Cantwell, Larsen, McDermott returning to Congress

Three incumbent Democratic members of Congress were headed toward easy victories in early election returns Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Edmonds, led Republican Michael Baumgartner, a first-term state senator from Spokane, roughly 59 percent to 41 percent. Cantwell is seeking a third term in the Senate.

In the House, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, held a lead over his challenger, Republican Dan Matthews of Mukilteo, 61 percent to 39 percent, according to state returns. Larsen is seeking a seventh term in the House of Representatives. Matthews is a military veteran and Boeing employee.

Longtime U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, led Republican Ron Bemis, a Seattle attorney, 80 percent to 20 percent.

McDermott, 75, was first elected in 1988 and is seeking a 13th term.

After years of being almost entirely contained within the city of Seattle, McDermott’s 7th Congressional District now extends into Snohomish County following redistricting.

Last year’s revision of the map added Edmonds and Woodway to the district, along with Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Burien, Normandy Park and much of Seattle.

Redistricting made Larsen’s road to re-election much easier than his race two years ago. In 2010, he narrowly defeated his Republican opponent, Snohomish County Councilman John Koster.

The 2nd District was been redrawn to exclude most of the more conservative, rural areas in eastern Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties. It also now includes areas of Democratic-leaning south Snohomish County.

“I look forward to representing new parts of south Snohomish County that have been added to the 2nd Congressional District,” Larsen, 47, said Tuesday in a written statement.

“The district is more diverse than ever, and I am eager to continue building relationships and learning more about how to best serve the needs of all residents of the district.”

Cantwell, 54, ran a low-key campaign against Baumgartner, a foreign service consultant who has spent time in Afghanistan.

Baumgartner, acknowledging he was running an underdog campaign, called for a quick exit from the war in Afghanistan. He took other positions more left-leaning than most of his fellow GOP members, including a call for more financial regulation, but differed sharply with Cantwell on Medicare reform. Baumgartner called for a voucher-type system to reform Medicare, a plan strongly opposed by Cantwell.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.