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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

State Senator

Election Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Michael Padden (R) 20,019 55%
Jeffrey Baxter (R) 16,378 45%

* 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.

About The Race

This is a race to fill the remaining portion of the late Republican state Sen. Bob McCaslin’s term representing the 4th Legislative District, which primarily consists of the Spokane Valley.

The position will be on the ballot again in 2012 for a full four-year term.

Both candidates are fiscal and social conservative Republicans, and both oppose tax increases and advocate smaller state government. Democrats didn’t field a candidate, so Jeff Baxter and Mike Padden both went on the general election ballot without a primary.

Their race splits the GOP, the majority party in the Valley which is the heart of the district. It could hinge on whether Democrats decide to back either candidate rather than sitting out the race.

State legislators are paid $41,106 annually, plus healthcare benefits.

The Candidates

Michael Padden

Party:
Republican
Age:
77
City:
Spokane Valley, WA
Occupation:
Retired district court judge

A longtime Spokane Valley lawyer who was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1980, Padden served seven terms in the Legislature before being appointed Spokane County District Court judge in 1995. He's married with five grown sons.

Jeffrey Baxter

Party:
Republican
Age:
63
City:
Spokane Valley, WA
Occupation:
businessman

Baxter owns and operates three companies that provide credit-card and teller-machine services to other small businesses. He advocates low taxes and limited government.

Complete Coverage

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