Seattle’s D5 Council frontrunners Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang diverged around the issues of surveillance cameras, Aurora “stay out” orders, and relative enthusiasm for the mayor’s Taller Denser Faster housing proposal.
The Urbanist Elections Committee is excited to announce our 2026 primary election endorsements. Check out our great slate of leaders. Be sure to vote by August 4.
Last week, a campaign launched against two ballot measures that opponents say would be a blow to the rights of queer kids. The anti-trans measures are bankrolled by conservative multimillionaires, mirroring efforts in other states.
State Senator Rebecca Saldaña and Seattle Port Commission President Toshiko Hasegawa are both running for King County Council in D2. Both progressives, they shared similar positions at a recent forum, but differed over a county social housing levy and whose experience was the right fit for the job.
Support The Urbanist, connect with endorsed candidates, and celebrate the hard work of the Endorsements Committee as we approach the primary.
The City of Seattle's investment in King County Metro service would jump by 60% over the life of the proposed 10-year renewal of the Seattle Transit Measure. While backed by a sales tax increase, Wilson framed the measure as a path to affordability and access.
The seven-year levy renewal will invest around $68 million into the Seattle Public Library every year, providing more than a third of the department's budget. Library supporters see the measure as essential to provide library services to a growing city.
The most important local elections this year might not be the ones you think, with control of the Washington State Supreme Court up for grabs and conservatives seeking to orchestrate a takeover.
On Tuesday, Makah Tribal Leader Patrick DePoe launched a campaign for the state House in the 24th Legislative District. In an interview with The Urbanist, he was in favor of taxing the rich, expanding housing, curbing parking mandates, and increasing education and health care funding.
The Urbanist's Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm discussed recent news out of Olympia, candidate campaign rollouts, and King County transportation funding woes.
Hannah Sabio-Howell is taking on State Senator Jamie Pedersen in the 43rd LD. As a young Millennial renter and labor movement leader, she is stressing an affordability agenda and contending the incumbent is too cozy with corporations.
Taking on an incumbent who has been in office since 2011, Ron Davis is eyeing tax changes, housing reforms, and a more robust state response to federal overreach as major planks of his platform.
Julie Kang is running for the open seat in Seattle City Council’s District 5 this year, and is the first candidate in the race to qualify for democracy vouchers. An educator and bank founder, Kang espoused a mix of centrist and progressive views in her interview with The Urbanist.
Lake City activist Nilu Jenks is the first to jump in the race for Seattle City Council’s District 5. The special election could determine control of the council next year. The first-generation Iranian-American is stressing the need to protect immigrants and the environment, as Trump attacks both.
Touting a focus on social housing, transit-oriented development, and lidding I-5, Hasegawa is the second candidate to announce in the race to fill Girmay Zahilay’s former King County Council seat.