Jim McDermott (born 28 December 1936) is the current U.S. Representative for the Seventh Congressional District of Washington. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was first elected to Congress in 1988. McDermott serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. McDermott is also a member of the House Progressive Caucus. The Seventh District includes all of Seattle and Vashon Island and portions of Shoreline, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.
McDermott was born in Chicago, Illinois. As a licensed physician (MD, University of Illinois Medical School, 1963), he is particularly interested in health care issues. He served in the United States Navy Medical Corps during the Vietnam War era.
In 1980, then-State Senator McDermott defeated incumbent Dixy Lee Ray in the Democratic primary for Governor of Washington, but lost the general election to John Spellman.
