Joe Pakootas
A candidate for U.S. Representative, Congressional District 5 in the 2016 Washington General Election, Nov. 8
Party: Democratic
Age: 66
City: Inchelium, WA
Education: Graduated from Inchelium High School in 1975. Attended Eastern Washington University. Received executive MBA University of Washington 2006.
Political experience: Former tribal chairman of the Colville Confederated Tribes; member tribal business council 1987-99, 2001-13. Unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Congress 5th District seat in 2014.
Work experience: Enterprise Executive Officer for the Nez Perce Tribe. Former chief executive officer Colville Tribal Federal Corp. Worked in logging, construction. Former executive director of medical and dental services for Kalispel Tribe.
Family: Married. Has four adult children.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) | 166,159 | 59.46% |
| Joe Pakootas (D) | 113,308 | 40.54% |
Related Coverage
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Four of the faces in the race for Washington’s 5th Congressional District seat are familiar, one is new. Those hoping to unseat Cathy McMorris Rodgers say they believe voter discontent with the major parties at the top of the ticket could lead to success in November.
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Congressional candidates Dave Wilson has released a list of suspicious organizations that opponent Joe Pakootas claimed endorsed his campaign in 2014 or 2016. Pakootas says Wilson released the list as a reaction to being denied an offer to hold exclusive policy discussions forums between the two candidates.
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Kay drops out of Congressional race, supports Pakootas
David Kay, 59, announced Thursday he was dropping his bid as a Democrat for U.S. Congress and throwing his support behind Joe Pakootas.
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Four challengers have announced they’ll seek the seat in Congress held since 2005 by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Three of the men have ran against McMorris Rodgers before. David Kay is seeking the Democratic nomination won by Joe Pakootas two years ago.
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David Kay, 59, announced Tuesday he will run as a Democrat against incumbent Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who will be seeking her sixth term in Congress, and Joe Pakootas, who fell to McMorris Rodgers with roughly 40 percent of the vote in 2014.