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.

References

Other websites

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



Category:1950 births
Category:Living people
Category:United States senators from Washington (state)
Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians
Category:Presidents pro tempore of the United States Senate
Category:Members of the Washington State Legislature