Michael Baumgartner
A candidate for State Senator, Legislative District 6 (NW Spokane County and NE Spokane) in the 2010 Washington Primary Election
Party: Republican
Age: 48
City: Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Pullman High School in 1995, after attending Gonzaga Prep for two years. Graduated from Washington State University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Graduated from Harvard University in 2002 with a master’s degree in public administration.
Work experience: Worked for office of the Crown Prince of Dubai as economic development adviser for about a year starting in June 2002. Worked two years starting in the spring of 2003 for i4, a company that hoped to build a telecommunication network in Saudi Arabia. Worked as Dubai-based business consultant for about a year. Worked as consultant for Hecla Mining related to gold mine in Venezuela for several months in 2006. Worked as economics officer for the U.S. State Department in Iraq for about a year starting in spring 2007. Worked for Civilian Police International, a State Department contractor, in Afghanistan on a counter-narcotics program for about eight months starting in December 2008. Provided pre-deployment advisory to U.S. military on counterinsurgency. Lecturer on counterinsurgency at Sciences Po University in Paris.
Political experience: Has served as Spokane County treasurer after winning election in 2018 and 2022. Previously elected to state Senate in 2010, unseating Democratic incumbent Chris Marr. Re-elected in 2014. Unsuccessfully challenged Democratic U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell in 2012. Previously served as vice chairman of Senate Ways and Means Committee and chairman of Commerce and Labor committee.
Family: Married to Eleanor Baumgartner. Has five children.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Baumgartner (R) | 21,263 | 53.30% |
| Chris Marr (D) | 18,630 | 46.70% |
Related Coverage
Voters vent frustrations with GOP gains in county, state
Democrat Chris Marr conceded defeat Wednesday night in the record-breaking million-dollar battle for a Spokane County state Senate seat. Marr made up some ground in the second day of ballot counting against Republican Michael Baumgartner, but he said it was too little to make a difference.
Michael Baumgartner at GOP party
Michael Baumgartner celebrates with supporters at the Spokane County Republic Party’s election night event at the Davenport Hotel on Tuesday night, Nov. 2, 2010. Baumgartner was leading state Sen. Chris Marr in early returns.
Truths, half-truths and other campaign claims
More than a million dollars has been spent fighting for one Spokane seat in the state Senate – and the election season isn’t even over. The milestone was reached this week in the 6th Legislative District fight between incumbent Democratic Sen. Chris Marr and Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner, according to records from the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Vestal: All the mud a million bucks can sling
Chris Marr really opposes negative ads. He says he’s been the victim of “hit pieces” by his opponent. He says that his political campaign for the state Senate ought to be about the issues. “The public deserves better than what we’ve seen so far,” Marr said in a KSPS debate not long ago.
Baumgartner and Marr: Police ombudsmen
Washington state Sen. Chris Marr, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner answer the question, “Should state law be changed to allow cities to fire fully independent police ombudsmen without seeking approval from police unions?”
Marr and Baumgartner: Summary
Washington state Sen. Chris Marr, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner answer the question, “What else do you want voters to know about you?”
Baumgartner and Marr: Education funding
Washington state Sen. Chris Marr, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner answer the question, “What is your position on funding aimed at lowering class sizes?”