--- title: "Conroy vs. Baumgartner: 2026 Washington’s 5th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-wa-05" updated: "2026-08-18" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Washington’s 5th District race: Carmela Conroy (D) vs. Michael Baumgartner (R) Rating: Likely R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 18, 2026 In Washington's 5th Congressional District, first-term Republican incumbent Michael Baumgartner faces Democratic challenger Carmela Conroy in a rematch of their 2024 general election contest. Baumgartner advanced from the August 4, 2026, top-two primary with 47.4% of the vote, while Conroy finished second with 18.9% in a multi-candidate field. The race hinges on sharp policy contrasts regarding economic regulations, border enforcement, healthcare expansion, and federal legislative votes from the 119th Congress. ## Candidates - **Carmela Conroy** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://conroy4congress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmela_Conroy) - **Michael Baumgartner** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://www.votebaumgartner.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Baumgartner_%28Washington%29) ## Issues ### Economy and Cost of Living Salience: high Conroy supports federal minimum wage increases and ending tariffs to lower consumer costs, while Baumgartner emphasizes reducing government spending, avoiding tax increases, and cutting regulations. **Carmela Conroy:** Supports minimum wage increase and ending tariffs Conroy focuses on lowering consumer costs by ending federal tariffs and enacting an inflation-indexed minimum wage with paid leave. She advocates for worker protections and tax fairness while seeking to prevent large corporations from socializing economic risk. - Pass an inflation-indexed federal minimum wage law with paid time off and paid sick leave - End tariffs to cut prices for consumers, importers, and exporters - Prohibit members of Congress from individual stock trading while in office > “End the tariff chaos. That will cut prices for consumers and for businesses, both importers and exporters.” > — Carmela Conroy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmela_Conroy) > “Pass an inflation-indexed federal minimum wage law with paid time off and paid sick leave.” > — Carmela Conroy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmela_Conroy) **Michael Baumgartner:** Supports spending cuts and tax control Baumgartner emphasizes balancing the federal budget, reducing government spending, and lowering regulatory burdens on business. In the 119th Congress, he voted for H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) addressing tax policy and the federal debt limit. - Voted for H.R. 1 reconciliation legislation addressing tax policy and statutory debt limits - Opposes tax and fee increases, prioritizing federal budget cuts to curb spending - Promotes job creation through deregulation and removing hindrances to enterprise > “We don’t need more taxes; we need to reduce spending.” > — Michael Baumgartner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Baumgartner_%28Washington%29) ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: high Conroy supports defunding immigration detention facilities and facilitating humane releases, whereas Baumgartner voted for federal legislation requiring mandatory detention and deportation for undocumented immigrants arrested for theft or DUI offenses. **Carmela Conroy:** Supports humane border release and defunding detention Conroy advocates refocusing Department of Homeland Security resources strictly to official ports of entry and physical borders. She proposes defunding immigration detention centers as quickly as possible and empowering FEMA to execute humane releases for detainees not facing criminal charges. - Defund the construction and operation of immigration detention centers - Redirect DHS border security assets exclusively to ports of entry and borders - Transfer immigration detainees facing criminal charges to public safety authorities while releasing non-criminal detainees humanely > “Defund construction and operation of detention centers as fast as humanely possible.” > — Carmela Conroy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmela_Conroy) **Michael Baumgartner:** Supports mandatory detention and deportation laws Baumgartner supports strict immigration enforcement and border security measures. In the 119th Congress, he voted for the Laken Riley Act to detain unauthorized immigrants arrested for theft crimes and voted to make driving while impaired grounds for deportation. - Voted for S. 5 (Laken Riley Act) requiring DHS to detain unauthorized immigrants arrested for burglary, theft, or shoplifting - Voted for H.R. 875 making driving while impaired grounds for deportation or inadmissibility - Supports state legal standing to challenge federal immigration enforcement failures > “The Laken Riley Act (S.5) was a bill passed by the 119th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on 1/29/2025, which required the Department of Homeland Security to detain certain individuals residing in the United States without legal permission who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting...” > — Michael Baumgartner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Baumgartner_%28Washington%29) ### Elections and Voting Legislation Salience: medium Conroy focuses on preserving ballot access and ethics rules prohibiting congressional stock trading, while Baumgartner voted for federal legislation requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. **Carmela Conroy:** Supports ballot access and stock trading bans Conroy favors protecting voter access to the ballot and opposes restrictive election measures. She also champions ethics reform by banning stock trading for sitting members of Congress. - Ensure broad public access to the ballot - Prohibit members of Congress from holding individual stocks > “Prohibit members of Congress from stock trading, requiring them to divest individual stocks in favor of mutual funds or other exchange-traded funds as long as they are running for or in office.” > — Carmela Conroy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmela_Conroy) **Michael Baumgartner:** Supports voter citizenship verification Baumgartner advocates stricter federal voter registration standards. In 2025, he voted for the SAVE Act to mandate documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal election voter registration. - Voted for H.R. 22 (SAVE Act) requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections > “The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), was a bill passed by the House of Representatives on 4/10/2025 that required individuals to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.” > — Michael Baumgartner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Baumgartner_%28Washington%29) ### Education and LGBTQ+ Sports Policy Salience: medium Conroy centers education policy on public school funding and church-state separation, whereas Baumgartner voted to bar biological males from competing in female school athletic programs. **Carmela Conroy:** Supports public school funding and church-state separation Conroy advocates restoring federal public education funds, especially for special education needs. She opposes using public funds for private schooling or religious institutions in violation of church-state separation. - Restore funding for public education and special educational programs - Keep public funds strictly within public schools - Uphold the separation of church and state in federal education funding > “Restore funding for public education, including support for children with special educational needs. Ensure public funds are not used in violation of the separation of church and state.” > — Carmela Conroy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmela_Conroy) **Michael Baumgartner:** Supports restricting transgender participation in women's sports Baumgartner supports traditional public education investments alongside restrictions on school athletic participation based on biological sex. In 2025, he voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. - Voted for H.R. 28 barring biological males from participating in women's athletic programs - Highlighted past state legislative achievements lowering public college tuition costs > “The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives on 1/14/2025 that would prohibit school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose sex was male to participate in programs for women or girls.” > — Michael Baumgartner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Baumgartner_%28Washington%29) ### Government Transparency and Epstein Files Salience: low Conroy urges Department of Justice prosecution of unindicted co-conspirators in the Epstein case, while Baumgartner voted for statutory public disclosure of all unclassified Epstein investigative records. **Carmela Conroy:** Supports prosecuting unindicted Epstein co-conspirators Conroy supports federal investigations into high-level misconduct and urges the Department of Justice to take legal action against unindicted co-conspirators named in the Jeffrey Epstein files. - Direct the DOJ to act against unindicted co-conspirators in the Epstein case - Utilize GAO oversight to enforce government accountability > “Following the Government Accounting Office’s investigation, direct the Department of Justice to take action against the unindicted coconspirators named in the Epstein files.” > — Carmela Conroy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmela_Conroy) **Michael Baumgartner:** Supports full release of Epstein files Baumgartner supports public disclosure of federal records concerning Jeffrey Epstein. In the 119th Congress, he voted in favor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. - Voted for H.R. 4405 requiring the DOJ to publish unclassified investigative records on Jeffrey Epstein > “The Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R.4405) was a bill passed by the 119th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on 11/19/2025, which required the Department of Justice to publish all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Jeffrey Epstein's investigation...” > — Michael Baumgartner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Baumgartner_%28Washington%29) ### Healthcare Salience: high Conroy advocates expanding Medicaid to all children and permitting federal drug price negotiations, whereas Baumgartner has no detailed healthcare stance in the source materials. **Carmela Conroy:** Supports expanding Medicaid and Medicare drug negotiation Conroy proposes expanding public healthcare coverage by extending Medicaid to all children up to age 19 and restoring Medicare and Medicaid funding. She advocates empowering all federally funded health programs to negotiate prescription drug prices to protect rural hospitals and lower patient costs. - Extend Medicaid coverage to all children from birth to their 19th birthday - Allow Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA to negotiate lower drug prices - Restore Medicare and Medicaid funding levels while eliminating administrative barriers > “Extend Medicaid coverage to all children from birth to their 19th birthdays.” > — Carmela Conroy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmela_Conroy) **Michael Baumgartner:** No documented position in our sources ### Abortion and Reproductive Rights Salience: high Conroy actively campaigns to codify Roe v. Wade and prevent federal abortion restrictions, whereas Baumgartner has no documented position on abortion in the provided sources. **Carmela Conroy:** Supports codifying federal abortion rights Conroy strongly opposes federal abortion restrictions and state-level travel limits on healthcare. She campaigns on codifying Roe v. Wade to protect individual privacy and ensure full access to reproductive healthcare. - Codify constitutional privacy and reproductive rights into federal law - Oppose federal abortion bans and state travel or treatment restrictions - Protect healthcare providers and patients receiving emergency reproductive services > “Our next Representative will either vote for a total nationwide abortion ban, or fight to codify our basic human rights.” > — Carmela Conroy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmela_Conroy) **Michael Baumgartner:** No documented position in our sources ### Foreign Policy and Military Oversight Salience: medium Conroy calls for restricting unauthorized military actions while supporting aid to foreign allies, whereas Baumgartner has no documented position detailed in the provided context beyond his committee assignments. **Carmela Conroy:** Supports military accountability and foreign partner aid Conroy advocates strict oversight of executive branch military decisions and defunding unauthorized foreign military operations. At the same time, she supports foreign aid for democratic allies such as Ukraine and Israel. - Defund aggressive and illegal military operations and planning - Hold executive branch officials accountable for unlawful foreign military actions - Provide defense assistance to foreign partners, including Ukraine and Israel > “Defund aggressive and otherwise illegal military operations, support, and planning.” > — Carmela Conroy, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmela_Conroy) **Michael Baumgartner:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/wa-05-house-election-winner) — WA-05 House Election Winner: Republicans 82.5%, Democrats 17.2% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-WA05-26) — WA-05 House winner?: Michael Baumgartner 84.0%, Carmela Conroy 18.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXWAPRIMARY-0526) — WA-05 primary: who will advance?: Carmela Conroy 99.0%, Michael Baumgartner 97.0%, Kevin Fagan 8.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-wa-05)