Election contests for Seattle and King County administrative positions intensify as application deadline concludes
Fresh Take:
Say So Long to the Old Guard? Seattle's Campaign Season Kicks Off
Friday marked the last day for candidates to throw their hats in the ring for local offices in Seattle and King County. This upcoming election season offers the chance for residents to either shake things up in local government or maintain the status quo.
In Seattle, a handful of races are on the August ballot, including the mayor's office, city attorney, and three seats on the Seattle City Council. Meanwhile, King County will see six seats up for grabs: the county executive position and five spots on the County Council.
Many of the races feature incumbents, except for the King County executive spot, which will be empty for the first time in 16 years since Dow Constantine left the scene. An open seat on the Seattle City Council and one on the King County Council are also on the table.
Mayor Bruce Harrell aims for a second term, boasting a substantial fundraising and endorsement lead. Notably, he's picked up more support from labor unions than during his first run. His challengers in the primary are 10 strong, though more than half of them have yet to report a single penny raised.
Contenders including Katie Wilson, a tenant rights advocate, and Ry Armstrong, a local labor advocate and artist, are gearing up for the race. Joe Mallahan, a former T-Mobile exec and mayoral candidate from 2009, is also jumping in the ring.
City Attorney Ann Davison, who won four years ago in a surprise victory, faces three well-funded opponents this time around: Rory O'Sullivan, Nathan Rouse, and Erika Evans. The race will determine if Davison can fend off competition and secure another term.
In the Seattle City Council, two citywide seats are up, plus the District 2 seat vacated by Tammy Morales. Council President Sara Nelson and Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck are vying to keep their seats. Rinck will face two contenders, Cooper Hall and Rachel Savage, while Nelson has Dionne Foster, a seasoned policy adviser and director of the Progress Alliance of Washington, as her main competition. Foster enjoys support from numerous progressive state legislators and powerful city unions.
King County executive candidates are vying for the opportunity to fill Dow Constantine's shoes, with seven hopefuls running. Among them are Girmay Zahilay and Claudia Balducci, both prominent King County Council members who launched their campaigns last year. The results for the 2022 election are not yet available, but for the 2025 election, Girmay Zahilay is a top fundraiser with significant backing, Balducci is a King County Council member, and John Wilson is another candidate with reported fundraising figures.
In King County, four of the five County Council seats seem unlikely to produce competitive races, with most candidates not reporting any funds raised. The other seat, previously held by Dave Upthegrove, has six candidates vying for the position: Steffanie Fain, Kim-Khanh Van, Peter Kwon, Ryan McIrvin, Ahmad Corner, and Angela Henderson.
Candidates have until Monday to withdraw their names from the ballot, and primary ballots will be sent out on July 18. The election will take place on August 5.
Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming election, and don't forget to make your voice heard!
[1] Source: King County Elections
- The government of Seattle will see changes as several local offices, including the mayor's, city attorney, and Seattle City Council seats, are up for grabs in the August election.
- In King County, the general-news landscape is abuzz with political discussions, as six seats, including the county executive position and five spots on the County Council, are open for contest.
- As the Seattle general-news scene thrives with the election season, the Seattle City Council District 2 seat and the King County Council seat are also open, offering Seattle and Bellevue residents a chance to shape their city's and county's transportation and politics.
