Among the races facing Washington voters August 2 are Congressional primaries. In the Spokane Public Radio listening area, two incumbents faced challengers.
The top two candidates in each race move on the November 8 general election, regardless of party affiliation.
Fifth Congressional District
The results reported Tuesday night showed incumbent Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers easily fended off an intraparty challenge from Sean Clynch. She will face off against presumptive Democratic nominee Natasha Hill.
McMorris Rodgers had 50.21 percent of the vote as reported Tuesday night, according to the Washington Secretary of State's office. Hill had 30.98 percent of the vote.
McMorris Rodgers has represented Washington’s Fifth Congressional District since 2005. Before that, she served ten years in the Washington House of Representatives, including a brief stint (2003-04) as House Minority Leader.
Hill, an attorney, has a private practice and works as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga Law School. She is a Hillyard native and graduated from Rogers High School.
In mid-July, McMorris Rodgers reported having raised $4.6 million for her campaign, and nearly $3 million on hand. Both figures put her far above any of her challengers. Hill was third in the pack, with $157,011 in reported fundraising and nearly $31,000 on hand.
Since her election in late 2004, McMorris Rodgers has routinely secured re-election with 56 percent of the vote or more.
Fourth Congressional District
In Washington's Fourth Congressional District, incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse appeared to best six intraparty challengers. As of Tuesday evening, Democrat Doug White held 25.98 percent of the vote, better than any candidate save Newhouse. White and Newhouse were separated by less than 1.5 percentage points.
Newhouse has represented Washington’s Fourth Congressional District since 2015. Prior to his Congressional term, Newhouse served in the Washington House (2003-09) and as the state’s Director of Agriculture (2009-13).
The crowded Republican field that sought to depose Newhouse was fueled in part by his vote to impeach former president Donald Trump in 2021. Six candidates jumped in to bump Newhouse from office, including former unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp. The Washington State Republican Party did not endorse a candidate in the primary.
As of July 13, Newhouse led the fundraising pack, with receipts of $1.6 million and $601,054 cash on hand. White was third among the field, reporting $390,728 raised and $111,785 on hand.
