2010 United States Senate election in Washington

The 2010 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 2, 2010 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democrat Senator Patty Murray won re-election to a fourth term by a margin of 52.1% – 47.4% over Republican Dino Rossi, who had run for governor in 2004 and 2008. This was the last U.S. Senate election in Washington where the margin of victory was single digits.

Democrats

 * Patty Murray, incumbent U.S. Senator
 * Charles Allen
 * Bob Burr

Republicans

 * Dino Rossi, former State Senator and gubernatorial candidate
 * Paul Akers, salesman
 * William Chovil
 * Clint Didier, former NFL football player
 * Norma Gruber
 * Michael Latimer

Others

 * Will Baker (Reform Party)
 * Schalk Leonard
 * Skip Mercer, professor
 * Mohammad Said (Centrist Party)

Candidates
The top 2 candidates from the blanket primary advanced to the general election.


 * Patty Murray (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
 * Dino Rossi (R), former State Senator and gubernatorial candidate

Campaign
Rossi heavily criticized Murray for her support of the 2009 economic stimulus package; however, Rossi's economic promises are nearly identical to those of President Bush who asked for the stimulus. Rossi supports repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. He also criticized Murray for her support for earmarks. In response, Murray said, "You bet that seniority and leadership has a big thing to do with it, but the other part of it is, I get up every day and I work hard and I believe in this and I am going to continue fighting for the community I represent."

The National Rifle Association spent $414,100 supporting Rossi and opposing Murray in the 2010 senatorial contest.

Debates
Rossi offered six debates, five of which would be in-state and one nationally. Murray agreed to two debates, and only two debates were held.


 * Seattle on KOMO-TV.
 * Spokane on KSPS-TV and KXLY-TV.

Polling

 * Aggregate polls

Results
Murray defeated Rossi by about 114,000 votes. King County, the home of Seattle, likely gave Murray a victory.

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Island (largest city: Oak Harbor)
 * Pierce (largest city: Tacoma)
 * Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon)
 * Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles)
 * Mason (largest city: Shelton)
 * Skamania (Largest city: Carson)
 * Cowlitz (Largest city: Longview)
 * Wahkiakum (Largest city: Puget Island)

By congressional district
Murray won 5 of 9 congressional districts with the remaining 4 going to Rossi.