Washington State Route 8

State Route 8 (SR 8) is a state highway in Grays Harbor and Thurston counties, of the U.S. state of Washington. It extends 20.67 miles (33.27 km) from U.S. Route 12 (US 12) in the city of Elma, east to an interchange with US 101 about 5.90 miles (9.50 km) northwest of the state capital, Olympia. SR 8 intersects SR 108 west of McCleary. The route connects Elma and Olympia as part of a corridor between Aberdeen and the Puget Sound region.

The highway was part of the Elma – Grand Mound branch of Primary State Highway 9 (PSH 9 EG) from 1937 until 1964, which ran from Elma southeast to Interstate 5 (I-5), formerly US 99 in Grand Mound, which was later added as part of US 12 in 1967. The road also forms the northern boundary of Capitol State Forest in Thurston County.

Route description

SR 8 runs 20.67 miles (33.27 km) east from US 12 in Elma to an interchange with US 101 5.90 miles (9.50 km) northwest of Olympia. The route links the city of Elma with Olympia, and intersects only one other highway, SR 108, in McCleary. WSDOT has found that more than 17,000 motorists utilize the road daily at the interchange with US 101 based on average annual daily traffic (AADT) data.

Washington's 8th congressional district

Washington's 8th congressional district included most of the region known as the Eastside and the mostly rural eastern parts of King and Pierce counties prior to 2010 redistricting. It is currently represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Republican Dave Reichert. The state redistricting in response to population changes determined by the 2010 census shifts much of the "Eastside" portions of what was District 8 to District 9, and adds regions east of the Cascades to District 8. (Map at right is after redistricting)

Since its creation after the 1980 U.S. Census, the 8th District has been the only Republican bastion west of the Cascade Mountains. Before 2010 redistricting, the district had the peculiarity of having a Democratic advantage according to its Cook PVI, but only having elected Republicans to Congress throughout its history. The District's PVI is now slightly Republican after redistricting and the GOP winning streak is still active as of after the 2012 elections. This district could be compared to Illinois's 10th congressional district or Connecticut's 4th congressional district in terms of voting patterns.