Redistricting Process: Congressional and state legislative redistricting in Washington is controlled by the Washington State Redistricting Commission. The Commission consists of five members with back-up court supervision. The commission is named by the Minority and Majority Leaders of the House and Senate, each of whom chooses one private citizen as a member. These four individuals then elect a fifth person to serve as the nonvoting chairperson of the commission. If the original four do not promptly (within 5 days) elect a fifth person, then the Washington Supreme Court steps in to choose a chair. This process is nearly identical to the system in Pennsylvania.
The Washington State Constitution requires the commission complete its redistricting plan by January 1, 2012. The plan must pass with at least three votes of the four voting members of the commission. If the commission does not submit a plan by the start of 2012, the supreme court creates the plan. The legislature may amend the plan submitted by the commission, but only with at least a two-thirds vote of both houses. A vote to amend the commission’s plan must be taken within 30 days of the original submission of the plan. After 30 days, regardless of amendments passed, the plan becomes state law for both congressional and legislative districts. The governor does not have veto power of the plan.
The Washington State Redistricting Commission was established by the Washington State Redistricting Act, Chapter 44.05 of the Revised Code of Washington, which was passed in 1983. All of the Commission’s meetings are public, and it keeps a public record of its plans.
Governor: Democrat Christine Gregoire
Legislature: Democrats control both chambers.
Number of Congressional Seats in 2011: 10 (+1 since 2010)
2011 Ideal District Size: 672,454
Link to Washington State Redistricting Commission
Current District by District Politics and Demographics
1st District- Democrat Jay Inslee
2010 Congressional Results: Inslee 56%
2008 Congressional Results: Inslee 68%
2006 Congressional Results: Inslee 68%
2004 Congressional Results: Inslee 62%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 36% Obama 62%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 42% Kerry 56%
District Population: 739,455
Over/Under Populated by: 67,001 (Washington is gaining one seat)
White Population: 537,312
African American Population: 19,008
Hispanic Population: 56,033
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 1st District.*
2nd District- Democrat Rick Larsen
2010 Congressional Results: Larsen 50.3%
2008 Congressional Results: Larsen 62%
2006 Congressional Results: Larsen 64%
2004 Congressional Results: Larsen 64%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 42% Obama 56%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 47% Kerry 51%
District Population: 760,041
Over/Under Populated by: 87,587 (Washington is gaining one seat)
White Population: 609,625
African American Population: 9,983
Hispanic Population: 72,719
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 2nd District.
3rd District- Republican Jamie Herrera
2010 Congressional Results: Herrera 53%
2008 Congressional Results: Brain Baird (D) 64%
2006 Congressional Results: Baird 63%
2004 Congressional Results: Baird 62%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 45% Obama 53%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 50% Kerry 48%
District Population: 779,348
Over/Under Populated by: 106,894 (Washington is gaining one seat)
White Population: 647,593
African American Population: 11,472
Hispanic Population: 57,604
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 3rd District.
4th District- Republican Doc Hastings
2010 Congressional Results: Hastings 68%
2008 Congressional Results: Hastings 63%
2006 Congressional Results: Hastings 60%
2004 Congressional Results: Hastings 63%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 58% Obama 40%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 63% Kerry 35%
District Population: 774,409
Over/Under Populated by: 101,955 (Washington is gaining one seat)
White Population: 466,491
African American Population: 6,496
Hispanic Population: 261,940
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 4th District.
5th District- Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers
2010 Congressional Results: McMorris Rodgers 65%
2008 Congressional Results: McMorris Rodgers 65%
2006 Congressional Results: McMorris Rodgers 56%
2004 Congressional Results: McMorris Rodgers 60%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 52% Obama 46%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 57% Kerry 41%
District Population: 723,609
Over/Under Populated by: 51,155 (Washington is gaining one seat)
White Population: 612,564
African American Population: 9,932
Hispanic Population: 45,903
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 5th District.
6th District- Democrat Norm Dicks
2010 Congressional Results: Dicks 57%
2008 Congressional Results: Dicks 67%
2006 Congressional Results: Dicks 71%
2004 Congressional Results: Dicks 69%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 40% Obama 57%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 45% Kerry 53%
District Population: 709,570
Over/Under Populated by: 37,116 (Washington is gaining one seat)
White Population: 519,994
African American Population: 37,306
Hispanic Population: 60,163
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 6th District.
7th District- Democrat Jim McDermott
2010 Congressional Results: McDermott 82%
2008 Congressional Results: McDermott 84%
2006 Congressional Results: McDermott 79%
2004 Congressional Results: McDermott 81%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 15% Obama 83%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 19% Kerry 79%
District Population: 704,225
Over/Under Populated by: 31,771 (Washington is gaining one seat)
White Population: 449,407
African American Population: 57,502
Hispanic Population: 56,519
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 7th District.
8th District- Republican Dave Reichert
2010 Congressional Results: Reichert 55%
2008 Congressional Results: Reichert 53%
2006 Congressional Results: Reichert 51%
2004 Congressional Results: Reichert 52%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 42% Obama 56%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 48% Kerry 51%
District Population: 810,754
Over/Under Populated by: 138,300 (Washington is gaining one seat)
White Population: 577,453
African American Population: 23,714
Hispanic Population: 58,002
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 8th District.
9th District- Democrat Adam Smith
2010 Congressional Results: Smith 54%
2008 Congressional Results: Smith 65%
2006 Congressional Results: Smith 66%
2004 Congressional Results: Smith 63%
2008 Presidential Results: McCain 40% Obama 58%
2004 Presidential Results: Bush 46% Kerry 53%
District Population: 723,129
Over/Under Populated by: 50,675 (Washington is gaining one seat)
White Population: 456,365
African American Population: 54,190
Hispanic Population: 86,907
See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 9th District.
*In some browsers, the link to the 2010 Census page may link to a table
of demographics for several states as opposed to the districts for the
specific state. If this occurs, click the “Back to Search” link at the
top of the page and then click on the arrow next to “Geographies” in
the left column. Select “All Congressional Districts within Washington”
and then close the box. Click on the link for “Race, Hispanic or
Latino, Age and Housing Occupancy: 2010” and the correct table should
appear.
Redistricting Process taken from Rose Institute study “Redistricting in America.”