State Representative, Position 1
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Bob McCaslin (R) | 11,618 | 44.68% |
| Diana Wilhite (R) | 7,938 | 30.53% |
| Leonard Christian (R) | 6,444 | 24.78% |
* 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.
The Candidates
Bob McCaslin
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 67
- City:
- Spokane Valley, Washington
Education: Graduated from Central Valley High School in 1976. Earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and history from Washington State University in 1983. Earned a master's degree in school administration from Whitworth College (now Whitworth University).
Work experience: Salesman at Freedom RV. Elementary school teacher in the Evergreen School district in San Jose, California, 1983-1994 and in the Central Valley School District from 1994-2016.
Political experience: Appointed to the Spokane Valley planning commission in 2012. Has served as a state representative since 2015. Father was longtime Spokane Valley legislator Bob McCaslin Sr.
Family: Married to Heather McCaslin. Has two children.
Campaign fundraising: Has raised $30,000 as of Sept. 28, 2022. Notable donors include U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Spokane Valley City Councilman Rod Higgins, 6th Legislative District Rep. Mike Volz, 4th Legislative District Sen. Mike Padden, 4th Legislative District Rep. Rob Chase and Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell.
Diana Wilhite
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 79
- City:
- Spokane Valley, WA
Education: Graduated from Cambridge (Idaho) High School in 1963. Earned a bachelor’s in history from the University of Maryland in 1969.
Political experience: Elected to the inaugural Spokane Valley City Council in 2003. Served until 2009, including a two-year stint as mayor from 2005 to 2007. Ran unsuccessfully for state representative as a Republican twice – against Matt Shea in 2008 and against Bob McCaslin Jr. in 2014. Former chairwoman of the Spokane County Republican Party.
Work experience: Worked as a teacher in Washington, Arizona and Illinois. Owned a company with her husband called Safeguard Business Systems that printed specialty checks, mainly for small businesses, that sold in 2011.
Family: Married to Rick Wilhite. Has one daughter and two granddaughters.
Fundraising: Has raised $1,890 as of June 27.
Leonard Christian
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 59
- City:
- Spokane Valley, Washington
Education: Graduated from Ferris High School in 1984. Christian completed an associate degree from the College of the Air Force just before retiring from the military and went on to complete a degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Graduated with a master's of business from Webster University.
Work Experience: Has worked as a real estate agent for Live Real Estate since 2014. Previously was a real estate agent for Windermere Real Estate and before that worked for Thomas and Black Real Estate. Christian was in the Air Force from 1984 to 2005, working many jobs, including aircraft mechanic and security specialist. He retired with the rank of master sergeant.
Political Experience: Elected to state House in 2022. Appointed to a seat in the Washington State Legislature in 2014 to fill the remainder of Larry Crouse's term. He lost primary election against Bob McCaslin Jr. to keep the seat in August 2014. Lost close election for Spokane County assessor in 2018. Is a founding member of Republicans of Spokane County and served as vice chairman and chairman of the organization.
Family: Married to Rima Christian and has two children.
Campaign fundraising: Raised more than $50,000 as of Oct. 1, 2024, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributions include a $6,000 cash loan to himself. Notable donors include Kaiser Aluminum; the Chevron Company; Avista; DoorDash; Max Kuney, owner of Kuney Construction and husband of Spokane County Commission Chair Mary Kuney; and the political action committees for the Associated General Contractors of the Inland Northwest, Koch Industries and the Washington Hospitality Association.
Complete Coverage
Valley Republicans have name recognition
With the appointed incumbent ousted in the August primary, the two Republicans jousting for a state House seat representing Spokane Valley are relying in part on name recognition to win, but they come by their name recognition differently. Diana Wilhite served on the Spokane Valley City Council for several years, including a term as mayor. She’s been heavily involved in the community, served on numerous state boards and committees and currently sits on the Spokane Valley Fire Department Civil Service Commission.
Shea, Arritola spar in GOP debate; Wilhite, McCaslin outline stances
Twenty minutes before a Republican debate in Spokane Valley, the Greenacres venue filled to capacity and late-comers were being turned away. The room, packed with 150 people, became stifling with heat. It didn’t take much longer for things to heat up between the candidates.
Christian out; McCaslin and Wilhite qualify in 4th District
The state representative picked early this year by Spokane County commissioners to fill an open seat won’t get a new term. Incumbent Republican Leonard Christian came in third in Tuesday’s top-two primary.
Christian trailing McCaslin, Wilhite for Spokane Valley House seat
Leonard Christian was appointed a state representative early this year to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of state Rep. Larry Crouse. Diana Wilhite is a former Spokane Valley mayor who has been active in local politics for decades. Bob McCaslin, a kindergarten teacher with the Central Valley School District, shares the name of his late father who served in the state Senate for more than 30 years.
High-profile challengers in race for Washington’s 4th District state House seat
State Rep. Leonard Christian is an incumbent in the unusual position of facing two primary opponents who have as much or more name recognition as he has. Christian, who was appointed a state representative early this year to fill a vacancy, is challenged by Diana Wilhite, a former Spokane Valley mayor who has been active in local politics for decades, and Bob McCaslin, who shares the name of his late father who served in the state Senate for more than 30 years.
Q&A: Spokane Valley state House candidates Christian, Wilhite, McCaslin
4th District House questions All three candidates for 4th Legislative District Representative, position 1 were asked the same questions on key issues. Here are their answers.
Leonard Christian eager to impart his logic in Olympia
Leonard Christian has wanted state Rep. Larry Crouse’s job for years. But Christian said he was surprised when Spokane County commissioners appointed him to fill the rest of Crouse’s term in the 4th District after the longtime state legislator retired at the end of 2013.
Spokane Valley businessman selected for 4th District legislative seat
Leonard Christian, an Air Force veteran and Spokane Valley real estate businessman, was selected Wednesday to fill the 4th District legislative seat vacated by former Rep. Larry Crouse. Christian, 48, was chosen unanimously by the three members of the Spokane County Board of Commissioners from a field of three candidates recommended by the district’s precinct committee officers.