Washington's 9th congressional district encompasses a long, somewhat narrow area in Western Washington, through the densely populated central Puget Sound region, from Auburn and Federal Way in the south to parts of Seattle and Bellevue in the north. Since 1997, the 9th district has been represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Adam Smith, a Democrat from Bellevue.
Established after the 1990 U.S. census, the 9th district was originally drawn as a "fair fight" district. The first representative from the 9th district, Mike Kreidler (D), was defeated after one term by Republican Randy Tate; Tate, in turn, was defeated after one term by Smith. Since being first elected in 1996, Smith's moderate voting record and a strong Democratic trend in the Puget Sound region turned the formerly contentious district into a fairly safe Democratic seat.
Barack Obama swept the district in 2008 and 2012, with 67% and 69% of the vote, respectively. Hillary Clinton won the district with 69% in 2016, Joe Biden received 71% in the district in 2020, and Kamala Harris received 68% here in 2024.
In 2011, the state began the process of redistricting in response to population changes determined by the 2010 census. In the final report by the bipartisan redistricting commission issued in January 2012, the 9th district shifted to the north. The new district covered Bellevue, Southeast Seattle, and Mercer Island, but only went as far south as the southern tip of Commencement Bay in Tacoma. As of 2022 redistricting, it is a majority-minority district and the second-most Democratic district in the state; only the neighboring 7th district, covering the rest of Seattle, is more Democratic.
Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 67% - 31%2010 SenateMurray 62% - 38%2012 PresidentObama 69% - 31%2016 PresidentClinton 69% - 25% SenateMurray 71% - 29% GovernorInslee 66% - 34% Lt. GovernorHabib 67% - 33% Secretary of StatePodlodowski 57% - 43% AuditorMcCarthy 62% - 38%2018 SenateCantwell 71% - 29%2020 PresidentBiden 71% - 26% GovernorInslee 71% - 29% Secretary of StateTarleton 57% - 43% TreasurerPellicciotti 66% - 34% AuditorMcCarthy 71% - 29% Attorney GeneralFerguson 69% - 31%2022 SenateMurray 71% - 29% Secretary of State (Spec.)Hobbs 62% - 35%2024 PresidentHarris 68% - 27% SenateCantwell 71% - 28% GovernorFerguson 67% - 33% Lt. GovernorHeck 68% - 32% Secretary of StateHobbs 71% - 29% TreasurerPellicciotti 69% - 31% AuditorMcCarthy 70% - 30% Attorney GeneralBrown 67% - 33% Commissioner of Public LandsUpthegrove 65% - 35%
Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST53/CD118_WA09.pdf
King County (20)
Algona, Auburn (part; also 8th and 10th; shared with Pierce County), Beaux Arts Village, Bellevue (part; also 1st), Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Des Moines, East Renton Highlands (part; also 8th), Fairwood (part; also 8th), Federal Way, Kent (part; also 8th), Lakeland North, Lakeland South, Mercer Island, Milton (part; also 6th; shared with Pierce County), Newcastle, Pacific (part; also 10th; shared with Pierce County), Renton (part; also 8th), SeaTac, Seattle (part; also 7th), Tukwila
List of members representing the district Member Party Term Congress Electoral history District location District established January 3, 1993 Mike Kreidler Democratic January 3, 1993 –January 3, 1995 Elected in 1992.Lost re-election. 1993–2003Parts of King, Pierce, and Thurston Randy Tate Republican January 3, 1995 –January 3, 1997 Elected in 1994.Lost re-election. Adam Smith Democratic January 3, 1997 –present Elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024. 2003–2013Parts of King, Pierce, and Thurston 2013–2023Parts of King and Pierce 2023–presentParts of King
Recent election results
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Historical district boundaries
See also 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington
References
External links Interactive Map at Adam Smith's House website Washington State Redistricting Commission Find your new congressional district: a searchable map, Seattle Times, January 13, 2012 Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present