Baumgartner leads Conroy in Fifth District race

SPOKANE — Republican Michael Baumgartner has a substantial lead over Democrat Carmela Conroy in the race for the Fifth Congressional District, which includes most of Adams County. 

In unofficial results, Baumgartner is leading Conroy, with 164,929 votes (59.82%) for Baumgartner to 110,433 (40.058%) for Conroy.  

Baumgartner was leading Conroy handily in Adams County, with 1,263 votes (84.26%) for Baumgartner to 234 (15.61%) for Conroy.  

Vote totals above are as of 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. Some counties in the Fifth District update vote totals Wednesday night, while others wait until Thursday night. Counties must certify election results by Nov. 26.  

“Thank you, Eastern Washington,” Baumgartner said in a speech to supporters Tuesday night. 

He called the campaign an “amazing journey,” and said he was grateful to have the opportunity to run for Congress. He expressed his appreciation to Conroy. 

“I think she’s an impressive candidate,” he said. 

Conroy said that while her campaign came up short, she thought the results signaled that district voters weren’t satisfied with the status quo.  

It was her first run for office, she said, and she expressed gratitude to her supporters and staff.  

Both candidates were strongly supportive of the military and military families and said they would work to support agriculture. Both said they would support veterans’ programs. 

Baumgartner said he would support the protection of four dams along the Snake River, work to secure the nation’s borders, to reduce the federal debt and support school choice. Conroy said she would work to revitalize manufacturing and promote affordable housing and apprenticeship programs.  

Conroy said she would support funding for education and alternatives for patients in need of mental health services. Baumgartner said he supported additional vocational and technical education options, as well as local control of K-12 schools and reform of federal student loan programs.