Newly elected Seattle City Council member Lorena González says she doesnt plan to run for the 7th Congressional District and is endorsing Brady Walkinshaw in the race.
Newly elected Seattle City Council member Lorena González says she doesn't plan to run for the 7th Congressional District and is endorsing Brady Walkinshaw in the race. Kelly O

In the scramble to replace Jim McDermott in the U.S. House of Representatives, the only real contender who's officially running picked up a few important endorsements today.

State Rep. Brady Walkinshaw just announced the endorsements of at-large Seattle City Council members Lorena González and Tim Burgess. Walkinshaw also announced the endorsement of Michael Maddux, a Democratic party and parks activist who unsuccessfully ran for a city council seat last year. (Maddux is also a strong advocate of LGBTQ issues, particularly housing and services for homeless LGBTQ youth.)

González's endorsement is particularly interesting for a couple of reasons:

Her name was circulating as a possible contender for the seat Walkinshaw is running for and she's close to State Sen. Pramila Jayapal, who's also mulling a run.

"At this juncture," González said in a text message this morning, "I'm committed to remaining on the Seattle City Council."

(While we're ruling people out, State Sen. Reuven Carlyle decided not to run and State Rep. Jessyn Farrell "underscored her support" for Walkinshaw in a press release from Walkinshaw's camp today, presumably an effort to tamp down rumors that she might run.)

“I’ve known Brady and seen his leadership and values in our state legislature," González said in statement. "I would be very honored to work alongside him for a region that is more equitable and just.”

Burgess said Walkinshaw "has the leadership ability to get things done.”