Eli had to go pick up some prize thing in New York, so you’re stuck with me following a candidate's biking, boating, and now swimming stunts as he runs for office. Whippersnapper Andrew Hughes, 30, who is trying to oust 450-term Congressman Jim McDermott, started the second day of his trek across the 7th Congressional District with a shock. Hughes and his campaign manager, Jeff Upthegrove, swam across Lake Burien yesterday before walking 29 miles to Ballard.

After he dried off, Hughes got ready to walk from Burien to Seattle. As we walked, we talked about post-college prosperity and what the "American Dream" looks like today. He said he feels that many young Americans search for “richness of experience, not monetary wealth.”

Alright, so he’s a bit more of a dreamer than McDermott, but maybe decades of public service can wash that out of him.

Strolling through Burien, our chit-chat turned to more serious matters, such as the recent National Defense Authorization Act, which allows for the indefinite detention without trial of “suspected terrorists” —both citizens and foreigners alike. Hughes said he would have voted against the act, just as McDermott did. However, Hughes brought up a point that after 23 years in Congress, McDermott should be able to do more than cast "just a protest vote."

I asked Hughes why he was running in the 7th District, which is most of Seattle, Vashon Island, and a handful of suburbs. Originally, Hughes had planned to run in the 1st District, which is where he was born and raised. However, the 1st was redistricted, and Hughes, who has lived in the 7st for the past 13 years, felt that he would have a greater chance of "engaging with voters" in the 7th.

Saturday started with a morning pastry at Laren's Bakery in Ballard. Andrew had finished up his 29 mile (ouch) walk late Friday, and crashed at a friend's house.

We talked about the Panama Free Trade Agreement, which McDermott voted for. Hughes was opposed to the agreement, and said he is opposed to most free trade agreements. Why?

"Most free trade agreements are for the people at the top of the food chain, not for people who are trying to put food on the table."

Hughes also seemed passionate about cutting defense spending, but supporting troops who have returned home: "The number one goal of military spending should be having mental health resources for returning troops," he said. "They've invested in their country, and it's time for us to invest in their well-being."

As we walked, Hughes had a list of houses to doorbell. Few doors were answered, but those who came to the door were generally surprised that someone so young was running for Congress. Spending half of each day doorbelling (as he usually does) can get boring, he said. What keeps him going day after day?

"It's rewarding to know that each door I knock on and each conversation I have is one that McDermott isn't having."

After following Hughes for two days, I have no doubts that he's passionate and well-educated—he's got a master's and law degree for Christ's sake. But is he ready to represent a large and important district at the federal level? Perhaps not—that's a big jump for someone who hasn't been an elected official in any other capacity. Although he's a licensed tax attorney, it's not clear that he's had much full-time experience in that field either. What he does have is passion, smarts, energy, and a clear vision for how to make the world a better place—but that's usually not what it takes to get elected.