After 7th District fourteen term congressman Jim McDermott (D) announced his retirement earlier this month it led to a scramble among potential candidates. On Wednesday Jan 20 West Seattle's Joe McDermott announced his intention to run for the seat.

McDermott, just elected to be the Chair of the King County Council also announced his “Repeal Citizens United” pledge rejecting any dark money independent expenditure spending on his behalf.

The two men are not related.

In a press release McDermott said:

“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.