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Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, a member of the Democratic party, was on his way to securing re-election earlier this year in the predominantly liberal city in the Pacific Northwest, aiming to be the first Seattle mayor in twenty years to win a second term.
However, Harrell faced a tougher path to re-election after progressive organizer Katie Wilson entered the race in March.
Wilson, often compared to New York City’s Zohran Mamdani by political analysts, quickly emerged as the frontrunner among the numerous challengers to the mayor.
Tuesday’s primary election will narrow down the current field of nine candidates to two for the general election in November.
“My re-election campaign has the support of over 100 current and former elected officials, labor unions, as well as leaders in affordable housing, environmental advocacy, community organizations, and transportation,” Harrell shared on social media recently. “I am proud of the diverse and extensive coalition we have built to keep Seattle progressing.”
Harrell assumed office in 2021, as Seattle was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the violent protests and riots that followed the murder of George Floyd.
During his time as mayor, he has focused on enhancing public safety, addressing homelessness, and aiding struggling businesses in their recovery efforts. Harrell has highlighted the decrease in overall crime rates since he took office.
However, Wilson, a transit activist and co-founder of the Transit Riders Union, has criticized Harrell for prioritizing the removal of homeless encampments over expanding shelters. Wilson argues that Harrell, a former three-term city council member, represents the political establishment that has contributed to the city’s soaring cost of living.
Similar to the democratic socialist Mamdani, who made waves by winning the Democratic Party mayoral primary in New York City, Wilson is focusing on the issue of affordability.
“Housing costs have doubled since Bruce Harrell first became mayor,” she pointed out in a social media post.
However, unlike Mamdani, Wilson does not align herself with democratic socialism.
Wilson has been able to keep pace with the incumbent mayor in terms of fundraising for the campaign. Recent polls indicate a tight race between Harrell and Wilson, with former T-Mobile executive and 2009 mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan trailing far behind.
Ry Armstrong, an actor and executive director of an environmental nonprofit running a progressive campaign, along with five other candidates on the ballot, had minimal support in recent polling.
