Two other Democrats challenged the two in the primary election, Doug Schaffer and Glen Johnson.

Democrat Cheryl Crist and Republican Christine Webb also entered the primary.

Incumbent Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers has represented the 2nd district in Congress since 2005.

Barbara Lampert of the Democratic party, Republican Kurt Erickson, Libertarian John Beck and Constitution candidate Randall Yearout were eliminated in the primary.

Green candidate Gary Murrell and Democrat Paul Richmond also entered the primary.

Democrats Donovan Rivers and Goodspaceguy entered the primary, as well as independents Mark Goldman and Al Schaefer.

The primary also included Democrats James Vaughn and Keith Arnold, and Independents Richard Todd and Boleslaw Orlinski.

The District 8 race was considered competitive: it voted for Obama by a large margin and had a Cook PVI of D+2.