ammons, David (August 27, 2000). . The Kitsap Sun. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
^"Elections Search Results - September 2000 Primary". Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
^ abcdefgAssociated Press (December 2, 2000). . New York Times. Associated Press. p. 8. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
^ abcdefAmmons, David (December 2, 2000). . Kitsap Sun. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
^McCarthy, Sean L. (December 10, 2000). "Every vote counts? Not really". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
^"Elections Search Results - November 2000 General". Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
^ abLamb, Brian (February 4, 2002). "Crashing the Party". Booknotes. 20:40 minutes in. C-Span. Retrieved February 9, 2021. And I met with Senator Harry Reid, the number two Democrat in the Senate. And he acknowledged that the Green spillover votes elected Maria Cantwell. She won by 2,300 votes. I got 103,000 in Washington state, and there was no Green Party Senate candidate. And these folks were overwhelmingly for her.
January 01, 1970
2000, united, states, senate, election, washington, held, november, 2000, incumbent, republican, senator, slade, gorton, seeking, reelection, third, consecutive, term, fourth, overall, unseated, second, time, very, narrow, margin, first, time, being, 1986, for. The 2000 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 7 2000 Incumbent Republican U S Senator Slade Gorton was seeking reelection to a third consecutive term and a fourth overall but he was unseated for a second time by a very narrow margin the first time being in 1986 by former Congresswoman Maria Cantwell The race was the most expensive contest in the state s history at the time 1 2000 United States Senate election in Washington 1994 November 7 2000 2006 Turnout75 46 Nominee Maria Cantwell Slade Gorton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1 199 437 1 197 208 Percentage 48 73 48 64 County resultsCantwell 40 50 50 60 Gorton 40 50 50 60 60 70 U S senator before election Slade Gorton Republican Elected U S Senator Maria Cantwell Democratic By a margin of 0 09 this election was the closest race of the 2000 Senate election cycle Cantwell s victory was credited to her strength in the Puget Sound suburbs of Seattle where she performed well The campaign proved an expensive affair with Cantwell spending almost 10 million of her own money she made at RealNetworks on her campaign 2 Maria Cantwell s inauguration marked the first time since 1981 where Democrats held both Senate seats from Washington Contents 1 Blanket primary 1 1 Democratic 1 2 Republican 1 3 Libertarian 1 4 Polling 1 5 Results 2 General election 2 1 Candidates 2 2 Debates 2 3 Polling 2 4 Results 2 4 1 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic 2 4 2 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesBlanket primary editDemocratic edit Maria Cantwell former U S Representative from Washington s 1st congressional district Deborah Senn Washington Insurance Commissioner Barbara Lampet retired nurse longtime Democratic PCO and perennial candidate Two major Democratic candidates entered the Senate race Cantwell a former member of Congress and Senn Washington s insurance commissioner Cantwell was generally considered the more moderate of the two and touted her private sector success in Seattle s booming technology industry Senn was considered as a populist and campaigned as a staunch critic of the insurance industry 3 4 Republican edit Slade Gorton incumbent U S Senator Warren E Hanson commercial fisherman Libertarian edit Jeff Jared attorney Polling edit Poll source Date s administered Samplesize a Marginof error SladeGorton R MariaCantwell D DeborahSenn D Other Undecided Elway Poll July 2000 400 RV 42 21 12 25 Results edit nbsp Results by county Gorton 30 40 40 50 50 60 60 70 Cantwell 30 40 40 50 Blanket primary results 5 Party Candidate Votes Republican Slade Gorton incumbent 560 787 43 57 Democratic Maria Cantwell 472 609 36 71 Libertarian Jeff Jared 16 247 1 26 Democratic Deborah Senn 168 110 13 06 Republican Warren E Hanson 17 782 1 38 Democratic Barbara Lampert 15 150 1 18 Democratic Robert Tilden Medley 14 009 1 09 Republican Ken McCandless 12 089 0 94 Republican June Riggs 10 455 0 81 Total votes 1 287 238 100 00 General election editIn the general election Cantwell campaigned as a modern candidate with experience in high tech who understood the modern economy she accused Gorton of offering 19th century solutions to 21st century problems 6 Gorton criticized Cantwell for spending millions on her own campaign arguing she was trying to buy her way into the Senate 1 Candidates edit Maria Cantwell D former U S Representative from WA 01 Slade Gorton R incumbent U S Senator Debates edit Complete video of debate October 30 2000 Polling edit Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki org Poll source Date s administered Samplesize Marginof error SladeGorton R MariaCantwell D Other Undecided SurveyUSA October 31 November 1 2000 500 LV 48 46 6 Elway Poll October 18 20 2000 400 RV 48 45 7 Results edit The victor of the race was at first unclear due to the amount of absentee ballots the certified count on November 22 reported that Cantwell was ahead by 1 953 votes 6 Following the recount Cantwell was certified the winner of the election by 2 229 votes out of more than 2 4 million 7 Cantwell carried only five of the state s 39 counties but won King County home to Seattle by more than a 150 000 vote margin 7 The result was the second loss in Gorton s political career after he lost re election to a second Senate term in 1986 6 Approximately 26 000 ballots were rejected during the recount for various issues 8 General election results 9 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Maria Cantwell 1 199 437 48 73 4 48 Republican Slade Gorton incumbent 1 197 208 48 64 7 11 Libertarian Jeff Jared 64 734 2 63 2 6 Total votes 2 461 379 100 00 761 206 Democratic gain from Republican Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic edit Snohomish largest city Everett Thurston largest city Olympia Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican edit Pacific largest city Raymond Aftermath editAfter her victory Cantwell announced that there was only One Washington she also said she would work to make sure the entire state benefited from the Puget Sound region s prosperity and that each year she would visit each of the state s 39 counties interpreted as a gesture to the counties which she had lost 7 Her victory meant that both of Washington s senators were female the other being Patty Murray it was at that time one of three states to hold the distinction along with California and Maine 6 7 Cantwell also became the thirteenth woman to serve in the Senate at the same time 7 Cantwell s election also meant that Democrats and Republicans would have a 50 50 tie in the Senate 6 10 At the time the race was called it was still unclear whether Dick Cheney or Joe Lieberman would be Vice President and thus cast the tie breaking vote 6 7 At the time it was noted that if the Gore Lieberman ticket were victorious then Connecticut s Republican governor would appoint Senator Lieberman s replacement thereby giving Republicans a majority in the chamber if the Bush Cheney ticket were elected the ultimate outcome with Cantwell the winner of her race there would be a tie in the chamber 6 In a January 2002 appearance on C Span s Booknotes Ralph Nader the 2000 Green Party presidential nominee stated that when he met with Democratic Senator Harry Reid after the election Reid had credited his candidacy with aiding Cantwell s victory Nader had received 103 000 votes in the state and since the party didn t run a Senate candidate his supporters backed Cantwell down the ballot 10 See also edit2000 United States presidential election in Washington state 2000 United States Senate electionsNotes edit Key A all adultsRV registered votersLV likely votersV unclearReferences edit a b Ayres Jr B Drummond October 19 2000 THE 2000 CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN BRIEFING The New York Times p 31 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on October 4 2021 Retrieved October 4 2021 Egan Timothy November 23 2000 Cantwell Declared Washington Victor The New York Times p 24 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on October 4 2021 Retrieved October 4 2021 Searcey Dionne September 14 2000 Cantwell Senn contrast in style share views The Seattle Times Archived from the original on October 4 2021 Retrieved October 4 2021 Ammons David August 27 2000 U S SENATE Deborah Senn The Kitsap Sun Archived from the original on October 4 2021 Retrieved October 4 2021 Elections Search Results September 2000 Primary Office of the Secretary of State Retrieved May 9 2022 a b c d e f g Associated Press December 2 2000 Recount Seals Senate Race In Washington For Democrat New York Times Associated Press p 8 Archived from the original on February 10 2021 Retrieved February 9 2021 a b c d e f Ammons David December 2 2000 CAMPAIGN 2000 U S Senate Race It s final Cantwell defeats Gorton Kitsap Sun Archived from the original on February 14 2021 Retrieved February 9 2021 McCarthy Sean L December 10 2000 Every vote counts Not really Kitsap Sun Retrieved November 22 2022 Elections Search Results November 2000 General Office of the Secretary of State Retrieved May 10 2022 a b Lamb Brian February 4 2002 Crashing the Party Booknotes 20 40 minutes in C Span Retrieved February 9 2021 And I met with Senator Harry Reid the number two Democrat in the Senate And he acknowledged that the Green spillover votes elected Maria Cantwell She won by 2 300 votes I got 103 000 in Washington state and there was no Green Party Senate candidate And these folks were overwhelmingly for her Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2000 United States Senate election in Washington amp oldid 1194389522, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
