Michael James Baumgartner (born December 13, 1975) is an American politician and diplomat serving as the 28th Spokane County Treasurer. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the Washington State Senate, representing the 6th district from 2011 to 2019 and was his party’s nominee in the 2012 election for the United States Senate, unsuccessfully challenging Democratic incumbent Maria Cantwell.

On February 26, 2024, Baumgartner announced his intention to run for the United States House of Representatives’ in Washington’s 5th congressional district to succeed Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, who is not seeking reelection.  On August 6, 2024, Baumgartner won the primary election, placing first.

Current: US Representative of WA District 5 since 2005
Affiliation: Republican
Leadership: Chair, Committee on Energy and Commerce
District: 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.
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History: McMorris Rodgers earned an Executive MBA from the University of Washington in 2002.

McMorris Rodgers previously served in the Washington House of Representatives. From 2013 to 2019, she chaired the House Republican Conference.  She gained national attention in 2014, when she delivered the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s 2014 State of the Union Address.

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