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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

U.S. Representative

Election Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) 247,815 61.41%
Dave Wilson (D) 155,737 38.59%

* 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

The Candidates

Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Party:
Republican
Age:
54
City:
Spokane, Washington
Occupation:
U.S. congresswoman

Education: Graduated from the Columbia River Christian Academy, Kettle Falls, in 1986. Earned pre-law bachelor’s degree from Pensacola Christian College in 1990 and executive MBA from the University of Washington in 2002.

Political experience: Appointed to state House of Representatives, serving the 7th Legislative District, in 1993. Elected to state House in 1994, where she served until joining Congress. Elected to Congress in 2004. Former Vice Chair of House Republican Conference. Elected chairwoman of House Republican Conference in 2013. Serves as ranking member of the House's Energy and Commerce Committee since 2021. 

Work experience: Aide to state representative, 1990-93. Worked at her family orchard and fruit stand for 13 years, prior to election to Congress.

Family: Married. Has three young children.

Dave Wilson

Party:
Democratic
Age:
69
City:
Spokane, WA
Occupation:
Founder of Interface College

Education: Graduated from United Township High School in 1973. Earned bachelor's in communications from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa in 1976. Received master's in education from Gonzaga University in 2000.

Political background: Ran for Congress as independent 2014 and 2016. Helped found People for Effective Government in 2017. Ran as a Democrat for the Washington House of Representatives, District 6, in 2018. 

Work experience: Founder and former owner Interface College, which he sold in 2011. He started the business as Interface Computer Services in 1982 and renamed it Interface Computer School and then Interface College. Part-time hay farmer. Former district manager of Radio Shack. 

Family: Married. Has six adult children.

Complete Coverage

‘I have to vote my conscience’: Rep. Dan Newhouse opens up about his decision to support impeachment

WASHINGTON – Central Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse was one of 10 House Republicans who voted Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump for his role in the storming of the U.S. Capitol that had left five people dead just a week earlier.

Menorah lighting in Riverfront Park is a chance to bring light to a dark year

Sunday’s annual Hanukkah message of bringing light to the world has more significance than ever during the global pandemic, visitors said. The Jewish holiday lasts through Friday. 

Washington, Idaho officials join both sides of latest presidential election challenge

Elected officials from Washington and Idaho joined both sides of the U.S. Supreme Court battle Thursday over the 2020 presidential election results.

Inslee keeps coming up in speculation over Biden’s cabinet. Here’s why

The week after a presidential election, one of the favorite games for political observers to play is “Who will be in the new cabinet?” This year, a favorite target of speculation is Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

Northwest lawmakers, Washington secretary of state react to Trump’s cheating claims as Biden closes in on victory

WASHINGTON – Northwest elected officials urged calm and stressed the sanctity of the U.S. voting process Friday as Democratic candidate Joe Biden, leading his opponent by more than 4 million total votes amid historic turnout, appeared on the brink of winning the 270 electoral votes needed to reach the White House while incumbent President Donald Trump continued making evidence-free claims about cheating by Democrats.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Dave Wilson debate in prime time before election

In their only in-person debate of the election season, the congresswoman and her Democratic challenger sparred over the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic and wildfires. McMorris Rodgers also reiterated her desire for closer government regulation of social media based on perceived election year bias. 

Fundraising in Eastern Washington Congress race sees dip following high-profile 2018 contest

At just a little more than $4 million, and most of that going to incumbent Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, fundraising in Eastern Washington in 2020 is on pace to total less than half what was amassed two years ago. With other races nationwide drawing record amounts of money and time on the airwaves, the change likely has more to do with the perceived competitiveness of the race and less to do with the effects of the pandemic. 

Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Dave Wilson talk pandemic, Trump’s response and health care in second debate

In her quest for a ninth term in Congress, McMorris Rodgers defended early actions of the Trump administration to stop the spread of the pandemic and argued existing assistance programs would help if they were extended. Democrat Wilson said the White House lost time by publicly downplaying the impact of the virus. 

20 questions for our Congressional candidates

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is seeking her ninth term in Congress against Democrat Dave Wilson. The Spokesman-Review compiled a list of questions about policies involving the environment, health care, social justice and the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

McMorris Rodgers, Wilson square off Thursday afternoon in first congressional debate

The congresswoman said she believed the country and the economy were on their way to a rebound from the challenges imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, while her Democratic challenger tied the lawmaker to President Donald Trump and what he said was the wrong direction for the country on multiple fronts. 

Incumbents McMorris Rodgers and Newhouse advance in Congressional races

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is headed toward a matchup against Democrat Dave Wilson in the November election. 

Former Excelsior employee files wrongful termination suit out after raising concerns about political activities

Skyler Oberst, employed as development director at the youth treatment center from December 2018 to August 2019, said he was retaliated against after raising concerns about Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ appearance at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility in fall 2018. The event was organized by the congresswoman’s official Congressional staff, and the center says it will defend against the claims of the wrongful termination lawsuit. 

Armitage’s surprise departure shakes up Spokane congressional race

The abrupt departure of a Democratic candidate from Eastern Washington’s congressional race surprised party officials and may create confusion for some voters.

Democrat Chris Armitage announces on Twitter he’s dropping out of Congressional race

Chris Armitage, 28, cited declining mental health and allegations from a woman with whom he’d had a relationship as reasons for dropping out of the contest. 

Northwest lawmakers pursue different priorities in new COVID relief package

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol on Monday after a two-week break, facing a de facto deadline at the end of the month to pass another round of coronavirus relief, but Republicans and Democrats will first need to reconcile dramatically different visions for what the legislation should include.

McMorris Rodgers bill would speed dam licensing, designate hydropower as ‘renewable’

WASHINGTON – A new bill from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers would speed up the licensing process for hydroelectric dams and let a federal agency waive licensing requirements for small projects, as the Republican from Washington’s 5th district continues her efforts to make hydropower a bigger part of the nation’s evolving energy grid.

Washington leaders oppose visa changes affecting international college students

Washington university administrators, Gov. Jay Inslee and bipartisan members of the state’s congressional delegation on Tuesday denounced new visa restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration.

2 Democrats vying for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ seat in Congress in August primary

For the first time since 2010, there will be a competitive Democratic primary for the chance to face Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who’s been in Congress since 2005. Voters will have the option of a former independent who’s calling for a return to centrist politics, and a 28-year-old first-time candidate who’s setting his sights on supporters across the political spectrum.

CHAS receives telehealth funds to treat patients with COVID-19

The FCC awarded CHAS a more than $800,000 grant to expand its telehealth capacities in order to treat patients with COVID-19.

Ag Secretary praises Spokane’s farm-grown food initiative as growers call for more support

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue praised Spokane’s effort to get locally grown food to needy families on Thursday, as the region’s wheat growers push for additional federal assistance during the coronavirus pandemic.