Cathy Anne McMorris (R)
About The Candidate
- Office Sought: Representative, Washington (5)
- Birth Date: May 22, 1969
- Occupation: Congresswoman
- Religion: Nondenominational Christian
- Web site: http://www.mcmorris.house.gov/
- E-mail address: cathy@cathyforcongress.com
Education
- Pensacola Christian College, BA
- University of Washington, MBA
Cathy Anne McMorris was born on in Salem, Ore. Her family moved to Kettle Falls, Wash., where they operated the Peachcrest Fruitbasket orchard and produce stand.
Cathy McMorris helped run the family business from 1984 to 1998. She earned a bachelor's degree in pre-law from Pensacola Christian College in Florida. She then returned to continue working at the family business.
She was a legislative assistant to state Rep. Bob Morton. When state Sen. Scott Barr retired and Morton was appointed to fill his seat, McMorris was appointed to succeed Morton in December 1993.
She was sworn in to the state House in January 1994, won election in September 1994 and was re-elected overwhelmingly in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002, becoming house minority leader from 2002 to 2004.
She earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Washington in 2000.
She became the first woman from either party to lead a party's caucus in the state House. In September 2003, McMorris announced she would resign her state House leadership position to run for the 5th District Congressional District seat served by GOP Rep. George Nethercutt, who stepped down to run for U.S. Senate.
She was elected to the U.S. House in 2004.
McMorris is engaged to the son of a former Spokane mayor she met at a campaign appearance.
