Patty Murray Beats Tiffany Smiley

Democrat Patty Murray will continue her three-decade run as Washington's senior senator.  Like two other long running national legislators in our history Senator Warren Magnuson and Speaker Tom Foley, Murray had to run in a year that was to be unfavorable to Democrats, due to the man serving in the White House.  Unlike Maggie and Foley, she won. 

Murray's victory came after a barrage of attack ads from both sides as she ran against political newcomer Tiffany Smiley.  Smiley, from the Tri-Cities in Conservative Eastern Washington, ran advertising blaming Murray for all of the state's ills, from homeless encampments on Seattle streets to drug addiction.  One of her reoccurring themes is that after 30 years, Murray had been in "the other Washington" for too long. Of course, most likely people who say that someone has held a job for two long, probably did not like them to begin with.  

Murray could have been more vulnerable had Roe v Wade not been overturned last summer.  With inflation rising and a president's popularity not exactly rising, this could have been a red wave not unlike the ones that took out Magnuson in 1980 (the Reagan landslide) and Foley in 1994 (the so-called Contract with America).

Several factors besides Roe v. enabled Murray's victory.  Until recently, Washington was something of a swing state, today, it is considered Blue and a state where it is virtually impossible for Republicans to run statewide.  Foley ran in the more Conservative 5th district in Eastern Washington.  He still was able to get support across the aisle until the tone of politics changed. Foley was Speaker of the House when he was defeated.  

I think much of Smiley's undoing was her advertisements.  In one, she said that Murray had lost touch with her constituents, a common political accusation, then showed Smiley doorbelling in tennis shoes, mocking the "Mom in tennis shoes" moniker that Murray used.  Also, Smiley would use her husband, a veteran who was blinded in combat in her ads, that is understandable, but there is a right way to do that, and Smiley's final ad with him, was just not coming across right. 

If Murray finishes this term, (rather than take a cabinet position if offered or retires), she will tie Senator Magnuson as Washington's longest serving senator.