Lynnwood’s Binda to challenge Rep. Larsen for Congress

LYNNWOOD — Lynnwood’s youngest City Council member will challenge 23-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen for his seat in Congress.

Josh Binda is vying to unseat Larsen, a Democrat, in Washington’s 2nd Congressional District, he said in an email on Tuesday afternoon. Binda did not announce a party affiliation in the email.

If elected, Binda would be the youngest African American to be elected to Congress — and the youngest member of Congress in U.S. history, period.

U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, of Florida’s 10th District, was elected at age 25 in 2022.

Binda will still be 24 in November.

Binda plans to announce more details about his candidacy at a press conference at noon Wednesday outside Edmonds College.

“With a track record of leadership, a commitment to community and a vision for a better future, Binda’s candidacy for congress represents a new era of representation and progress,” an email from Binda’s management team read. “By challenging the incumbent Rick Larsen, Binda aims to bring fresh ideas, youthful energy, and a unique perspective to Washington State’s congressional delegation.”

Following activism with the Black Lives Matter movement in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, Binda was elected to the Lynnwood City Council in 2021. His tenure has been marked by controversy, including his spending campaign funds for personal use and using city property to promote his speaking tour, in violation of city code.

Lynnwood residents ran an effort to recall Binda this year, but the petition failed to gain enough signatures for the April special election ballot.

Larsen was elected to Congress in 2001. He has won his most recent elections by 20% or more.

Jason Call, of Marysville, who unsuccessfully challenged Larsen as a Democrat in 2020 and 2022, declared in April 2023 that he would run again. This time, he’s running under a Green Party banner.

Leif Johnson, a manufacturing engineer from Whidbey Island, has launched a campaign as a Republican. Johnson got 2.5% of the vote in the 2022 primary.

Ashley Nash: 425-339-3037; ashley.nash@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @ash_nash00.