1988 United States Senate election in Washington

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.^[1] 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.

1988 United States Senate election in Washington

← 1983 (special) November 8, 1988 1994 →

Nominee Slade Gorton Mike Lowry Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 944,359 904,183 Percentage 51.09% 48.91%

County results Gorton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Lowry:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Daniel J. Evans Republican Elected U.S. Senator Slade Gorton Republican

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

Blanket primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Slade Gorton	335,846	35.90%
	Democratic	Mike Lowry	297,399	31.79%
	Democratic	Don Bonker	241,170	25.78%
	Republican	Douglas J. Smith	31,512	3.37%
	Washington Taxpayers	William C. Goodloe	26,224	2.80%
	Socialist Workers	Daniel B. Fein	3,312	0.35%
Total votes			935,463	100.00%

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

General election results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Slade Gorton	944,359	51.09
	Democratic	Mike Lowry	904,183	48.91
Majority			40,176	2.17
Turnout			1,848,542
	Republican hold

See also

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