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Harrell Concedes as Katie Wilson Declared Seattle’s Mayor-Elect After Late Ballot Surge

Late-arriving mail ballots lifted Wilson to a roughly 2,000-vote edge that exceeds the remaining count.

Overview

  • King County’s latest tally shows Wilson at 50.19% to Harrell’s 49.48%, a lead of 1,976 votes that is larger than the ballots left to process.
  • An automatic recount is unlikely because the percentage margin is slightly above 0.5%, though either campaign can still request and fund a recount after certification procedures.
  • Certification is scheduled for Nov. 25, with voters able to cure signature issues until Nov. 24, and the winner is expected to take office in January 2026.
  • Harrell said he congratulated Wilson and offered transition support, while Wilson outlined priorities on affordability, including universal childcare, renter protections and progressive taxes.
  • Wilson, 43, is a Transit Riders Union co-founder with no prior elected experience, and her comeback followed the region’s typical pattern of progressive-leaning late mail returns.