Ten candidates are running in the top-two primary for Washington’s 5th Congressional District on August 6

Ten candidates are running in the top-two primary for Washington’s 5th Congressional District on August 6, 2024. Four candidates lead in media attention, campaign finance, and endorsements: Bernadine Bank (D), Michael Baumgartner (R), Carmela Conroy (D), and Jacquelin Maycumber (R).

Washington uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot, for congressional and state-level elections. The top two vote-getters move on to the general election, regardless of their party affiliation. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.

Incumbent Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R), who was first elected in 2004, is not running for re-election. The Inlander’s Ted S. McGregor Jr. said, “In light of history showing this now-reliably Republican post only turns over in tumultuous years, could her departure endanger the seat? Washington is very blue, with only two of 10 in the delegation being Republicans. (Neither has completely followed MAGA orthodoxy: Dan Newhouse voted to impeach Donald Trump over his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection, while McMorris Rodgers voted to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the election.)”

According to The Spokesman-Review’s Emry Dinman, this primary race is one of the year’s most crowded races in Washington. Dinman said this primary “may provide the best chance in a generation for Democrats to flip the seat.” Since 1943, four individuals—one Democrat and three Republicans—have represented the district. The last time a Democrat represented the district was 1995.

Bank has been a gynecologist at the Community Health Association of Spokane since 2009. From 2016 to 2021, Bank oversaw the Gynecology Department at the Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Bank said her priorities include protecting abortion access, improving transportation infrastructure, and supporting veterans. Bank said that she would bring “a balanced, analytical approach to our nation’s problems without forgetting that there are people at the other end of those policies.”

Baumgartner was first elected Spokane County Treasurer in 2018 and represented District 6 in the Washington Senate from 2011 to 2019. From 2007 to 2008, Baumgartner was an economics officer for the U.S. State Department in Iraq.

Baumgartner said his priorities include border security, protecting the Snake River dams, and “protecting the American dream.” Baumgartner said, “As someone who grew up in Washington [I] think I have a better understanding of the overall district, whether it’s universities or Fairchild Air Force Base, or protecting our dams, [or infrastructure].”

Conroy was a foreign service officer in the U.S. State Department from 1996 to 2020. She also served as a deputy prosecutor in the criminal division of the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office from 1992 to 1996.

Conroy said her priorities include “advocating for agricultural support, affordable healthcare, and economic opportunities for working families.” Conroy said, “Congresspeople have to play a role in representing their own district, and it’s super important that they keep their eye on that ball, rather than on what the party directive is.”

Maycumber was first appointed to represent District 7-Position 2 in the Washington House of Representatives in February 2017 and won a special election in November 2017. From 2009 to 2017, Maycumber was a legislative aide to then-state Rep. Shelly Short (R).

Maycumber said her priorities include border security, protecting the Snake River dams, and “protecting the next generation from fentanyl.” Maycumber said, “We need people that understand that budgets aren’t in millions and billions. They’re in loaves of bread, communities working hard. When I was a legislator, nothing could get done in Olympia, but I was able to pass extensive policy.”

Jonathan Bingle (R), Ann Marie Danimus (D), Brian Dansel (R), Rick Flynn (R), Rene’ Holaday (R), and Matthew Welde (D) are also running in the primary.

Ballotpedia provides race forecasts from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. To see how each outlet rates the general election, click here.