Rep. Dave Reichert announced Wednesday he will not seek re-election in 2018.
Reichert told KIRO 7 he made the decision over the summer break after talking with his family.
"I think we finally came to the conclusion that 14 years would be plenty to serve," Reichert said.
Before Congress, Reichert served as King County sheriff.
He investigated, and famously stared down in an interrogation, Green River Killer Gary Ridgway.
Since President Trump's election, activists have staged protests against Reichert for not holding town halls.
Democrats are lining up to challenge him.
Pediatrician Kim Schrier, attorney Jason Rittereiser, former Congressional staffer Toby Whitney, business owner Mona Das, and Issaquah City Council member Tola Marts are among the Democrats already running.
"We knew that we could beat Reichert this year but the fact that Reichert is gone means it's a clean slate," said Washington State Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski.
Reichert said he's announcing now to let Republican candidates get an early start for 2018.
"I know the Democrats have been after this seat for as long as I've been in Congress, so it's going to be a battle, it's going to be a tough campaign," Reichert said.
Reichert also said, "I think in order for a Republican to hold this seat they have to be moderate."
So, which Republicans will run?
One name that came up quickly was Dino Rossi, who was appointed to the state Senate and previously ran for governor and U.S. Senate.
Another possibility is King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, whose mother, Jennifer Dunn, served in Congress.
Dunn told KIRO 7, "I'm not ruling anything out at this point," but that his current focus is running for re-election.
Asked if she would run, State Republican Party Chair Susan Hutchison said she didn't live in the 8th District and that running is "not my intention."
Hutchison called the 8th District "safe" for Republicans, and said she found out about Reichert's decision shortly before it was made public.
"I think it caught everybody by surprise," Hutchison said.
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