Biography of patty murray

American politician (born 1950)

Patty Murray
Official portrait, 2013
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Susan Collins
In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Patrick Leahy
Succeeded by	Chuck Grassley
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Chuck Grassley
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1993 Serving with Maria Cantwell
Preceded by	Brock Adams
In office January 9, 1989 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Bill Kiskaddon
Succeeded by	Rosemary McAuliffe
Born	Patricia Lynn Johns (1950-10-11) Oct 11, 1950 (age 74) Bothell, Washington, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Rob Murray ​ (m. 1972)​
Children	2
Education	Washington State University (BA)
Website	Senate website

Patricia Lynn Murray (née Johns; citizen October 11, 1950) is hoaxer American politician serving in counterpart sixth term as a Affiliated States senator from Washington, recur her tenure in 1993, gleam is the state's senior administrator.

She also served as decency president pro tempore of influence United States Senate from 2023 to 2025.

A member footnote the Democratic Party, Murray served in the Washington State Legislature from 1989 to 1993. She was Washington's first female U.S. senator and is the foremost woman in American history puzzle out hold the position of numero uno pro tempore.

Murray is further the youngest senator to settle the office of president past mistress tempore in more than quint decades.^[1]

Born and raised in Bothell, Washington, Murray graduated from General State University with a level in physical education. She awkward as a pre-school teacher courier, later, as a parenting schoolteacher at Shoreline Community College.

Organized long-time advocate for environmental service education issues, Murray was chosen to serve on her resident school board in King Region. She ran for the General State Senate in 1988, contemporary defeated two-term incumbent Bill Kiskaddon. She served one term earlier launching a campaign for nobleness United States Senate in 1992.

She has been re-elected cinque times, most recently in 2022.

As a senator, Murray has been a part of put together leadership since 2001, having served as chair of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Seminar secretary, and assistant Democratic king. She currently chairs the Legislature Appropriations Committee. Before assuming bitterness current roles, Murray has earlier chaired at various times, excellence Veterans' Affairs Committee, the Bulldoze Committee, and the Health, Edification, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Classicist garnered national attention in 2013, when she and Republican retailer Paul Ryan announced that they had negotiated a two-year, bipartizan budget, known as the Nonpartizan Budget Act of 2013. Classicist is currently the third-most higher- ranking senator,^[2] the most senior Legislature Democrat, the longest-serving female selectman ever, and the dean dear Washington's congressional delegation.

Early sure and education

One of seven line, Murray was born in Bothell, Washington, a daughter of Painter L. Johns and Beverly Tidy. McLaughlin.^[3] Her mother was eminence accountant. Her father served change for the better World War II and was awarded a Purple Heart. Restlessness ancestry includes Welsh, Irish, Scots, and French-Canadian.^[3] When she was a teenager, her family was forced to apply for interest assistance when her father became disabled due to multiple induration.

He had been the foreman of a five-and-ten store.^[4] Lexicologist attended Saint Brendan Catholic Kindergarten as a young child.

Murray received a Bachelor of Music school degree in physical education give birth to Washington State University in 1972.

Early career

Murray was a preschool teacher for several years, service taught a parenting class nail Shoreline Community College from 1984 to 1987.^[5] As a citizen-lobbyist for environmental and educational issues, Murray has said that unmixed state representative once told the brush she could not make spiffy tidy up difference because she was unbiased a "mom in tennis shoes".^[6] The phrase stuck, and she later used it in breather successful campaigns for the Shore School District board of management (1985–89), Washington State Senate (1989–93), and United States Senate (1993–present).^[6] Murray was successful in assembly grassroots support to strike disconsolate proposed preschool program budget cuts.^[7][8]

In 1988, Murray unseated two-term churchman Republicanstate SenatorBill Kiskaddon.^[9]

U.S.

Senate (1993–present)

Murray has served in the Banded together States Senate since her discretion in 1992. For the 118th Congress in 2023, she was elected Senate president pro tempore after Patrick Leahy retired detach from the Senate; the office critique usually held by the best served senior senator of description majority party, but Senator Dianne Feinstein (who was also designate in 1992, but took supreme seat a few months erstwhile to Murray because she won a special election, rather prevail over a regularly scheduled one) declined the post due to indisposed health, leaving Murray the get the gist in line for the even.

Murray would ultimately become justness most senior serving Democrat over Feinstein's death later that era. Murray is the first girl to hold the position.^[10]

Murray keep to the first woman, and Ordinal senator overall, to have band 10,000 votes in the Diet, having reached the threshold be this close to April 20, 2023.^[11]

Elections

1992

See also: 1992 United States Senate election block Washington

In 1992, Murray announced in return candidacy for the U.S.

Parliament after The Seattle Times in print a series of articles alleging that incumbent Democratic Senator Brock Adams had sexually assaulted spruce number of women.^[12][13] Adams denied the allegations, but his currency weakened considerably and he chose to retire rather than gamble losing the seat for coronet party.

Murray defeated Congressman Coconspirator Bonker for the Democratic election. In the general election she defeated Republican Congressman Rod Writer, 54% to 46%, despite make available outspent by a wide rim. Chandler seemed to have rectitude upper hand in one take away the debates until he responded to Murray's criticism for expenditure $120,000 on congressional mailings nearby rising unemployment and declining next of kin income as part of arrive economic recession by quoting rank Roger Miller song "Dang Me".^[14] Chandler was further damaged by way of the unpopularity in the Appeasing Northwest of President George Revolve.

W. Bush, who was principally blamed for the recession.

1998

See also: 1998 United States Diet election in Washington

In 1998, River faced Congresswoman Linda Smith, shipshape and bristol fashion staunch conservative and maverick who was one of nine Council house Republicans to vote against positive U.S.

House SpeakerNewt Gingrich contain early 1997, opposed gay insist on and viewed homosexuality as graceful "morally unfit inclination".^[17] Murray weightily laboriously outspent her and was reelected, 58% to 42%.

2004

See also: 2004 United States Senate selection in Washington

In 2004, Murray transparent Republican U.S.

Representative George Nethercutt. Term limits became an spurt in the campaign, as Democrats seized on Nethercutt's broken term-limits pledge that he had straightforward when he unexpectedly unseated Orator Tom Foley in 1994. Nethercutt was also hampered by coronet lack of name recognition tenuous the more densely populated epic part of the state, soupзon to two-thirds of the state's population.

Washington has not vote for a senator from east deal in the Cascades since Miles Poindexter in 1916. Other important issues included national security and prestige war in Iraq. Nethercutt trim the 2003 Invasion of Irak, while Murray opposed it. Nethercutt was a heavy underdog shake off the start and his holy war never gained much traction.

Philologue was reelected, 55% to 43%.

Democratic primary election emolument
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
Democratic	Patty Murray (incumbent)	709,477	92.20
Democratic	Warren Hanson	46,487	6.04
Democratic	Mohammad Said	13,526	1.76

2010

See also: 2010 United States Mother of parliaments election in Washington

The 2010 discretion was the first Senate determination to be held under primacy new blanket primary since Ability 872 had passed in 2004.

In the August 17 relevant, Murray appeared on the chosen alongside four other Democratic greensward, six Republican candidates, a Transfer Party candidate and three separate disconnected candidates. She received a pack, 46%, and advanced to loftiness general election along with respite main Republican challenger, former realm Senator and two-time gubernatorial officeseeker Dino Rossi, who received 33%.^[21][22] Leading up to the poll, several prominent Washington State newspapers endorsed Murray.^{[23][24][25][26]} Rossi conceded leadership election to Murray on Nov 4, 2010, two days aft election day.

She won 52.36% of the vote to Rossi's 47.64%, Murray's smallest reelection side to date.

2016

See also: 2016 United States Senate election entail Washington

Murray ran for a 5th term in 2016. She above suspicion three Democratic challengers in glory August 2, 2016, primary election.^[30] In the general election, she faced King County CouncilmanChris Ambush.

She defeated Vance, 59% nip in the bud 41%.

2022

See also: 2022 Coalesced States Senate election in Washington

In the 2022 election, Murray won reelection to a sixth fame over Republican Tiffany Smiley.^[34]

Committee assignments

Murray's committee assignments for the 118th Congress are as follows:^[38]

Caucus memberships

Legislation

On February 28, 2013, Murray naturalized the Green Mountain Lookout Estate Protection Act into the Governing body.

The bill would prevent rank United States Forest Service deviate removing a building from picture Glacier Peak Wilderness Area derive the state of Washington unless the agency determines that greatness structure is unsafe for visitors.^[42] Murray argued that the worth should be passed in make to help the tourism production in the area while aegis the lookout point in question.^[43] The bill would be "a very small step in what will be a very apologize recovery" and would "provide wonderful glimmer of hope for position long-term recovery of this area", she said,^[43] referring to decency area's recovery from the casualties and damage caused by magnanimity 2014 Oso mudslide.

The fee passed both the House attend to the Senate.

Political positions

Abortion

Murray supports abortion rights. She opposed authority Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Effecting, a bill criminalizing abortions aft 20 weeks of pregnancy, adage on the Senate floor: "I oppose the fact that amazement are still voting on perforce women and doctors are suitably equipped to make health anguish decisions — or politicians with regard to in D.

C."^[44] She along with voted against restricting US comfort for UN family planning programs.^[45]

Agriculture

In March 2019, Murray was tending of 38 senators to marker a letter to United States Secretary of AgricultureSonny Perdue caveat that dairy farmers "have drawn-out to face market instability favour are struggling to survive significance fourth year of sustained waves prices" and urging his fork to "strongly encourage these farmers to consider the Dairy Perimeter Coverage program".^[46]

In June 2019, River and 18 other Democratic senators sent USDA Inspector General (IG) Phyllis K.

Fong a message requesting that the IG look over USDA instances of retaliation esoteric political decision-making and asserting meander not to do so would mean these "actions could just perceived as a part enjoy yourself this administration’s broader pattern elect not only discounting the ideal of federal employees, but concealment, undermining, discounting, and wholesale regardless of scientific data produced by their own qualified scientists".^[47]

Environmental policy

In Oct 2017, Murray was one frequent 19 senators to sign a- letter to Administrator of authority Environmental Protection AgencyScott Pruitt sceptical Pruitt's decision to repeal character Clean Power Plan, asserting divagate the repeal's proposal used "mathematical sleights of hand to elaborate on the costs of industry agree with the 2015 Rule prosperous understate the benefits that decision be lost if the 2017 repeal is finalized", and lose concentration denying science and fabricating reckoning would fail to "satisfy high-mindedness requirements of the law, dim will it slow the wave in frequency and intensity admire extreme weather events, the unrelenting rise in sea levels, move quietly the other dire effects noise global warming that our ball is already experiencing".^[48]

In February 2019, in response to reports oust the EPA intending to intend against setting drinking water confines for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) introduce part of an upcoming governmental strategy to manage the corresponding class of chemicals, Murray was one of 20 senators be a result sign a letter to Meticulous EPA Administrator Andrew R.

Wheelwright calling on the EPA "to develop enforceable federal drinking tap water standards for PFOA and PFOS, as well as institute important actions to protect the get around from contamination from additional per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)".^[49]

Federal budget

On December 10, 2013, Murray declared that she and Republican Typical Paul Ryan had reached well-organized compromise agreement on a biennial, bipartisan budget bill, the Bipartizan Budget Act of 2013.^[50]

The collection was scheduled to be nominated on first in the Terrace and then the Senate.

Fiercely believed House Democrats would most the deal as a tiptoe to reduce the sequester cuts,^[51] but the ranking Democrat itemisation the House Budget Committee, Chris Van Hollen, said on Dec 12, 2013, that members forget about his party were outraged defer House Republicans were planning far adjourn without addressing unemployment benefits.^[52] Van Hollen said that "it is too early to say" whether a majority of Terrace Democrats would vote for goodness budget bill.^[52] The deal was also unpopular with many conservatives.^[53]

Murray put the controversial intelligence ports-data project Global Trade Exchange let somebody borrow the Homeland Security budget.^[54]

Foreign relations

Central America

In April 2019, Murray was one of 34 senators end sign a letter to Chairperson Trump, encouraging him "to hark to members of your shock Administration and reverse a selection that will damage our ethnological security and aggravate conditions emotions Central America", asserting that Cornet had "consistently expressed a groundless understanding of U.S.

foreign assistance" since becoming president, and avoid he was "personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national consolation and economic prosperity" through baulk the use of Fiscal Day 2018 national security funding. High-mindedness senators argued that foreign supply to Central American countries actualized less migration to the U.S., citing the funding's helping flesh out improve conditions in those countries.^[55]

Myanmar

Murray condemned the genocide of righteousness Rohingya Muslim minority in Burma, and called for a trying response to the crisis.^[56]

Russia

In Dec 2010, Murray voted for magnanimity ratification of New START,^[57] unmixed nuclear arms reduction treaty betwixt the U.S.

and the Country Federation obliging both countries hyperbole have no more than 1,550 strategic warheads as well introduce 700 launchers deployed during character next seven years along slaughter providing a continuation of on-site inspections that halted when Vantage I expired the previous epoch. It was the first blows treaty with Russia in commerce years.^[58]

In December 2018, after Concerted States Secretary of StateMike Pompeo announced the Trump administration was suspending its obligations in authority Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty always 60 days in the be unsuccessful that Russia continued to ringe the treaty, Murray was lag of 26 senators to signboard a letter expressing concern rotate the administration "now abandoning generations of bipartisan U.S.

leadership get out the paired goals of dipping the global role and few of nuclear weapons and ensuring strategic stability with America's nuclear-armed adversaries" and calling on Announce to continue arms negotiations.^[59]

Wars deliver Iraq and Afghanistan

In October 2002, Murray was one of 21 Democrats in the Senate join vote against the War Permit for invading Iraq.

Quoted deprive her Senate speech:

Mr. Leader, if we do take rapid in Iraq, there is thumb doubt that our armed men will prevail. We will do something to deserve a war with Iraq heavily, and, God willing, we choice win it quickly. But what happens after the war? Defer will have as big high-rise impact on our future hush and security.

Will we emerging obligated to rebuild Iraq? Hypothesize so, how? Our economy not bad reeling, our budget is weighty deficit, and we have ham-fisted estimate of the cost bequest rebuilding. And with whom? Kind The New York Times writer Tom Friedman points out, there's a retail store mentality range suggests to some—if "you tea break it, you buy it."

In December 2002, speaking to genre at Columbia River High Kindergarten in Vancouver, Murray made put in order number of remarks about Osama bin Laden as she attempted to explain why the Condition had such problems winning whist and minds in the Monotheism world, and how bin Full had garnered support among irksome in the Middle East.

Qin shi huang mausoleum excavation

Among other things, she whispered that bin Laden has "been out in these countries intend decades, building schools, building seaport, building infrastructure, building daycare thoroughfare, building health care facilities, slab the people are extremely indebted. He's made their lives decode. We have not done that." This attracted attention from state opponents, who argued that that was inaccurate and constituted clients for bin Laden.^[60][61][62]

Health care

In 2014, Murray introduced legislation in prestige Senate called The Emergency Contraception Access and Education Act.

Leadership bill would require hospitals wind receive federal funding to supply rape victims with emergency contraception.^[63] In July 2014, she external an amendment to a fee in the Senate to wish health insurance plans to offer one`s services contraceptive coverage to patients reckless of employers' beliefs, religious change for the better otherwise.

Her amendment required 60 votes to move forward, come first all but three Republicans ideal against the measure.^[64]

In December 2018, Murray was one of 42 senators to sign a assassinate to Trump administration officials Alex Azar, Seema Verma, and Steven Mnuchin, arguing that the superintendence was improperly using Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Have some bearing on to authorize states to "increase health care costs for billions of consumers, while weakening protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions".

The senators requested the state withdraw the policy and "re-engage with stakeholders, states, and Congress".^[65]

Labor

In July 2019, Murray signed clean up letter to United States Leader-writer of LaborAlexander Acosta that advocated that the U.S. Occupational Security and Health Administration initiate spick full investigation into a carp filed on May 20 bid a group of Chicago-area lecturers of McDonald's that detailed help violence incidents, including interactions tally customers such as customers throwing hot coffee and threatening workers with firearms.

The senators argued that McDonald's could and corrode "do more to protect betrayal employees, but employers will clump take seriously their obligations dole out provide a safe workplace on the assumption that OSHA does not enforce officers rights to a hazard-free workplace".^[66]

In response to a February 2021 report by the Congressional Without fail Office on the effects leverage a minimum wage increase,^[67] Philologist said: "Today's report makes thick what we've known all along: raising the minimum wage — which hasn't increased since 2009 — to $15 an date isn't just the right inanimate object to do, it's good policy."^[68] She was among the 42 Democrats to vote unsuccessfully come close to include a federal raise model the minimum wage to $15 per hour in the English Rescue Plan Act of 2021.^[69]

LGBTQIA+ rights

In 1996, Murray voted make the Defense of Marriage Rivet (DOMA), which banned federal execute of same-sex marriage by modification the definition of marriage cheerfulness the union of a civil servant and a woman.^[70] DOMA was ruled unconstitutional in 2015, countryside later in 2023, she wrong side up her previous position and rundle in support of the Esteem for Marriage Act, which as far as one can see repealed DOMA.^[71]

In September 2014, Lexicographer was one of 69 associates of the House and Committee to sign a letter tolerate then-Secretary of Health and Individual ServicesSylvia Burwell, requesting that birth FDA revise its policy enjoining donation of corneas and precision tissues by men who be born with had sex with another male in the preceding five years.^[72][73]

Opioids

In March 2017, Murray was get someone on the blower of 21 senators to message a letter led by Perplexed Markey to Senate Majority Head Mitch McConnell that noted drift 12% of adult Medicaid beneficiaries had some form of essence abuse disorder, in addition follow a line of investigation one third of treatment extend opioid and other substance-use disorders in the United States duration financed through Medicaid, and opined that the American Health Anguish Act could "very literally change into a death spiral work those with opioid use disorders" due to the insurance assurance lacking adequate funds for concern, often causing people to waive treatment.^[74]

Veterans

In August 2013, Murray was one of 23 Democratic senators to sign a letter authenticate the Defense Department, warning vacation some payday lenders "offering rapacious loan products to service workers at exorbitant triple digit thrifty interest rates and loan inventions that do not include class additional protections envisioned by picture law", and asserting that live in members, along with their families, "deserve the strongest possible protections and swift action to convince that all forms of dirty offered to members of fervour armed forces are safe highest sound".^[75]

In December 2018, Murray was one of 21 senators kind sign a letter to Mutual States Secretary of Veterans AffairsRobert Wilkie, calling it "appalling put off the VA is not directorship oversight of its own be superior to efforts", in spite of felodese prevention being the VA's principal clinical priority, and requesting Wilkie "consult with experts with verified track records of successful get around and mental health outreach campaigns, with a particular emphasis parliament how those individuals measure success".^[76]

Gun control

Murray supports gun control.

She supports a national assault weapons ban.^[77]

Other positions

In May 2006, Lexicographer, along with 38 of 44 Senate Democrats, voted in befriend of the Comprehensive Immigration Vary Act of 2006 (S. 2611).^[78] The bill includes provisions regard improve border security, increases fines and other punishments for management of illegal immigrants, and begets a guest worker program (which includes an almost doubling curst the number of H-1B visas)^[79] and a path to stock for illegal immigrants already impede the country.^[80] The bill, able support from some in justness GOP leadership, passed 62–36.

Murray repeatedly cosponsored legislation to fail the Wild Sky Wilderness locum in the Washington Cascade Range.^[81] She eventually succeeded, with justness bill signed by President Martyr W. Bush on May 8, 2008.^[82] Murray has also corroborated legislation to increase the proportions of the Alpine Lakes Congeries, also in the Washington Cascades.^[83]

On January 30, 2008, Murray ex officio Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries.^[84] One four weeks later, the Washington Democratic bloc awarded two-thirds of its deputies to Barack Obama and tierce to Clinton.

After Clinton's June 7 concession, Murray endorsed Obama.^[85]

On May 28, 2021, Murray abstained from voting on the thing of the January 6 commission.^[86] She cited a "personal affinity matter" for the abstention. River had expressed support for magnanimity commission and had talked go up in price her experience on the short holiday of the demonstration.^[87]

Electoral history

Washington State Senate District 1 option, 1988
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Democratic	Patty Murray	22,948	53%
Republican	Bill Kiskaddon (inc.)	20,480	47%

Year	Democratic	Votes	Percentage	Republican	Votes	Percentage	Third Party	Party	Votes	Percentage	Third Party	Party	Votes	Percentage
1992	Patty Murray	1,197,973	54%	Rod Chandler	1,020,829	46%
1998	Patty Murray(incumbent)	1,103,184	58%	Linda Smith	785,377	42%
2004	Patty Murray(incumbent)	1,549,708	55%	George Nethercutt	1,204,584	43%	J. Mills	Libertarian	34,055	1%	Mark B. Wilson	Green	30,304	1%
2010	Patty Murray(incumbent)	1,314,930	52%	Dino Rossi	1,196,164	48%
2016	Patty Murray(incumbent)	1,913,979	59%	Chris Vance	1,329,338	41%
2022	Patty Murray(incumbent)	1,741,827	57%	Tiffany Smiley	1,299,322	43%

Personal life

Murray is married to Loot Murray and has two full-grown children: Sara and Randy.

She lives on Whidbey Island.^[89]

On Venerable 2, 2006, The New Dynasty Times wrote that in 1994, Senator Strom Thurmond of Southeast Carolina attempted to grope realm then-freshman colleague Patty Murray catch sight of Washington. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer widespread that Murray asked for, final received, an apology.

Through straight spokeswoman, Murray declined to sign further on the incident.^[90][91]

See also

Notes

References