Washington

Congressional Races:
Districts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Population (1994): 5,343,000 (up 9.8% from 1990); 2.1% of U.S. total

Voting-age population: 4,000,000; 1994 turnout, 37%

Median age: 33.1 years

Median household income: $33,533 ($1,269 above U.S. median)

Unemployment: 6.1% (0.5% above U.S. average, March 1996)

Last presidential election:

Clinton (D): 43%

Bush (R): 32%

Perot (I): 24%

Congressional delegation: Three Democrats, eight Republicans

In recent decades Washington's manufacturing industry has been overtaken by high-tech companies like Nintendo and Microsoft, plus a thriving import-export sector. The Seattle area also gave birth to two major '90s trends: gourmet coffee shops, like Starbucks, and grunge music, via bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana. The shifting economy and an influx of newcomers has led to political instability: in 1994 Washington's House delegation shifted more than any other state's, with six of nine seats moving from Democrat to Republican. This year, an electorate that's leaning leftward could bring some of those seats back to the Democratic side of the House Chamber.

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