Politics and Government

Rebecca Saldaña Announces Run for Girmay Zahilay’s Former County Council Seat

State Senator Rebecca Saldaña announced a bid for the open King County Council District 2 seat in the 2026 election, positioning herself in the progressive lane and pledging to fight back against Trump attacks and defend the working class.
Wilson holds a bullhorn and speaks at a pre-pandemic rally standing in from or a big yellow Transit Riders Union banner.

Op-Ed: Looking Back at the Movement That Elected Katie Wilson

John Burbank looks back to a series of progressive victories that paved the way for the most significant mayoral victory in Seattle over the past 100 years, with Katie Wilson about to take office.

Op-Ed: Seattle Council Must Reject Harrell’s Police Guild Contract, Demand Accountability

Seattle's proposed police union contract once again fails to deliver even the meager reforms and accountability promised eight years ago, opines Howard Gale. With Seattle City Council set to vote on the contract this month, here's the case for rejecting it.

Mayor Scrambles to Protect ‘Character’ of Old Bellevue with Emergency Controls

Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson's request would bring an emergency action to require facade preservation along Main Street as a condition of future development, while the city considers permanent regulations. While there was majority support for retaining the character of the area, some councilmembers cast doubt on the urgency and emergency framing.
Lin wears a gray suit and glasses and stands at the lectern with the City of Seattle seal behind him. Council President Sara Nelson and Maritza Rivera are to either side clapping.

Eddie Lin Becomes Seattle’s Newest Councilmember

Eddie Lin took office Tuesday as Seattle's newest city councilmember, pledging action to address the city's affordability, homelessness, and community safety crises. Lin is fresh off a dominant performance in the recent election, winning 68% of the vote in District 2.
A color-coded precinct map of Seattle. Harrell precincts are in blue.

Katie Wilson’s Path to Election Victory, Precinct by Precinct

Precinct-level results maps show that Seattle Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson's path to victory ran through Capitol Hill, the Central District, and the Rainier Valley, where she ran up her vote share.
The five candidates stand shoulder to shoulder in Columbia Park, which is lined with trees in full autumn colors.

Urbanist Podcast Election Extravaganza: Puget Sound Progressives Prevail

The Urbanist Podcast is back after a hiatus, just in time to break down 2025 election results. In this episode, Urbanist publisher Doug Trumm and reporter Amy Sundberg discuss what happened in Seattle, with progressive mayoral challenger Katie Wilson's dramatic victory, and other interesting races across the region.
Wilson stands on a rooftop in Capitol Hill wearing a Mona Lisa smile. She's a White middle-aged woman with dark hair.

Katie Wilson Charts New Course on Public Safety and Homelessness

Seattle Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson believes she'll be judged primarily by how she can improve outcomes on homelessness and public safety. In an interview with The Urbanist, Wilson laid out what she aims to do to set a new course, striving for a more holistic and effective response.