Washington voters have set up a showdown between Slade Gorton, a moderate Republican hoping to return to the U.S. Senate, and liberal Democratic Congressman Mike Lowry, making his second try for the Senate.
In other primary results Tuesday, state Rep. Bob Williams, a fiesty, evangelical conservative, upset King County prosecutor Norm Maleng in the GOP governor's race and in November will face incumbent Democratic Gov. Booth Gardner.U.S. Rep. Don Bonker of Vancouver lost the Democratic Senate nomination to Lowry, his old friend and ally, after a vote tally that was neck and neck for much of the evening.
Bonker, 51, pledged to support Lowry and help return to the Democrats a seat long held by Sen. Henry "Scoop" Jackson. Republican Dan Evans held the seat since Jackson's death in 1983 but elected not to seek a second term.