In Senate race, Washington's Patty Murray and Tiffany Smiley clash over abortion and climate - Axios SeattleLog InLog InAxios Seattle is an Axios company.

Sen Murray and challenger Smiley clash over abortion and climate

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (left) and challenger Tiffany Smiley. Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Bill Clark, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) has been in office for 30 years, and her Republican challenger Tiffany Smiley says that's too long. State of play: Although Washington voters have reliably elected Democrats in statewide elections in recent years, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report this week of the state's Senate race from "solid Democratic" to "likely Democratic," indicating a slightly more competitive contest.That, combined with Smiley's and a to her campaign, could signal Murray is more vulnerable than once thought. Zoom in: Abortion has been a between Murray and Smiley, a former triage nurse and veterans' advocate who has never held elected office.Murray's campaign Smiley's past anti-abortion comments, including of, as being out of step with Washington voters.Smiley, meanwhile, lambasting Murray for not doing enough to combat , while alleging Murray has for her 30 years in the Senate. Here are some of the biggest points of contrast that have arisen between the candidates on the campaign trail. On government spending: Smiley has Murray's support of President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which Smiley predicts will increase natural gas costs because it imposes on methane emissions.Murray, meanwhile, has praised the Inflation Reduction Act as a necessary investment . On student loan relief: Smiley the federal government from forgiving student loans, while Murray Biden's debt-forgiveness plan. On abortion: Murray that reinstating the protections of Roe v. Wade will be "the first thing we do" in Congress if voters elect more pro-choice Democrats this fall. made .But, in Tuesday, Smiley said the president's focus on abortion shows he has misplaced priorities."Our economy is sliding into recession, deadly narcotics are pouring through our southern border, crime has a chokehold on our communities — but President Biden's top legislative priority tackles none of these crises," Smiley said. On the 2020 election: Murray's campaign has a section of her campaign website that previously questioned the integrity of the 2020 elections.In an email to Axios, a spokesperson for Smiley's campaign said she believes "that Joe Biden is our duly elected president," but "acknowledges that there are many who have concerns surrounding the 2020 election."Murray's campaign accused Smiley of "scrambling to hide her extreme views after the primary." What's next: Murray and Smiley will debate Sunday at Gonzaga University in Spokane. You can stream the debate or through local news station . Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member.

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