It was't even close at last night's 46th Legislative District Democrats PCO caucus, where state Rep. David Frockt easily beat his closest challenger vying for the appointment to replace the late state Sen. Scott White. A list of three nominees will be transmitted to the King County Council, which makes the final appointment, and by tradition almost always selects the PCO's first choice.

David Frockt - 69 votes
David Miller - 10 votes
Tony Provine - 6 votes

Not long after the votes were counted the next round of this process kicked off when Congressman Jim McDermott sent out an email endorsing Javier Valdez for the 46th LD House seat being vacated by Frockt. Of course, politicians make endorsements all the time, but this one is a bit unusual, as Rep. McDermott rarely inserts himself into intra-party primary and appointment battles. In fact, according to local political know-it-all Dean Nielsen, the last time McDermott made a preemptive endorsement like this in a local race was in 1997 for Peter Steinbrueck. "He just doesn't do it," says Nielsen.

Valdez is the former chair of both the 46th an 43rd LD Dems, a long time board member of both the county and state Democratic parties, and the current president of AFSCME Council 2, Local 21-C. Other candidates reportedly vying for the appointment to Frockt's seat include Gerry Pollett (who lost to White a few years back), White's legislative assistant Sly Cann, longtime party activist Sarajane Siegfriedt, Metropolitan Democratic Club president Justin Simmons, Muni League co-chair Gabe Meyer, EOI policy associate Tatsuko Go Hollo, and Dusty Hoerler, a union plumber.

With a field that crowded, you gotta think McDermott's early endorsement will make a difference with the PCOs.