Senate positions

President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Patrick Leahy
Succeeded by	Chuck Grassley
Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee
In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Patrick Leahy
Succeeded by	Susan Collins
Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Lamar Alexander
Succeeded by	Bernie Sanders
Chair of the Senate Budget Committee
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Kent Conrad
Succeeded by	Mike Enzi
Chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Daniel Akaka
Succeeded by	Bernie Sanders

Party positions

Senate Assistant Democratic Leader
In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2023
Leader	Chuck Schumer
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Secretary of the Senate Democratic Caucus
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2017
Leader	Harry Reid
Preceded by	Debbie Stabenow
Succeeded by	Tammy Baldwin
Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Leader	Harry Reid
Preceded by	Bob Menendez
Succeeded by	Michael Bennet
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Leader	Tom Daschle
Preceded by	Robert Torricelli
Succeeded by	Jon Corzine

Member of the Washington State Senate
from the 1st district

In office
January 9, 1989 – January 3, 1993

Preceded by

Bill Kiskaddon

Succeeded by

Rosemary McAuliffe

Personal details

Born

Patricia Lynn Johns

October 11, 1950 (age 74)
Bothell, Washington, U.S.

Political party

Democratic

Spouse

Rob Murray

(m. 1972)

Children

Education

Washington State University (BA)

Signature

Website

Patricia Lynn Murray (born October 11, 1950) is an American politician. She has been a United States senator for Washington since 1993. She is the state's longest-serving senator.

From 2023 to 2025, she also served as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate. This is a high-ranking position in the Senate. She is the first woman in American history to hold this role.

Patty Murray is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming a U.S. Senator, she served in the Washington State Senate from 1989 to 1993. She was the first woman from Washington to become a U.S. Senator.

Born and raised in Bothell, Washington, Murray studied at Washington State University. She worked as a preschool teacher and later taught parenting classes. She became involved in politics by advocating for environmental and education issues. She was elected to her local school board.

Murray won her first election to the Washington State Senate in 1988. She then ran for the U.S. Senate in 1992 and has been re-elected five times. Her most recent re-election was in 2022.

As a senator, Murray has been a part of the party leadership since 2001. She has chaired important committees like the Senate Appropriations Committee. She also led the Veterans' Affairs Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

In 2013, she worked with Republican representative Paul Ryan to create a two-year budget plan. This plan was called the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. Patty Murray is currently one of the most senior senators. She is also the longest-serving female senator ever.

Early Life and Education

Patty Murray was born in Bothell, Washington. She was one of seven children. Her mother was an accountant, and her father was a veteran of World War II.

When she was a teenager, her family faced financial difficulties. Her father became disabled, and they needed welfare assistance. This experience helped shape her views on helping families.

In 1972, Murray earned a degree in physical education from Washington State University.

Starting Her Career in Public Service

After college, Murray worked as a preschool teacher. She also taught parenting classes at Shoreline Community College. She became known as a citizen advocate for environmental and education issues.

She once said that a state representative told her she couldn't make a difference because she was "just a mom in tennis shoes." This phrase became a motto for her campaigns. She used it to show that ordinary people can make a big impact.

Murray successfully fought against cuts to preschool programs. In 1988, she was elected to the Washington State Senate. She served one term there before running for the U.S. Senate.

Serving in the U.S. Senate

Patty Murray has been a U.S. Senator since 1993. In 2023, she became the President pro tempore of the Senate. This role is usually held by the longest-serving senator from the majority party. She is the first woman to ever hold this important position.

On April 20, 2023, Senator Murray made history. She became the first woman and 33rd senator overall to cast 10,000 votes in the Senate.

How Senator Murray Was Elected

Patty Murray has been elected to the U.S. Senate six times.

1992 Election

In 1992, Murray decided to run for the U.S. Senate. The current senator, Brock Adams, chose not to run again. Murray won the Democratic nomination. In the main election, she defeated Republican Rod Chandler. She won with 54% of the vote.

Later Elections

Murray was re-elected in 1998, 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2022. Each time, she won against different challengers. Her smallest winning margin was in 2010, when she won with 52.36% of the vote. In her most recent election in 2022, she won a sixth term.

Committee Work in the Senate

Senator Murray is involved in several important committees in the Senate. These committees help create laws and oversee government actions.

Committee on Appropriations (She is the top-ranking member for her party on this committee.)
Committee on the Budget
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Senator Murray speaking at an event with other senators.

Legislation and Bills

Senator Murray has worked on many laws. For example, in 2013, she introduced the Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act. This bill aimed to protect a historic building in Washington state. It passed both the House and the Senate.

Political Views and Stances

Patty Murray has clear views on many important issues.

Agriculture Support

Murray supports farmers, especially dairy farmers. She has urged the U.S. Agriculture Secretary to help farmers facing low prices. She also asked for investigations into how the USDA uses scientific data.

Protecting the Environment

She is a strong supporter of environmental protection. She has questioned decisions to weaken environmental rules, like the Clean Power Plan. She also pushed for safe drinking water standards.

Federal Budget Agreements

In 2013, Senator Murray worked with Republican Paul Ryan to create a two-year budget plan. This plan helped reduce government spending cuts.

Foreign Relations

Central America

Murray has encouraged the U.S. government to continue providing aid to Central American countries. She believes this aid helps improve conditions there and reduces migration to the U.S.

Myanmar

She has spoken out against the violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. She has called for a stronger international response to this crisis.

Russia

Murray supported the New START treaty in 2010. This treaty aimed to reduce nuclear weapons between the U.S. and Russian Federation. She also expressed concern when the U.S. suspended another nuclear arms treaty with Russia.

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

In 2002, Senator Murray voted against the war in Iraq. She questioned what would happen after the war and the costs of rebuilding Iraq.

Major General Galen Jackman explaining a vehicle program to Senator Patty Murray.

Healthcare Access

Murray has worked to ensure access to healthcare.

Workers' Rights

She advocates for workers' safety and fair wages. She also supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.

LGBTQIA+ Rights

In 2023, Senator Murray supported the Respect for Marriage Act. This law officially protects the right to same-sex marriage across the U.S.

Support for Veterans

Murray is a strong advocate for veterans. She has worked to protect service members from predatory lenders. She also urged the Veterans Affairs Department to improve suicide prevention efforts for veterans.

Gun Control

Senator Murray supports stricter gun control laws. She supports a national ban on assault weapons.

Other Important Issues

Murray has supported creating and expanding wilderness areas in Washington state. She helped pass the Wild Sky Wilderness bill in 2008. She also proposed protecting more lands in the Olympic National Forest.

Personal Life

Patty Murray is married to Rob Murray. They have two adult children, Sara and Randy. She lives in Seattle.

Images for kids

Patty Murray's signature.

Patty Murray facts for kids

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