User:JeffAllenCraig/sandbox

The following is a list of the ten congressional districts in the U.S. state of Washington.

This article describes Washington's Congressional Districts after the 2012 redistricting, including the new Tenth District. Refer to Washington State Congressional Districts - Pre 2012 Redistricting for a list of the pre-2012 districts.

Introduction
As of February 7, 2012, Washington State has ten United States House of Representatives congressional districts. Washington underwent a redistricting in 2012 as a result of the 2010 United States Census and after Resolution 4409 was signed into law, a tenth district was added. Many of the other nine districts had slight changes in their borders, some more drastic that others. The 1st and 2nd disctricts seemingly swapped numbers, as well, adding to the confusion after the redistricting.

First District
The First Congressional District of Washington now encompasses the majority of Watcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties, as well as nearly 1/3 of King county. The eastern edge of the district follows county lines from the Canadian border down to the I-90 corridor. Then it follows I-90 west to West Lake Sammamish, and from there north to I-5. The western border follows the I-5 corridor north to Bellingham, then along the coast to Canada.

The 2012 modifications drastically changed some districts, but perhaps none more than the 1st. This area was previously part of the 2nd district, but after the redistricting, the 2nd has shrunk dramatically. The area has been represented by Rick Larsen (D) since the retirement of Jack Metcalf (R) in 2001. When the new districts take effect after the 2012 elections, it's not clear who will be representing the 1st district, as it no longer covers any of the area it used too.

In presidential elections, this district leans Democratic. Al Gore and John Kerry narrowly carried the district in 2000 and 2004 with 48% and 51% of the vote, respectively. In 2008, Barack Obama swept the district with 55.60% of the vote while John McCain received 42%.

Even though the boundaries will be slightly different after the 2012 elections, the 1st district will most likely keep a Democratic majority.

Second District


Washington's Second Congressional District was greatly reduced in size in 2012. Only the western edge remains, which encompasses Whidbey Island, the San Juan Islands, and Washington's west coast from Bellingham to Everett.

Since 2001, it has been represented by Democrat Rick Larsen. While it is fairly certain he will continue to represent this district, there has been no confirmation of that fact. Most of the area he represented prior to 2012 is not considered the 1st District.

Originally created in 1909 when Washington was broken up into districts, the Second District was represented by future U.S. Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson between 1941 and 1953. It was a reliably Democratic district for most of the latter half of the 20th century until the Republican Revolution of 1994, when retiring Rep. Al Swift (D) was replaced by Jack Metcalf (R). Rick Larsen (D) has represented the district since Metcalf's retirement in 2001. In the 2008 election, Larson easily defeated Republican challenger Rick Bart.

In presidential elections, the 2nd District leans Democratic. Al Gore and John Kerry narrowly carried the district in 2000 and 2004 with 48% and 51% of the vote, respectively. In 2008, Barack Obama swept the district with 55.60% of the vote while John McCain received 42%.

However, since most this district lost most of its area to the 1st District, the direction it leans will not be certain until after the November 2012 Election. Most of the population is distributed betweenBellingham and Everett, both of which are Democratic leaning cities.

Third District


The Third Congressional District of Washington encompasses the southernmost portion of Western Washington, from Centralia south to the Columbia River. It includes the counties of Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, and the southern portion of Thurston counties. The 3rd district is represented by Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler of Camas.

With the 2012 redistricting, the 3rd District gained Klickitat, but lost most of Thurston. The rest of the districts boundaries have not changed.

Established after the 1900 census, the Third District was represented by Democrats for most of the latter half of the 20th century, until Rep. Jolene Unsoeld was defeated by maverick Republican Linda Smith as part of the Republican Revolution of 1994. Smith retired after two terms and was succeeded by Brian Baird, who himself did not run for re-election in 2010.

In presidential elections, the 3rd District is rather competitive. George W. Bush narrowly carried the district in 2000 with 48% of the vote and again in 2004 with 50%. The district swung Democratic in 2008, giving Barack Obama 52% of the vote and 46% to John McCain.

Fourth District


The Fourth District encompasses a large area of central Washington, covering the counties of Douglas, Grant, Yakima, Franklin, Benton, Adams, Okanagan and parts of Walla Walla county.

During redistricting, the 4th District lost several counties, including Chelan, Kittitas, Klickitat and the small portion of Skamania it controlled pre-2012. It also gained a small part of Walla Walla County, and the entire Okanagan.

Since 1995, the 4th District has been represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Richard N. "Doc" Hastings, a Republican from Pasco.

Established after the 1910 U.S. Census, the Fourth District is predominantly rural and politically conservative and has been dominated by the Republican Party for several decades, with the exception of the 103rd Congress from 1993 to 1995, when it was represented by Democrat Jay Inslee. Hastings defeated Inslee in the 1994 election and has served in Congress ever since; Inslee later moved to Bainbridge Island and was sent back to Congress representing the First District in the central Puget Sound area. In the 2008 election, Hastings easily defeated challenger George Fearing (D-Kennewick).

In presidential elections, the 4th District is a Republican stronghold. George W. Bush carried the district in 2000 and 2004 with 62% and 63% of the vote, respectively. The 4th District also gave John McCain 58% of the vote in 2008, his strongest showing in Washington.

The 4th District will most likely remain a Republican leaning district, but it's borders have changed too much to be certain.