Neither Sanders nor Jayapal is highlighting the visit as promoting votes for Hillary or, for that matter, Democrats in the critical races for control of Washington’s legislature or the Congress.
Bernie Sanders is here campaigning in a race between two progressives … one a strong supporter of Sanders’ presidential campaign and the other long term Seattle activist with a great record on local issues.
The choice is between symbolism and pragmatism, national issues versus issues rooted in Seattle.
Bernie’s candidate, Pramila Jayapal, does not even live in the District. She promises to move here if she is elected. In her own district, Ms.
The District changed because of a movement Pramila Jayapal helped lead. The argument was to create a low income, high minority CD of “people of color.” The assumption by everyone was that the next step would be to replace Adam Smith, a very corporatist Democrat who is especially well known as a Congressman for Northrup Grumman.
Pramila was widely expected to be the replacement for Adam Smith, Her friend Kshama Sawant was expected to run against Jim McDermott. Jayapal stepped in blocking not just Sawant but a number of African American politicians who might well have run for McDermott’s or Smith’s seat.
Jayapal has been very successful on issues important to recent immigrants to the US .. meaning her national focus will be on immigrants from places like Latin America to Africa. She is also a doctrinaire liberal on all the usual issues from climate to TPP. She has not campaigned on local issues,
Brady Walkinshaw certainly can match liberal credentials with Ms. Jayapal. He is rated as the most productive member of our state legislature. However, the difference is that Brady is not just from here, he is deeply embedded in Seattle’s issue.
From JOEL CONNELLY’s column in the PI: ‘Walkinshaw is arguing that Seattle, a progressive city and pacesetter on such issues as climate change, has much to offer — and that its member of Congress should be pushing in Washington, D.C., ideas that have worked in Washington state.
“‘We live in one of the most important places in the country,’ said Walkinshaw. He would also work to bring home federal resources to help, particularly with our transportation problems.”