Washington State Redistricting Commission
The bipartisan commission mapping new districts for state and congressional lawmakers announced Tuesday they had agreed on new congressional district lines but won’t reveal the details until Wednesday.
The chief question is where the commission will propose placing a new 10th Congressional District in the state. The state will gain the extra seat due to population growth.
That decision could have minor effects on Southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District represented by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas. If the 3rd District loses Olympia, it would likely fortify its Republican base.
The commission convened Tuesday, only to recess 20 minutes later to continue bipartisan negotiations behind closed doors. Members reconvened three hours later to announce they had struck a compromise but offered no additional details. They will unveil the proposal at an 11 a.m. meeting Wednesday, they said.