Baumgartner, Michael

Michael Baumgartner is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Washington's 5th congressional district, having won election in 2024. Born in Pullman, Washington, he earned degrees in economics from Washington State University and public administration from Harvard University. Before entering Congress, Baumgartner built a career in public service and international diplomacy, serving as Spokane County treasurer and in the Washington State Senate from 2011 to 2019. He also worked as an economics officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad during the Iraq War and later as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan, where he met his wife Eleanor, a journalist.

In the House, Baumgartner serves on four committees: Education and Workforce, Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary Committee. His subcommittee assignments reflect his background in international relations and economic policy, including roles on panels addressing the Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, and artificial intelligence regulation. His legislative priorities center on AI governance and education policy, as evidenced by his sponsorship of bills including the Foreign Adversary AI Risk Assessment and Diplomacy Act, the Protect American AI Act of 2026, and the American Artificial Intelligence Leadership and Uniformity Act.

Baumgartner's path to Congress included a 2012 Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, where he unsuccessfully challenged Democratic incumbent Maria Cantwell. His diplomatic experience and focus on emerging technology issues position him within the House Republican caucus as a member engaged with both foreign policy and domestic regulatory challenges.