Cathy McMorris District:Washington District 5 Party: Republican Age: 33 Primary Date: September 14 Website: www.mcmorrisforcongress.com

Background: McMorris is serving her 5th term as the 7th district’s state representative. She has served in a number of leadership positions in the Washington State House of Representatives including as the House Minority Leader, responsible for overseeing 67 employees with a $3 million payroll. She also served as the Chair of the House Commerce and Labor Committee and Vice-Chair of the House Agriculture and Ecology Committee. As Minority Leader, her legislative agenda focused on balancing the budget without raising taxes and creating new jobs. She was also the top fundraiser for the Washington House Republican Caucus. She has been awarded the “Legislator of the Year” by the Washington Farm Bureau, and was named “Outstanding Legislator” by the National Federation of Independent Business.

McMorris was born and raised on a farm and orchard. She descends from some of the first pioneers to journey west along the Oregon Trail in the mid-1800s. As a junior in high school, Cathy’s family moved to Kettle Falls, Stevens County in northeast Washington, where they owned and operated the Peachcrest orchard and fruit stand. She has an executive MBA from the University of Washington.

The district: Washington’s 5th District was held by Republican George Nethercutt and covers almost the entire eastern half of the state. The district is considered competitive, but it does lean Republican. The district includes the city of Spokane, but is mostly rural. It includes some of the richest farm land in the nation and grows wheat, barley, peas, lentils, onions, apples, grapes and livestock.

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