page_title: 1983 United States Senate special election in Washington
hierarchical_section_title: 1983 United States Senate special election in Washington
context_page_description: The 1983 United States Senate special election in Washington, was a special election to fill the seat which had been held by longtime Senator Henry Jackson, who unexpectedly died on September 1. Three-term former governor Dan Evans was appointed by Governor John Spellman on September 8, and he won the special election over congressman Mike Lowry on November 8. Jackson had won a sixth term the previous year, so more than five years remained in the term.
  The legislature ordered a primary election on October 11; it featured 33 candidates, setting the modern record for number of candidates in a Washington U.S. Senate election. As of 2020, this is the last time King County voted for a Republican Senate candidate.
context_section_description: The 1983 United States Senate special election in Washington, was a special election to fill the seat which had been held by longtime Senator Henry Jackson, who unexpectedly died on September 1. Three-term former governor Dan Evans was appointed by Governor John Spellman on September 8, and he won the special election over congressman Mike Lowry on November 8. Jackson had won a sixth term the previous year, so more than five years remained in the term.
  The legislature ordered a primary election on October 11; it featured 33 candidates (19 Democrats, 13 Republicans, and one Socialist Labor), setting the modern record for number of candidates in a Washington U.S. Senate election. As of 2020, this is the last time King County voted for a Republican Senate candidate.
caption: County Results
  Evans:     50-60%      60-70%
  Lowry:     50-60%