Carmela Conroy

Conroy was born in Spokane, Washington, and graduated from Central Valley High School. She describes herself as a third-generation Eastern Washingtonian whose grandfather was a union mason on the Grand Coulee Dam and whose father was a railroad worker.[1][2] She earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of Washington and a graduate degree from the U.S. Naval War College in 2004. Her campaign says she worked her way through school.[1][2]

After law school Conroy returned to Spokane as a Spokane County deputy prosecutor for four years, working on cases involving survivors of violence and sexual assault, according to her campaign.[1][2] She then served about 24 years as a U.S. Foreign Service officer, with postings listed on her campaign website as Afghanistan, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, and Washington, D.C. Her campaign says she negotiated access to foreign ports for U.S. Navy ships, bilateral trade agreements, and militia disarmament, and that she received national recognition during her service, including one of the CIA's highest civilian awards.[1][2]

Conroy ran for this seat in 2024, advancing from the August top-two primary and losing the November 5 general election to Michael Baumgartner, who won 60.6%.[1] She has been affiliated with the League of Women Voters, Friends of the Bluff, Spokane Preservation Advocates, and the American Foreign Service Association.[1]