Ellen Craswell - Legislative Career

Legislative Career

Craswell first was elected to Washington's 23rd Legislative District. She received 33.69% of the vote against two Democrats in the 1976 primary, before going on to defeat Democrat Ray Aardal, with 54.63% of the vote. She won landslides in both 1978 and 1980, when she became a state Senator. From 1984 and onwards, she faced a series of competitive races, being reelected only after a recount in 1988 and being defeated by Democrat Betti Sheldon in 1992. During her tenure as a senator, she earned the nickname "Senator No" for her steady refusal to vote for any tax increases. In 1987 she was appointed as the first female president pro tempore of the Senate, a position she held until the end of her career.

Primary results

• 1976: Received 33.69% against Democrats Ray Aardal (34.28%) and Robert Randall (32.03%).
• 1978: Received 65.41% against Democrat Sharon Shrader.
• 1980: Running for the Washington State Senate, received 58.93% against Democrats Gordon Walgren (23.54%) and Frances Haddon Morgan (17.53%).
• 1984: Received 51.31% against Democrat Sherril Huff.
• 1988: Received 40.46% against fellow Republican Sherry Appleton (30.45%) and Democrat Bob Griffith (29.09%).
• 1992: Received 42.23% against Democrat Betti Sheldon (28.89%) and fellow Republican Sherry Appleton (28.88%).

General results

• 1976: Received 54.63% against Democrat Ray Aardal.
• 1978: Received 66.43% against Democrat Sharon Shrader.
• 1980: Running for Washington State Senate, received 73.52% against Democrat Gordon Walgren.
• 1984: Received 54.00% against Democrat Sherril Huff.
• 1988: Received 51.06% against Democrat Bob Griffith.
• 1992: Defeated after receiving 44.62% against Democrat Betti Sheldon.