The 3rd Congressional District has changed with the 2012 Redistricting. Most of the Thurston County portion was removed and made into it’s own 10th Congressional District. Klickitat County joined the 3rd CD.

“The Third Congressional District of Washington encompasses the southernmost portion of Western Washington, from well south of Olympia south to the Columbia River. It includes the counties of Pacific,Lewis, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Klickitat and part of Skamania county and a little piece of Thurston County. The 3rd District is represented by Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler.

Established after the 1900 census, the Third District was represented by Democrats for most of the latter half of the 20th century, until Rep. Jolene Unsoeld was defeated by maverick Republican Linda Smith as part of the Republican Revolution of 1994. Smith retired after two terms and was succeeded by Brian Baird.

In presidential elections, the 3rd District is rather competitive. George W. Bush narrowly carried the district in 2000 with 48% of the vote and again in 2004 with 50%. The district swung Democratic in 2008, giving Barack Obama 52% of the vote and 46% to John McCain. Brian Baird announced that he will not run for reelection in 2010. Republican Jaime Herrera won the open seat in the 2010 general election by defeating Democrat Denny Heck 53%-47% and succeeding Baird.”