Washington's 8th congressional district

Recent election results from statewide races

History

The 8th district was created after redistricting cycle after the 1980 census. For its first 30 years, it was centered on the Eastside region of the Seattle metropolitan area. After the 2010 U.S. census, the state responded to population changes by shifting much of the Eastside to the 9th district. To make up for the loss in population, areas east of the Cascades were shifted to the 8th district.

For the first 35 years of its existence, the 8th district was held by a Republican. It was located in an area that was historically the most Republican portion of the Seattle area. However, it was swept up in the larger Democratic trend in the Pacific Northwest since the 1990s, and has supported the Democratic nominee in every presidential election since 1992. Prior to the 2011 redistricting, the district had the peculiarity of having a Democratic advantage according to its Cook PVI, but only having elected Republicans to Congress throughout its history. After the district was pushed east of the Cascades with the 2010 redistricting, its PVI became even. The GOP winning streak ended with the 2018 election.

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:

Chelan County (9)

: All 9 communities King County (32) : Ames Lake, Auburn (part; also 9th and 10th; shared with Pierce County), Black Diamond, Carnation, Cottage Lake (part; also 1st), Covington, Duvall, Enumclaw, East Renton Highlands (part; also 9th), Hobart, Fairwood (part; also 9th), Fall City, Hobart, Issaquah, Kent (part; also 9th), Lake Holm, Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Lake Morton-Berrydale, Maple Heights-Lake Desire, Maple Valley, Mirrormont, North Bend, Ravensdale, Redmond (part; also 1st), Renton (part; also 9th), Riverbend, Riverpoint, Sammamish, Shadow Lake, Snoqualmie, Union Hill-Novelty Hill (part; also 1st), Wilderness Rim

Kittitas County (10)

: All 10 communities

Pierce County (26)

: Alder, Alderton (part; also 10th), Ashford, Bonney Lake (part; also 10th), Buckley, Carbonado, Clear Lake, Crocker, Eatonville, Elbe, Elk Plain, Graham (part; also 10th), La Grande, Lake Tapps, Kapowsin, McKenna, McMillin (part; also 10th), Orting, Prairie Heights, Prairie Ridge, South Creek, South Hill (part; also 10th), South Prairie, Sumner (part; also 10th), Tehaleh, Wilkeson

Snohomish County (19)

: Arlington Heights, Bryant, Canyon Creek, Darrington, Everett (part; also 2nd), Gold Bar, Granite Falls, Index, Lake Bosworth, Lake Roesiger, May Creek, North Sultan, Oso, Snohomish (part; also 1st), Startup, Sultan, Swede Heaven, Verlot, Woods Creek

Recent election results

2004

In 2004, Dave Reichert, at the time serving as the sheriff of King County, beat his Democratic opponent Dave Ross 52% to 47% in the race to replace 12-year incumbent Jennifer Dunn; that year, voters in the district favored Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

2006

Responding to Reichert's perceived vulnerability, former Microsoft program manager Darcy Burner (D) challenged Rep. Reichert in 2006, in what was widely expected to be a close election. Influential election analyst Charlie Cook listed the contest among 68 competitive or potentially competitive House races to watch in 2006, categorizing it as a "toss-up" (defined as "the most competitive; Either party has a good chance of winning"). Burner was one of 22 House challengers selected by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) for fundraising assistance with its "Red to Blue" program, aimed at unseating vulnerable Republican incumbents around the country.

In the end, Reichert won re-election, defeating Burner by just 7,341 votes out of more than 250,000 cast. The outcome of the race was not decided for almost a week after the election, as severe flooding in the eastern part of the district delayed the counting of absentee ballots.

2008

In the 2008 election, Reichert faced Burner again in a rematch that many election watchers again described as one of the nation's hottest contests. This time, Reichert defeated Burner 53 percent to 47 percent, a solid victory despite Barack Obama's 15-point margin in the district.

2010

In the 2010 election, Reichert and Democrat Suzan DelBene advanced out of the Washington State Top 2 Primaries with 47.2% and 26.9% of the vote, respectively. Reichert prevailed over DelBene in the General Election 52.1% to 47.9%. In this election, Reichert won both King and Pierce counties even after losing some key endorsements, including the Seattle Times, which endorsed Suzan DelBene and Tim Dillon in the primaries.

2012

In the 2012 election, Reichert ran against Democrat Karen Porterfield, Associate Dean and Public Administration Lecturer at Seattle University. James Windle of Snoqualmie Pass also ran against Reichert as an independent candidate, but dropped out of the race in August 2012.

2014

In the 2014 election, Reichert defeated Democrat Jason Ritchie, a small business owner from Issaquah.

2016

In the 2016 election, Reichert defeated Democrat Tony Ventrella, a former sportscaster. Ventrella did not think he would beat the other candidates in the field and dropped out in July 2016 only to finish second overall and restart his campaign in the general election.

2018

Reichert announced in September 2017 that he would not seek re-election. Former State Senator and gubernatorial nominee Dino Rossi advanced from the top-two primary alongside pediatrician Kim Schrier. In the general election, Schrier defeated Rossi with 52% of the vote to become the first Democrat to represent the district.

2020

Schrier defeated Republican Jesse Jensen with 52% of the vote, a similar percentage as in 2018.

2022

Schrier defeated Republican Matt Larkin with 53% of the vote.

2024

Schrier defeated Republican Carmen Goers with 54% of the vote.

List of members representing the district

References

Sources

• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

References

1. (2024). "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District".
3. (April 3, 2025). "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)".
4. Brunner, Jim. (January 11, 2012). "The new 8th district: a bridge across the state?".
5. "Dra 2020".
6. "2022Gen Results by Congressional District".
7. "2024Gen Results by Congressional District".
8. [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST53/CD118_WA01.pdf https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST53/CD118_WA08.pdf]
9. Cook, Charlie. [http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_house_comp_oct11.pdf "2006 competitive House race chart."] {{Webarchive. link. (December 1, 2007 ''[[The Cook Political Report]]'', October 11, 2006. (warning: [[PDF]]))
10. Hearn, Josephine. [http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/042706/news2.html "Internal DCCC list pins hopes on 22 challengers."] {{Webarchive. link. (May 16, 2006 ''[[The Hill (newspaper)). The Hill]]'', April 27, 2006.
11. Office of the Washington Secretary of State. [http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/general/Results.aspx?o=7b7f42a5-3c6e-4bd1-92d5-0e11d5bd6d16 2006 General Election Results.] Accessed January 3, 2007.
12. Kapochunas, Rachel. "[https://www.nytimes.com/cq/2006/11/14/cq_1940.html WA 8: GOP Survivor Reichert Prevails Over Burner]." ''The New York Times'', November 14, 2006.
13. (September 4, 2008). "Congressional District 8". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
14. (November 26, 2008). "Congressional District 8". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
15. "The Seattle Times {{pipe}} Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.".
16. "Voter Portal".
17. (September 3, 2010). "Congressional District 8". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
18. Garber, Andrew. (May 18, 2012). "Final filing day in state offers wealth of choices".
19. Orenstein, Walker. "Ex-sports anchor Tony Ventrella drops out of congressional race".
20. Weigel, David. (September 6, 2017). "Dave Reichert, a swing seat Republican, will retire from the House". [[The Washington Post]].
21. Brunner, Jim. (August 13, 2018). "Kim Schrier edges out Jason Rittereiser to face Dino Rossi in 8th Congressional District". The Seattle Times.
22. Brunner, Jim. (November 7, 2018). "Dino Rossi concedes 8th District race to Kim Schrier as new votes widen her lead". The Seattle Times.
23. "Official Canvass of the Returns". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
24. "Certification of the 2020 Primary Results". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
25. (2 August 2022). "August 2, 2022 Primary Results - CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 8". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
26. "2022 Primary Results Certification". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
27. "Official Canvass of the Returns". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
28. "Certification of Results".
29. "Official Canvass of the Returns". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
30. "Biographical directory of the United States Congress 1774–2005". [[United States Congress]].
31. (March 22, 2012). "Late Bellevue Congresswoman Dunn Honored by Son in County DVT Awareness Month Proclamation".