The 1988 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Daniel J. Evans decided to retire instead of running for re-election to a full term, after being appointed to the seat in 1983, and won election to a partial term that same year. Republican former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton, who had just lost a re-election bid in 1986, won the open seat. As of 2024, this is the last time Washington simultaneously voted for different parties for president and for Senate, as Democrat Michael Dukakis won the state in the concurrent presidential election.

Mike Lowry, the Democratic nominee, would run successfully for Governor of Washington in 1992.

Blanket primary Candidates Democratic Mike Lowry, U.S. Representative from Renton (1979–1989) Don Bonker, U.S. Representative from Vancouver (1975–1989)

Republican Slade Gorton, former U.S. Senator (1981–1987) Douglas J. Smith

Third-party William C. Goodloe (Washington Taxpayer), judge and lawyer Daniel B. Fein (Socialist Workers Party)

Results

General election

Candidates Mike Lowry (D), U.S. Congressman of the 7th congressional district (1979–1989) Slade Gorton (R), former U.S. Senator (1981–1987)

Results

By county +CountySlade Gorton RepublicanMike Lowry DemocraticMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams2,85664.01%1,60635.99%1,25028.01%4,462Asotin3,19548.64%3,37351.36%-178-2.71%6,568Benton35,98680.81%8,54719.19%27,43961.61%44,533Chelan12,08361.04%7,71138.96%4,37222.09%19,794Clallam11,73851.09%11,23548.91%5032.19%22,973Clark40,51851.98%37,43548.02%3,0833.95%77,953Columbia1,17059.88%78440.12%38619.75%1,954Cowlitz13,50247.45%14,95552.55%-1,453-5.11%28,457Douglas5,71860.78%3,68939.22%2,02921.57%9,407Ferry98149.42%1,00450.58%-23-1.16%1,985Franklin7,68370.43%3,22529.57%4,45840.87%10,908Garfield71954.43%60245.57%1178.86%1,321Grant10,89760.00%7,26540.00%3,63220.00%18,162Grays Harbor9,78040.43%14,40959.57%-4,629-19.14%24,189Island12,80659.62%8,67540.38%4,13119.23%21,481Jefferson4,29844.37%5,38855.63%-1,090-11.25%9,686King289,08746.00%339,40254.00%-50,315-8.01%628,489Kitsap36,12554.23%30,49345.77%5,6328.45%66,618Kittitas5,54252.37%5,04147.63%5014.73%10,583Klickitat3,06450.67%2,98349.33%811.34%6,047Lewis14,25460.55%9,28739.45%4,96721.10%23,541Lincoln2,80559.21%1,93240.79%87318.43%4,737Mason7,69248.78%8,07851.22%-386-2.45%15,770Okanogan6,18952.01%5,71147.99%4784.02%11,900Pacific3,32540.49%4,88759.51%-1,562-19.02%8,212Pend Oreille1,87050.20%1,85549.80%150.40%3,725Pierce96,12250.74%93,31049.26%2,8121.48%189,432San Juan2,81148.95%2,93251.05%-121-2.11%5,743Skagit16,74752.07%15,41647.93%1,3314.14%32,163Skamania1,29942.26%1,77557.74%-476-15.48%3,074Snohomish88,30752.34%80,41347.66%7,8944.68%168,720Spokane73,58351.80%68,48248.20%5,1013.59%142,065Stevens6,72955.53%5,38944.47%1,34011.06%12,118Thurston33,37149.34%34,26650.66%-895-1.32%67,637Wahkiakum71647.11%80452.89%-88-5.79%1,520Walla Walla10,64760.32%7,00439.68%3,64320.64%17,651Whatcom25,27850.50%24,77949.50%4991.00%50,057Whitman8,02252.51%7,25647.49%7665.01%15,278Yakima36,84461.79%22,78538.21%14,05923.58%59,629Totals944,35951.09%904,18348.91%40,1762.17%1,848,542

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Asotin (largest city: Clarkston) King (largest city: Seattle) Mason (largest city: Shelton) San Juan (largest city: Friday Harbor) Thurston (largest city: Lacey)

See also 1988 United States presidential election in Washington (state) 1988 United States Senate elections

References