SEATTLE — The three leading candidates to replace U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott are pushing to distinguish themselves in Washington’s deeply liberal 7th Congressional District.
McDermott, a Democrat first elected in 1988, is serving his 14th term in Congress. In early January, he announced that he would not seek re-election. State Rep. Brady Walkinshaw, D-Seattle, was the first to enter the race, challenging McDermott before his retirement announcement. But several others quickly jumped in when they learned there would be no incumbent.
“My phone starting ringing off the hook and people were like, ‘are you running, are you running, are you running?”’ state Sen. Pramila Jayapal said.
Jayapal, Walkinshaw and King County Councilman Joe McDermott — no relation to the congressman — are the big Democratic names in the race. Edmonds businessman Jeff Stilwell, community activist and political adviser Donovan Rivers and former Burien Mayor Arun Jhaveri, are also running to represent the district that encompasses much of Seattle, but reaches north past Edmonds and south to Normandy Park and Vashon Island.
Even with the wide open nature of the race, the trio of leading Democrats has yet to find much separation on issues. At a recent debate between the three candidates in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood, there was far more agreeing than arguing on subjects such as accepting refugees from Syria.
All said the U.S. should allow more into the country.
The candidates’ similar politics doesn’t surprise University of Washington political science professor Mark Smith, who said the district is “as far left as any district in the country.” Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders won a landslide victory in Seattle in the state’s March presidential caucuses and Socialist Kshama Sawant was re-elected last year to the City Council.
But while the trio begins to feel out where their policy stances diverge, each say political style, accomplishments and background, sets them apart.
Walkinshaw, 32, is the youngest of the leading candidates and was first appointed to the state Legislature in 2013. His mother emigrated from Cuba in the 1960s, and he grew up in rural Whatcom County.
During the last two legislative sessions, Walkinshaw sponsored measures, now laws, to improve mental health care and reduce opioid overdoses and drug addiction. He also sponsored a bill that allows some former prisoners to obtain jobs in fields that currently bar people based on their criminal record. It was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee in March.
Walkinshaw, who would be the first openly gay Latino in Congress, was often a behind-the-scenes-type lawmaker in the Legislature. He said he excels in building coalitions to pass progressive legislation in a divided government. So far, Walkinshaw narrowly leads the field in fundraising, according to the Federal Election Commission.
“Sometimes the people you hear from the least in politics are the ones doing the most, and I think that’s an important consideration in leadership,” he said.
Walkinshaw said his first priority in Congress would be advocating for legislation to reduce negative effects of climate change, such as taxing carbon emissions.
In Olympia, Jayapal has been a spirited debater on the Senate floor and a vocal leader for a higher statewide minimum wage, racial and gender equity, more affordable college and increasing access to reproductive health care. “Vociferous” opposition to legislation she disagrees with and making legislative accomplishments through back channels are crucial parts of her resume, Jayapal said.
While Jayapal, 50, was first elected in 2014, she previously founded OneAmerica in response to hate crimes and discrimination against Arabs, South Asians and Muslims following the 2001 Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The organization works to engage immigrants in government and to implement policies to help immigrant communities.
Jayapal was born in India and came to the U.S. at 16. She has introduced Sanders at rallies, and he has also raised money for her.
“I don’t believe that this is about electing me, this really is about electing all of us,” she said while talking about their similarities. “The idea is how do you bring a movement into Congress?”
The third front-runner, Joe McDermott, has been in elected office far longer than the other leading candidates. He served in the Legislature for 10 years as both a representative and a senator, has been a King County councilmember since 2010 and is on the board at Sound Transit and the King County Board of Health.
Joe McDermott championed legislation along with Ed Murray, now Seattle’s mayor, allowing more rights for domestic partners — before voters approved same-sex marriage in 2012. Joe McDermott, who is gay, also helped add sexual orientation — which includes gender identity — to Washington’s anti-discrimination law.
His pitch to voters has emphasized campaign finance reform and reducing gun violence. On his first day in office, the 48-year-old said he would introduce a bill to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court decision known as Citizens United, which rejected a ban on corporate and union election spending.
Joe McDermott, who lives in West Seattle, said he knows when to fight for change incrementally, and when to push for fast efforts.
“If ‘establishment’ is experienced and accomplished, I’m proud of my experience and accomplishments,” he said.
The top-two vote getters in the Aug. 2 primary will head to the Nov. 8 general election.
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