The congressman from the 2nd District is Rick Larsen, a Democrat first elected in 2000. Though considered a moderate, his backing of several of the Obama administration’s biggest priorities nearly cost him his seat in one of 2010’s most bruising elections. Read More

The congressman from the 2nd District is Rick Larsen, a Democrat first elected in 2000. Though considered a moderate, his backing of several of the Obama administration’s biggest priorities nearly cost him his seat in one of 2010’s most bruising elections.

Larsen grew up in Arlington, in Snohomish County, graduated from Pacific Lutheran University and got a master’s degree at the University of Minnesota. He spent a year doing research on economic development for the Port of Everett. For six years, he was director of public affairs for the Washington State Dental Association. In 1998, he won a seat on the Snohomish County Council and later became its president. In 2000, Republican Jack Metcalf kept his promise to retire after three terms in Congress. The Democratic field was cleared for Larsen when a state legislator unpopular with labor leaders withdrew. The Republican field was cleared for conservative state Rep. John Koster when a moderate legislator failed to raise much money and dropped out. In the September all-party primary, Koster won 49%-46%. The general election became a battleground for political action committees and one of the premier contests in the nation. Anti-abortion rights groups and the National Rifle Association backed Koster, and unions and abortion rights groups fought for Larsen. Larsen said that the contest offered “a clear choice” on abortion, and he criticized Koster for referring to “our American holocaust.” Larsen won 50%-46%, doing better than his primary performance in each major county.

In the House, Larsen joined the New Democrat Coalition and leans toward the center in his voting record, though he has been more reliably Democratic since President Barack Obama took office. He backed the 2009 economic stimulus law and the 2010 health care legislation. Earlier, he voted for the Bush tax cuts in 2001, but later expressed opposition to extending tax cuts for upper income taxpayers because it would add to the deficit. He voted reluctantly for President Barack Obama’s 2010 tax-cut extension deal because, Larsen said, he was more concerned about “the needs of the unemployed and the potential for economic growth.” After voting against the Iraq war resolution in 2002, Larsen became a staunch supporter of the military effort. He has generally supported the Obama administration’s efforts in Afghanistan.

Larsen co-chairs the U.S.-China Working Group, a bipartisan group of House members that seeks to build lasting diplomatic ties with China. He joined then-Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., in introducing a series of bills in 2009 aimed at boosting cooperation on trade, environmental, energy and language issues. Larsen said the group was founded as a way to give lawmakers of all political persuasions more information about the emerging nation. “We are neither ‘panda huggers’ nor ‘dragon slayers,’’’ he said. The group met with Chinese military officials in May 2011 and was permitted to tour a Chinese navy attack submarine.

On local issues, Larsen has pushed to secure funds for upgraded border security at Bellingham and he helped get a pipeline safety bill into law in 2002 after a lethal explosion in his district. He joined other Washington delegation members in 2010 in seeking to ensure that Boeing received a lucrative contract to build the next generation of Air Force refueling tankers.

National Republicans made a play for the seat in 2006, raising money for retired Navy Capt. Doug Roulstone. But Roulstone turned out to be a weak candidate, and Larsen won 64%-36%. In 2008, Republicans recruited former Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart, but Bart entered the contest late, which hurt his ability to raise money. Larsen defeated him 62%-38%.

In 2010, he was challenged by Koster, his opponent of a decade earlier. Koster won endorsements from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, both favorites of tea party activists who pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Republican’s campaign. Their second battle was a microcosm of the two parties’ skirmishes that year, as Koster blasted the Democrats’ “socialist” health care bill and the rising federal debt, while Larsen stressed job creation and expanding credit for small business. On election night, Larsen trailed by about 1,200 votes but gained ground as more ballots were counted. He declared victory a week later with a 51%-49% edge.