CQ Risk Rating: Leans Republican 
| GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 7, 2000 |
|
| George Nethercutt (R) | 144,038 | 57% |
| Tom Keefe (D) | 97,703 | 39% |
| Greg Holmes (LIBERT) | 9,473 | 4% |
| PRIMARY ELECTION: SEPTEMBER 19, 2000 |
|
| | Votes | Percentage | | Democratic |
| Tom Keefe | 30,263 | 21% |
| Thomas Flynn | 15,609 | 11% |
| | Libertarian |
| Greg Holmes | 3,129 | 2% |
| | Republican |
| George Nethercutt | 64,341 | 45% |
| Richard Clear | 28,373 | 20% |
Note: Washington has a "jungle" primary, in which candidates of all parties appear on the same ballot; the candidate in each party with the most votes advances to the general election.
Source: Congressional Quarterly. To suggest updates and corrections: politics.feedback@cq.com
Major Industry | Military Bases | Population | Cities | People | Race | Median Household Income | Unusual Features
WASHINGTON 5
:
East - Spokane
The fertile soil and rolling hills of eastern Washington make the 5th's
protein-rich wheat some of the most desired in the world. Politically
conservative, the district remains dependent on markets for its natural
resources, including timber and precious metals.
The 5th takes up the eastern third of the state, with Spokane as the
district's population center. Largely dependent on manufacturing, the area
has suffered intermittent layoffs, but a sharp rise in demand in the
electronics manufacturing industry offered opportunities for workers to
retrain. Also known as the "Inland Empire," Spokane serves as the retail and
industrial center for eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon and western
Idaho.
The 5th's politics are closer to Idaho than western Washington. The
rural communities and natural resource-dependent economy make for people who
like to keep federal interference to a minimum. Democratic majorities cannot
be counted on in Spokane, one of the nation's more conservative cities.
Democrats do get elected in the southeast where the population around
Washington State U. provides some liberal support.
Major Industry
Agriculture, timber, electronics manufacturing
Military Bases
Fairchild Air Force Base, 4,675 military, 1,021 civilian (1998)
Population
540,865 (1990)
Cities
Spokane, 186,562; Walla Walla, 28,529; Pullman, 24,643 (1996)
People
52% urban; 13% age 65+ (ranks third of nine in state; middle third
nationally); 55% married couples, 26% married couples with children; 20%
college educated (ranks fourth of nine in state; middle third nationally);
57% white collar (ranks fifth of nine in state; middle third nationally),
23% blue collar (ranks seventh of nine in state; bottom third nationally)
(1990)
Race
93% white, 1% black, 2% Asian; 3% Hispanic origin (1990)
Median Household Income
$25,107 (ranks eighth of nine in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)
Unusual Features
Sonora Smart Dodd, of Spokane, thought up the idea for Father's Day while
listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909, and in 1924 President Calvin
Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father's Day.
Source: Congressional Quarterly (Updated April 1999)
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District 5
