Reagan Dunn Launches Congressional Bid To Unseat Kim Schrier

KING COUNTY, WA — Long-time King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn is joining the roster of Republicans looking to flip Washington's 8th District in 2022, formally announcing his Congressional bid Monday morning.

"Our campaign will be built on standing up for Americans who just want their government to work for them," Dunn said in a statement. "So many of the people I’ve spoken with on both sides of the Cascade mountains feel overlooked and unheard."

Dunn currently serves as vice-chair on the Metropolitan King County Council, where he has represented Council District 9 for 16 years. Earlier this month, voters elected Dunn to a fifth term on the council by a wide margin.

Rep. Kim Schrier, an Issaquah pediatrician, is seeking a third term in Congress after flipping the 8th District for the Democrats for the first time in its history in 2018. She replaced longtime Republican Rep. Dave Reichert, who retired after seven terms. Reichert is chairing Dunn's 2022 campaign.

"Reagan Dunn is easily our best chance for Republicans to win the 8th District, and I wholeheartedly endorse him in this race," Reichert said in a statement. "Reagan and I have worked together for decades to put violent criminals behind bars, protect our open spaces, keep taxes low and ensure that residents of our state get the best possible value out of their government."

Prior to his election to the King County Council in 2005, Dunn was a federal prosecutor and served in the U.S. Department of Justice.

As The Seattle Times notes, what Washington's 8th District will look like when the midterms arrive next year remains to be seen. After the state redistricting commission failed to meet its deadlines, the Washington State Supreme Court has through April to come up with new maps based on the 2020 Census.

Currently, the 8th District encompasses portions of the Eastside, including Sammamish and Issaquah, and portions of east King and Pierce counties, along with Chelan and Kittitas County. The commission's proposal would expand the district into Northeast King County and across Snohomish County.

Dunn joins fellow Republicans in the 8th District race, including Jesse Jensen, who lost to Schrier in 2020, and Matt Larkin, a lawyer and former deputy prosecutor.