Will you chip in to support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation today? Yes, I want to support My Lynnwood News!
Lynnwood City Councilmember Josh Binda said Tuesday that he is running for the 2nd District Congressional seat now held by longtime incumbent Rep. Rick Larsen.
Binda — who will officially announce his bid during a noon Wednesday press conference in front of Edmonds College — will join two others so far challenging Larsen, a Democrat who has been in Congress since 2001. They are Jason Call, a member of the Green Party, who also ran against Larsen in 2020 and 2022, and Leif Johnson, an engineer who is running as a Republican. Johnson also ran for the seat in 2022.
The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 6.
Binda is halfway through his first term on the Lynnwood City Council, having been elected in 2022. Binda said in a press release that he “would make history as the youngest African American ever elected to Congress in the United States.” Binda also said he “aims to bring fresh ideas, youthful energy, and a unique perspective to Washington State’s congressional delegation.”
Binda has faced controversy during his time on the Lynnwood City Council. He was fined $500 by the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) for spending $2,913.09 of his campaign funds on personal items. The PDC also fined Binda for two instances where he failed to submit his financial disclosure paperwork as required by state law. In addition, Binda received backlash when he filmed a video in the Lynnwood council chambers about a paid school speaking tour, and was accused of using his status as a councilmember and city property for personal gain. While he initially denied the accusation, Binda later signed a settlement agreement with the City of Lynnwood that confirmed the transgression with the stipulation that it was a result of ignorance instead of malice.
Binda and his supporters pushed back against these accusations. The NAACP of Snohomish County began an investigation of Binda’s treatment in May 2023. Preliminary results indicated that City of Lynnwood officials and the news media treated Binda differently from other city councilmembers and he was unfairly targeted because of his race and age.
An effort to recall Binda failed to garner enough signatures to move forward.
What he really needs is to run and hide somewhere, away from the public that he is stealing from for his own welfare.
Did April Fools Day come early this year?
I don’t have the confidence that he’s representing the electorate. More likely he is promoting his own agenda and naked ambition.
Right that is all we need another George Santos. This guy was caught misusing funds a few times. He has already proven that he should not even have been on the city council let alone considered for a higher office