Sen. Murray to seek her fifth term in 2016

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) has declared she would rather be in the fight than at home watching it.

In an interview with The Seattle Times, Murray said she’s decided to seek a fifth term in the Senate in 2016.

“A lot of people say to me, ‘Gosh, why do you want to keep doing it?’ It’s a question that deserves to be answered. I’d really rather be in the middle of the debate fighting for the people of Washington state rather than yelling at my television,” she said.

{mosads}Murray, 63, was first elected in 1992, winning by eight percentage points that year. In her first two reelection campaigns, she won by double digits.

In her last race in 2010, however, she won by just a few percentage points. 

Murray is currently the fourth-highest ranking Democrat in the Senate and serves as chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee.

She helped strike the recent budget deal with House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), which Congress passed in December.

Murray previously served as chairwoman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

The Seattle Times notes Murray is a potential contender to be the next Senate Democratic whip or even Senate Democratic leader if Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) steps down. 

Murray told the newspaper she doesn’t focus on climbing up the Democratic ranks. 

“I have never written my career in terms of what one day I am going to be. But if opportunities come up I look at them all the same,” Murray said. “How will this allow me to be the best senator possible for the state of Washington and the people I represent?”