The race to replace Democrat Congressman Jim McDermott in the 7th Congressional District is heating up. McDermott, who thankfully announced earlier this month that he would not run for a 15th term, originally won the seat in 1988, when Mike Lowry gave it up to run a losing race for the U.S. Senate.
Since then, getting elected in the state’s most liberal congressional district has been an attractive prospect for any one of Seattle’s left-wing politicians. As long as the Democrat follows a sufficiently (radically) liberal line for the party, it is a lifetime position devoid of any real political competition. Accomplishments and actual influence in Congress is not required, as McDermott so ably showed during his tenure.
Realizing his opportunity, King County council member Joe McDermott (no relation to Jim) announced his candidacy earlier this week. Considering the number of low information voters he will be dealing with in a presidential election year, McDermott has an immediate advantage given his last name. But, that’s not all.
Joe McDermott’s full name is James Joseph McDermott. In other words, he could run as “Jim McDermott.” Unfortunately for our future amusement, Joe McDermott has dismissed that idea. In a recent interview, he stated, “I am Joe McDermott and I am running on my 15 years of experience in state and local government.”
In any case, with Joe McDermott’s candidacy, the race still promises to be a “name you know vs. name you almost know” situation.
And, speaking of names you almost know, even further-Left state Senator Pramila Jayapal announced her candidacy on Thursday. Jayapal has “distinguished” herself in the state Legislature by pushing a state income tax and opposing charter schools. The fact she does not actually live in the 7th congressional is not actually seen as a negative by the media for someone as “accomplished” as Jayapal.
James Joseph McDermott and Jayapal join Democrat state Representative Brady Walkinshaw, who broke with unspoken party rules by declaring his candidacy before Jim McDermott announced he would retire, in the race. Allegedly even more Democrats are still considering a run.
Let the (McDermott) Hunger Games begin in earnest – we could use the laughs.
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