Suzan DelBene has resigned from her post as the director of the Washington Department of Revenue to run for the U.S. 1st Congressional District seat.

DelBene, who lost to 8th District Rep. Dave Reichert in 2010, will compete in the newly reorganized district that stretches from East King County up to the Canadian border.

“The 1st Congressional District is a diverse district that has been hit hard by the Great Recession. It needs a representative in Congress who has the experience and the innovative ideas that will get our economy back on the right track and create jobs, and I believe I offer those qualities,” DelBene said.

The new district, which Jay Inslee will vacate as he begins his quest for the governership, was a focal point during the state Redistricting process late last year. Commissioners praised this district as a swing district that will likely go to a moderate candidate capable of uniting many diverse interests.

DelBene has proven her drive to win by pouring millions in her own money into campaigns. She dropped approximately $2.2 million into her run to unseat Reichert two years ago.

DelBene, 49, lives in Medina. She was a corporate vice-president at Microsoft and also helped found high-tech startups including Drugstore.com. She also has advised nonprofits working in microfinance.

In November 2010, she was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire as director of the state Department of Revenue. In that role, DelBene said she worked on streamlining taxes for small businesses and on a tax amnesty program that brought in more than $340 million in state and local taxes.