ELECTION 2016: Joe McDermott running for Congress

Joe McDermott has made his decision: He’s in the race to succeed Jim McDermott.

Two weeks ago, after Congressmember McDermott announced he wasn’t running again, County Councilmember McDermott said he was thinking about it and would decide soon. This morning, he’s made the announcement via news release:

Third-generation resident of West Seattle, Chair of the King County Council and strong progressive Joe McDermott announced today his bid for Congress to represent Washington’s seventh congressional district (WA-07), which includes most of Seattle, Vashon Island, Burien, Normandy Park, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Mountlake Terrace, Woodway and Edmonds.

McDermott, who has the most experience of any candidate running for Congress, also announced his “Repeal Citizens United” pledge rejecting any dark money independent expenditure spending on his behalf.

“As the son of schoolteachers, I am running for Congress to ensure that middle class Washingtonians continue to have a strong voice in Washington, D.C. and that’s why overturning Citizens United and preventing dark money from destroying our politics will be my priority from my first day in office – so we can finally achieve the progressive results our families need.”

McDermott also pledged to make cracking down on gun violence a top priority. As Chair of the Seattle King County Board of Health, McDermott has led efforts to classify gun violence as a public health crisis – resulting in a program that has saved lives and has become a model for both state and federal governments.

“For too long, politicians in Washington DC have kowtowed to the National Rifle Association. It is past time that we pass tough background checks, ban military style assault weapons plaguing our communities and once and for all hold gun manufacturers liable for the over thirty thousand deaths they cause in our country every year,” said McDermott.

McDermott has served on the King County Council for the last five years and from 2001 through 2010, McDermott represented the 34th Legislative District in the Washington State Legislature.

In addition to this week’s election as Chair of the King County Council, McDermott also served as the Majority Assistant Floor Leader in the Washington State Legislature, an acknowledgment that McDermott’s record of achieving progressive results is well regarded by his constituents and colleagues alike.

From expanding transit, improving public education, increasing environmental protection, combating homelessness, passing campaign finance reform and addressing the growing income inequality that threatens our middle class,
McDermott’s fifteen-year legislative record clearly demonstrates that he knows how to get things done for Washington State.

“My regional experience, progressive values, and proven ability to work across the aisle positions me to advance the issues important to our District and tackle the obstructionism and dysfunction that have sadly become the hallmarks of the other Washington,” said McDermott.

“I’m proud of what we have accomplished together here but I know all too well that local and state governments cannot solve every problem — we must have solutions from Congress as well.”

McDermott lives in West Seattle with his husband, Michael, and has served on the Board of Southwest Youth & Family Services and the West Seattle Helpline. His civic activities and memberships include the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Vashon Allied Arts, the Highline Historical Society, and the Greater Seattle Business Association.

Also in the race, State House Rep. Brady Piñero Walkinshaw, a Capitol Hill resident.

26 Replies to "ELECTION 2016: Joe McDermott running for Congress"

  • Jim January 20, 2016 (11:25 am)

     Joe is thinking, based on the name, he will just take over the old man’s place as for the next 40 years.  Not a bad gig.  Make your own hours.  Good pay.  Excellent benefits.  Pipe up once in a while about how bad America is to keep the liberal base happy.   Sad to say he will probably be elected in spite of many other good candidates.

    • another 'Joe' January 20, 2016 (2:13 pm)

      ” Sad to say he will probably be elected in spite of many other good candidates”  Who are they?  Joe’s been a great representative in both the State House and now in King County.  He’ll be great in the other Washington.

    • Tom January 20, 2016 (2:43 pm)

      Exactly what I came here to say!  Thank you parents for naming you Jim, I mean Joe :)

    • K. Davis January 20, 2016 (4:00 pm)

      Your comment is impressively ignorant.  Nice attack utterly lacking in substance and fact, but I’m sure Donald Trump and Sarah Palin would approve.  Do feel free to get back to Fox News and your ongoing education in current events.  

      • Tom January 21, 2016 (8:15 am)

        These comments reflect the ignorance of the general voting population, not the commenters. … If you  don’t think there are plenty of ignorant voters out there that will no nothing about any of the candidates, and will simply check the McDermott box due to sheer name recognition then you’re clearly less intelligent then you think you are.   (That’s called the Dunning-Kruger Effect  BTW my less intelligent friend) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effectI don’t watch the O’Reilly factor, but I love the Watters’ World clips on youtube, here’s a nice sampling of some typical voters, yeah the future of our country, truly informed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dUl1OlZdiM

  • JC January 20, 2016 (11:31 am)

    Sad to say, but I agree with Jim.  

    • Rick January 20, 2016 (11:46 am)

      Gotta love cheerleaders! 

  • Marcee January 20, 2016 (11:38 am)

    Shows that you just don’t know, Joe!  (or much of anything else.)  Go, Joe!  A great representative for the 7th CD! 

  • Ivan January 20, 2016 (11:44 am)

    Having been Joe‘s constituent for the past 15 years, I am delighted he is in the race, and proud to support his candidacy. More than just a name, Joe has a longer record of legislative accomplishment than any other candidate in this race, announced or rumored. Joe is accessible and easy to work with, and a genuinely good guy. Those who don’t know him should make the effort. He will carry on Jim’s work and then some.

  • sb January 20, 2016 (12:00 pm)

    It’s been enjoyable watching Joe develop into the leader he is today. He has represented us well in 3 elected positions and will make a fantastic US Congressman.

  • Joe Szilagyi January 20, 2016 (12:16 pm)

    This Joe is all for that Joe. Hell yes, bring it on. Joe 2016-2046!

  • Rusty January 20, 2016 (12:22 pm)

    That’s great that he’s not taking any ‘dark money’ from those evil corporations. How ’bout the unions? Is he taking money from them? If someone can explain how union contributions are different, I’m all ears – but it seems pretty wildly hypocritical if not….So Joe – when you repeal Citizens United, how ’bout limiting what unions can contribute as well?

  • Christine (Griffin) Terry January 20, 2016 (12:36 pm)

    Joe, We’ll put your campaign signs out in our yard in Normandy Park!

  • freetheflower January 20, 2016 (12:47 pm)

    I sent Joe an e mail about his support for a MJ homegrow – Joe does NOT support a Marijuana Home Grow for ALL citizens (every other state that has MJ allows for home cultivation expect WA state) – Tell Joe that you want a right to grow your own flower – Senate bill HB 6083 allows for this – https://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2015&bill=6083 – Say it ain’t so Joe – Stand up for our rights people! – We have traded in our friends for this bourgeoisie dealer class – Grow Your Own!

  • Fred Johnson January 20, 2016 (1:13 pm)

    Supposedly being a KC council member is a full time job, right? Is campaigning a full time job? Should he have to resign his current position? Or are we really just paying him to run for another office?

    • Joe Szilagyi January 20, 2016 (1:34 pm)

      No offense, but this perennial question (by someone, like clockwork) is silly and unreasonable. As long as they execute their jobs, at least in this country, we have a tradition going back hundreds of years for politicians to campaign thus whilst still serving in a current position. There’s nothing wrong with it as long as they don’t campaign in their official “other” duties or use government cash or resources for their campaign.

  • LBJ January 20, 2016 (1:21 pm)

    Joe McDermott is NOT RELATED to Jim McDermott. 

  • Matthew January 20, 2016 (1:54 pm)

    ya got my vote Joe!

  • Pat January 20, 2016 (1:58 pm)

    Joe is not only unrelated to Jim, he is no Jim and that can be a good thing. Whatever you think now, hold your opinions until you get to know where Joe is coming from and where he stands on your concerns, then make your decision. Joe is if nothing else very approachable so take him on. Yes I will support Joe but don’t rely on me, rely on your own senses after hearing Joe on what is your hot buttons.

  • Happy Conservative January 20, 2016 (2:38 pm)

    Vote for Trump!

  • Smitty January 20, 2016 (2:47 pm)

    He should fit right in!

  • Notgonnadoit! January 20, 2016 (2:56 pm)

    Joe had an opportunity to win us over by simply responding to several concerns we raised about the rain garden debacle in our neighborhood removing all on-street parking in front of our house.   Even the contractor thought the design was ill-fitting for our lot, and the City of Seattle even bypassed its own rules to site the design the way it is currently.  We testified in front of the City Clowncil.    Rasmussen at least had one of his unhelpful guys call us back and treat us like garbage.   Joe’s team at KCC never even returned a call or an email.    It was a county project…we had no representation.  If he plans on representing us in Congress, he has to learn how to interact when people need to share both praise and critical concerns.      It’s not all lollipops and unicorns in Congress…

  • Ws gal January 20, 2016 (3:29 pm)

    No thank you!! Please 

  • RJB January 20, 2016 (7:12 pm)

    I really love Joe McDermott as our county rep for West Seattle, but he’s not the only candidate for us to get to know as the congressional election approaches. Come meet another outstanding D7 candidate, Representative Walkinshaw, on February 2nd.https://www.facebook.com/events/1510267325936882/

  • KBear January 20, 2016 (8:28 pm)

    Joe is well-recognized by his own name and accomplishments. It is pure irony that he’s running to replace a guy named Jim McDermott. 

  • clark5080 January 21, 2016 (2:13 pm)

    This from a article about Joe on the Seattle times He Says he wants to “hold gun manufacturers liable for gun deaths” Full article here  Seattle times article on JoeSo much for common sense gun control laws. I think I will take a pass on Joe

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