Closest U.S. Senate elections in Washington
The closest U.S. Senate election in Washington history was in 2000, a margin of 0.09 points. Maria Cantwell beat Slade Gorton, 1,199,437 to 1,197,208. Next closest are 1922 (1.3 points) and 1986 (2.0 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Washington has held, special elections included, see the Washington U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Washington history?
The Washington Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 2000, 0.09 points. Maria Cantwell beat Slade Gorton, 1,199,437 to 1,197,208. The next closest were 1922 (1.3 points) and 1986 (2.0 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Washington’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Washington Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Washington election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000 | Maria Cantwell D def. Slade Gorton R | 1,199,437 – 1,197,208 | 0.09 points |
| 2 | 1922 | Clarence C. Dill D def. Miles Poindexter R | 130,375 – 126,556 | 1.3 points |
| 3 | 1986 | Brock Adams D def. Slade Gorton R | 677,471 – 650,931 | 2.0 points |
| 4 | 1988 | Slade Gorton R def. Mike Lowry D | 944,359 – 904,183 | 2.2 points |
| 5 | 2010 | Patty Murray D def. Dino Rossi R | 1,314,930 – 1,196,164 | 4.7 points |
| 6 | 1962 | Warren G. Magnuson D def. Richard G. Christensen R | 491,365 – 446,204 | 4.8 points |
| 7 | 1926 | Wesley L. Jones R def. A. Scott Bullitt D | 164,130 – 148,792 | 4.8 points |
| 8 | 1928 | Clarence C. Dill D def. Kenneth Mackintosh R | 261,524 – 227,415 | 7.0 points |
| 9 | 1950 | Warren G. Magnuson D def. Walter Williams R | 397,719 – 342,464 | 7.5 points |
| 10 | 1992 | Patty Murray D def. Rod Chandler R | 1,197,973 – 1,020,829 | 8.0 points |
| 11 | 1940 | Monrad C. Wallgren D def. Stephen F. Chadwick R | 404,718 – 342,589 | 8.3 points |
| 12 | 1980 | Slade Gorton R def. Warren G. Magnuson D | 936,317 – 792,052 | 8.3 points |
| 13 | 1946 | Harry P. Cain R def. Hugh B. Mitchell D | 358,847 – 298,683 | 9.1 points |
| 14 | 1944 | Warren G. Magnuson D def. Harry P. Cain R | 452,013 – 364,356 | 10.7 points |
| 15 | 1914 | Wesley L. Jones R def. W. W. Black D | 130,479 – 91,733 | 11.2 points |
| 16 | 1994 | Slade Gorton R def. Ron Sims D | 947,821 – 752,352 | 11.5 points |
| 17 | 2004 | Patty Murray D def. George R. Nethercutt R | 1,549,708 – 1,204,584 | 12.2 points |
| 18 | 1952 | Henry M. Jackson D def. Harry P. Cain R | 595,288 – 460,884 | 12.7 points |
| 19 | 2022 | Patty Murray D def. Tiffany Smiley R | 1,741,827 – 1,299,322 | 14.5 points |
| 20 | 1998 | Patty Murray D def. Linda Smith R | 1,103,184 – 785,377 | 16.8 points |
| 21 | 2018 | Maria Cantwell D def. Susan Hutchison R | 1,803,364 – 1,282,804 | 16.9 points |
| 22 | 2006 | Maria Cantwell D def. Mike McGavick R | 1,184,659 – 832,106 | 16.9 points |
| 23 | 2016 | Patty Murray D def. Chris Vance R | 1,913,979 – 1,329,338 | 18.0 points |
| 24 | 1916 | Miles Poindexter R def. George Turner D | 202,287 – 135,339 | 18.3 points |
| 25 | 2024 | Maria Cantwell D def. Dr Raul Garcia R | 2,252,577 – 1,549,187 | 18.5 points |