After trailing his opponent on election night, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) steadily gained ground against John Koster, who had hoped to ride the national Republican tide that ousted dozens of incumbent Democrats and reclaimed a GOP majority in Congress. Larsen ended up with 50.3 percent of the vote, compared with Koster’s 49.7 percent. The 2nd District spans the northern part of Western Washington from just north of Seattle to the border with Canada, and includes the San Juan Islands. Larsen had said just two days after the election: “I remain optimistic that when every vote is counted, I will stay on top.” The five-term congressman is pictured above with a staffer during a 2008 tour of Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes.