1994 United States Senate election in Washington

none March 2026 September 2023 1994 United States Senate election in Washington Washington presidential no 1988 United States Senate election in Washington 1988 2000 United States Senate election in Washington 2000 November 8, 1994 150x150px Slade Gorton, official Senate photo portrait.jpg Slade Gorton Republican Party (United States) 947,821 55.75% Ron Sims official portrait.jpg Ron Sims Democratic Party (United States) 752,352 44.25% 1994 United States Senate election in Washington results map by county.svg 275px County resultsGorton: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%Sims: #7996e2 50–60% U.S. Senator Slade Gorton Republican Party (United States) Slade Gorton Republican Party (United States) The 1994 United States Senate election in Washington was held November 8, 1994. Incumbent Senator Slade Gorton won re-election to a second consecutive term. As of , this was the last time a Republican, a man, or a non-Catholic won a U.S. Senate election in Washington. Background Incumbent Slade Gorton was first elected U.S. Senator from Washington in 1980. Gorton narrowly lost his re-election bid in 1986. In 1988, Gorton successfully ran for the state's other Senate seat. Leading up to the 1994 U.S. Senate elections, Gorton was considered one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents. Democrats had swept the statewide elections in 1992—winning the presidential, gubernatorial, and U.S. Senate races.Lynch Jim Gorton gets head start in 1994 Senate race https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-27173954.html https://web.archive.org/web/20180930081329/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-27173954.html usurped September 30, 2018 subscription September 30, 2018 The Spokesman-Review HighBeam Research Spokane, WA February 24, 1994 Blanket primary Democratic Many prominent Washington Democrats declined to contest the seat. Campaign analyst Charlie Cook of The Cook Political Report wrote that "the real top-notch folks just aren't running." Seattle mayor Norm Rice was encouraged by President Bill Clinton to run, but opted to stay in his position as mayor. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee unsuccessfully urged members of the state's U.S. House delegation to run. Ron Sims, King County Councilman, won the crowded Democratic primary with 17% of the vote. News anchor Mike James came in second with 15%; all other candidates received less than 5%.Sims wins close race, zeros in on Gorton https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1994/09-21/298675_senate__sims_wins_close_race__z.html September 30, 2018 Kitsap Sun September 21, 1994 en Candidates Declared Nominee: Ron Sims, member of King County Council Mike James, news anchor Scott Hardman, businessman Jesse Wineberry, member of the Washington House of Representatives Declined Booth Gardner, former Governor of Washington Norm Rice, Mayor of Seattle Norm Dicks, member of United States House of Representatives Republican Incumbent Slade Gorton faced no serious competition for the Republican nomination. Gorton won the primary with 52% of the vote. No other Republican candidate received any significant amount of support. Candidates Nominee: Slade Gorton, incumbent U.S. Senator Mike the Mover, perennial candidate Warren E. Hanson, commercial fisherman Results thumb|275px|Results by county #e27f7f Gorton #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Blanket primary results Slade Gorton (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 492,251 52.95% Ron Sims Democratic Party (United States) 162,382 17.47% Mike James Democratic Party (United States) 138,005 14.85% Scott Hardman Democratic Party (United States) 29,973 3.32% Warren E. Hanson Republican Party (United States) 26,628 2.86% Jesse Wineberry Democratic Party (United States) 24,698 2.66% 873,937 100.00% General election Candidates Ron Sims, member of King County Council (Democratic) Slade Gorton, incumbent U.S. Senator (Republican) Campaign Despite serving 12 years in the U.S. Senate, Gorton campaigned in 1994 as an outsider candidate.Ammons David Slade Gorton Grapples for Elusive Senate Seat https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1994/06-05/296266_on_politics__slade_gorton_grapp.html September 30, 2018 Kitsap Sun Associated Press June 5, 1994 enLandslide victory over Sims for Gorton https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1994/11-09/301163_u_s__senate__landslide_victory_.html September 30, 2018 Kitsap Sun Associated Press November 9, 1994 en He told crowds at campaign rallies: "If you want more of what you're getting from Washington, D.C., send one of my opponents. If you want a different direction, give a voice to balance by sending me back to the Senate."Camden Jim Gorton seeks image as tough pragmatist; Incumbent senator criticizes government https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-27180421.html https://web.archive.org/web/20180930154446/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-27180421.html usurped September 30, 2018 subscription September 30, 2018 The Spokesman-Review HighBeam Research Spokane, WA September 16, 1994 He gained support among agricultural, logging, and mining groups in Eastern Washington for his criticism of federal regulations. Gorton called for opening up more federal forests to logging and changes to the Endangered Species Act. Sims campaigned in support of the Clinton administration. He accused Gorton of obstructing President Clinton's healthcare and crime reforms. The Sims campaign also attempted to portray Gorton as out of touch with the average Washingtonian. Sims was the first African American U.S. Senate candidate in state history to advance to the general election, although the issue of race was rarely addressed during the campaign. Results 1994 United States Senate election in Washingtonhttps://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=15&c=&c2=&t=985&t2=&p=&p2=&y= https://web.archive.org/web/20241208192240/https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=15&c=&c2=&t=985&t2=&p=&p2=&y= 2024-12-08 live Elections Search Results November 1994 General U. S. Senator Munro Ralph Ralph Munro November 8, 1994 Secretary of State of Washington January 21, 2026 Republican Party (United States) Slade Gorton (incumbent) 947,821 55.75% +4.66% Democratic Party (United States) Ron Sims 752,352 44.25% -4.66% 1,700,173 100.00% N/A Republican Party (United States) By county +County resultsCountySlade Gorton RepublicanRon Sims DemocraticMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams2,93174.60%99825.40%1,93349.20%3,929Asotin3,62659.06%2,51440.94%1,11218.11%6,140Benton32,43075.15%10,72424.85%21,70650.30%43,154Chelan13,28669.78%5,75530.22%7,53139.55%19,041Clallam13,87957.53%10,24742.47%3,63215.05%24,126Clark47,58761.54%29,73738.46%17,85023.08%77,324Columbia1,33372.60%50327.40%83045.21%1,836Cowlitz15,14458.63%10,68641.37%4,45817.26%25,830Douglas6,39670.81%2,63629.19%3,76041.63%9,032Ferry1,67263.45%96336.55%70926.91%2,635Franklin7,41672.32%2,83827.68%4,57844.65%10,254Garfield83869.54%36730.46%47139.09%1,205Grant12,72270.58%5,30429.42%7,41841.15%18,026Grays Harbor10,66951.42%10,08048.58%5892.84%20,749Island14,01059.58%9,50540.42%4,50519.16%23,515Jefferson5,30847.74%5,81152.26%-503-4.52%11,119King254,04947.87%276,71052.13%-22,661-4.27%530,759Kitsap38,00756.89%28,80043.11%9,20713.78%66,807Kittitas6,05960.74%3,91739.26%2,14221.47%9,976Klickitat3,59862.63%2,14737.37%1,45125.26%5,745Lewis15,63468.36%7,23731.64%8,39736.71%22,871Lincoln3,29270.90%1,35129.10%1,94141.80%4,643Mason8,22851.72%7,68148.28%5473.44%15,909Okanogan7,17766.00%3,69734.00%3,48032.00%10,874Pacific3,59249.25%3,70250.75%-110-1.51%7,294Pend Oreille2,68862.51%1,61237.49%1,07625.02%4,300Pierce93,39955.49%74,92544.51%18,47410.98%168,324San Juan2,91846.33%3,38053.67%-462-7.34%6,298Skagit19,00356.30%14,75143.70%4,25212.60%33,754Skamania1,78157.47%1,31842.53%46314.94%3,099Snohomish86,35955.58%69,03144.42%17,32811.15%155,390Spokane86,88759.83%58,33440.17%28,55319.66%145,221Stevens9,57268.16%4,47231.84%5,10036.31%14,044Thurston34,05651.56%31,99848.44%2,0583.12%66,054Wahkiakum95857.23%71642.77%24214.46%1,674Walla Walla11,21866.05%5,76533.95%5,45332.11%16,983Whatcom26,92656.36%20,85243.64%6,07412.71%47,778Whitman8,15759.44%5,56740.56%2,59018.87%13,724Yakima35,01669.01%15,72130.99%19,29538.03%50,737Totals947,82155.75%752,35244.25%195,46911.50%1,700,173 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Asotin (Largest city: Clarkston) Cowlitz (Largest city: Longview) Ferry (Largest city: Republic) Grays Harbor (Largest city: Aberdeen) Mason (Largest city: Shelton) Skamania (Largest city: Carson) Thurston (Largest city: Lacey) Wahkiakum (Largest city: Puget Island) right 275px Swing by county Legend #09ceff Democratic — +10-12.5% #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ff8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #ff2a2a Republican — +10-12.5% #ff0000 Republican — +12.5-15% #d40000 Republican — +>15% 275px Trend relative to the state by county Legend #00a1c8 Democratic — +>15% #00bdec Democratic — +12.5-15% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5–10% #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5-5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0-2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ff8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #ff2a2a Republican — +10-12.5% #ff0000 Republican — +12.5-15% #d40000 Republican — +>15% 275px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold Republican #f48882 Hold #ca0120 Flip See also 1994 United States Senate elections References 30em External links Slade Gorton is re-elected to U.S. Senate in Republican sweep on November 8, 1994. 5519 Kit Oldham and David Wilma August 19, 2003 collapsed 1994 Washington Category:1994 Washington (state) elections