CQ Risk Rating: Democrat Favored 
| GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 7, 2000 |
|
| Adam Smith (D) | 135,452 | 62% |
| Chris Vance (R) | 76,766 | 35% |
| Jonathan V. Wright (LIBERT) | 7,405 | 3% |
| PRIMARY ELECTION: SEPTEMBER 19, 2000 |
|
| | Votes | Percentage | | Democratic |
| Adam Smith | 70,901 | 60% |
| | Libertarian |
| Jonathan V. Wright | 3,569 | 3% |
| | Republican |
| Chris Vance | 34,861 | 29% |
| Gary Snell | 9,322 | 8% |
Note: Washington has a "jungle" primary, in which candidates of all parties appear on the same ballot; the candidate in each party with the most votes advances to the general election.
Source: Congressional Quarterly. To suggest updates and corrections: politics.feedback@cq.com
Major Industry | Military Bases | Population | Cities | People | Race | Median Household Income | Unusual Features
WASHINGTON 9
:
Puget Sound - Tacoma
As many Seattle residents headed to the suburbs in the 1980s, the
booming area south of the city was carved into a new congressional district,
the 9th. The district consists mostly of sprawling suburban communities.
Even though the southern half of the district, central Pierce County, makes
up half the geographic area, it houses only one-tenth of the population.
The 9th is a Boeing district. The company employs thousands of workers
who reside in the region, forming the backbone of a strong local economy.
The Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s caused manufacturing cutbacks
in the district, including layoffs at Boeing. It's unclear what effect it
will have on the long-term health of the area. The corridor along Interstate
5 has become a magnet for high-tech companies that provide high-paying jobs
for the well-educated residents. A large military presence also provides a
consistent source of economic strength.
Politically, the 9th is as evenly split a district as they come; a 1992
poll found Democrats and Republicans within one percentage point of each
other. But 41 percent of those voters considered themselves independents.
The blue-collar workers from Boeing form a solid Democratic base, while the
well-to-do and fiscally conservative suburbanites tend to vote Republican.
Political observers predict no incumbent will rest easy in this district.
Major Industry
Timber, aviation manufacturing, computer software
Military Bases
Fort Lewis (Army), 17,700 military, 3,318 civilian (1998); McChord Air Force
Base, 3,748 military, 1,970 civilian (1998)
Population
540,519 (1990)
Cities
Federal Way, 68,088 (1996); Tacoma (pt.), 30,265; Burien (pt.), 23,788
(1990)
People
91% urban; 9% age 65+ (ranks eighth of nine in state; bottom third
nationally); 57% married couples, 27% married couples with children; 18%
college educated (ranks fifth of nine in state; middle third nationally);
58% white collar (ranks fourth of nine in state; middle third nationally),
28% blue collar (ranks third of nine in state; middle third nationally)
(1990)
Race
86% white, 5% black, 6% Asian; 4% Hispanic origin (1990)
Median Household Income
$32,194 (ranks third of nine in state; middle third nationally) (1990)
Unusual Features
Before becoming commander of the American forces in the Persian Gulf, Gen.
Norman Schwarzkopf was commander of Fort Lewis.
Source: Congressional Quarterly (Updated April 1999)
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District 9
