The 1998 United States Senate election in Washington was held November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Patty Murray won re-election to a second term.

Candidates Democratic Patty Murray, incumbent U.S. Senator

Republican Linda Smith, U.S. Representative from WA-03 (1995–1999)

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error PattyMurray (D) LindaSmith (R) UndecidedMason-Dixon Polling & StrategyOctober 26–27, 1998801 (LV)± 3.5%49%41%10%Mason-Dixon Polling & StrategyOctober 5–6, 1998810 (LV)± 3.5%51%38%11%Elway ResearchSeptember 18–19, 1998475 (V)± 4.5%44%37%19%Mason-Dixon Polling & StrategySeptember 8–9, 1998812 (LV)± 3.5%51%35%14%

Results The election was not close, with Murray winning by 16.8% of the vote. Murray won in a landslide victory by racking up huge margins in Western Washington. Specifically, Murray trounced Smith in the state’s most populous county, King County. Murray also won six counties in the historically conservative eastern part of the state. Murray was sworn in for a second term on January 3, 1999.

By county +CountyPatty Murray DemocraticLinda Smith RepublicanMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams1,56642.97%2,07857.03%-512-14.05%3,644Asotin3,05452.06%2,81247.94%2424.13%5,866Benton20,07246.54%23,05253.46%-2,980-6.91%43,124Chelan8,90742.95%11,83057.05%-2,923-14.10%20,737Clallam14,45253.79%12,41746.21%2,0357.57%26,869Clark46,25147.85%50,41252.15%-4,161-4.30%96,663Columbia75644.16%95655.84%-200-11.68%1,712Cowlitz15,44653.32%13,52446.68%1,9226.63%28,970Douglas3,80042.18%5,20857.82%-1,408-15.63%9,008Ferry1,33950.62%1,30649.38%331.25%2,645Franklin4,62144.40%5,78655.60%-1,165-11.19%10,407Garfield59647.64%65552.36%-59-4.72%1,251Grant7,43041.88%10,31058.12%-2,880-16.23%17,740Grays Harbor13,38862.85%7,91437.15%5,47425.70%21,302Island13,63954.52%11,37845.48%2,2619.04%25,017Jefferson7,82061.90%4,81338.10%3,00723.80%12,633King405,17767.11%198,59232.89%206,58534.22%603,769Kitsap48,12258.63%33,95641.37%14,16617.26%82,078Kittitas5,46950.85%5,28649.15%1831.70%10,755Klickitat2,91446.25%3,38753.75%-473-7.51%6,301Lewis10,04540.60%14,69759.40%-4,652-18.80%24,742Lincoln2,04246.37%2,36253.63%-320-7.27%4,404Mason10,80859.32%7,41340.68%3,39518.63%18,221Okanogan5,20945.04%6,35554.96%-1,146-9.91%11,564Pacific5,02763.43%2,89836.57%2,12926.86%7,925Pend Oreille2,43951.68%2,28048.32%1593.37%4,719Pierce118,66058.53%84,05741.47%34,60317.07%202,717San Juan4,47164.19%2,49435.81%1,97728.38%6,965Skagit18,96454.86%15,60245.14%3,3629.73%34,566Skamania1,58648.00%1,71852.00%-132-4.00%3,304Snohomish106,91758.15%76,95941.85%29,95816.29%183,876Spokane67,90153.58%58,81746.42%9,0847.17%126,718Stevens5,75942.68%7,73457.32%-1,975-14.64%13,493Thurston48,13262.14%29,32037.86%18,81224.29%77,452Wahkiakum99153.28%86946.72%1226.56%1,860Walla Walla7,34847.48%8,12852.52%-780-5.04%15,476Whatcom30,84355.41%24,82544.59%6,01810.81%55,668Whitman6,93754.41%5,81345.59%1,1248.82%12,750Yakima24,28647.02%27,36452.98%-3,078-5.96%51,650Totals1,103,18458.41%785,37741.59%317,80716.83%1,888,561

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Clark (Largest city: Vancouver) Klickitat (Largest city: Goldendale) Skamania (Largest city: Carson)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Asotin (Largest city: Clarkston) Clallam (Largest city: Port Angeles) Ferry (Largest city: Republic) Kitsap (Largest city: Bremerton) Pend Oreille (Largest city: Newport) Spokane (Largest city: Spokane) Whitman (Largest city: Pullman)

See also 1998 United States Senate elections

Notes

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