Challenging Reichert: Former King County Prosecutor Announces Bid

ISSAQUAH, WA - The list of challengers lining up to challenge U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert got a little longer on Tuesday. Former deputy King County prosecutor Jason Rittereiser announced that he would run against Reichert in 2018. Rittereiser has ties to both sides of Reichert's 8th Congressional District: he is originally from Ellensburg.

"The 8th Congressional District is diverse and needs a representative in Congress who will always do what's right by putting the people of our district first," Rittereiser said in a press release. "Unfortunately, [Reichert's] fourteen years are defined by extreme partisanship and a long record of working for special interests."

Rittereiser currently works for HKM Employment Attorneys LLP.

Last week, Renton mortgage broker Mona Das announced she would also challenge Reichert in 2018. Issaquah Councilman Tola Marts is also planning to run in 2018. Two other Democrats, Tom Cramer and Brian Kostenko, are also stepping up to challenge Reichert.

Reichert is in the midst of his seventh term in Congress, but has been the target of heavy criticism by Democratic activists since the election of Donald Trump. Activists with local Indivisible groups have staged protests at Reichert's Issaquah office, and were especially critical of Reichert's decision not to hold a public in-person town hall before the House vote on repealing Obamacare.

Even after Reichert voted "no" on the repeal, Indivisible activists Chris Petzold was critical in a statement: "He failed to show leadership on behalf of his constituents, and instead flew under the radar as it became clearer that people with pre-existing conditions would be hung out to dry."

Reichert's 8th Congressional District straddles the Cascades, including Puget Sound cities like Bonney Lake, Enumclaw, and Issaquah. The district also hits more conservative areas in Eastern Washington including Wenatchee, Ellensburg, and Chelan.

Image via U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert