The 1992 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Democratic Senator Brock Adams chose not to run for re-election to a second term after eight different women made allegations that he had engaged in various acts of sexual misconduct, including harassment and rape. Adams denied the allegations, but his popularity statewide was weakened considerably by them, and he chose to retire rather than risk costing the party his seat.

State Senator Patty Murray defeated Republican U.S. Representative Rod Chandler in the race to succeed Adams. Chandler seemed to have the upper hand in one of the debates until, for some unknown reason, he quoted the Roger Miller song "Dang Me."Cantwell snubs McGavick on debates By Joel Connelly Seattle Post-Intelligencer He was further damaged by the unpopularity of President George H. W. Bush in the Pacific Northwest.

Blanket primary Candidates Democratic Don Bonker, former U.S. Representative from Vancouver and candidate for Senate in 1988 Gene Hart Patty Murray, State Senator from Bothell Jeffery Brian Venezia

Independent LaPriel C. Barnes

Republican Rod Chandler, U.S. Representative from Bellevue Leo K. Thorsness, State Senator from Renton Tim Hill, King County Executive

Socialist Workers Mark Severs

Washington Taxpayers William Cassius Goodloe, former Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court

Results

General election Results

By county +CountyPatty Murray DemocraticRod Chandler RepublicanMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams1,65636.52%2,87963.48%-1,223-26.97%4,535Asotin3,68649.88%3,70350.12%-17-0.23%7,389Benton19,18037.08%32,54262.92%-13,362-25.83%51,722Chelan9,17441.01%13,19558.99%-4,021-17.98%22,369Clallam13,89649.34%14,26850.66%-372-1.32%28,164Clark57,76755.71%45,92344.29%11,84411.42%103,690Columbia72839.22%1,12860.78%-400-21.55%1,856Cowlitz18,95556.73%14,45743.27%4,49813.46%33,412Douglas4,40740.72%6,41659.28%-2,009-18.56%10,823Ferry1,21348.70%1,27851.30%-65-2.61%2,491Franklin4,85240.79%7,04259.21%-2,190-18.41%11,894Garfield46836.28%82263.72%-354-27.44%1,290Grant8,48539.97%12,74160.03%-4,256-20.05%21,226Grays Harbor15,26557.04%11,49542.96%3,77014.09%26,760Island13,72150.74%13,32049.26%4011.48%27,041Jefferson7,38258.59%5,21841.41%2,16417.17%12,600King458,17759.64%310,01440.36%148,16319.29%768,191Kitsap43,41349.92%43,54750.08%-134-0.15%86,960Kittitas6,36652.37%5,78947.63%5774.75%12,155Klickitat3,54754.13%3,00645.87%5418.26%6,553Lewis10,06637.79%16,57362.21%-6,507-24.43%26,639Lincoln1,78236.44%3,10863.56%-1,326-27.12%4,890Mason10,60654.40%8,89045.60%1,7168.80%19,496Okanogan5,85546.15%6,83253.85%-977-7.70%12,687Pacific5,46460.42%3,57939.58%1,88520.84%9,043Pend Oreille2,15847.65%2,37152.35%-213-4.70%4,529Pierce128,68154.99%105,34645.01%23,3359.97%234,027San Juan4,00858.64%2,82741.36%1,18117.28%6,835Skagit21,03752.55%18,99247.45%2,0455.11%40,029Skamania2,05959.42%1,40640.58%65318.85%3,465Snohomish107,21754.45%89,68945.55%17,5288.90%196,906Spokane77,58546.61%88,85753.39%-11,272-6.77%166,442Stevens5,84741.58%8,21458.42%-2,367-16.83%14,061Thurston47,33756.78%36,03843.22%11,29913.55%83,375Wahkiakum93254.60%77545.40%1579.20%1,707Walla Walla9,09347.46%10,06752.54%-974-5.08%19,160Whatcom29,83652.54%26,95047.46%2,8865.08%56,786Whitman6,61045.88%7,79854.12%-1,188-8.25%14,408Yakima29,46246.62%33,73453.38%-4,272-6.76%63,196Totals1,197,97353.99%1,020,82946.01%177,1447.98%2,218,802

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Asotin (Largest city: Clarkston) Ferry (Largest city: Republic) Kitsap (Largest city: Bremerton) Pend Oreille (Largest city: Newport)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Island (Largest city: Oak Harbor) Kittitas (Largest city: Ellensburg) San Juan (Largest city: Friday Harbor) Skagit (Largest city: Mount Vernon)

See also 1992 United States Senate elections

References