Patty Murray

Patty Murray assumed office as Washington's United States senator in January 1993, becoming the state's first female senator. Murray was also the first female chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the first female chair of the Senate Budget Committee. On Jan. 3, 2023, Murray became the first woman to be elected Senate president pro tempore, placing her third in the line of presidential succession.

Murray was born October 11, 1950, in Bothell, Washington. She graduated from Washington State University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education. Prior to entering politics, she taught at Shoreline Community College and was a citizen lobbyist for environmental and educational issues.

From 1985-1989, Murray served on the Shoreline School Board, serving as president and legislative representative for two terms. In 1988, Murray was elected to the Washington State Senate, serving until her election to the U.S. Senate.

For more information on Murray's policy subject areas, committee appointments and sponsored/co-sponsored legislation in the U.S. Senate, please visit her profile on https://www.congress.gov.

Sources:

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (n.d.). Murray, Patty (1950-). Retrieved on May 12, 2020, from https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=M001111.

McNamee, G. L. (n.d.). Patty Murray: United States Senator. In Britannica. Retrieved on May 12, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Patty-Murray.

Murray, P. (n.d.) About Patty. Retrieved on May 12, 2020, from https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/aboutpatty.