# 1988 United States Senate election in Washington

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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. 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.

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