Washington's 5th congressional district encompasses the Eastern Washington counties of Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Whitman, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin, along with parts of Adams and Franklin. It is centered on Spokane, the state's second-largest city.

Since 2025, the 5th district has been represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Michael Baumgartner, a Republican. The seat was held by former Democratic Speaker of the House Tom Foley between 1965 and 1995 before he lost reelection to George Nethercutt in 1994.

In presidential elections, the 5th district was once fairly competitive, but in recent years has generally been a safe bet for the Republicans. John McCain only narrowly won the district in 2008 with 52% of the vote. Mitt Romney won the district with 56% in 2012, while Donald Trump won this district all three times he ran, with 53% in both 2016 and 2020, and 54% in 2024.

The first election in the 5th district was in 1914, won by Democrat Clarence Dill. Following the 1910 census, Washington gained two seats in the U.S. House, from three to five, but did not reapportion for the 1912 election. The two new seats were elected as statewide at-large, with each voter casting ballots for three congressional seats, their district and two at-large. Afterwards, the state was reapportioned to five districts for the 1914 election. The state's 6th district was added after the 1930 census and first contested in the 1932 election.

Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 52% - 46%2010 SenateRossi 59% - 41%2012 PresidentRomney 56% - 44%2016 PresidentTrump 53% - 39% SenateVance 53% - 47% GovernorBryant 56% - 44% Lt. GovernorMcClendon 60% - 40% Secretary of StateWyman 66% - 34% AuditorMiloscia 58% - 42%2018 SenateHutchison 53% - 47%2020 PresidentTrump 53% - 43% GovernorCulp 58% - 42% Secretary of StateWyman 63% - 37% TreasurerDavidson 59% - 41% AuditorLeyba 55% - 45% Attorney GeneralLarkin 56% - 43%2022 SenateSmiley 58% - 42% Secretary of State (Spec.)Anderson 55% - 38%2024 PresidentTrump 54% - 43% SenateGarcia 54% - 45% GovernorReichert 58% - 42% Lt. GovernorMatthews 59% - 40% Secretary of StateWhitaker 56% - 44% TreasurerHanek 57% - 43% AuditorHawkins 57% - 43% Attorney GeneralSerrano 59% - 41% Commissioner of Public LandsHerrera Beutler 61% - 39%

Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST53/CD118_WA05.pdf

Adams County (4)

Hatton, Lind, Ritzville, Washtucna Asotin County (5) All 4 communities

Columbia County (2)

Dayton, Starbuck

Ferry County (12)

All 12 communities

Franklin County (4)

Basin City, Connell, Kahlotus, Mesa Garfield County (2) Pataha, Pomeroy

Lincoln County (8)

All 8 communities

Pend Oreille County (5)

All 5 communities

Spokane County (20)

All 20 communities

Stevens County (11)

All 11 communities

Walla Walla County (10)

All 10 communities

Whitman County (17)

All 17 communities

List of members representing the district Member Party Years Congess Electoral history District location District established March 4, 1915 Clarence Dill Democratic March 4, 1915 –March 3, 1919 Elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Lost re-election. J. Stanley Webster Republican March 4, 1919 –May 8, 1923 Elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Resigned to become judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Vacant May 8, 1923 –September 25, 1923 Samuel B. Hill Democratic September 25, 1923 –June 25, 1936 Elected to finish Webster's term.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Re-elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Resigned to become member of the U.S. Board of Tax Appeals. Vacant June 25, 1936 –January 3, 1937 Charles H. Leavy Democratic January 3, 1937 –August 1, 1942 Elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Resigned to become judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Vacant August 1, 1942 –January 3, 1943 Walt Horan Republican January 3, 1943 –January 3, 1965 Elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Lost re-election. Tom Foley Democratic January 3, 1965 –January 3, 1995 Elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Re-elected in 1992.Lost re-election. George Nethercutt Republican January 3, 1995 –January 3, 2005 Elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Retired to run for U.S. senator. 2003–2013 Cathy McMorris Rodgers Republican January 3, 2005 –January 3, 2025 Elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Retired. 2013–2023 2023–presentMichael Baumgartner RepublicanJanuary 3, 2025 –presentElected in 2024.

Recent election results

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

Historical district boundaries

See also United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2024

References

Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

External links Washington State Redistricting Commission Find your new congressional district: a searchable map, Seattle Times, January 13, 2012