Patty Murray

**Patricia Lynn** "**Patty**" **Murray** (née **Johns**; October 11, 1950) is an American politician who has been the senior United States Senator from Washington since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before, she was a member of the Washington State Senate from 1989 to 1993. Murray was the President pro tempore of the United States Senate from 2023 until 2025, being the first female to hold this role.

Murray is currently the third-most senior senator, the most senior Senate Democrat, the longest-serving female senator ever, and the dean of Washington's congressional delegation.

## Early life

Murray and raised in Bothell, Washington. She graduated from Washington State University with a degree in physical education. She worked as a pre-school teacher and, later, as a parenting teacher at Shoreline Community College.

## Political career

Murray began her political career by focusing on environmental and education issues. She was elected to serve on her local school board in King County. She ran for the Washington State Senate in 1988, and beat two-term incumbent Bill Kiskaddon. She served one term before launching a campaign for the United States Senate in 1992. She has been re-elected five times.

With Patrick Leahy's retirement, Murray became the Senate President pro tempore in the 118th Congress, becoming the first female to hold the position in history. She is also the youngest senator to hold the office of president pro tempore in more than fifty years.

## Personal life

Murray is married to Rob Murray and has two children: Sara and Randy. She lives on Whidbey Island.

In August 2006, _The New York Times_ wrote that in 1994, Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina tried to grope Murray. _The Seattle Post-Intelligencer_ reported that Murray asked for, and received, an apology and she has not spoken more about the incident since.

## Other websites

- Senator Patty Murray official U.S. Senate site
- Patty Murray for Senate

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **embed**: yes
- **office3**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Appropriations Committee
- **term start3**: January 3, 2023
- **term end3**: January 3, 2025
- **predecessor3**: Patrick Leahy
- **successor3**: Susan Collins
- **office4**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
- **term start4**: February 3, 2021
- **term end4**: January 3, 2023
- **predecessor4**: Lamar Alexander
- **successor4**: Bernie Sanders
- **office5**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on the Budget, Senate Budget Committee
- **term start5**: January 3, 2013
- **term end5**: January 3, 2015
- **predecessor5**: Kent Conrad
- **successor5**: Mike Enzi
- **office6**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- **term start6**: January 3, 2011
- **term end6**: January 3, 2013
- **predecessor6**: Daniel Akaka
- **successor6**: Bernie Sanders


## Infobox (officeholder)

- **embed**: yes
- **office6**: Party leaders of the United States Senate, Senate Assistant Democratic Leader
- **leader7**: Chuck Schumer
- **term start7**: January 3, 2017
- **term end7**: January 3, 2023
- **predecessor7**: Position established
- **successor7**: Position abolished
- **office8**: United States Senate Democratic Conference Secretary, Secretary of the Senate Democratic Caucus
- **leader8**: Harry Reid
- **term start8**: January 3, 2007
- **term end8**: January 3, 2017
- **predecessor8**: Debbie Stabenow
- **successor8**: Tammy Baldwin
- **office9**: Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
- **term start9**: January 3, 2011
- **term end9**: January 3, 2013
- **leader9**: Harry Reid
- **predecessor9**: Bob Menendez
- **successor9**: Michael Bennet
- **term start10**: January 3, 2001
- **term end10**: January 3, 2003
- **leader10**: Tom Daschle
- **predecessor10**: Robert Torricelli
- **successor10**: Jon Corzine


## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Patty Murray
- **image**: Patty Murray, official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg
- **office**: Vice Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Appropriations Committee
- **status**: Incumbent
- **term start**: January 3, 2025
- **predecessor**: Susan Collins
- **office1**: President pro tempore of the United States Senate
- **term start1**: January 3, 2023
- **term end1**: January 3, 2025
- **predecessor1**: Patrick Leahy
- **successor1**: Chuck Grassley
- **office2**: President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate, President pro tempore emerita of the United States Senate
- **term start2**: January 3, 2025
- **predecessor2**: Chuck Grassley
- **jr/sr11**: United States Senator
- **state11**: Washington (state), Washington
- **alongside11**: Maria Cantwell
- **predecessor11**: Brock Adams
- **term start11**: January 3, 1993
- **state senate12**: Washington
- **district12**: Washington's 1st legislative district, 1st
- **term start12**: January 9, 1989
- **term end12**: January 3, 1993
- **predecessor12**: Bill Kiskaddon
- **successor12**: Rosemary McAuliffe
- **birth name**: Patricia Lynn Johns
- **birth place**: Bothell, Washington, U.S.
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic
- **children**: 2
- **education**: Washington State University (Bachelor of Arts, BA)