Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who once declared Washington state "ground zero of the Republican revolution" of 1994, returns to the state Saturday to help Republicans hold on to their post-revolution majority.

Gingrich was invited to the state by Congressman Dave Reichert's campaign. He will host a private fund-raiser for the first-term 8th District Republican on Saturday. The campaign wouldn't give any more details. Reichert's chief of staff, Mike Shields, is a former Gingrich aide. Shields was a campaign spokesman for Gingrich and his communications director in his post-Speaker work.

Gingrich will also headline a fund-raising lunch Saturday in Everett Events Center for Doug Roulstone, the Republican candidate in the 2nd District challenging Rep. Rick Larsen.

UPDATE:Gingrich will also be doing a roundtable session in Bellevue Saturday for high-end state party donors, says state GOP chair Diane Tebelius.