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Republican Vance Announces Challenge to Democratic Senator Murray

By Essex Porter, KIRO 7 News
By Essex Porter, KIRO 7 News
Prominent Republican Chris Vance just took on one of the toughest challenges in Washington state politics.

OLYMPIA, Wash. — He's running against Democrat Patty Murray for the U.S. Senate.

We met with Chris Vance a few hours after he made the announcement official.

"Gridlock has paralyzed Washington, D.C. Our debt is $18 trillion. We're about 30 days away from another government shutdown and I decided instead of talking about it I want to do something about it," Vance said.

But Vance has had praise for Murray in the past, calling her a "lawmaker's lawmaker" plus "tough and experienced.

“I think she is very skilled,” he said when asked if he had been wrong about Murray. “It's unfortunate she doesn't use those skills to actually bring Republicans and Democrats together.”

While Murray won praise for her budget work with Republican Paul Ryan, Vance says they didn't reduce the $18 trillion debt.

And he's critical of Murray's support for the Iran nuclear deal.
“I'm opposed to this capitulation to Iran. It is dangerous, it's destabilizing. And it is more likely to lead to war than prevent war,” he said.

Still, Murray defeated a long line of top tier Republicans to win four terms in the Senate.

And Democratic strategist Ron Dotzauer doubts Vance will get the financial support he needs to defeat her.

"To be a serious candidate you got to have some holy water sprinkled on you from Washington, D.C. that says let me right you big checks. That's not going to happen," he said.

In fact Dotzauer thinks the battle to reelect Murray will help other Democrats too.

"She'll run a very strong campaign that will have down-ballot significance for other Democrats in Washington state."

Chris Vance calls himself the "underdog," but doesn't agree that he's a long shot. 

KIRO

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