WA's 5th Congressional District, a steady seat, sees change for the first time in 20 years

A Spokane institution is calling it quits. No, they’re not tearing down the clock tower or cutting the cables on the Riverfront Park gondola.

Republican U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers is retiring.

When McMorris Rodgers leaves office early next year, it will wrap up a two-decade career in Congress.

For the 5th District of Washington state, which stretches along the border of Idaho and includes Spokane, Pullman, and Walla Walla, that longevity is par for the course: Only four representatives have held the seat since World War II. The seat usually turns over during times of intense political change. The district

Former 5th District U.S, Representative Tom Foley rode a Democratic wave after the assassination of President Kennedy in 1964 and unseated Republican Walt Horan. Foley held the seat for 30 years and rose to be Speaker of the House.

He was swept out of office during the Republican Revolution by lawyer George Nethercutt.

"It seems like Spokane and Eastern Washington was the kind of place where, if you get that seat and you do a good job or represent your constituents, well, then you get to keep it," said Ted McGregor Jr., publisher of The Inlander.

McMorris Rodgers took over for Nethercutt when he ran against U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in 2004.

Nethercutt lost that Senate race. Eastern Washington politicians haven't had much luck in statewide elections and the open 5th District seat represents a chance to move on to higher office.

McGregor said the district is a relatively safe Republicans seat, and whichever conservative candidate moves on to the General Election can set the tone as one of the "most senior elected Republicans in the state," McGregor said.

"Republicans aren't getting elected statewide here, and it probably isn't going to change," he added.

Listen to Soundside’s full conversation with Ted McGregor by clicking the play icon at the top of this story.