RIP to both. Gorton’s 2000 defeat to Maria Cantwell was pretty sick, though even if he held on for another term, I don’t think he could have survived the 2006 midterm election.
Would have prevented the Jeffwhores switch and Dassole as Plurality Leader.
Gorton stupidly decided to wage war with some small Indian tribe over an issue of sovereignty. Not worth the trouble and likely cost him just enough votes to lose, though once again, the Libertarian took more than enough votes to hand it to the horrid Cantwell (he lost by 2,229 votes and the Libertarian had almost 65,000).