With primary in sight, Murray and Smiley are amassing cash for the general election
The ad opens to Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tiffany Smiley standing in front of some Washington scenery.
“Everyone said taking on a career politician would be tough,” Smiley, a Pasco native, starts. “But I moved eight times with three toddlers and a blind husband, so I think I got this.”
Smiley, who has positioned herself as the candidate to face off against Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in the November general election, goes on to describe herself as a “Washington farm girl,” “political outsider,” nurse and an advocate for veterans.
But will those qualifiers be enough for her to oust Murray, who represented the state of Washington since 1992?
In contrast to both of Smiley’s ads denouncing “career politicians” such as Murray, the longtime Senator released her own ad at the beginning of June that instead focused on middle-class workers.
“Things are hard right now, but it’s all of you that are getting our country back on track, so the economy should work for you too,” she tells a group of hard-hat wearing individuals standing around her. “Middle class tax cuts instead of tax breaks for corporations who are making record profits.”
While Murray has focused on issues such as inflation and the economy, abortion rights and health care, Smiley is focused on stronger trade policies, the economy, veteran’s issues and “election integrity,” according to her campaign website.
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Smiley also is clear on her position regarding the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade in June.
“I am pro-life, and I am pro-woman,” Smiley said in a news release. “We not only need to support the baby, but also the mom. As a triage nurse, I saw the struggle of women facing crisis pregnancies firsthand.”
Smiley also took the opportunity to criticize Murray’s pro-abortion stance, referring to Murray as an “extremist” for her views on abortion.
Groups such as the Human Rights Campaign, Joint Council of Teamsters 28, and Pacific Northwest Iron Workers and Iron Workers Local #8 have thrown their weight behind Murray to endorse her.
Smiley has most recently been endorsed by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, also a Republican, as well as Republican Gov. Kristi Noem from South Dakota, and former Republican Washington State Sen. Dino Rossi.
So far, Murray is doubling Smiley’s fundraising efforts with $14.3 million in contributions so far, according to Open Secrets, a non-partisan research and government transparency group tracking money in politics. Smiley, so far, has $7 million in donations.
Amazon is the biggest contributor to Murray with $81,445 in campaign contributions. A PAC called Democracy Engine has contributed $61,349, and Microsoft has been the third highest contributor with $58,096 in donations. Additionally, a pro-Israel lobbying group called the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has donated $48,100 to Murray.
Smiley, on the other hand, has received her biggest campaign contributions to groups such as the National Republican Senate Committee with $46,500 in donations, the Senate GOP Winning Women Victory Committee with $24,590 and another group called Reclaim the Senate 2022 that donated $14,194 to her campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission.
A recent Seattle Times poll shows Murray is leading Smiley 51% to 33%. Other polling has shown somewhat similar numbers.
But Smiley’s campaign told McClatchy that she isn’t concerned about those numbers.
“To be honest, the only polls Tiffany is concerned about are ones on Aug. 2 and Nov. 8,” Elisa Carlson, press secretary for Smiley, told McClatchy. “I don’t think today’s poll tells the whole story of this Washington Senate race.”
Aside from Murray and Smiley, 16 other candidates are on the Aug. 2 primary ballot, but none have come close to the fundraising numbers that Smiley and Murray have.
Independent candidate Naz Paul has raised $22,544. Campaign finance information from the other U.S. Senate candidates on Open Secrets and the FEC website was not available.
For now, Murray is focused on continuing to campaign around the state, said Amir Avin, Murray’s communications director.
“Right now, I’m focused on building a stronger economy and protecting our fundamental rights — tackling inflation, lowering everyday costs for families, and protecting every woman’s right to make her own health care decisions,” Murray said in an email to McClatchy. “I listen to people here in our state, and when I go to the other Washington, I bring their stories and their challenges and I make sure they are heard.”
Smiley’s campaign told McClatchy that she is focused on her “New Mom in Town” tour that will cover several towns and cities throughout Washington. That title plays off Murray’s iconic 1992 campaign slogan as the “mom in tennis shoes.”
“The campaign along with the RNC and the Washington State Republican Party are working together to build the biggest, most robust ground game in WA history,” Carlson said in an email. “Collectively there are over 50 staff in the field knocking on doors and coordinating voter outreach. That outreach includes Hispanic and Asian outreach arms as well.”
The deadline to submit ballots for the 2022 primary is 8 p.m. Aug. 2.
This story was originally published July 27, 2022 at 5:30 AM.
