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109th Lineup: 6 D, 3 R
108th Lineup: 6 D, 3 R
District Map: Click here

In 1983 Washington voters approved a constitutional amendment which provided that congressional and legislative districts be drawn by a bipartisan commission; the lines can be changed by a two-thirds vote of the legislature. If the commission is deadlocked, the issue goes to the state Supreme Court. In 1991 the commission created four districts that were pretty evenly divided between the parties: only three of the nine districts were won by the same party in the five elections during which the lines were in effect. The problem was that even minor alterations in the closely divided districts--the 1st, 2d, 3d and 9th--can make changes that will turn out to be partisanly significant at some point in the next decade. But 6th District Democrat Norm Dicks and 8th District Republican Jennifer Dunn pressed the commissioners to compromise. Just before the constitutional deadline expired on January 1, 2002, they reached agreement. Attorney General Christine Gregoire pushed the legislature to change the statutory December 15 deadline to eliminate any question of the plan's legality; the legislators were happy to do so and made no changes in the plan. This 2002 plan followed pretty closely the lines drawn in 1991. The Washington plan has been lauded by many for taking partisanship out of redistricting and for creating more districts that both parties can win. But in Washington, where the commission is not bound by the mathematical requirements that in Iowa have resulted in districts not tailored to incumbents, incumbent protection has been the result. Only one district was seriously contested in 2002, the 2d. In 2004 there were serious contests, both in open seats where Republican incumbents were not running.