Sen. Murray holds 18-point lead in re-election bid

SEATTLE — Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray holds a commanding 18-point lead in her re-election bid over Republican challenger Chris Vance in a new statewide poll.

Murray garnered 52 percent support, to Vance’s 34 percent, with 14 percent undecided, according to the poll released Tuesday by Seattle-based Elway Research.

That’s the same lead Murray had in April, noted pollster Stuart Elway, who wrote “given the math and the stability of the support levels, time is running out for Vance to deny Murray a fifth term.”

The poll also found Democrats leading some other statewide executive races — with the exception of secretary of state, in which incumbent Republican Kim Wyman is ahead of Democratic challenger Tina Podlodowski.

The poll of 500 registered voters was conducted Aug. 9-13 and had a margin of error of 4.5 percent.