2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington ← 2006 November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04 ) 2010 →
United States House of Representatives Majority party Minority party Party Democratic Republican Last election 6 3 Seats won 6 3 Seat change Popular vote 1,725,316 1,189,147 Percentage 59.20% 40.80% Swing
District results County results Democratic
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
Republican
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
The2008 congressional elections in Washington was held on November 4, 2008, to determine who will represent thestate ofWashington in theUnited States House of Representatives . Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the111th Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the2008 U.S. presidential election .Nonpartisan blanket primary elections were held on August 19, 2008.[ 1]
Washington has nine seats in the House, apportioned according to the2000 United States census . Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of sixDemocrats and threeRepublicans . All of the incumbents were re-elected, with only the 8th district race being considered competitive.
IncumbentDemocrat Jay Inslee has represented the 1st district in Congress since 1999. Inslee won in the 2006 election with 68% of the vote. He was opposed byRepublican candidate Larry Ishmael.
Washington's 1st congressional district primary election, August 19, 2008[ 2] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Jay Inslee 104,342 66.44% Republican Larry Ishmael 52,700 33.56% Total votes 157,042 100.00%
2008 Washington's 1st congressional district election[ 8] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Jay Inslee 233,780 67.76% Republican Larry Ishmael 111,240 32.24% Total votes 345,020 100.00%
County results County[ 9] Jay InsleeDemocratic
Larry IshmaelRepublican
Margin Total votes # % # % # % King (part)85,283 69.71% 37,062 30.29% 48,221 39.41% 122,345 Kitsap (part)41,602 66.15% 21,284 33.85% 20,318 32.31% 62,886 Snohomish (part)106,895 66.90% 52,894 33.10% 54,001 33.80% 159,789 Totals 233,780 67.76% 111,240 32.24% 122,540 35.52% 345,020
IncumbentDemocrat Rick Larsen has represented the 2nd district in Congress since 2001. Larsen won in the 2006 election with 64% of the vote. He was opposed byRepublican candidate Rick Bart. Two other Democrats challenged the two in the primary election, Doug Schaffer and Glen Johnson.
Washington's 2nd congressional district primary election, August 19, 2008[ 10] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Rick Larsen 98,304 54.33% Republican Rick Bart 68,189 37.69% Democratic Doug Schaffer 8,857 4.89% Democratic Glen Johnson 5,590 3.09% Total votes 180,940 100.00%
2008 Washington's 2nd congressional district election[ 11] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Rick Larsen 217,416 62.39% Republican Rick Bart 131,051 37.61% Total votes 348,467 100.00%
County[ 12] Rick Larsen Rick Bart Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % Island 24,948 61.70% 15,489 38.30% 9,459 23.39% 40,437 King (part)198 66.89% 98 33.11% 100 33.78% 296 San Juan 7,308 72.44% 2,781 27.56% 4,527 44.87% 10,089 Skagit 34,641 64.52% 19,051 35.48% 15,590 29.04% 53,692 Snohomish (part)87,457 59.00% 60,784 41.00% 26,673 17.99% 148,241 Whatcom 62,864 65.68% 32,848 34.32% 30,016 31.36% 95,712 Totals 217,416 62.39% 131,051 37.61% 86,365 24.78% 348,467
2008 Washington's 3rd congressional district election County resultsBaird: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
IncumbentDemocrat Brian Baird has represented the 3rd district in Congress since 1999. Baird won in the 2006 election with 63% of the vote. He was opposed byRepublican candidate Michael Delavar. DemocratCheryl Crist and Republican Christine Webb also entered the primary.
Washington's 3rd congressional district primary election, August 19, 2008[ 13] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Brian Baird 83,409 50.59% Republican Michael Delavar 32,372 19.63% Republican Christine Webb 27,738 16.82% Democratic Cheryl Crist 21,356 12.95% Total votes 164,875 100.00%
2008 Washington's 3rd congressional district election[ 14] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Brian Baird 216,701 64.01% Republican Michael Delavar 121,828 35.99% Total votes 338,529 100.00%
County results County[ 15] Brian BairdDemocratic
Michael DelavarRepublican
Margin Total votes # % # % # % Clark 106,878 61.21% 67,733 38.79% 39,145 22.42% 174,611 Cowlitz 29,102 66.71% 14,523 33.29% 14,579 33.42% 43,625 Lewis 19,745 59.03% 13,705 40.97% 6,040 18.06% 33,450 Pacific 7,706 72.57% 2,913 27.43% 4,793 45.14% 10,619 Skamania (part)2,309 60.19% 1,527 39.81% 782 20.39% 3,836 Thurston (part)49,456 70.50% 20,699 29.50% 28,757 40.99% 70,155 Wahkiakum 1,505 67.40% 728 32.60% 777 34.80% 2,233 Totals 216,701 64.01% 121,828 35.99% 94,873 28.03% 338,529
IncumbentRepublican Doc Hastings has represented the 4th district in Congress since 1995. Hastings won in the 2006 election with 60% of the vote. He was opposed byDemocratic candidate George Fearing. Republican Gordon Allen Pross was eliminated in the primary.
Washington's 4th congressional district primary election, August 19, 2008[ 16] Party Candidate Votes % Republican Doc Hastings 93,241 62.19% Democratic George Fearing 49,841 33.24% Republican Gordon Allen Pross 6,842 4.56% Total votes 149,924 100.00%
2008 Washington's 4th congressional district election[ 17] Party Candidate Votes % Republican Doc Hastings 169,940 63.09% Democratic George Fearing 99,430 36.91% Total votes 269,370 100.00%
County results County[ 18] Doc HastingsRepublican
George FearingDemocratic
Margin Total votes # % # % # % Adams (part)1,522 67.08% 747 32.92% 775 34.16% 2,269 Benton 46,603 65.23% 24,838 34.77% 21,765 30.47% 71,441 Chelan 20,270 65.49% 10,681 34.51% 9,589 30.98% 30,951 Douglas 10,108 68.52% 4,644 31.48% 5,464 37.04% 14,752 Franklin 12,408 64.06% 6,960 35.94% 5,448 28.13% 19,368 Grant 18,460 69.17% 8,227 30.83% 10,233 38.34% 26,687 Kittitas 10,095 58.57% 7,142 41.43% 2,953 17.13% 17,237 Klickitat 5,603 57.25% 4,184 42.75% 1,419 14.50% 9,787 Skamania (part)717 52.11% 659 47.89% 58 4.22% 1,376 Yakima 44,154 58.48% 31,348 41.52% 12,806 16.96% 75,502 Totals 169,940 63.09% 99,430 36.91% 70,510 26.18% 269,370
IncumbentRepublican Cathy McMorris Rodgers has represented the 2nd district in Congress since 2005. Rodgers was elected in 2006 with 56% of the vote. She was opposed byDemocratic candidate Mark Mays. Barbara Lampert of the Democratic party, Republican Kurt Erickson,Libertarian John Beck andConstitution candidate Randall Yearout were eliminated in the primary.
Washington's 5th congressional district primary election, August 19, 2008[ 19] Party Candidate Votes % Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers 96,584 56.29% Democratic Mark Mays 34,251 19.96% Democratic Barbara Lampert 19,645 11.45% Republican Kurt Erickson 12,155 7.08% Constitution Randall Yearout 5,268 3.07% Libertarian John H. Beck 3,673 2.14% Total votes 171,576 100.00%
2008 Washington's 5th congressional district election[ 20] Party Candidate Votes % Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers 211,305 65.28% Democratic Mark Mays 112,382 34.72% Total votes 323,687 100.00%
County results County[ 21] Cathy McMorris RodgersRepublican
Mark MaysDemocratic
Margin Total votes # % # % # % Adams (part)1,964 82.45% 418 17.55% 1,546 64.90% 2,382 Asotin 6,422 67.96% 3,028 32.04% 3,394 35.92% 9,450 Columbia 1,795 81.78% 400 18.22% 1,395 63.55% 2,195 Ferry 2,448 71.60% 971 28.40% 1,477 43.20% 3,419 Garfield 1,081 80.91% 255 19.09% 826 61.83% 1,336 Lincoln 4,586 78.10% 1,286 21.90% 3,300 56.20% 5,872 Okanogan 11,082 67.37% 5,367 32.63% 5,715 34.74% 16,449 Pend Oreille 4,426 69.62% 1,931 30.38% 2,495 39.25% 6,357 Spokane 134,228 62.79% 79,531 37.21% 54,697 25.59% 213,759 Stevens 16,068 73.14% 5,902 26.86% 10,166 46.27% 21,970 Walla Walla 16,713 70.62% 6,954 29.38% 9,759 41.23% 23,667 Whitman 10,492 62.34% 6,339 37.66% 4,153 24.67% 16,831 Totals 211,305 65.28% 112,382 34.72% 98,923 30.56% 323,687
IncumbentDemocrat Norm Dicks has represented the 6th district in Congress since 1977. Dicks won in the 2006 election with 71% of the vote. He was opposed byRepublican candidate Doug Cloud.Green candidate Gary Murrell and Democrat Paul Richmond also entered the primary.
Washington's 6th congressional district primary election, August 19, 2008[ 22] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Norm Dicks 96,862 57.26% Republican Doug Cloud 51,300 30.33% Democratic Paul Richmond 14,983 8.86% Green Glen Johnson 6,014 3.56% Total votes 169,159 100.00%
2008 Washington's 6th congressional district election[ 23] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Norm Dicks 205,991 66.86% Republican Doug Cloud 102,081 33.14% Total votes 308,072 100.00%
County results County[ 24] Norm DicksDemocratic
Doug CloudRepublican
Margin Total votes # % # % # % Clallam 20,745 55.72% 16,489 44.28% 4,256 11.43% 37,234 Grays Harbor 18,783 66.64% 9,403 33.36% 9,380 33.28% 28,186 Jefferson 13,462 70.23% 5,706 29.77% 7,756 40.46% 19,168 Kitsap (part)39,404 67.77% 18,736 32.23% 20,668 35.55% 58,140 Mason 17,710 64.11% 9,915 35.89% 7,795 28.22% 27,625 Pierce (part)95,887 69.63% 41,832 30.37% 54,055 39.25% 137,719 Totals 205,991 66.86% 102,081 33.14% 103,910 33.73% 308,072
IncumbentDemocrat Jim McDermott has represented the 7th district in Congress since 1989. McDermott won in the 2006 election with 79% of the vote in the most Democratic district in the state. He was opposed byRepublican candidate Steve Beren. Democrats Donovan Rivers andGoodspaceguy entered the primary, as well asindependents Mark Goldman and Al Schaefer.
Washington's 7th congressional district primary election, August 19, 2008[ 25] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Jim McDermott 95,344 73.82% Republican Steve Beren 19,307 14.95% Democratic Donovan Rivers 6,685 5.18% Independent Mark A. Goldman 3,410 2.64% Democratic Goodspaceguy Nelson 3,199 2.48% Independent Al Schaefer 1,216 0.94% Total votes 129,161 100.00%
2008 Washington's 7th congressional district election[ 26] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Jim McDermott 291,963 83.65% Republican Steve Beren 57,054 16.35% Total votes 349,017 100.00%
County results County[ 27] Jim McDermottDemocratic
Steve BerenRepublican
Margin Total votes # % # % # % King (part)291,963 83.65% 57,054 16.35% 234,909 67.31% 349,017 Totals 291,963 83.65% 57,054 16.35% 234,909 67.31% 349,017
IncumbentRepublican Dave Reichert has represented the 8th district in Congress since 2005. Reichert won in the 2006 election with 51.5% of the vote. He was opposed byDemocratic candidateDarcy Burner . The primary also included Democrats James Vaughn and Keith Arnold, andIndependents Richard Todd and Boleslaw Orlinski.
The District 8 race was considered competitive: it voted for Obama by a large margin and had a Cook PVI of D+2. It was rated "toss up" by Cook, "no clear favorite" by CQ Politics and "toss up/tilt Republican" by Rothenberg.[ 28] [ 29] [ 30]
2008 Washington's 8th congressional district election[ 32] Party Candidate Votes % Republican Dave Reichert 191,568 52.78% Democratic Darcy Burner 171,358 47.22% Total votes 362,926 100.00%
County results County[ 33] Dave ReichertRepublican
Darcy BurnerDemocratic
Margin Total votes # % # % # % King (part)147,170 51.22% 140,165 48.78% 7,005 2.44% 287,335 Pierce (part)44,398 58.73% 31,193 41.27% 13,205 17.47% 75,591 Totals 191,568 52.78% 171,358 47.22% 20,210 5.57% 362,926
IncumbentDemocrat Adam Smith has represented the 9th district in Congress since 1997. Smith won in the 2006 election with 66% of the vote. He was opposed byRepublican candidate James Postma.
Washington's 9th congressional district primary election, August 19, 2008[ 34] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Adam Smith 81,503 64.70% Republican James Postma 44,472 35.30% Total votes 125,975 100.00%
2008 Washington's 9th congressional district election[ 35] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Adam Smith 176,295 65.45% Republican James Postma 93,080 34.55% Total votes 269,375 100.00%
County results County[ 36] Adam SmithDemocratic
James PostmaRepublican
Margin Total votes # % # % # % King (part)82,368 69.66% 35,877 30.34% 46,491 39.32% 118,245 Pierce (part)62,448 60.81% 40,254 39.19% 22,194 21.61% 102,702 Thurston (part)31,479 65.00% 16,949 35.00% 14,530 30.00% 48,428 Totals 176,295 65.45% 93,080 34.55% 83,215 30.89% 269,375
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RetrievedDecember 9, 2023 .^a b c d e f g h i "Race Ratings Chart: House" .cqpolitics.com . Congressional Quarterly Inc. Archived fromthe original on November 6, 2008. RetrievedNovember 20, 2023 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 1 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 1 - Representative - County Results" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. RetrievedAugust 12, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 2 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington . RetrievedOctober 21, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 2 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on March 24, 2025. RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 2 - Representative - County Results" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. RetrievedAugust 12, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 3 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. RetrievedOctober 21, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 3 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on May 2, 2025. RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 3 - Representative - County Results" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on May 1, 2025. RetrievedAugust 12, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 4 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on April 2, 2025. RetrievedOctober 21, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 4 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on April 3, 2025. RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 4 - Representative - County Results" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. RetrievedAugust 12, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 5 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on February 21, 2025. RetrievedOctober 21, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 5 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on October 8, 2025. RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 5 - Representative - County Results" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. RetrievedAugust 12, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 6 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on March 5, 2025. RetrievedOctober 21, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 6 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 6 - Representative - County Results" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. RetrievedAugust 12, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 7 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington . RetrievedOctober 21, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 7 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington . RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 7 - Representative - County Results" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. RetrievedAugust 12, 2025 .^ House Archived 2010-10-05 at theWayback Machine The Cook Political Report ^ U.S. House, Washington - 8th District Archived 2008-06-17 at theWayback Machine CQ Politics ^ 2008 House Ratings fromThe Rotherberg Political Report , July 4, 2008^ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 8 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington . RetrievedOctober 21, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 8 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington . RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 8 - Representative - County Results" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. RetrievedAugust 12, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 9 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington . RetrievedOctober 21, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 9 - Representative" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008)."U.S. Congressional District 9 - Representative - County Results" .Secretary of State of Washington Archived from the original on June 7, 2025. RetrievedAugust 12, 2025 .
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