Now we know: Democratic congressional candidate Andrew Hughes, 30, can ride a bicycle around Vashon Island, paddle a kayak across Puget Sound, swim Lake Burien, and walk the length of Washington's 7th Congressional District. We know this because, beginning on May 17, The Stranger accompanied Hughes on a three-day trek that emphatically showcased all of these feats of strength. (We beat him on the bicycle leg, by the way.) But what we don't know is the answer to the only question that matters: Can he beat Jim McDermott, a beloved congressman who has served for 23 years and, in the 2010 election, earned 83 percent of the vote?

Hughes, whose fledgling campaign has knocked on 6,000 doors since April—with 2,000 of those doors knocked on by Hughes himself—admitted, "Mount McDermott's a big mountain to climb." And McDermott, for his part, shrugged off the whole thing, calling Hughes's trek a stunt and declaring: "I'll be surprised if that's the basis on which people make their decision—whether someone can swim across Lake Burien or whatever."

"There's a need for a new voice," Hughes countered. "And especially for a new generation of leadership."

But why, exactly?

Hughes, whose forefathers created a janitorial services empire and who is putting $60,000 of his own money into this run, said McDermott exhibits "a lack of urgency" and has "failed to deliver." Because of this, Hughes said, "There's a need for a fresh face to come in there and build coalitions... People just feel that he hasn't done as much as he could in that seat."

What about McDermott's long experience, and his senior seat on the House Ways and Means Committee?

"Seniority doesn't equate to delivery," Hughes said. "If you send him back for another two years, what's going to change?... We can't wait two more years to match rhetoric with results."

Hughes claimed, as proof of his point that McDermott has "failed to deliver," that the congressman, in his entire 23-year career, has been able to pass only six pieces of legislation that he drafted, sponsored, and shepherded through.

"That's ridiculous," shot back McDermott spokesman Kinsey Kiriakos. "The congressman is in the minority right now, and I can think of four bills already in this Congress that my boss authored, and was an original cosponsor on, and shepherded through this Congress." (Two of the bills had to do with foster care, and the other two had to do with trade.)

"That's just in this Congress alone," Kiriakos continued. When you add the multiple extensions of unemployment insurance McDermott introduced since the Great Recession hit, you're easily at six more bills, he said.

Do they differ on any serious policy issues? Kind of.

Hughes supports term limits for Congress members (shocker), while McDermott opposes term limits (shocker). Worth noting: Hughes's proposed term limit is 18 years—a nice long career for himself, should he get elected, but fewer years than McDermott has already served.

McDermott spokesman Kiriakos responded: "That's not really term limits." Anyway, Kiriakos continued, "My boss has always maintained that there are already term limits. They're called elections."

Also: Hughes goes further in support of marijuana legalization than McDermott does, supporting this fall's Initiative 502. McDermott hasn't taken a position on the initiative yet. McDermott's spokesman explains, "He thinks there are more pressing issues facing the nation that need to be dealt with than the legalization of pot for general use."

Hughes's campaign says there are more policy distinctions to come, and they are aiming to raise $500,000.

All well and good, and interesting. But really. Do they really believe they can do this?

"It's a long shot," campaign manager Jeff Upthegrove says. "But it's doable."