17th District changes significantly in state legislature along with 12 others

John Ley
For Clark County Today

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) late Tuesday refused to grant a stay that would have stopped the implementation of a Washington state redistricting map chosen by Judge Robert Lasnik. An appeal will move forward, but for the 2024 election cycle, the Lasnik map will determine legislative district boundaries. 

The Lasnik map changes boundaries of 13 legislative districts, redistricting out of current districts multiple republican legislators, including Senator Nikki Torres of Yakima. The initial lawsuit alleged latino voters were disenfranchised by the map agreed upon by the state redistricting commission. Yet the Lasnik decision resulted in fewer latino voters in the district.

In Clark County, the 20th District boundary is extended farther south past Hockinson to 99th Street in east county, carving out some of the current 17th District. To make up for that reduction in voters, the 17th is extended into a significant part of Klickitat County going all the way to Goldendale. It also changes the voting characteristics of the 17th from a Republican leaning district to a Democrat leaning district.

An initial analysis from the Clark County Elections office indicates that 16 precincts would be moved from the 17th District into the 20th District. Additionally, one precinct would be split and need to be adjusted. State law requires that every voting precinct must be within a single congressional district, a single legislative district, a single district of a county legislative authority, and, if applicable, a single city.

One news report indicates that would impact 15,653 voters in Clark County. Statewide, the Secretary of State believes 525,000 voters are moved into new districts.

RCW 29A.16.050 states: “no precinct changes may be made during the period starting seven days prior to the first day for candidates to file for the primary election and ending with the day of the general election.”

The following precincts move from LD 17 to LD 20 in their entirety, according to the Clark County Elections Office.

Additionally, precinct 614 will need to be adjusted.

Of importance to 17th LD voters is the fact that Representative Gina Mosbrucker is now in the redrawn 17th District. She lives in Goldendale and has been representing 14th District citizens since 2015. She is the first person elected to the state Legislature from Klickitat County since 1982, according to her House website.

“The US Supreme Court’s failure to issue a stay in this controversial issue is disappointing,” says Washington GOP Chairman and State Rep. (LD 19) Jim Walsh. “By allowing Judge Lasnik’s partisan electioneering to stand, SCOTUS is opening itself up for partisan lawsuits from all around the country. This isn’t the last manipulation the high court will have to consider. I hope they do better next time.”

Law360, a website that analyzes legal decisions, has indicated the SCOTUS rejection decision was made by Justice Elena Kagan.