The Winner
If you live in Washington's 5th U.S. House District, you will continue to be represented in Congress by Michael Baumgartner) (R-WA), who has been declared the winner of the 2026 congressional race, according to the Associated Press. The win rests on the Associated Press call, not on certified results, so the vote figures are still preliminary.
The Race
Democrat Carmela Conroy reached the general election ballot by advancing from the Aug. 4 top-two primary, where she received about 23,536 votes. Cook Political Report rated the seat Likely Republican heading into Election Day.
Washington's 5th Congressional District has a majority-white population, about 81.2%, and about 788,000 residents, according to geographic data for the district. Median household income is about $75,300 and median age is about 38.7. About 31.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the unemployment rate is about 5.6%, and about 12.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
The district includes Spokane, Walla Walla, Pullman, Colville, and Ritzville, according to the Washington State Secretary of State.
What's Next
Baumgartner is set to take office on Jan. 3, 2027, according to the U.S. House Clerk. Baumgartner, whose hometown is Spokane, said his Healthy Forests Incentives Act would promote preventive forest restoration and offer incentives to businesses that use removed wood to help reduce wildfire risk, according to the Office of Congressman Michael Baumgartner, which reported his comments in a press release dated Nov. 2.
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