Born and raised in Bothell, Washington, Murray graduated from Washington State University with a degree in physical education. She worked as a preschool teacher and, later, as a parenting teacher at Shoreline Community College. A longtime advocate for environmental and education issues, Murray ran for the Washington State Senate in 1988 and defeated a two-term incumbent. She served one term in the state senate before launching a successful campaign for the United States Senate in 1992. She has been reelected four times.