Washington's 2nd congressional district

Washington's 2nd congressional district is a United States congressional district located in the northwestern region of the state. Encompassing all of Island County, San Juan County, Skagit County, and Snohomish County, along with part of Whatcom County, it includes the cities of Everett, Bellingham, and Mount Vernon. The district is currently represented by Democrat Rick Larsen, who has served since 2001 and is a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Geography and demographics

The district spans a significant portion of the Puget Sound region, including the San Juan Islands archipelago and the western slopes of the North Cascades. Major population centers are anchored by Everett, home to the Naval Station Everett and a large Boeing manufacturing facility, and the college town of Bellingham, site of Western Washington University. Key economic drivers include the Port of Everett, the Skagit Valley agricultural region, and a robust maritime industry. Demographically, the area is predominantly non-Hispanic white, with growing Latino and Asian American communities, particularly in Skagit County. The district contains several Indian reservations, including those of the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, and Tulalip Tribes.

History

Created following the 1960 United States census, the district was first represented by Republican Jack Westland. For much of the late 20th century, it was a competitive swing district, electing figures like Democrat Lloyd Meeds and Republican Al Swift. The political landscape shifted more decisively toward the Democratic Party after the 2000 redistricting, which added more of Snohomish County. Rick Larsen first won election in 2000, narrowly defeating Republican John Koster. The district's economy has historically been tied to natural resources, including logging and commercial fishing, though it has diversified into advanced manufacturing, technology, and education. The presence of military installations like Naval Air Station Whidbey Island has also been a consistent factor.

Recent election results

In the 2022 election, incumbent Rick Larsen defeated Republican Dan Matthews with 64% of the vote. This followed a similar victory in 2020 over Timothy S. Hazelo. The district has not elected a Republican since Jack Metcalf left office in 2001. In presidential elections, it has voted consistently for the Democratic nominee since 1992, with Joe Biden carrying it by a substantial margin in 2020. Down-ballot races for statewide offices, such as United States Senate and Governor of Washington, typically mirror this strong Democratic lean.

List of representatives

{| class="wikitable" ! Representative ! Party ! Years ! Congress(es) ! Electoral history |- | Jack Westland | Republican | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965 | 88th | Elected in 1962. Lost re-election. |- | Lloyd Meeds | Democratic | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1979 | 89th–95th | Elected in 1964. Retired. |- | Al Swift | Democratic | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1995 | 96th–103rd | Elected in 1978. Retired. |- | Jack Metcalf | Republican | January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 | 104th–106th | Elected in 1994. Retired. |- | Rick Larsen | Democratic | January 3, 2001 – present | 107th–present | Elected in 2000. Incumbent. |}

Political analysis

The district is considered solidly Democratic, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+7. Its political character is shaped by a coalition of urban and suburban voters in places like Everett and Bellingham, environmental advocates concerned with Puget Sound health, and organized labor tied to the aerospace and maritime sectors. Key policy issues include defense spending related to Naval Station Everett and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, transportation infrastructure funding, protection for the Salish Sea, and support for agricultural trade. While rural areas in Skagit County and Whatcom County lean Republican, they are outweighed by the Democratic strength in population centers. The district is not considered a target for the National Republican Congressional Committee in most election cycles.

Category:Washington (state) congressional districts