Jason Ritchie, an Issaquah business owner, has announced that he will challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert.

“I’ve never run for office before, but in the past few months I’ve joined the majority of Americans who are fed up with the extreme partisanship in the U.S. House,” said Ritchie, who will run as a Democrat. “This shutdown has impacted the lives of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. I work every day with disabled vets, seniors, victims of accidents – many who depend on federal benefits as a result of their service to our country and communities. Dave Reichert’s refusal to break with the Tea Party extremists and stick with the people of our district tells us whose side he is really on.”

Ritchie said will focus on what he calls a “common sense platform of good jobs, great schools, and putting people before politics.”

He is the father of two boys, one school aged and enrolled in Issaquah Public Schools.

Ritchie will be touring the district in the coming weeks to formally launch his campaign.