Biography:

Jim McDermott was born in Chicago, and resides in Seattle. He worked his way through school by loading coal and ore boats on the Great Lakes. He received a bachelor's degree from Wheaton College in 1958 and a medical degree from the University of Illinois Medical School in 1963. He served in the Navy, 1968-70, and was chief psychiatrist at Long Beach Naval Station, Calif., caring for returning Vietnam veterans and their families. He had a private practice in Seattle, 1970-83.

He was elected to the Washington House in 1970, serving a single term before running unsuccessfully for governor of Washington in 1972.

He was elected to the Washington Senate in 1974, and lost races for governor in 1980 and 1984. He served in the state Senate until 1987 when he resigned to take a State Department medical post in Africa.

He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1988.

McDermott divorced, remarried and has two grown children.

Past Campaigns:

Jim McDermott was elected to the U.S. House in 1988 with 76 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Robert Edwards. He was re-elected in 1990 with 76 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Larry Penberthy.

He won re-election again in 1992 with 81 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Glenn Hampson. He was re-elected in 1994 with 76 percent, defeating Republican Keith Harris. In 1996, he was re-elected with 82 percent of the vote against Republican Frank Kleschen. McDermott was re-elected in 1998 without major party opposition.

He won the Democratic nomination for the 7th District House seat in the September 2000 primary, winning 78 percent of the vote with no Republican challenger on the ballot. Two minor-party candidates drew in 22 percent. McDermott was elected to the Washington House in 1970 and to the Washington Senate in 1974, serving 1974-87. He lost races for governor of Washington in 1972, 1980 and 1984.

McDermott was re-elected in 2000 with 73 percent of the vote. In the open primary in September, 2002, he won over 77 percent of the total vote. He was re-elected in the general election with 74 percent of the vote.

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