Originally created in 1909, when Washington was broken up into districts, the second district was represented by future U.S. SenatorHenry M. "Scoop" Jackson between 1941 and 1953. It was a reliably Democratic district for most of the latter half of the 20th century, until the Republican Revolution of 1994, when retiring Rep. Al Swift was replaced by Jack Metcalf. Larsen has represented the district since Metcalf's retirement in 2001. He faced a close re-election in 2002, but was handily re-elected in 2004, and didn't face serious opposition until 2010. In the 2008 election, Larsen easily defeated Republican challenger Rick Bart. In the 2010 election, Larsen narrowly avoided defeat against Republican challenger John Koster.
The district has leaned Democratic in presidential elections since the 1988 election. Al Gore and John Kerry narrowly carried the district in 2000 and 2004 with 48% and 51% of the vote, respectively. In 2008, Barack Obama won the district by a wide margin, carrying 55.60% of the vote while John McCain received 42%.
^ abcdefghijkBiographical directory of the United States Congress : 1774-2005 ; the Continental Congress, Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 21, 1788, and the Congress of the United States from the First through the One Hundred Eighth Congresses, March 4, 1789 to Jan. 3, 2005 inclusive ([2005 ed., closing date of compilation, January 3, 2005] ed.). Washington, D.C.: U.S. G.P.O. 2005. ISBN0160731763.
