Congress
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) | 69,504 | 51.62% |
| Joe Pakootas (D) | 38,847 | 28.85% |
| Dave Wilson (I) | 15,404 | 11.44% |
| Tom Horne (R) | 10,887 | 8.09% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
Featured Candidates
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 55
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
- Occupation:
- U.S. congresswoman
Education: Graduated from the Columbia River Christian Academy, Kettle Falls, in 1986. Earned pre-law bachelor’s degree from Pensacola Christian College in 1990 and executive MBA from the University of Washington in 2002.
Political experience: Appointed to state House of Representatives, serving the 7th Legislative District, in 1993. Elected to state House in 1994, where she served until joining Congress. Elected to Congress in 2004. Former Vice Chair of House Republican Conference. Elected chairwoman of House Republican Conference in 2013. Serves as ranking member of the House's Energy and Commerce Committee since 2021.
Work experience: Aide to state representative, 1990-93. Worked at her family orchard and fruit stand for 13 years, prior to election to Congress.
Family: Married. Has three young children.
Joe Pakootas
- Party:
- Democratic
- Age:
- 67
- City:
- Inchelium, WA
Education: Graduated from Inchelium High School in 1975. Attended Eastern Washington University. Received executive MBA University of Washington 2006.
Political experience: Former tribal chairman of the Colville Confederated Tribes; member tribal business council 1987-99, 2001-13. Unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Congress 5th District seat in 2014.
Work experience: Enterprise Executive Officer for the Nez Perce Tribe. Former chief executive officer Colville Tribal Federal Corp. Worked in logging, construction. Former executive director of medical and dental services for Kalispel Tribe.
Family: Married. Has four adult children.
Complete Coverage
McMorris Rodgers, Pakootas square off in final face-to-face
In his final attempt to fire barbs before Election Day, 5th Congressional District hopeful Joe Pakootas went on the offensive against Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers in Spokane on Thursday, calling her tenure in Congress a “decade of disaster.” McMorris Rodgers, who topped Pakootas and defeated two other candidates in the August primary, highlighted what she called a legislative record of successful bipartisanship, pointing to two of her bills that became law in the last session with unanimous congressional support.
McMorris Rogers criticism can’t find a home in reality
At least once a week, and more frequently during election season, the newspaper gets a call, letter, email or online comment alleging a scandal about Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Sometimes it comes in a conspiratorial query just above a whisper. Other times it’s stated as a verified fact, written in all-caps with multiple exclamation points. It might come from someone fairly inexperienced in politics who heard it from a friend who heard it from someone else – generally unnamed but usually “in the know.” Occasionally it comes from someone in the campaign wars long enough to be a bit more skeptical but doesn’t seem to care.
Shawn Vestal: Pakootas has 16-to-1 problem
What does the yawning gulf in fundraising between Cathy McMorris Rodgers and her challenger, Joe Pakootas, tell us? A lot – and maybe a lot more than David-and-Goliath narratives about political money suggest. Yes, the incumbent has leveraged all the advantages of incumbency – perhaps including the improper mingling of the public’s business with her campaign, which has been the subject of an ethics complaint. And yes, lots of money from out of the district has come into her coffers.
Election 2014: McMorris Rodgers faces Pakootas for Congress’ 5th District
With Congress’ approval rating plunging to single digits, being part of the leadership that controls the U.S. House of Representatives could work against an incumbent’s effort to stay in office this year. That’s what Democrat Joe Pakootas hopes as he takes on U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers for Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District seat. The Inchelium businessman is questioning her effectiveness after five terms in the House, where she currently serves as the majority Republican Conference chairwoman, the No. 4 position in the GOP hierarchy.
Spin Control: Seattle’s Indigenous People’s Day misses the mark
Monday is cause for minor celebration in Spokane as one of the few weekdays of the year in which “free parking” is not just a square on the Monopoly board. The city sets aside a handful of holidays to spare motorists the expense of plugging meters, but most are days like Thanksgiving and Christmas, during which there’s less demand for parking spaces except from the poor working stiffs who must come to the office to man the phones or monitor the computers while everyone else is home with the family.
Doug Clark: Contest searches for signs of political placard pollution
Raise your hand if you’ve ever voted for someone because of a campaign sign. Thought so.
Spokane’s congressional delegation promises support to combat Islamic State
Washington’s two Democratic U.S. senators and the Republican congresswoman representing Eastern Washington promised Wednesday to give President Barack Obama the tools he needs to defeat the Islamic State. In a prime-time speech on Wednesday, Obama outlined plans for defeating the Islamic State, commonly called ISIS or ISIL, which has taken over vast territory in Iraq and Syria.
Washington senators, McMorris Rodgers react to Obama speech
Washington’s two U.S. senators and the congresswoman representing Eastern Washington promised Wednesday to give President Barack Obama the tools needed to defeat the Islamic State.
McMorris Rodgers email asks whether U.S. should commit combat troops to fight ISIS
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers is polling supporters this morning via email on whether they want to see American troops committed to “defeat and destroy” Islamic State terrorists.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers ex-aide claims retaliation
A former aide to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers contends an ethics investigation into her campaign for a House leadership post is ramping up with allegations that she retaliated against him. An attorney for the Spokane Republican calls those comments “more frivolous allegations and information.” Todd Winer, former press secretary and adviser to McMorris Rodgers, said in an email Monday he was “breaking his silence” about what he calls the congresswoman’s scandal.