U.S. Representative, 5th District
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) | 122,744 | 52.81% |
| Dave Wilson (D) | 56,492 | 24.31% |
|
|
28,180 | 12.13% |
| Stephen Major (R) | 20,000 | 8.61% |
| Brendan O’Regan (I) | 4,995 | 2.15% |
* 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
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.
Dave Wilson
- Party:
- Democrat
- Age:
- 69
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Founder of Interface College
Education: Graduated from United Township High School in 1973. Earned bachelor's in communications from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa in 1976. Received master's in education from Gonzaga University in 2000.
Political background: Ran for Congress as independent 2014 and 2016. Helped found People for Effective Government in 2017. Ran as a Democrat for the Washington House of Representatives, District 6, in 2018.
Work experience: Founder and former owner Interface College, which he sold in 2011. He started the business as Interface Computer Services in 1982 and renamed it Interface Computer School and then Interface College. Part-time hay farmer. Former district manager of Radio Shack.
Family: Married. Has six adult children.
Christopher Armitage
- Party:
- Democrat
- Age:
- 32
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
- Occupation:
- Former base defense operations controller with the U.S. Air Force.
Amitage announced on July 17, 2020 that he was dropping out of the race citing mental health and allegations from woman with whom he had a relationship.
Education: Earned a master's degree in homeland security from Thomas Edison State University in New Jersey in 2018. Associate's degree in criminal justice from the Community College of the Air Force.
Political background: First run for political office.
Work experience: Former base defense operations controller with the U.S. Air Force. Small business owner and stand-up comedian.
Family: Single.
Stephen Major
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 59
- City:
- Spokane Valley, Washington
Education: Graduated from Kellogg High School in Kellogg, Idaho, in 1982. Earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, with an emphasis in international relations, in 1990. Some work toward a graduate degree at Eastern Washington University in 2009.
Political experience: Ran for Congress against Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers in 2020. Served off-and-on as a precinct committee officer for the Republican Party in Spokane Valley since 2006.
Work experience: Served as a U.S. Army infantryman from 1983 to 1986. Worked in financial lending during college and established own investor services firm in 2005. Owner of tour company Extreme Expeditions Northwest.
Family: Married. Has an adult daughter and adult son.
Campaign contributions: Opted for mini-filer path, meaning he does not need to report donations or expenditures as long as totals remain below $7,000.
Brendan O'Regan
- Party:
- Independent
- Age:
- 65
- City:
- Seattle, WA
- Occupation:
- Carpenter
Education: Graduated from University High School in 1977.
Political background: First run for political office. Established a trademark for the Normal Party, though he's running for the 5th District seat as an independent.
Work experience: Spent the past 15 years working as a carpenter for the State Department on U.S. embassies overseas, including in Uruguay.
Family: Married. One adult son.
Complete Coverage
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Dave Wilson debate in prime time before election
In their only in-person debate of the election season, the congresswoman and her Democratic challenger sparred over the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic and wildfires. McMorris Rodgers also reiterated her desire for closer government regulation of social media based on perceived election year bias.
Fundraising in Eastern Washington Congress race sees dip following high-profile 2018 contest
At just a little more than $4 million, and most of that going to incumbent Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, fundraising in Eastern Washington in 2020 is on pace to total less than half what was amassed two years ago. With other races nationwide drawing record amounts of money and time on the airwaves, the change likely has more to do with the perceived competitiveness of the race and less to do with the effects of the pandemic.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Dave Wilson talk pandemic, Trump’s response and health care in second debate
In her quest for a ninth term in Congress, McMorris Rodgers defended early actions of the Trump administration to stop the spread of the pandemic and argued existing assistance programs would help if they were extended. Democrat Wilson said the White House lost time by publicly downplaying the impact of the virus.
20 questions for our Congressional candidates
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is seeking her ninth term in Congress against Democrat Dave Wilson. The Spokesman-Review compiled a list of questions about policies involving the environment, health care, social justice and the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
McMorris Rodgers, Wilson square off Thursday afternoon in first congressional debate
The congresswoman said she believed the country and the economy were on their way to a rebound from the challenges imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, while her Democratic challenger tied the lawmaker to President Donald Trump and what he said was the wrong direction for the country on multiple fronts.
Incumbents McMorris Rodgers and Newhouse advance in Congressional races
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is headed toward a matchup against Democrat Dave Wilson in the November election.
Former Excelsior employee files wrongful termination suit out after raising concerns about political activities
Skyler Oberst, employed as development director at the youth treatment center from December 2018 to August 2019, said he was retaliated against after raising concerns about Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ appearance at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility in fall 2018. The event was organized by the congresswoman’s official Congressional staff, and the center says it will defend against the claims of the wrongful termination lawsuit.
Armitage’s surprise departure shakes up Spokane congressional race
The abrupt departure of a Democratic candidate from Eastern Washington’s congressional race surprised party officials and may create confusion for some voters.
Democrat Chris Armitage announces on Twitter he’s dropping out of Congressional race
Chris Armitage, 28, cited declining mental health and allegations from a woman with whom he’d had a relationship as reasons for dropping out of the contest.
Northwest lawmakers pursue different priorities in new COVID relief package
WASHINGTON – Lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol on Monday after a two-week break, facing a de facto deadline at the end of the month to pass another round of coronavirus relief, but Republicans and Democrats will first need to reconcile dramatically different visions for what the legislation should include.
McMorris Rodgers bill would speed dam licensing, designate hydropower as ‘renewable’
WASHINGTON – A new bill from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers would speed up the licensing process for hydroelectric dams and let a federal agency waive licensing requirements for small projects, as the Republican from Washington’s 5th district continues her efforts to make hydropower a bigger part of the nation’s evolving energy grid.
Washington leaders oppose visa changes affecting international college students
Washington university administrators, Gov. Jay Inslee and bipartisan members of the state’s congressional delegation on Tuesday denounced new visa restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration.
2 Democrats vying for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ seat in Congress in August primary
For the first time since 2010, there will be a competitive Democratic primary for the chance to face Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who’s been in Congress since 2005. Voters will have the option of a former independent who’s calling for a return to centrist politics, and a 28-year-old first-time candidate who’s setting his sights on supporters across the political spectrum.
CHAS receives telehealth funds to treat patients with COVID-19
The FCC awarded CHAS a more than $800,000 grant to expand its telehealth capacities in order to treat patients with COVID-19.
Ag Secretary praises Spokane’s farm-grown food initiative as growers call for more support
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue praised Spokane’s effort to get locally grown food to needy families on Thursday, as the region’s wheat growers push for additional federal assistance during the coronavirus pandemic.
McMorris Rodgers weighs in on Trump’s spat with Twitter, Congress’s role
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers echoed President Donald Trump’s frustration with Twitter after the president signed an executive order May 28 targeting a key legal protection social media companies rely on, but the Spokane Republican said she has concerns about the federal government deciding what they allow on their platforms.
McMorris Rodgers calls Floyd’s death ‘heart-wrenching’
Washington lawmakers on Monday called for justice for George Lloyd and expressed their support for peaceful demonstrations.
Idaho’s Russ Fulcher among Republicans suing to stop proxy voting in Congress
Idaho Rep. Russ Fulcher is one of 21 Republican members suing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and two nonpartisan House officials in D.C. federal court over proxy voting in the House.
$3 trillion stimulus bill passes House; McMorris Rodgers pans it as Democratic ‘wish list’
The House of Representatives narrowly passed a $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill Friday night, despite opposition from Republicans and several Democrats.
Valley Republican files to challenge McMorris Rodgers
A Spokane Valley Republican is challenging Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, contending she was wrong to allow the national debt to grow by supporting relief packages to help people and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.