WENATCHEE — Sitting U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert fended off Democratic challenger Karen Porterfield in early counts to represent a revised 4th Congressional District in Washington, D.C. next year.

Reichert held 107,121 of 180,416 votes counted districtwide, taking about 59 percent of the vote. Chelan and Douglas counties handed the incumbent 66 and 67 percent of their votes respectively.

NCW formerly fell into Richard “Doc” Hastings’ 4th Congressional District, but with the 2010 census, the region was split between the 4th and the new Cascades-crossing 8th. The district includes all of Chelan County, incorporated East Wenatchee, Kittitas County and parts of King and Pierce counties. The 4th includes East Wenatchee neighborhoods east of Kentucky Avenue, along with the remainder of Douglas County, Grant County and most of Okanogan County.

It’s the first congressional district ever to bridge the Cascades. Reichert, a Republican, has represented the old 8th District since 2005, winning reelection in various close races against Democratic challengers. Porterfield, from Issaquah, declared for the seat in May after a poll she commissioned showed 43.8 percent of 400 surveyed voters in the new district saying Reichert should be replaced.

She emerged from the August primary with 28 percent of the vote, besting four other challengers but falling well short of Reichert’s 50 percent tally.

The Auburn-based incumbent, 62, was sheriff of King County from 1997 to 2005, after 25 years as a deputy and detective with the force. Since 2003, Porterfield, 53, has worked as a private management consultant specializing in strategies for nonprofits, and teaches through Seattle University.

As of mid-October, Reichert had raised $1.5 million in campaign funds, according to the Federal Election Commission; Porterfield banked just $128,000.

In the revised 4th District, Hastings appeared likely to defeat Democratic challenger Mary Baechler, holding 66 percent of roughly 151,000 votes counted.

Jefferson Robbins: 664-7123

robbins@wenatcheeworld.com