Longtime progressive activist Katie Wilson will compete against incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell in November’s general election after securing the top two spots in Tuesday’s nonpartisan mayoral primary.
Wilson earned approximately 46% of the vote, while Harrell received 45%, as reported by FOX 13.
Known for her involvement in establishing and leading the left-wing Transit Riders Union, Wilson advocates for progressive policies such as minimum wage increases, improved access to public transit, and affordable housing. She has also pledged to “Trump-proof” the City of Seattle and has been compared to New York City’s Zohran Mamdani by political analysts.
Harrell, who served on the Seattle City Council for over a decade before becoming mayor in 2021, is viewed as the establishment candidate in the race.
Both candidates raised significantly more campaign funds than the other seven candidates in the primary, according to Seattle Ethics and Elections records.
Harrell, who garnered nearly 100 endorsements from current elected officials, outpaced Wilson in fundraising before the primary, raising just over $500,000. In contrast, Wilson collected around $475,000 in campaign contributions.
As the general election approaches, Wilson aims to prevent Harrell from becoming Seattle’s first mayor to win re-election in twenty years.
Meanwhile, Wilson has criticized Harrell for prioritizing the dismantling of homeless encampments over increasing shelter availability and accused him of maintaining the political status quo.
“We need leadership that listens to voters and governs in the interest of the city’s residents, not corporate supporters,” Wilson stated in a March interview with PBS. She pointed to Harrell’s stance on affordable housing, claiming he was at the forefront of efforts to undermine a proposition that would have promoted affordable housing development.
However, Harrell defended his mayoral record, stating to local news outlet My Northwest that his administration has allocated “over a billion dollars in affordable housing.”
The upcoming general election, where Wilson and Harrell will go head-to-head, is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
