Politics & Government

POLL: University Place, Lakewood Are Now Part of New 10th Congressional District

The Washington State Redistricting Commission approved a new congressional map that puts Lakewood and much of Pierce County in a new congressional district, although Gig Harbor and Tacoma would remain in the 6th Congressional District.

The Olympian's Brad Shannon is reporting that the committee has approved the new congressional map, which means University Place, Lakewood and much of Thurston County are in the new 10th Congressional District.

You can still take the Patch poll and let us know what you think of the new congressional boundaries.

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Originally published Dec. 28:

The Olympian's Brad Shannon reports that the state Redistricting Commission presented a draft of its redistricting map today that, among other things, creates a new congressional district for all of University Place.

Find out what's happening in University Placewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the draft, Lakewood would become part of the new 10th Congressional District, which would include University Place, much of Pierce County and Thurston County.

Gig Harbor and North Tacoma, however, would remain part of the 6th Congressional District, which Norm Dicks, D-Belfair, has long represented.

The map has the potential to shake up the state's political landscape, according to Shannon's reporting.

The bipartisan draft map appears to leave Democrats with strong positions in five districts including (Adam) Smith and Dicks, Republicans with strong positions in four districts including (Dave) Reichert and Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd, which retains a band of south Thurston County, all of Southwest Washington and all of Klickitat County east of the Cascades.

Control of a new 10th Congressional District, however, is less certain.

Denny Heck, a longtime Olympia Democrat, ran in the right-leaning 3rd district last year and lost to Herrera Beutler. He filed for another run in 2012 and now appears positioned well to run in a new 10th, if the new plan passes. Similarly, Republican Dick Muri lost to Smith last year in the 9th and is raising money but has not designated which district he’ll run in; he is positioned to run in the 10th, too.

One thing seems certain - University Place residents would be directly affected by this plan. The commission has until Jan. 1 to agree on a new map, or the state Supreme Court will decide.


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