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Michael Baumgartner (Washington)
2025 - Present
2027
0
Michael Baumgartner (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Washington's 5th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2025. His current term ends on January 3, 2027.
Baumgartner (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Washington's 5th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on August 4, 2026.[source]
Biography
Michael Baumgartner was born in Pullman, Washington, in 1975.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Washington State University in 1999 and a Master's of Public Administration in international development from Harvard University in 2002. His career experience includes working as an economic affairs officer with the U.S. State Department in Iraq and as a part-time economic adviser to the United States military.[2] He previously served in the Washington Senate from 2011 to 2019 and as Spokane County Treasurer from 2019 to 2025.[1]
Committee assignments
U.S. House
2025-2026
Baumgartner was assigned to the following committees:[Source]
- Committee on Judiciary
- Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
- The Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee
- Committee on Education and the Workforce
- Committee on Education and Workforce
- Committee on Education and Workforce
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
Elections
2026
See also: Washington's 5th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on August 4, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Washington District 5
Incumbent Michael Baumgartner, Carmela Conroy, Ann Marie Danimus, and Anthony Jensen are running in the primary for U.S. House Washington District 5 on August 4, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Michael Baumgartner (R) | |
 | Carmela Conroy (D) | |
 | Ann Marie Danimus (D) | |
| Anthony Jensen (R) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2024
See also: Washington's 5th Congressional District election, 2024
Washington's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 top-two primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Washington District 5
Michael Baumgartner defeated Carmela Conroy in the general election for U.S. House Washington District 5 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Baumgartner (R) | 60.6 | 240,619 |
| Carmela Conroy (D) | 39.3 | 156,074 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 593 | ||
| Total votes: 397,286 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Washington District 5
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House Washington District 5 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Baumgartner (R) | 27.5 | 55,859 |
| ✔ | | Carmela Conroy (D) | 18.3 | 37,227 |
 | Jacquelin Maycumber (R) | 13.6 | 27,717 | |
 | Bernadine Bank (D) | 11.9 | 24,111 | |
 | Brian Dansel (R) | 10.8 | 21,983 | |
| Ann Marie Danimus (D) | 5.6 | 11,306 | |
 | Jonathan Bingle (R) | 3.7 | 7,510 | |
 | Rene' Holaday (R) | 3.0 | 6,180 | |
 | Rick Flynn (R) | 2.4 | 4,822 | |
 | Matthew Welde (D) | 2.1 | 4,183 | |
 | Bobbi Bennett-Wolcott (D) | 1.1 | 2,336 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 175 | ||
| Total votes: 203,409 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)
- John Guenther (R)
- Jody Spurgeon (R)
- Terri Cooper (R)
Endorsements
Baumgartner received the following endorsements.
Pledges
Baumgartner signed the following pledges.
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Spokane County, Washington (2022)
General election
General election for Spokane County Treasurer
Incumbent Michael Baumgartner won election in the general election for Spokane County Treasurer on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Baumgartner (R) | 95.9 | 152,682 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.1 | 6,463 | ||
| Total votes: 159,145 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Michael Baumgartner advanced from the primary for Spokane County Treasurer.
2018
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2018
Michael Baumgartner did not file to run for re-election.
2014
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for 25 districts in the Washington State Senate took place in 2014. A blanket primary election took place on August 5, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 17, 2014. Incumbent Michael Baumgartner (R) and Rich Cowan (D) were unopposed in the primary. Baumgartner defeated Cowan in the general election.[3][4][5]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Michael Baumgartner Incumbent |
57.5% | 28,309 | |
| Democratic | Rich Cowan | 42.5% | 20,949 | |
| Total Votes | 49,258 | |||
2012
Baumgartner ran for the United States Senate in 2012 as a Republican. He faced incumbent Maria Cantwell (D), Timmy Wilson (D), Chuck Jackson (R), Art Coday (R), Mike the Mover (R), Glen Stockwell (R), and Will Baker (I) in the August 7 primary.[6] The top two vote-getters were Cantwell and Baumgartner, who advanced to the general election ballot.[7] He and Maria Cantwell advanced past the blanket primary to the general election on November 6, 2012.[8] Cantwell defeated Baumgartner in the general election.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Maria Cantwell Incumbent |
60.5% | 1,855,493 | |
| Republican | Michael Baumgartner | 39.5% | 1,213,924 | |
| Total Votes | 3,069,417 | |||
| Source: Washington Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
2010
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2010
Michael Baumgartner defeated incumbent Chris Marr (D) in the November 2, 2010, general election for the Washington State Senate District 6. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary on August 17, 2010.
| Washington State Senate, District 6 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Michael Baumgartner (R)
|
33,929 | 53.71% | ||
| Chris Marr (D) | 29,237 | 46.29% | ||
| Washington State Senate, District 6 Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Michael Baumgartner (R)
|
21,263 | 53.30% | ||
| Chris Marr (D)
|
18,630 | 46.70% | ||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael Baumgartner has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Michael Baumgartner asking him to fill out the survey. If you are Michael Baumgartner, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
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You can ask Michael Baumgartner to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing michael@votebaumgartner.com.
2024
Michael Baumgartner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Baumgartner’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Michael Baumgartner is a former Washington State Senator and diplomat, now serving as the Treasurer of Spokane County overseeing a nearly $1.9 billion fixed-income investment fund. Michael spent eight years as the State Senator for the 6th Legislative District. There he played a lead role in the bipartisan effort creating a new WSU medical school in Spokane and in securing funding to finally finish the North-South Freeway. Michael led the successful push for a historic reduction in the cost of college tuition. His “Drain the Swamp” legislation eliminated five government agencies to reduce bureaucratic waste. Michael received numerous honors, including the "Champion of Freedom Award" from the Washington Policy Center and the "Legislator of the Year" award from the Inland Empire Society of American Foresters. He is active in the GOP, having served as MC for the State Republican Gala dinner and auctioneer for the Spokane County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner. In 2012, Michael was the Republican candidate for US Senate in Washington. Michael grew up surrounded by the Palouse wheatfields in Colton and then Pullman. He is the son of two lifelong educators: Michael’s mother is beloved Pullman kindergarten teacher “Mrs. B,” and his father was Emeritus Professor of Forestry at Washington State University. Michael majored in economics at WSU (Go Cougs!) and after spending a year volunteering with the Jesuits in Africa, he earned a Masters in Public Administration (MPA, International Development) from Harvard University, where he was a Teaching Fellow in Economics. After working in private business in the Middle East, Michael was a U.S. State Department Officer at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, from 2007 to 2008. He went on to serve as a counternarcotics advisor to a US Government-funded program in Afghanistan, where he worked alongside his future wife, Eleanor. Eleanor and Michael now live in Spokane with their five young children and are very involved in youth sports, scouts and Sunday School. Their family loves camping and hiking all over Eastern Washington, from the Kettle Crest trail and Curlew Lake to Steptoe Butte and biking the John Wayne trail. “I’ve travelled to more than 80 countries and there is no place like Eastern Washington. It’s the best place to live in the world, and the best place to raise a family. We need to keep it that way.” [10] |
” |
| —Michael Baumgartner’s campaign website (2024)[11] | ||
2022
Michael Baumgartner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2012
Baumgartner's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[12]:
- Developing diverse domestic energy sources
- Balancing the budget
- Creating jobs through decreasing hindrances to businesses
Baumgartner said he was a "pragmatic conservative."[13]
2010
Baumgartner's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[12]
- Reduce Wasteful Government Spending
- Excerpt: "I believe my background in economics will help, but more important is to have common sense and courage to stand up to the special interests and insist that wasteful spending end."
- Stop Tax and Fee Increases
- Excerpt: "We don’t need more taxes; we need to reduce spending."
- Support Good Jobs
- Excerpt: "If elected, one of my first actions would be to work across partisan lines, bringing together major employers like Avista with political leaders like the mayor and county commissioners to work together for sustainable job growth."
- Improve Schools
- Excerpt: "We must do more to improve public schools and ensure that students receive an education that will prepare them for happy, productive lives in a competitive 21st Century. The Legislature’s recent cuts to public schools and universities are endangering our state’s future."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Personal finance disclosures
Members of the House are required to file financial disclosure reports. You can search disclosure reports on the House’s official website here.
Analysis
Below are links to scores and rankings Ballotpedia compiled for members of Congress. We chose analyses that help readers understand how each individual legislator fit into the context of the chamber as a whole in terms of ideology, bill advancement, bipartisanship, and more.
If you would like to suggest an analysis for inclusion in this section, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
119th Congress (2025-2027)
State legislative tenure
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Commerce, Labor & Sports, Chair |
| • Higher Education |
| • Transportation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Baumgartner served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Commerce & Labor, Chair |
| • Health Care |
| • Higher Education, Vice-Chair |
| • Transportation |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Baumgartner served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Higher Education |
| • Human Services & Corrections |
| • Trade & Economic Development |
| • Ways & Means, Vice chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Baumgartner served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Economic Development, Trade & Innovation |
| • Higher Education & Workforce Development |
| • Ways and Means |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Washington scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 8 through March 8.
- Legislators are scored based on their votes on legislation supported by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the state’s business community.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to home building industry issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on firearm policies.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against WSLC's position.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 9 through April 23. There were also special sessions. The first special session was April 24 through May 23. The second special session was May 23 through June 21. The third special session was June 21 through July 20.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the 64th Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 11 through March 10. The legislature held a special session from March 11 to March 29 to pass a supplemental budget.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the 64th Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 12 through April 24. The legislature was in special session from April 29 to May 28, May 29 to June 27 and June 28 to July 10.[14]
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 13 to March 14.[15]
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 14 to April 29.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 62nd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 9 to March 8.[16]
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the 62nd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 10 through April 24.
|
Missed Votes Report
- See also: Washington House of Representatives and Washington State Senate
In March 2014, Washington Votes, a legislative information website, released its annual Missed Votes Report, which provides detailed missed roll call votes on bills for every state legislator during the 2014 legislative session.[17] The 2014 regular session included a total of 515 votes in the State House and 396 in the State Senate, as well as 1,372 bills introduced total in the legislature and 237 bills passed. Out of all roll call votes, 90 individual legislators did not miss any votes. Three individual legislators missed more than 50 votes.[17] Baumgartner missed 97 votes in a total of 1017 roll calls. Baumgartner responded to the number of votes missed. “My wife gave birth to our third child, Victoria, in February. We experienced some complications with my wife’s pregnancy causing me to miss votes during session,” he said.[18]
Freedom Foundation
2012
- See also: Washington Freedom Foundation Legislative Scorecard (2012)
The Freedom Foundation issued its 2012 Informed Voter Guide for Washington State voters, including a legislative score card documenting how Washington State legislators voted upon bills the Foundation deemed important legislation. The legislation analyzed covered budget, taxation, and pension issues.[19] A 
sign indicates a bill more in line with the Foundation's stated goals, and a 
sign indicates a bill out of step with the Foundation's values. Here's how Baumgartner voted on the specific pieces of legislation:
| 2012 Senate Scorecard - Michael Baumgartner | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill #6636 (Balanced budget requirement)
|
Bill #5967 (Senate Republicans budget)
|
Bill #6582 (Local transportation tax increases)
|
Bill #6378 (Pension reforms)
| ||||||||
| Y | Y | N | Y | ||||||||
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate U.S. House Washington District 5 |
Officeholder U.S. House Washington District 5 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 United States Congress, "BAUMGARTNER, Michael," accessed August 25, 2025
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Michael Baumgartner," accessed December 19, 2024
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2014 Candidates Who Have Filed," accessed May 20, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "August 5, 2014, Official Primary Results," accessed August 5, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Official general election results, 2014," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed May 18, 2012
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Top 2 Primary: FAQ," accessed May 17, 2012
- ↑ AP, "Primary Results," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcnnr - ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ VoteBaumgartner, “About,” accessed July 20, 2024
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Michael Baumgartner campaign website, "Issues," accessed July 31, 2012
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedtr - ↑ Multi State, "2015 State Legislative Session Dates," accessed July 13, 2015
- ↑ StateScape, "Session schedules," accessed July 23, 2014
- ↑ StateScape, "Session schedules," accessed July 23, 2014
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Washington Policy Center, "2014 Missed Votes Report for Legislators Released," March 18, 2014
- ↑ Washington Policy, "2014 Missed Votes Report," accessed April 9, 2014
- ↑ Freedom Foundation, "Legislative Voting Record," accessed October 10, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) |
U.S. House Washington District 5 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Spokane County Treasurer 2019-2025 |
Succeeded by Mike Volz (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Washington State Senate District 6 2011-2019 |
Succeeded by - |
