1. Michael James Baumgartner is an American politician and former diplomat currently serving as the US representative from Washington's 5th congressional district, a post he has held since 2025.
23 Facts About Michael Baumgartner
1. 2.
On February 26,2024, Michael Baumgartner announced his intention to run for the United States House of Representatives' in Washington's 5th congressional district to succeed Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, who did not seek reelection.
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Michael Baumgartner's mother is a kindergarten teacher and his father was a professor of Forestry and Natural Resource Sciences.
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Michael Baumgartner graduated in 1999 with a degree in economics with minors in French and mathematics.
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Michael Baumgartner met his wife Eleanor Mayne, a journalist studying counternarcotics in Helmand Province, and the two were married in 2010.
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Michael Baumgartner represented parts of the City of Spokane, Airway Heights, and Cheney including Eastern Washington University.
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The election battle between Marr and Michael Baumgartner is considered the most hotly contested and expensive state legislative races in Washington state history.
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In 2014, Michael Baumgartner ran for re-election to the State Senate, easily winning.
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In 2012 Michael Baumgartner was named one of the National Federation of Independent Business's Guardians of Business, the highest award they offer, in recognition of his votes that side "100 Percent" with small businesses.
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In 2015, Michael Baumgartner was awarded the "Legislator of The Year" award by anti-tax activist Tim Eyman due to his consistent effort to fight tax increases proposed in the state legislature.
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In October 2011, Michael Baumgartner decided to challenge incumbent US Senator Maria Cantwell.
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Cantwell and Michael Baumgartner finished first and second, respectively, and competed in the general election.
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Michael Baumgartner has formally endorsed Washington Initiative 502 to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana for adults 21 and over, making him the first and only candidate for statewide office in Washington state to do so, and taking a position that wasn't popular in his party.
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In 2018, Michael Baumgartner opted not to run for reelection to the State Senate.
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Michael Baumgartner won the November election and took office in January 2019.
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On February 26,2024, shortly after incumbent Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers announced she would not seek re-election, Michael Baumgartner announced he would run for Washington's 5th congressional district.
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Michael Baumgartner was the best performing Republican out of any candidate in the state, both federally and statewide.
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In 2025, Michael Baumgartner founded the bipartisan Congressional College Sports Caucus.
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Michael Baumgartner introduced the "Restore College Sports Act" with the aim of dissolving the National Collegiate Athletic Association and replacing it with the "American College Sports Association," which would be overseen by the federal government.
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In March 2025, Michael Baumgartner joined Jim Jordan and Tom McClintock in a letter challenging Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and the state sanctuary law, which restricts local police from enforcing federal immigration policy.
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Michael Baumgartner has consistently fought for charter schools, which received significant opposition from the Washington State teachers' union Washington Education Association.
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In February 2018, Michael Baumgartner was one of a handful of Washington State legislators to vote against a bill that would have exempted legislators from public records rules.
23.
Michael Baumgartner maintained a close friendship with Washington State University football coach Mike Leach throughout his life.