Pramila Jayapal takes early lead in the 7th Congressional District race
Nov 8, 2016, 9:02 PM | Updated: 10:07 pm

Brady Walkinshaw and Pramila Jayapal both told 成人X站 Radio's "Jason and Burns Show" that immigration reform is important to them. (AP/Canva)
(AP/Canva)
In early election results Pramila Jayapal leads by 58 percent in the race for the 7th Congressional District.
Opponent Brady Walkinshaw had about 42 percent.
Jayapal has pushed for better gender and income equality. She told 成人X站 Radio’s Jason and Burns Show in September,聽鈥淧eople are looking for someone who is a fighter and will stand up for working people … A lot of people feel the economy is working against them.鈥
He argues he has built a record of getting 鈥渁ctual results鈥 in the state Legislature. Walkinshaw has focused on environmental issues. He says the Legislature needs to work better at forging common ground.
Walkinshaw wants to push politicians need to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
鈥淚t is a personal issue for me,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 grew up in a rural part of our state on the Canadian border. A lot of immigrants where I grew up. My mother ran the migrant education programs in the public schools I went to.鈥
He says immigration reform needs to be passed for several reasons, including the benefit it would bring to the economy.聽Jayapal says immigration reform is something she has worked on for more than a decade.
鈥淚 think we have a real shot of getting this done,鈥 she said. 鈥淧eople believe we need a pathway for undocumented immigrants. People believe we should have families united.鈥
Democrat Jim McDermott announced his retirement in January after leading the 7th District since 1989.