ISSAQUAH, WA — Shocking his constituents and the local political scene, U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert announced Tuesday that he won't seek reelection in 2018. There are at least five Democrats who have already emerged to challenge him, but some prominent local Republicans are also being named to keep the district under GOP control. Reichert's 8th Congressional District seat hasn't been held by a Democrat since the 1980s, but Hillary Clinton won the 8th in the 2016 election.

Reichert, 67, said he made the decision during the August recess in consultation with his family. He was first elected to Congress in 2004 after serving as King County sheriff. He represents the 8th Congressional District, which straddles the Cascades and includes parts of Puget Sound-area cities like Sammamish, Renton, Enumclaw and Puyallup.

So far in 2017, Issaquah pediatrician Dr. Kim Schrier, former deputy King County prosecutor Jason Rittereiser, Renton mortgage broker Mona Das, Issaquah Councilman Tola Marts and former 9th Congressional District candidate Tom Cramer have all stepped up to challenge Reichert. Reichert's leaving the race gives Democrats a chance to re-take the district, but it's like a well-known Republican could step into the void.

"I thank Rep. Reichert for his many years of public service. While we did not often see eye-to-eye on many issues facing our communities, I respect the commitment of anyone who steps forward and offers their time and service," Schrier said in a press release reacting to the news. "I've made that commitment too - to step up and serve as the next representative of the 8th district in Congress. I'm not a politician - I'm a local pediatrician, a wife and a mom who is worried about where our country is headed." Several Indivisible groups in Reichert's district have been dogging the Congressman over issues ranging from Obamacare repeal to Reichert's refusal to hold an in-person town hall meeting. Reichert has been meeting privately with Indivisible groups and has held telephone and Facebook town halls.

"Between now and the election of Reichert's successor, President Donald Trump will cause significant damage to the country. Indivisible remains firmly committed to its mission to block Trump and his shameful agenda. Reichert has an opportunity to lower his "votes-with-Trump" percentage. Indivisible members will continue to call his offices to demand action on behalf of constituents here in the eighth district. And there is still plenty of time for a town hall meeting," the 8th Congressional District Indivisible group said in a press release Wednesday. Chris Vance, the former chair of the Washington State Republican Party, told KUOW's The Record Wednesday that Reichert is probably getting to an age where he's "contemplating retirement." Vance also said that Reichert is probably not excited about a tough race in 2018. Despite his winning streak, Hillary Clinton carried Reichert's district in 2016, and the Democratic Party will likely invest heavily in the race.

Vance said that a likely GOP candidate for the seat is Dino Rossi, who is serving as an interim state Senator right now, but has run for governor twice before. The Stranger reported that someone had registered a domain name for Rossi already. King County Councilman Reagan Dunn and former gubernatorial candidate Bill Bryant have also been mentioned as a possible candidates.

The Record host Bill Radke even asked Vance - an outspoken Trump-hater - if he's planning to run.

Since his election in 2004, Reichert has faced a number of Democratic challengers but has won reelection handily six times. In 2012, Reichert's district was redrawn to include more rural areas in Eastern Washington, receding out of the more Democratic areas like Bellevue. Here's Reichert's full statement: