U.S. House, Washington 5th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Washington's 5th Congressional District?
Michael Baumgartner has the strongest record in Washington's 5th Congressional District. Michael Baumgartner scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Carmela Conroy at 64, as of October 6, 2026. Michael Baumgartner's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Carmela Conroy's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Michael Baumgartner
67 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 63
Democratic
Carmela Conroy
64 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Michael Baumgartner
- On the record2026-07
Is one of few sitting congressional Republicans to openly acknowledge that Joe Biden won the 2020 election, per The Spokesman-Review.
- On the record2026-05
Declined to take part in primary election forums with his challengers, saying he was too busy; he later debated Carmela Conroy twice in September 2026.
Sources: The Spokesman-Review, July 2, 2026, The Spokesman-Review, Sept. 22, 2026
- Credit2026
Two bills he sponsored passed the House, on foreign military equipment export applications and on college disclosure of foreign gifts; none of his bills has become law.
- Credit2025-03-17
Held town halls in Ritzville and Spokane on March 17, 2025 after the House GOP campaign chair reportedly advised Republicans to stop holding them.
Carmela Conroy
- On the record2026-09
Debated Rep. Michael Baumgartner twice in September 2026, in Spokane and Walla Walla.
Sources: The Spokesman-Review, Sept. 9, 2026, The Spokesman-Review, Sept. 22, 2026
- Credit2011
Served as U.S. consul general in Lahore, Pakistan, her highest diplomatic post, including during the 2011 Raymond Davis diplomatic crisis.
- Credit1996
Served as a U.S. Foreign Service officer from 1996 to 2020 after four years as a Spokane County deputy prosecutor.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Michael Baumgartner. His 2025 annual disclosure was filed May 7, 2026 (amended Sept. 4, 2026). The House Clerk index lists no periodic transaction reports for him. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10075625, House Committee on Ethics site search for Baumgartner, FEC administrative fines search
Carmela Conroy. A candidate financial disclosure is on file with the House Clerk (filed May 15, 2025) and campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10068358, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Michael Baumgartner. Is one of few sitting congressional Republicans to say openly that Joe Biden won the 2020 election, per The Spokesman-Review, and kept holding town halls in 2025 after the House GOP campaign chair reportedly advised against them.
Sources: The Spokesman-Review, July 2, 2026, The Spokesman-Review, March 14, 2025
Carmela Conroy. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Michael Baumgartner. Held open in-person town halls in Spokane in January 2025 and in Ritzville and Spokane in March 2025, and took part in two general election debates in September 2026. He declined primary election forums.
Sources: The Spokesman-Review, Jan. 11, 2025, The Spokesman-Review, March 14, 2025, The Spokesman-Review, Sept. 22, 2026, The Spokesman-Review, July 2, 2026
Carmela Conroy. Took part in two general election debates with Rep. Baumgartner in September 2026, in Spokane and in Walla Walla.
Sources: The Spokesman-Review, Sept. 9, 2026, The Spokesman-Review, Sept. 22, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Michael Baumgartner. Served as a State Department officer in Iraq, a state senator (2011 to 2019), Spokane County treasurer (2019 to 2025) and U.S. representative since 2025. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Baumgartner, House Committee on Ethics site search for Baumgartner
Carmela Conroy. Served 24 years as a Foreign Service officer, including as consul general in Lahore, and four years as a Spokane County deputy prosecutor. No conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Michael Baumgartner. Has held sworn office as a state senator, county treasurer and, since January 2025, U.S. representative; not in Congress for the January 2021 count. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Baumgartner
Carmela Conroy. Served as a sworn county deputy prosecutor (1992 to 1996) and a federal Foreign Service officer (1996 to 2020). No misuse-of-office finding found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Michael Baumgartner. Two terms in the Washington State Senate (2011 to 2019), Spokane County treasurer (2019 to 2025) and U.S. representative since 2025; earlier a State Department economics officer in Iraq.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Baumgartner, The Spokesman-Review, July 2, 2026
Carmela Conroy. Was U.S. consul general in Lahore, Pakistan, her highest diplomatic post, in a Foreign Service career from 1996 to 2020; earlier a Spokane County deputy prosecutor.
Sources: The Spokesman-Review, Oct. 13, 2024, The Spokesman-Review, June 10, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Michael Baumgartner. Serves on the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs and Education and Workforce committees and is vice chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee.
Sources: Office site, Committees and Caucuses, The Spokesman-Review, July 2, 2026
Carmela Conroy. Publishes a priorities page with specific proposals, including an inflation-indexed federal minimum wage with paid leave and an end to current tariffs.
Source: Campaign site, Priorities
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Michael Baumgartner. Offers a newsletter and issue pages on his office site, holds town halls and took part in two general election debates. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, About, The Spokesman-Review, Sept. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Michael Baumgartner
Carmela Conroy. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026, publishes a priorities page and took part in two general election debates.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Carmela Conroy, Campaign site, Priorities, The Spokesman-Review, Sept. 22, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Michael Baumgartner. Raised in Colton and Pullman, served as Spokane County treasurer and lives in Spokane. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 82 percent of itemized individual contributions from Washington.
Sources: Office site, About, The Spokesman-Review, July 2, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Carmela Conroy. Born and raised in Eastern Washington, a Central Valley High School graduate who lives in Spokane. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 90 percent of itemized individual contributions from Washington.
Sources: Campaign site, Priorities, The Spokesman-Review, June 10, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Michael Baumgartner. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found. Ran the Spokane County treasurer's office from 2019 to 2025.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Carmela Conroy. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found. Headed the U.S. consulate general in Lahore.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Michael Baumgartner. No public record found.
Carmela Conroy. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Michael Baumgartner. Missed 16 of 676 roll call votes, 2.4 percent, from January 2025 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Carmela Conroy. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Michael Baumgartner. Keeps district offices in Spokane, Spokane Valley and Colville and holds mobile office hours in nine other towns. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, Office Locations
Carmela Conroy. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Michael Baumgartner. No public record found.
Carmela Conroy. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Michael Baumgartner. No public record found.
Carmela Conroy. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Washington's 5th Congressional District?
Michael Baumgartner has the strongest record in Washington's 5th Congressional District. Michael Baumgartner scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Carmela Conroy at 64, as of October 6, 2026. Michael Baumgartner's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Carmela Conroy's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Washington's 5th Congressional District in 2026?
Michael Baumgartner (Republican, incumbent), Carmela Conroy (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Michael Baumgartner a good candidate for Congress?
Michael Baumgartner scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Carmela Conroy a good candidate for Congress?
Carmela Conroy scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Washington race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Washington 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.