Elections 2012: Reichert Ahead by Near 19 Points in 8th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert is on his way to beginning his fifth term as initial elections result show he is leading challenger Karen Porterfield by almost 19 points.

With results in from King, Pierce, Kittitas, Chelan and Douglas counties, Reichert currently has 107,121 points (59.37 percent) over Porterfield by 73,295 votes (40.63 percent).

Thanks to this year's redistricting plan which redrew the boundaries of the state's 8th Congresstional District, state political watchers believed early on that the change was to Reichert's advantage in turning what had been a swing district, according to The Seattle Times, into one that is now decidedly Republican.

Gone is Bellevue, the Interstate 405 corridor and the northern half of east King County, said the Tacoma News Tribune. Instead, the district now straddles the Cascades, encompassing Chelan and Kittatas counties to the east.

Both candidates headed east in early October to take part in this debate at Wenatchee Valley College.

Results are next updated in King County at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. In Pierce County, a second round of updates was coming at 11 p.m. (updated), and then 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Wednesday.

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Washington Election Results 2012