# Washington's 5th congressional district

Washington's 5th congressional district encompasses the Eastern Washington counties of Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Whitman, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin, along with parts of Adams and Franklin. It is centered on Spokane, the state's second largest city.
Since 2025, the 5th district has been represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Michael Baumgartner, a Republican. The seat was held by former Democratic Speaker of the House Tom Foley between 1965 and 1995 before he lost reelection to reelection to George Nethercutt in 1994.
In presidential elections, the 5th district was once fairly competitive, but in recent years has generally been a safe bet for the Republicans. John McCain only narrowly won the district in 2008 with 52% of the vote. Mitt Romney won the district with 56% in 2012, while Donald Trump won this district all three times he ran, with 53% in both 2016 and 2020, and 54% in 2024.
The first election in the 5th district was in 1914, won by Democrat Clarence Dill. Following the 1910 census, Washington gained two seats in the U.S. House, from three to five, but did not reapportion for the 1912 election. The two new seats were elected as statewide at-large, with each voter casting ballots for three congressional seats, their district and two at-large. After that election, the state was reapportioned to five districts for the 1914 election. The state's 6th district was added after the 1930 census and first contested in the 1932 election.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 52% - 46% |
| 2010 | Senate | Rossi 59% - 41% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 56% - 44% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 53% - 39% |
| 2016 | Senate | Vance 53% - 47% |
| 2016 | Governor | Bryant 56% - 44% |
| 2016 | Lt. Governor | McClendon 60% - 40% |
| 2016 | Secretary of State | Wyman 66% - 34% |
| 2016 | Auditor | Miloscia 58% - 42% |
| 2016 | Attorney General | Ferguson 56% - 44% |
| 2018 | Senate | Hutchison 53% - 47% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 53% - 43% |
| 2020 | Governor | Culp 58% - 42% |
| 2020 | Secretary of State | Wyman 63% - 37% |
| 2020 | Treasurer | Davidson 59% - 41% |
| 2020 | Auditor | Leyba 55% - 45% |
| 2020 | Attorney General | Larkin 56% - 43% |
| 2022 | Senate | Smiley 58% - 42% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State (Spec.) | Anderson 55% - 38% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 54% - 43% |
| 2024 | Senate | Garcia 54% - 45% |
| 2024 | Governor | Reichert 58% - 42% |
| 2024 | Lt. Governor | Matthews 59% - 40% |
| 2024 | Secretary of State | Whitaker 56% - 44% |
| 2024 | Treasurer | Hanek 57% - 43% |
| 2024 | Auditor | Hawkins 57% - 43% |
| 2024 | Attorney General | Serrano 59% - 41% |
| 2024 | Commissioner of Public Lands | Herrera Beutler 61% - 39% |

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Adams County (4)
    Hatton, Lind, Ritzville, Washtucna
Asotin County (5)
    All 4 communities
Columbia County (2)
    Dayton, Starbuck
Ferry County (12)
    All 12 communities
Franklin County (7)
    Basin City, Connell, Kahlotus, Mesa
Garfield County (2)
    Pataha, Pomeroy
Lincoln County (8)
    All 8 communities
Pend Oreille County (5)
    All 5 communities
Spokane County (20)
    All 20 communities
Stevens County (11)
    All 11 communities
Walla Walla County (10)
    All 10 communities
Whitman County (17)
    All 17 communities

## List of members representing the district

| Member (Residence) | Party | Years | Cong ess | Electoral history | District location |
| District established March 4, 1915 ||||||
| Clarence Dill (Spokane) | Democratic | March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1919 | 64th 65th | Elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Lost re-election. |
| J. Stanley Webster (Spokane) | Republican | March 4, 1919 – May 8, 1923 | 66th 67th 68th | Elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Resigned to become judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 8, 1923 – September 25, 1923 | 68th | |
| Samuel B. Hill (Waterville) | Democratic | September 25, 1923 – June 25, 1936 | 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th | Elected to finish Webster's term. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Resigned to become member of the U.S. Board of Tax Appeals. |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 25, 1936 – January 3, 1937 | 74th | |
| Charles H. Leavy (Spokane) | Democratic | January 3, 1937 – August 1, 1942 | 75th 76th 77th | Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Resigned to become judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 1, 1942 – January 3, 1943 | 77th | |
| Walt Horan (Wenatchee) | Republican | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1965 | 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th | Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Lost re-election. |
| Tom Foley (Spokane) | Democratic | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1995 | 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd | Elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Lost re-election. |
| George Nethercutt (Spokane) | Republican | January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2005 | 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th | Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
| George Nethercutt (Spokane) | Republican | January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2005 | 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th | Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 2003–2013 |
| Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Spokane) | Republican | January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2025 | 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2003–2013 |
| Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Spokane) | Republican | January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2025 | 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2013–2023 |
| Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Spokane) | Republican | January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2025 | 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2023–present |
| Michael Baumgartner (Spokane) | Republican | January 3, 2025 – present | 119th | Elected in 2024. | 2023–present |

## Recent election results
### 2012

Washington 5th Congressional District - 6 November 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Incumbent) | 191,066 | 61.9 |
| | Democratic | Rich Cowan | 117,512 | 38.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 308,578 | 100.0 |

### 2014

Washington's 5th congressional district, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cathy McMorris Rodgers (incumbent) | 135,470 | 60.7 |
| | Democratic | Joseph Pakootas | 87,772 | 39.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 223,242 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

Washington's 5th congressional district, 2016< :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cathy McMorris Rodgers (incumbent) | 192,959 | 59.6 |
| | Democratic | Joe Pakootas | 130,575 | 40.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 323,534 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

Washington's 5th congressional district, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cathy McMorris Rodgers (incumbent) | 175,422 | 54.8 |
| | Democratic | Lisa Brown | 144,925 | 45.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 320,347 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

Washington's 5th congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cathy McMorris Rodgers (incumbent) | 247,815 | 61.3 |
| | Democratic | Dave Wilson | 155,737 | 38.5 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 808 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 404,360 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

Washington's 5th congressional district, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cathy McMorris Rodgers (incumbent) | 188,648 | 59.5 |
| | Democratic | Natasha Hill | 127,585 | 40.3 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 773 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 317,006 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2024

Washington's 5th congressional district, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Michael Baumgartner | 240,619 | 60.6 |
| | Democratic | Carmela Conroy | 156,074 | 39.3 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 753 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 422,622 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |