Seattle primary election results show Erika Evans ahead of Ann Davison in the city attorney race
In the recent primary election held on August 6, Erika Evans, a former assistant U.S. Attorney and assistant city attorney, secured a commanding lead in the race for Seattle City Attorney. With 51.1% of the vote, Evans outpaced incumbent Ann Davison, who received 37.2%, according to election results[1][4][5].
Evans's victory in the primary sets the stage for a heated contest in the November general election, where both Evans and Davison will compete for the city's top legal position[1][4].
Criticising Davison's tough-on-crime approach, Evans argues that prosecuting low-level misdemeanors like shoplifting and trespassing is costly and ineffective compared to focusing on serious crimes such as domestic violence and DUI cases[1]. Davison, who was elected in 2021 with a law-and-order platform, defends her record by stating that conditions have improved since she took office but argues she should continue leading the office to enhance public safety[1].
Other candidates Rory O'Sullivan and Nathan Rouse were eliminated in the primary, receiving 6.3% and 4.9% of the vote respectively[1][4].
The election marks a potential shift in voter preference away from tough-on-crime tactics towards Evans’s focus on different prosecutorial priorities. Evans aims to clear backlogs of serious crimes, rebuild community courts, and push back against policies from the Trump administration[1].
Davison's reelection chances are in serious doubt due to Evans' impressive tally in the primary. Davison, who joined the Republican Party in 2020 to run for lieutenant governor, has faced criticism from opponents, including Evans[1]. Davison has distanced herself from any party affiliation, saying she's never voted for Trump and won endorsements from high-profile Washington Democrats[1].
Evans expressed optimism about the general election and her ability to bring change to the Seattle city attorney's office. Davison, who ran for City Council in 2019, losing to Debora Juarez, and lieutenant governor in 2020, finishing third in the primary, reacted with an emailed statement, expressing disappointment but promising to remain focused on public safety and building on improvements made during her time in office[1].
Notably, Davison and Thomas-Kennedy, who ran against Evans and Holmes, split Holmes' vote enough that he narrowly lost the primary[1]. Thomas-Kennedy, who attacked Holmes from the other direction as too punitive on misdemeanors, was eliminated in the primary[1].
Evans worked briefly as a pro tem judge before taking a job in the U.S. Attorney's Office of Western Washington, but left when Donald Trump was sworn in[1]. The top two vote-getters will move on to the November general election, where the race for Seattle City Attorney is expected to be closely contested.
Sources:
[1] The Seattle Times. (2025, August 7). [Seattle city attorney primary: Erika Evans leads Ann Davison]. Retrieved from https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-city-attorney-primary-erika-evans-leads-ann-davison/
[4] KUOW. (2025, August 7). [Erika Evans leads Seattle City Attorney primary; Ann Davison trails]. Retrieved from https://www.kuow.org/stories/erika-evans-leads-seattle-city-attorney-primary-ann-davison-trails
[5] Crosscut. (2025, August 7). [Erika Evans leads Seattle City Attorney primary election]. Retrieved from https://crosscut.com/2025/08/erika-evans-leads-seattle-city-attorney-primary-election
- In the upcoming November general election, Erika Evans and Ann Davison, the top two vote-getters from the recent primary election in Washington state, will compete for the position of Seattle City Attorney, a contest expected to be closely contested.
- Erika Evans, the candidate who secured a commanding lead in the Seattle City Attorney primary election, intends to focus on clearing backlogs of serious crimes, rebuilding community courts, and pushing back against policies from the Trump administration if elected.
- The election results show a potential shift in voter preference away from tough-on-crime tactics towards Evans’s focus on different prosecutorial priorities, as she criticizes Ann Davison's approach to low-level misdemeanors.
- The Seattle city attorney race has gained attention due to the climate of politics in the city, with Evans expressing optimism about her ability to bring change and Davison promising to remain focused on public safety and building on improvements made during her time in office.
