Former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan Entering Seattle Mayoral Race

SEATTLE, WA - Former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan, the nation's first openly gay federal prosecutor, will run for mayor of Seattle, her campaign announced Thursday. Durkan will officially launch her campaign on Friday at an event on Beacon Hill. Her entry into the mayoral primary comes just two days after Mayor Ed Murray announced he was dropping out of the race.

Durkan joins a wide field of more than a dozen candidates including state Sen. Bob Hasegawa, former Seattle mayor Mike McGinn, community activist Nikkita Oliver, and urban policy activist Cary Moon.

Durkan is setting herself apart from the other candidates, it appears, by touting her experience with police reform. Her Thursday campaign announcement highlights that she's been a "progressive champion on police reform." As U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Durkan oversaw reforms at the Seattle police department after the U.S. Department of Justice found an overuse of excessive force among officers.

Durkan was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2009 and served until 2014. Durkan is a Notre Dame and University of Washington graduate, and grew up in Issaquah.

Image via Associated Press