Issaquah Councilman Marts Backing Kim Schrier For Congress

ISSAQUAH, WA - The election isn't for more than a year, but Democrats aiming to grab retiring Congressman Dave Reichert's seat are well into campaign mode. On Tuesday, Issaquah Councilman Tola Marts announced he's backing Dr. Kim Schrier in the 8th Congressional District race.

Marts was one of the six Democrats running for the seat, but he dropped out earlier this month. Candidates still in the race include Renton businesswoman Mona Das; Jason Rittereiser, a prosecutor for King County; Toby Whitney, who worked for Jim McDermott in the Legislature; and Tom Cramer, who ran for the 9th Congressional District seat in the 2012 primary, but lost.

On the Republican side, only state Sen. Dino Rossi, R-Redmond, has stepped up to keep the district red.

In endorsing Schrier, Marts highlighted her experience as a doctor. Democrats in Reichert's district - allied under various Indivisble groups - focused a lot of effort this year convincing Reichert not to vote for Obamacare repeal. When the House passed a repeal last spring, Reichert was among a few Republicans who voted no.

"Dr. Schrier’s experience as a pediatrician makes her uniquely qualified to fight for improved access to quality healthcare in Congress, and she will be a sharp check on Donald Trump and the harmful policies of the Republican party," Marts said in the endorsement. "Dr. Schrier is the clear Democratic frontrunner and the best candidate to take on Republican extremist and perennial candidate Dino Rossi in the general election.”

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