OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray has defeated Republican challenger Dino Rossi after a third day of vote tallying in Washington state.
In capturing her fourth term, Murray adds to the Democrats' slight cushion in the Senate after Republicans made gains there Tuesday while also seizing control of the House.
Challenged strongly by Rossi amid anti-incumbent sentiment nationwide, Murray featured a strong defense of her role in securing federal spending, highlighting specific bridges, dams, highways and other projects she has helped deliver.
Rossi cast her as a tax-and-spend liberal.
The race was too close to call on Election Day, with thousands of ballots still not tallied in the state's slow-moving vote-by-mail process. But by Thursday, her victory was assured.
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