WA-7: McDermott retiring

[RogueBeaver]

Breaking.

[Zioneer]

Who are the likely candidates besides State Rep. Brady Walkinshaw, or is he the only one?

[136or142]

Hooray!

[Asian Nazi]

Nice.  This should be a fun race in what's otherwise turning into an uneventful cycle out here.

Who are the likely candidates besides State Rep. Brady Walkinshaw, or is he the only one?

Given the top-two primary system, I guarantee that at least a couple other Democrats will run, maybe even prominent ones.

[Seattle]

Apparently there are rumbles that Mayor Ed Murray wants to run. Also, I would totally not be surprised if Kshama Sawant gets in the race.

[Asian Nazi]

Apparently there are rumbles that Mayor Ed Murray wants to run. Also, I would totally not be surprised if Kshama Sawant gets in the race.

I don't think Socialist Alternative has the resources to mount a serious campaign for the U.S. House.  Even if Sawant ran and managed to make the run-off, it'd probably wind up like the Frank Chopp vs. Jess Spear race in 2014.

[Seattle]

Apparently there are rumbles that Mayor Ed Murray wants to run. Also, I would totally not be surprised if Kshama Sawant gets in the race.

I don't think Socialist Alternative has the resources to mount a serious campaign for the U.S. House.  Even if Sawant ran and managed to make the run-off, it'd probably wind up like the Frank Chopp vs. Jess Spear race in 2014.

That's true, but this is SA's one shot of getting on the ballot in a serious way in a district that could actually potentially elect their candidate. I think they're ambitious enough to run a candidate, whether its Jess Spear or Sawant.

[Asian Nazi]

Apparently there are rumbles that Mayor Ed Murray wants to run. Also, I would totally not be surprised if Kshama Sawant gets in the race.

I don't think Socialist Alternative has the resources to mount a serious campaign for the U.S. House.  Even if Sawant ran and managed to make the run-off, it'd probably wind up like the Frank Chopp vs. Jess Spear race in 2014.

That's true, but this is SA's one shot of getting on the ballot in a serious way in a district that could actually potentially elect their candidate. I think they're ambitious enough to run a candidate, whether its Jess Spear or Sawant.

Yeah, they are very ambitious (you kind of have to be if your ultimate goal is world revolution).  They've run a campaign each of the past four years too.  I'm a former member and still friends with a lot of their people, so if I hear any rumblings about an upcoming campaign I'll post here or in the general WA thread.

[/]

What a shame. He was one of my favorite.

[Crumpets]

My district - it'll be sad to see him go.

I'm pretty sure Sawant lives in WA-9, although I could be wrong about that. I imagine Reuven Carlyle and Sharon Nelson would consider running, although I think the best bet would be someone young. Michael Maddux and Joe McDermott (no relation) are both possibilities.

[Mr. Illini]

He was a good one, but is sure to be replaced by another good one. Happy retirement to him.

[Asian Nazi]

I'm pretty sure Sawant lives in WA-9

I just checked, and you're right.  Good call.  Yet another reason why WA-9 is a terrible district

EDIT: That doesn't necessarily mean that she isn't going to run, though.  And apparently she's not ruling out a run yet.  http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/democratic-rep-mcdermott-to-announce-retirement/

[Slow Learner]

Wonder of Kucinich will run (HA).

[Nyvin]

Hopefully someone a little more liberal takes his seat...

[smoltchanov]

Hopefully someone a little more liberal takes his seat...

It's difficult to be more liberal then McDermott. Even in this district...

[SATW]

Hopefully someone a little more liberal takes his seat...

[Ebsy]

RIP Baghdad Jim FF

Little did we know Saddam Hussein was more trustworthy than Bush and Cheney.

[Ogre Mage]

Candidates for this seat:

Running
WA State Rep. Brady Wakinshaw

Possible
King County Councilman Joe McDermott (no relation but serendipitous name ID)
WA State Rep. Reuven Carlyle
WA State Rep. David Frockt
Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant
Former Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn (I think he has made too many enemies for this to work)
Former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkin

Not Running
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray
WA State Sen. Jamie Pedersen

[Zioneer]

What district does Cyrus Habib live in? I'd like to see him run for Congress someday.

[Crumpets]

What district does Cyrus Habib live in? I'd like to see him run for Congress someday.

Some sources I see list him as being in Kirkland, which is in WA-1, but others say Bellevue, which is in both WA-1 and WA-9.

[Crumpets]

I'm pretty sure Sawant lives in WA-9

I just checked, and you're right.  Good call.  Yet another reason why WA-9 is a terrible district

EDIT: That doesn't necessarily mean that she isn't going to run, though.  And apparently she's not ruling out a run yet.  http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/democratic-rep-mcdermott-to-announce-retirement/

I'm not a huge Sawant fan, but I would love to see a Democrat vs. Socialist general, given the top two system. Imagine the freakout if we actually elected a Marxist to Congress.

[136or142]

Potential and declared candidates according to politics1.com

District 7:
[ Jim McDermott (D)* - Retiring in 2016. ]
Reuven Carlyle (D) - State Sen. & Ex-State Rep.
Dow Constantine (D) - King County Executive, Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
Jenny Durkan (D) - Ex-US Attorney
David Frockt (D) - State Sen., Attorney & Ex-Congressional Aide
Bruce Harrell (D) - Seattle City Councilor, Attorney & '13 Seattle Mayor Candidate
Pramila Jayapal (D) - State Sen. & Immigration Rights Activist
Marko Liias (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Ex-Mukilteo City Councilman
Joe McDermott (D) - King County Councilman, Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Ex-Budget Analyst
Ed Murray (D) - Seattle Mayor, Ex-State Sen. & Ex-State Rep.
Sharon Nelson (D) - State Senate Minority Leader, Ex-State Rep. & Ex-Banker
Jamie Pederson (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
Ron Sims (D) - Ex-King County Executive, Washington State Univ. Regent & Ex-Depy. US Housing Secretary
Jeff Stilwell (D) - Businessman
Gael Tarleton (D) - State Rep., Ex-Seattle Port Commissioner & Ex-Defense Intelligence Analyst
Brady Walkinshaw (D) - State Rep. & Ex-Non Profit Group Program Officer
Kshama Sawant (Socialist Alternative) - Seattle City Councilor & Marxist Activist

Stillwell and Walkinshaw are running.

[smoltchanov]

That's why i dislike one-party districts in general. Dozen possible candidates with minimal differences in positions (in this case - ultraliberal, in some other one-party districts - ulreaconservative). No intrigue, no real alternatives...

[136or142]

That's why i dislike one-party districts in general. Dozen possible candidates with minimal differences in positions (in this case - ultraliberal, in some other one-party districts - ulreaconservative). No intrigue, no real alternatives...

This district is based in Seattle, if not entirely Seattle.  It's not like it was gerrymandered.  Sometimes one party districts just occur naturally.

There can be intrigue though, because the results are so certain, it frees up people to support their first choice, so, in this district the Socialists and/or the Greens may get at least 5% of the vote.  That can suggest the 'canary in the coal mine'  if a third party is beginning to potentially attract wider support.

[Asian Nazi]

Pramila Jayapal (D) - State Sen. & Immigration Rights Activist

She also lives in the 9th district, but would otherwise have been an outstanding recruit for the Dems.  Very popular with the activist base.  I'm sure that if Adam Smith retires sometime in the next couple cycles, she will be one of the top candidates to replace him.

Also I can see why an outsider would think that there is "minimal differences" between various Seattle-area Democrats, but to me it's hilarious, considering how factional and crazy politics can get out here sometimes.  And to me a district where various factions of a party can compete against each other is much more interesting and unpredictable than some moderate hero district where it will be generic D vs. generic R and you can literally forecast the result based on PVI.