By Lindsay Peyton

Signs read “Bold. Progressive. Unafraid.” Along with the motto was printed Pramila Jayapal’s name – a democratic candidate who drew a large crowd to Hale’s Ales, all waiting for the votes to be tallied tonight for the Washington state primary.

The results flashed on the big screen. Jayapal immediately took the lead. By 8:15 p.m., she had 38.2 percent of the votes for the seventh congressional district.

In second place, Joe McDermott had 21. 5 percent, while Brady Walkinshaw had 20 percent.

There were a number of candidates seeking election after Jim McDermott decided to step down, also including Democrats Donovan Rivers and Arun Jhaveri, Republicans Scott Sutherland and Craig Keller, and independents Leslie Regier and Carl Cooper.

The crowd started cheering, and Jayapal took the podium with a band of supporters waving campaign signs behind her.

“We can -- and will -- reclaim our government to work for all of us,” she said. “We are the many, going forward as one, mightier together than any of us are alone.”

Jayapal explained that in early polls, she was 25 points behind. She said success came from hitting the pavement, knocking on doors and speaking directly to constituents.

“Talking to voters in their homes is what keeps us real,” she said. “It’s what keeps us in touch with what’s going on.”

Jayapal said that she accepted no funding from corporate political action committees (PACs).

“We’re taking from regular people so that we’re accountable to regular people,” she said.

Jayapal outlined her campaign goals, which included fighting income inequality, homeless and college debt. She pledged to work to promote diversity, protect women’s rights and encourage racial justice. She also said that she would stand up against the NRA and combat climate change.

“I want America to use our might to solve challenges,” she said. “I want us to focus on development and diplomacy and make sure war is our last resort and never our first.”

Jayapal currently represents the 37th legislative district in the state senate. She is known for her history as a civil rights activist in Seattle, especially as founder and executive director of OneAmerica, an advocacy group for immigration.

Her commitment to immigration reform has roots in her personal history. She came to the U.S. from India when she was 16 years old.

Jayapal earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and her master’s of business administration from Northwestern University

West Seattle resident Susan Harmon was in the crowd at Hale’s and expressed her excitement with the election results. Jayapal would be the first Indian-American woman to ever serve in Congress.

“We need our congress to look like our country,” Harmon said. “She’s also someone who has worked really hard in her life to accomplish things. To have that kind of courage, that’s huge.”

Maria Ramirez, who lives in Delridge, agreed. “It means a lot to me to see a woman of color, an immigrant, who is making it,” Ramirez said. “Pramila will make her own path. It’s going to be different – and it will be even better.”

Jayapal said that will celebrate tonight’s victory – but is already preparing for her next move.

“Tonight is a victory for our progressive movement,” she said. “But we’re going to have to double down with more energy, more resolve and more commitment to engage more voters.”

In each race, the two top candidates will move on to the general election, slated for Tuesday, Nov. 8.