2004 United States Senate election in Washington
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| 2004 United States Senate election in Washington | |
|---|---|
 SpeedMcCool · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source | |
| Election name | 2004 United States Senate election in Washington |
| Country | Washington (state) |
| Type | presidential |
| Previous election | 1998 United States Senate election in Washington |
| Previous year | 1998 |
| Next election | 2010 United States Senate election in Washington |
| Next year | 2010 |
| Election date | November 2, 2004 |
| Nominee1 | Patty Murray |
| Party1 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular vote1 | 1,549,708 |
| Percentage1 | 55.0% |
| Nominee2 | George Nethercutt |
| Party2 | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular vote2 | 1,201,165 |
| Percentage2 | 42.6% |
| Title | U.S. Senator |
| Before election | Patty Murray |
| Before party | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After election | Patty Murray |
| After party | Democratic Party (United States) |
2004 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 2, 2004, concurrently with the 2004 United States presidential election. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Patty Murray successfully sought a third term, defeating Republican challenger George Nethercutt, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The race was a key contest in a year where the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee aimed to defend vulnerable seats, and Murray's victory was part of a broader national trend that saw Democrats make limited gains in the Senate elections.
Background
The political landscape in Washington in 2004 was shaped by national issues like the ongoing Iraq War and the War on Terror, as well as local concerns over the economy and federal spending. Senator Patty Murray, first elected in the 1992 "Year of the Woman", had built a reputation as a pragmatic legislator focused on education, transportation, and veterans' affairs. Her seniority on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee was a central theme, with supporters arguing she delivered for the state. The Republican Party, led by President George W. Bush, targeted the seat as part of their national strategy to expand their Senate majority. The presidential election heightened turnout and partisan engagement across the Pacific Northwest.
Candidates
The Democratic nominee was incumbent Senator Patty Murray. She easily won her party's nomination in the state's open primary system. The Republican nominee was Congressman George Nethercutt, who represented Washington's 5th congressional district. Nethercutt had gained national attention in 1994 by defeating House Speaker Tom Foley in the Republican Revolution. He faced only minor opposition in the primary from candidates like Reed Davis, a former King County GOP chairman. The Libertarian Party nominated J. Mills, and the Green Party nominated Mark B. Wilson.
Campaign
The general election campaign was intense and well-funded, with both candidates and outside groups like the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spending millions. George Nethercutt criticized Patty Murray as an ineffective "mom in tennis shoes"—a moniker she had once embraced—and attacked her record on national security and federal spending. Murray's campaign highlighted Nethercutt's broken term-limit pledge from his 1994 House race and his support for President George W. Bush's policies on the Iraq War and tax cuts. Key debates centered on the Bush administration's handling of the War in Afghanistan and domestic issues like Social Security and Medicare. Murray maintained a consistent lead in polls conducted by organizations like Strategic Vision LLC and The Seattle Times.
Results
On Election Day, Patty Murray won a decisive victory, capturing 55.0% of the vote to George Nethercutt's 42.6%. Libertarian J. Mills and Green Mark B. Wilson received the remainder. Murray carried populous King County, Pierce County, and Snohomish County by wide margins, dominating the Puget Sound region. Nethercutt won most counties in Eastern Washington, such as Spokane County and Yakima County, but by margins insufficient to overcome Murray's advantage in the west. The result was consistent with other Senate races that year, where Democratic incumbents generally performed well. Voter turnout was high, driven by the concurrent presidential contest between George W. Bush and John Kerry.
Aftermath
Patty Murray's reelection solidified her position as a leading figure in the Democratic Party and within the United States Senate. Following the election, she ascended to senior roles on the Appropriations Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. The defeat effectively ended the congressional career of George Nethercutt, who did not seek federal office again. The race demonstrated the enduring strength of Democratic candidates in statewide Washington elections, a trend that continued in subsequent cycles like the 2006 Senate race for the seat of Maria Cantwell. Murray would go on to win reelection again in 2010 and 2016, eventually becoming the first woman to serve as President pro tempore of the United States Senate.
Category:2004 United States Senate elections Category:United States Senate elections in Washington (state) Category:2004 Washington (state) elections