Aviation also provides thousands of jobs, as does the area's biotechnology industry. Although the city's population growth has not kept pace with the state as a whole, its suburbs, especially in the north, form one of the fastest growing regions in the country. The Port of Seattle is also one of the major gateways to Asian markets and makes the 7th one of the most trade-dependent economies in the nation. Although the Asian economic crisis has affected some large, multinational corporations, the technology boom has kept the economy of the 7th prosperous. The 7th is one of the nation's most liberal bastions.
Democrats often face no opposition in elections.