Daniel J. Evans

Daniel J. Evans
Official portrait c. 1965–1968
United States Senator from Washington
In office September 8, 1983 – January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Henry M. Jackson
Succeeded by	Slade Gorton
2nd President of Evergreen State College
In office June 6, 1977 – September 8, 1983
Preceded by	Charles J. McCann
Succeeded by	Joseph D. Olander
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office June 3, 1973 – June 2, 1974
Preceded by	Marvin Mandel
Succeeded by	Cal Rampton
16th Governor of Washington
In office January 13, 1965 – January 12, 1977
Lieutenant	John Cherberg
Preceded by	Albert Rosellini
Succeeded by	Dixy Lee Ray
Minority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives
In office January 9, 1961 – January 11, 1965
Preceded by	August P. Mardesich
Succeeded by	John L. O'Brien
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 43rd district
In office January 14, 1957 – January 11, 1965
Preceded by	R. Mort Frayn
Succeeded by	Newman H. Clark
Personal details
Born	Daniel Jackson Evans (1925-10-16) October 16, 1925 (age 98) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Nancy Bell ​ ​ (m. 1959; died 2024)​
Children	3
Education	University of Washington (BS, MS)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1943–1946 1951–1953
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War

Daniel Jackson Evans (born October 16, 1925) is an American politician from Washington. A member of the Republican Party, he served as governor of Washington from 1965 to 1977 and a member of the United States Senate from 1983 to 1989.

Following his service in the United States Navy, Evans was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1956. He then served as Republican leader of the House before being elected governor in 1964. He was reelected twice more in 1968 and in 1972. Described as a moderate Republican, particularly on social and environmental issues,^[1] Evans supported Nelson Rockefeller for the Republican nomination for president in 1968 and refused to endorse Richard Nixon, despite giving the keynote address at that year's Republican National Convention.^[2]

Evans was considered for the Republican vice-presidential nomination in 1968 and in 1976, although he was passed over both times. In 1983, he was appointed to the United States Senate following the death of Henry M. Jackson, and was elected in a special election in November and served until 1989, declining to run again. Since the death of James L. Buckley in August 2023, he is the oldest living former senator and, as of 2024^[update], he is the only living former Republican governor or senator from Washington.