McDermott reminds voters to return ballots

By Evan Smith

Incumbent Democratic 7th District Congressman Jim McDermott says that his main message while campaigning in Edmonds Saturday was for voters to fill out their ballots and send them in.

McDermott said after his doorbelling tour that he expects a very low turnout in the August 7 primary election.

He reminded voters that some recent elections – like the 2004 race for governor – had been decided by a few votes.

He noted that this is the first time that Washington’s primary has been in early August.

The expected low turnout makes results hard to predict, he said. Both fellow-Democrat Andrew Hughes and Republican Ron Bemis have said that they expect to face off with McDermott in November after the top-two primary.

Another Republican, two other Democrats and an independent also are on the primary ballot.

Shoreline, Edmonds, Woodway and parts of Lake Forest Park that weren’t previously in the District have joined most of Seattle and some of Seattle's southwest suburbs in the newly drawn district.