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Seattle Elects Katie Wilson After Late Ballots Secure Narrow Win

Local calls capped a late progressive surge that elevated an outsider organizer to City Hall.

Overview

  • The latest count put Wilson up by 1,976 votes, a lead larger than the estimated ballots remaining, leading KING 5 and the Seattle Times to call the race.
  • Mayor Bruce Harrell scheduled a Thursday address widely expected to concede, though he had not said whether he will seek a recount and no automatic recount was triggered.
  • Harrell’s election-night advantage of more than 10,000 votes evaporated as late-arriving mail ballots, a frequent factor in Seattle, broke decisively for Wilson.
  • Wilson, 43, co-founded and led the Transit Riders Union and will take office having never previously held elected office.
  • She ran on affordable transit, progressive taxes, stronger renter protections and universal child care, drawing comparisons to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as she faces pressing challenges on housing, homelessness and public safety.