SEATTLE, Wash., September 3, 2022—According to a Trafalgar Group poll, Republican candidate Tiffany Smiley has made a tremendous polling gain to be within striking distance of her Democratic challenger Senator Patty Murray (D-WA).
Republican polling firm, Trafalgar Group, released results from a survey of 1,087 likely General Election voters it conducted from between August 30th to September 1st last week, with a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points, that show Murray at 49.2% and Smiley at 46.3% — a statistical tie.
According to the poll, party affiliation was 44.2% Democrat, 33.4% Republican, and 22.4% No Party/Other. Approximately 80% of those participating were white and 53.1% identified as female.
While Smiley to suddenly jump 17 points against Murray in polling within the last six weeks may be a surprise or an outlier, the Washington State Republican Party (WSRP) is wasting no time capitalizing on this breath of hopeful news.
“Maybe this is why @PattyMurray is afraid to debate @SmileyForWA,” WSRP Chair Caleb Heimlich wrote in a Twitter post after sharing the Trafalgar Group polling results. “It’s been more than two weeks and no confirmed debates… sad.”
Heimlich and Senatorial Republican challenger Smiley are accusing incumbent Senator Murry (D-WA) of “hiding” for not accepting any debate invitations. Smiley has accepted four invitations to debate the 30-year incumbent as of September 2, 2022.
“It’s time for Patty Murray to come out of hiding and face the voters of Washington side-by-side with me,” said Smiley in an August 25 press release. “When my husband and I were faced with challenges, we never cowered. After thirty years in the United States Senate, Patty Murray should exit her bubble and answer tough, but fair questions together.”
Thus far, the location and dates for debates Smiley has accepted an invitation to are:
- Tri-Cities Region: Week of September 26 – Sponsored by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Washington State University: Friday, October 7 – Sponsored by the Seattle City Club’s Washington State Debate Coalition
- Gonzaga University: Thursday, October 13 (Requested) – Sponsored by League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund and The Spokesman-Review, Aired by KSPS
- Seattle University: Tuesday, October 25 – Sponsored by the Seattle City Club’s Washington State Debate Coalition
The Smiley for Washington campaign received word on September 1 from The Everett Herald that Senator Murray refused to take part in a joint editorial board interview with U.S. Senate candidate Smiley scheduled for this week and demanded a separate interview instead.
Senator Murray won the 2022 Primary Election with 52.22% of the vote to Smiley’s 33.69%. She has criticized her opponent of hiding “her support for abortion bans from Washington voters” and her associations to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and what the Murray campaign calls “MAGA” Republicans. However, the 45th President of the United States has yet to endorse Smiley.
A previous poll of 400 likely voters conducted between July 7th and 11th by Crosscut/Elway had Murray up by 20 points, which was more in line with two previous King-TV/SurveyUSA polls.
In all honesty, Senator Murray has more to lose in a debate against Smiley. With thirty years in politics and after President Joe Biden’s recent “Battle for the Soul of the Nation” speech last Thursday, where he called over 74 million Americans who voted for the 45th President of the United States, Donald J Trump, “a clear and present danger to democracy,” the more Smiley can associate Sen. Murray to President Biden’s policies and what critics are calling “Biden demagoguery,” this may present an opportunity for her to tighten the race as November approaches.
13 Responses
Ms Smiley has a lot to offer Washington Ian’s. Ms Murray has done little to help our State. It’s definitely time for a change.
Ronald Reagan’s statement “are you better off than you were four years ago.” Applies in 2022 as much as it did when President Reagan said it.
More murders In Seattle yesterday. Remember when Seattle used to be so nice and SAFE. Tourism is down, businesses are boarded or closed, housing is unaffordable, homelessness is rampant. And the issues of inflation , gas prices, as well as all of our grocery prices is totally unacceptable. What has Patty Murray done to help citizens of Washington NOTHING, except photo ops with her democrat soul mates.
She has been in Washington long enough. Elect Tiffany, make America great again
then vote conservative .. what the heck is wrong with people in Washington … What more do you need to see?? If I see somebody attack and punch a woman, or an old person, that attacker is going to be one of two things, either a hospital patient, or dead.
Please. We need a change. Senator Murray has been in office for 30 years. It is time to make a change and try some other ideas. Please consider voting for Tiffany. Thank you.
Murray has to go… With inflation, gas, cost of food and numerous other issues this administration has brought us. Murray is nothing more than an Obama socialist. She has nothing and has done nothing. If reelected she will continue to help Brandon bring this country down. She is not what this country needs. And for you abortion supporters. NOTHING IN WASHINGTON STATE HAS CHANGED. Our State legislation has the authority to change it. Not Murray. She can’t and won’t effect the states position on this issue. Tired of seeing our military destroyed and our nation go to hell. We also need law enforcement and Murray has supported “Defund the Police” for the last 4 years. Elect Smiley.
Well said sir. My houehold firmly agrees.
Right On James,!!!
How could anyone vote for Murray in seeing what is going on in our America because of her voting record with the Biden administration, our Family and Friends are voting for Tiffany Smiley!!!
Yet you’re more likely to get raped per 1,000 people in Lynnwood than Seattle. Go figure.
What a bunch of horseshit.
PATTY MURRY AND HER KIND WILL BE DEFEATED ……..THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DESERVES BETTER.. EVERONE HERE DESERVES THE LEADERSHIP OF ONE SENATOR SMILEY.. HER PERSPECTIVE HER KINDNESS HER BRAVERY AND INTELLIGNECE WILL OVER COME ADVERSITY SLANDERS OF A FALSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM HER OPPONENT.. AND DELIVER THE MESSAGE THAT FAMILY IS NOT FAGGOTRY. AND MISS MURRY ..A DRUG DEALER SMITH COLLEGE ATTENDEE AND PARTNER WITH HILLARY SHITLER WILL BECOME A DISTANT BAD MEMORY ..TO BE SET ASIDE AND THEN PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW..
I agree with you Susan, time for this old rag, corrupted and traitor to get out! I despise Patty Murray!
Tiffany Smile! Our family is voting 100% REPUBLICAN… Proud to be part of the DEPLORABLES and SUPERMAGA! Let’s go Brandon!
What’s next? Why aren’t people paying attention just a little to their circumstances things are just getting worse. Patty does nothing has done nothing will never do anything really why aren’t you Democrats running for the hills and shame for your ridiculous agenda and desire to take God-given rights away. Aren’t you sick and going along to getting to get along Please for the love of God let this God-fearing woman who wants everything we want for our children in our schools for a country