Washington's at-large congressional district

Washington's at-large congressional district
Obsolete district
Created	1889 1913 1953
Eliminated	1909 1915 1959
Years active	1889-1909 1913-1915 1953-1959

At different times in its history, Washington elected one or more U.S. representatives at-large statewide.

From statehood in 1889 until 1909, Washington elected all of its U.S. representatives statewide. In 1909, Washington was divided into congressional districts for purposes of electing representatives.

Following the 1950 census, Washington was granted a seventh seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, but the state legislature was unable to agree on a plan to create a geographic district for the seat until 1957, so the seat was filled by a representative elected statewide. ^[1]

From statehood in 1889 to 1893, Washington elected one representative at-large statewide.

From 1893 to 1903, Washington elected two representatives at-large statewide, then added a third seat in 1903. The third seat at large continued until 1909, when all representatives were elected from districts.

From 1913 to 1915, Washington elected two representatives at-large statewide, with the remaining three representatives elected from districts.

From 1953 to 1959, Washington elected one representative at-large statewide, with the remaining six representatives elected from districts.

After 1959, all representatives were elected from districts.

List of representatives

Cong ress	Years	Seat A				Seat B				Seat C
		Representative	Party	Electoral history		Representative	Party	Electoral history		Representative	Party	Electoral history
51	November 20, 1889 – March 3, 1891	John L. Wilson (Spokane)	Republican	Elected in 1889. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Retired to run for U.S. senator and resigned when elected.		Seat added in 1893				Seat added in 1903
52	March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893
53	March 4, 1893 – February 18, 1895					William H. Doolittle (Tacoma)	Republican	Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Lost re-election.
	February 18, 1895 – March 3, 1895	Vacant
54	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897	Samuel C. Hyde (Spokane)	Republican	Elected in 1894. Lost re-election.
55	March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899	William C. Jones (Spokane)	Silver Republican	Elected in 1896. Lost re-election.		J. Hamilton Lewis (Seattle)	Democratic	Elected in 1896. Lost re-election.
56	March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901	Wesley L. Jones (North Yakima)	Republican	Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Retired to run for U.S. senator.		Francis W. Cushman (Tacoma)	Republican	Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Redistricted to the 2nd district .
57	March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903
58	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905									William E. Humphrey (Seattle)	Republican	Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Redistricted to the 1st district .
59	March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907
60	March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909
61–62	March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1913	Inactive				Inactive				Seat eliminated
63	March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915	James W. Bryan (Seattle)	Progressive	Elected in 1912. Lost renomination.		Jacob Falconer (Everett)	Progressive	Elected in 1912. Retired to run for U.S. senator.
64–82	March 4, 1916 – January 2, 1953	Inactive				Seat eliminated
83	January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1957	Donald H. Magnuson (Seattle)	Democratic	Elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Redistricted to the 7th district .
84	January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957
85	January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1959

References

1. Holden, Ashley E. "Seventh District Ahead." The Spokesman-Review , Nov. 17, 1956, p. 4.

• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present Archived April 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine