First it was reported that Seattle City Council member Bruce Harrell was considering challenging Democratic incumbent US Representative Adam Smith for the redrawn "majority-minority" 9th Congressional District. Then Smith told us that he had spoken with Harrell, and that it was all a "misunderstanding."

But over the weekend, Harrell's niece and campaign manager, Monisha Harrell, responded that it's Smith who was doing all the misunderstanding:

"With all due respect to Adam Smith, he does not speak for Bruce Harrell," Monisha wrote via email. "Bruce has not ruled out a consideration for running in the 9th, but did tell Adam that he would sit down with him first to discuss policy differences and give Adam an opportunity to discuss those differences before issuing a challenge. I know Adam Smith hopes to earn Bruce’s support, but that hasn’t happened yet."