State Sen. Baumgartner announces for Cantwell seat

SPOKANE, Wash. — Republican State Sen. Michael Baumgartner of Spokane is announcing he will seek the U.S. Senate seat held by Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell.

The 35-year-old Baumgartner is in his first term after winning the most expensive state senate campaign in Washington history last year.

Baumgartner graduated from Washington State and holds a master's degree from Harvard. He served as a State Department diplomat in Iraq and as a civilian contractor in counter narcotics in Afghanistan. He says the nation needs to restore a dynamic economy at home and end a haphazard foreign policy overseas.

On the Web:

• Sen. Michael Baumgartner's Website
• Final Washington Senate sessions legislative update by Sen. Michael Baumgartner:

• Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell's Website
• Video on Cantwell's sponsored bill, The CLEAR Act - An Explanation: