5th Congressional District Candidate Forum

The American Association of University Women (AAUW)-Walla Walla invites all voters
in Walla Walla County to attend the 2024 5th Congressional District General Election
Candidate Forum Tuesday, September 24, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in person at Cordiner
Hall on the Whitman College campus in Walla Walla. This event is co-sponsored by
Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.
The forum is specifically for candidates for Washington’s 5th congressional district
representative, Carmela Conroy (Democrat) and Michael Baumgartner (Republican.)
The 5th congressional district seat has been held by outgoing Congresswoman Cathy
McMorris Rodgers since 2004, making this the first time in 20 years that this position
has been open. Both Conroy and Baumgartner have confirmed their attendance at the
event. Greg Kettner, international speaker, trainer, humor expert, and Walla Wallan will
moderate the forum, and Dr. Sarah Bolton, President of Whitman College will host the
event. Free simultaneous interpretation in Spanish will be available on site, and the
forum can be viewed live online at live.whitman.edu Free on-street parking is
available throughout the Whitman campus and surrounding areas; a
handicap-accessible loading/unloading area is at the front of Cordiner Hall at 44 South
Park Street, Walla Walla.
This forum is the second of three for the 2024 election cycle. Candidates for the 16th
Legislative District Senator and Representative seats will be featured Tuesday October 1 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center on the Walla Walla Community
Campus. Incumbent state senator Perry Dozier and challenger Kari Isaacson have both
confirmed their attendance, along with incumbent state representatives Mark Klicker
(Position 1) and Skyler Rude (Position 2) and challengers Linda Gunshefski and Craig
Woodard. Community members can submit questions for these candidates
anonymously, in Spanish or in English at the following link:
https://forms.gle/GzaXq4fUaVLcop69A by September 14. All questions will be shared
with all candidates two weeks before the forum. Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish
will also be provided at the event on October 1.
Candidates for Walla Walla County Commissioner District 1 and Superior Court Position
2 answered questions June 25 at the Walla Walla Public Library; a recording of the June
25 forum in its entirety is available on the AAUW-Walla Walla Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/AAUWW2/.
AAUW-Walla Walla and the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce are both
long-established, non-partisan organizations serving Walla Walla with the shared goal of
building a strong, vibrant community through educational efforts such as the Candidate
Forum. The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla’s local community newspaper,
promotes civic engagement through coverage and sponsorship of events that
strengthen our community. Past forums are available to view on the AAUW-Walla Walla
and Walla Walla Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook pages.