U.S. Senate Key Race: Washington

November 7, 2006

Democrat Maria Cantwell Wins Second Term

Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell was elected to a second term in Washington Tuesday, beating Republican Mike McGavick.

Cantwell barely won her seat six years ago, but polls in the run-up to this election showed her with a substantial lead over McGavick

Both candidates stressed their moderate politics and agreed on a need for change in the approach to the Iraq war.

October 10, 2006

Incumbents in Washington, Montana Struggle to Defend Senate Seats
Reporters update two competitive Senate races in Montana where Republican Sen. Conrad Burns faces tough competition from Democrat John Tester, and in Washington where Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell is vying to keep her seat against Republican businessman Mike McGavick.



-- NewsHour

September 1, 2006

Democratic Incumbent Cantwell Fights to Keep Senate Seat
Thought to be the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the 2006 Senate races, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., finds herself in a tough match-up with Republican challenger Mike McGavick.

Prominent millionaire businessman McGavick has repeatedly pledged "authenticity, civility and transparency" in his first run for elected office. He has gone so far as to issue a public confession of his personal and professional failures, including a divorce, a DUI citation, and the execution of lay-offs that took place when McGavick was chief executive of insurance company Safeco.

The race has been called a "contrast of moderates," but recently the race has picked up. In late August, Cantwell and McGavick sparred through radio and TV ads, criticizing each other's stances on the estate tax and minimum wage issues raised in the so-called trifecta bill.

Campaign financing also has emerged as a chief issue in this race. As of Aug. 31, McGavick had contributed $2 million to his own campaign. Cantwell reportedly no longer has the financial resources to make her own sizable contributions that helped her win in 2000. The Federal Election Commission has ruled that Cantwell can't seek extra money from donors under the state's Millionaires' Amendment until after the Sept. 19 primaries.

When all is said and done, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer estimated that the Cantwell and McGavick campaigns will each have spent between $13 million and $15 million. If that prediction holds, it will be the most expensive race in Washington history.
-- Online NewsHour