Who's In the Race

Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) faces Republican Spencer Meline in the November 3 general election in Washington's 8th District. Washington uses a top-two primary, with the two highest vote-getters advancing to the general election regardless of party. ​

Schrier, a pediatrician who spent 17 years practicing in the district, has represented Washington's 8th since 2019. She advanced from the August 4 top-two primary with about 54% of the vote, while Meline finished second with about 16%. Meline advanced over third-place Trinh Ha by just seven votes, 16,206 to 16,199.

What They Stand For

Schrier says on her campaign website that she has worked to guarantee $35 insulin and to reduce prescription drug costs. She has also supported opposing cuts to Medicaid; restoring premium tax credits; clean-energy policies she says can create jobs and lower costs; holding corporations accountable for price increases; improving supply chains for consumers and farmers; and conservation measures, including maintaining public-land roads and trails, protecting water supplies, and funding habitat restoration.

Meline's campaign website positions were not available in the record. Her campaign emphasizes health coverage and lower costs, and she says she opposes Medicaid cuts.

The Money Behind the Race

Through July 15, Schrier had raised about $3.0 million this cycle and held about $3.5 million in cash on hand, more than she has raised. Spencer Meline, a Republican, took second place in the August 4 top-two primary with 16,206 votes, or 14.75 percent. Outside groups have spent about $105,157 supporting Schrier and nothing opposing her; Protect Progress is the largest spender, accounting for about $105,040 of that total, or nearly all of it.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

All three major race-rating services call this contest solidly for Schrier. Cook Political Report rated the race Solid Democratic as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Solid Democratic as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Democratic as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats a 98.63% chance of winning as of Oct. 16, with Republicans at 1.37%.

The district's recent history reinforces that picture. Schrier won the 2022 general election with about 53% of the vote and the 2024 general with about 54%. Democrats have won eight of Washington's ten U.S. House seats in both 2022 and 2024. In the 2024 presidential race, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris carried Washington with about 57% of the vote.

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