SPOKANE, Wash. – Incumbent Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) and Lisa Brown (D) advanced through the primary to the general election in November for Washington’s U.S. House District 5 seat.
McMorris Rodgers, who has served as a U.S. Representative for District 5 for the past 14 years, had a tough primary race against Brown, the former chancellor for Washington State University. Tuesday night’s results indicate that the two candidates could be in for another fight come November.
McMorris Rodgers had a slight edge over Brown, according to results reported at 9:30 p.m. McMorris Rodgers had 48 percent of votes – roughly 57,300 – while Brown had 47 percent of the votes – about 56, 800.
But in Spokane County, the results varied from the overall district votes. According to results published on the Washington Secretary of State’s website, Brown won Spokane County voters by about seven percent. At 9:30 p.m., Brown had 51.4 percent of the voters – about 40,700. McMorris Rodgers finished with 43.9 percent of the votes – roughly 34,700.
Brown also won Whitman County by 215 votes.
McMorris Rodgers took the remaining seven counties – Columbia, Pend Oreille, Ferry, Walla Walla, Garfield, Asotin and Stevens counties.
Following the results of the election, McMorris Rodgers said she was encouraged by Tuesday night's overall results.
“There’s more certainty right now – there’s optimism,” McMorris Rodgers said. “… I’m just going to keep talking to the people of eastern Washington, listening to them and making sure that they know what my vision is.”
Brown said although she won two districts, she still has plenty of work to do before November. But there is one thing she is certain about – she said eastern Washington is ready for a change in leadership.
“You never take anything for granted – an election in August is not the same thing as an election in November,” Brown said. “But I think the message is coming across loud and clear that after 14 years … many people are ready for a change in the representation in eastern Washington – in Congress."