Anders Ibsen (Mayor of Tacoma, Washington, candidate 2025)

Anders Ibsen

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Mayor of Tacoma

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 5, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

The Evergreen State College, 2008

Personal

Birthplace

Tacoma, Wash.

Profession

Real Estate Broker

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Anders Ibsen is running for election to the Mayor of Tacoma in Washington. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source] He was on the ballot in the primary on August 5, 2025.^[source]

Ibsen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Anders Ibsen provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 10, 2025:

• Birth date: March 1, 1986
• Birth place: Tacoma, Washington
• High school: Tacoma School of the Arts
• Bachelor's: The Evergreen State College, 2008
• Gender: Male
• Profession: Real Estate Broker
• Prior offices held:
  • City Councilmember (2012-2019)
  • Conservation District Supervisor (2008-2011)
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: A leader who listens.
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements
• Campaign Facebook
• Campaign Instagram

Elections

General election

General election for Mayor of Tacoma

John Hines and Anders Ibsen are running in the general election for Mayor of Tacoma on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	John Hines (Nonpartisan)
		Anders Ibsen (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Tacoma

The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Tacoma on August 5, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Jesus Carlos (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Anthony Ginn (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Steve Haverly (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	John Hines (Nonpartisan)
		Anders Ibsen (Nonpartisan)
		Whitney Stevens (Nonpartisan)

---

	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ibsen received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Ibsen's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District Lodge 751
• Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates of Washington
• Washington Conservation Action
• Washington Education Association PAC

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Anders Ibsen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ibsen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a lifelong Tacoma resident, born and raised in this city by a working-class family, and shaped by a deep belief in fairness, equity, and community empowerment. I got my start in local politics as a college student protesting the Iraq War in 2006 and volunteering for Rep. Tami Green’s campaign in the 28th LD—and I’ve spent the last two decades committed to public service and social justice in every form I could. As a two-term City Councilmember and former Deputy Mayor, I didn’t just vote the right way—I worked to build lasting political power for the people most often left out of the conversation. I bring a unique background as both a public servant and small business owner, with real-world experience as a certified appraiser and housing professional. As Mayor, I’ll bring that same dogged work ethic and strategic focus to create a more inclusive, transparent, and responsive city government—one that tackles today’s challenges while laying the foundation for long-term success

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Proven Leadership

  I’m the only candidate with a record of delivering bold, progressive wins at City Hall—I championed Tacoma’s first paid sick leave policy, banning new fossil fuel facilities, and expanding tenant protections. I’ve spent my career fighting for working families, environmental justice, opportunity, and equity—not just in words, but delivered on it.

  Second key message
• Real-World Experience That Gets Results As a small business owner and certified appraiser, I know how to cut through red tape and get things done. I’ve worked in housing, permitting, and city planning and I’ll use that hands-on knowledge to make our city more affordable, transparent, and effective for everyone.
• A Mayor Who Shows Up and Listens Tacoma deserves a mayor who’s accessible, accountable, brings people together, and rooted in the community. I’ve built my career by showing up for people who feel unheard and gives them a voice in City Hall. I’m running to restore trust in local government and make sure Tacoma works for everyone.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about building a safer, more equitable, and sustainable Tacoma. That means improving public safety with community-based solutions and mental health crisis teams, not just more policing. I’m committed to tackling housing affordability, protecting renters, and using city-owned land for affordable homes. I’ve fought for workers’ rights—passing paid sick leave and opposing corporate tax breaks—and I’m equally committed to environmental justice by holding polluters accountable and protecting our green spaces for future generations.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"What Then Must We Do?" by Gar Alperovitz.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official should lead with integrity, empathy, and a deep commitment to public service. I believe in showing up, listening to people—especially those who feel unheard—and doing the hard, unglamorous work of building lasting change. I’ve always led with transparency and honesty— it’s about trust, accountability, and delivering real results for the people you serve.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The Mayor’s core responsibilities should be to lead with vision, build consensus, build community, and make sure City Hall works for everyone—not just the well-connected.

I envision a Tacoma where the mayor helps shape policy alongside both the people and the Council— not geared by self interests or merely maintaining the status quo. As public servants, we should help uplift every community’s voice, being more transparent, and focused on solving real problems that affect everyday people.

We need a leader who shows up, listens with humility, and being that bridge bringing people together to pave the way for a better Tacoma.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a geoduck farmer for a summer job, in 2004.

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

To me, being Mayor means showing up for every neighborhood—not just during election season—and truly listening to those who feel left out of the process. I’ve knocked on thousands of doors and heard just as many stories this year. Every community has a vision for how our city should work, and it’s time we give them a voice at the table. This role is about building trust, finding common ground, and advancing bold, people-first solutions. The Mayor doesn’t just set the agenda—they set the tone. Real leadership means lifting others up and making government work for every neighborhood regardless of zip code.

If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?

Tacoma is a Council-Manager system. While the City Manager is handling the day-to-day administrative duties of running the city, the Mayor’s top priority should be pointing the compass and setting the tone for a clear vision to unite all communities to make a government that works for the people. The Mayor should be listening to the city and spearheading the Council to address crucial priorities like housing affordability, public safety, and economic justice—while ensuring transparency, accountability, and community engagement.

The next Tacoma Mayor should be a bridge between the public and city government while lifting residents’ voices and keeping City Hall focused on delivering real results.

If the mayor in your city is not a member of the city council and oversees the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor and city council?

N/A

What do you love most about your city?

What I love most about Tacoma is its grit, heart, and deep sense of community. I often say Tacoma is the biggest small town in America—because even with over 200,000 people, everyone knows someone who knows someone else.

We’re a city of working people, artists, immigrants, blue-collar professionals, and organizers who show up for each other. From our vibrant farmers markets and street fairs to the mutual aid networks that rose during the pandemic, Tacoma proves time and again that we care and choose our own path together—and that’s what makes us both “the Grit City” AND “the City of Destiny”.

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Most of Tacoma’s greatest challenges over the next decade will be the same issues we are tackling today because we haven’t addressed them properly yet — housing affordability and homelessness, reducing economic inequality, and restoring trust in our local government.
We need to build more affordable housing, support renters, and expand services that prevent people from falling into crisis. At the same time, we must invest in living-wage jobs, accessible childcare, and small business growth to close the widening wealth gap. Most importantly, we must rebuild public trust in local government through transparency, accountability, and community-driven solutions.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?

The ideal relationship between the city and state government is built on strong partnership, open communication, and mutual support.

Cities like Tacoma are on the front lines of challenges seen nationwide—affordable housing, public safety, and income inequality—but we need the right tools and resources from the state to meet them effectively. The Legislature plays a vital role in filling those gaps.

I believe in working collaboratively with our state delegation to advocate for Tacoma’s priorities and secure funding for the services our residents depend on— especially when the federal government cannot.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?

Just like with the state, the ideal relationship between the city and the federal government should be rooted in cooperation—but never at the expense of our community's values.

With that being said, Tacoma must not be forced to sacrifice its autonomy or compromise the rights of our people. We will continue to protect our immigrant and refugee communities by refusing to cooperate with ICE overreach or enforce unjust, inhumane federal policies. Local government must retain the authority to act in the best interest of its people, free from political coercion.

I’ll work closely with our congressional delegation to secure federal funding for housing, medical care, and local infrastructure but it should never be at the cost of community trust or civil rights.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

My goal is to set clear expectations for law enforcement that prioritizes public safety while also centering on more transparency, more accountability, and building community trust. As a city, we should focus on reforms like investing in non-police crisis response teams, and addressing the root causes of youth crime.

The Mayor must work in partnership with police leadership while ensuring that community voices shape our public safety priorities. We need a system that protects everyone, every time.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

27th District Democrats

28th District Democrats
29th District Democrats
Pierce County Young Democrats
Indivisible Tacoma
Washington Conservation Action
Pierce County Central Labor Council
American Federation of Teachers, Washington
ATU Local 758
IBEW 483
Machinists Lodge 297
Machinists Lodge 751
OPEIU Local 8
Tacoma Education Association
Teamsters Local 313
UFCW Local 3000

Iron Workers Local Union 86

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe financial transparency and government accountability are non-negotiable. Without public trust, the government can’t raise the funds or deliver on public projects—just look at the failure of Proposition 1. When people don’t trust how their tax dollars are spent, they won’t invest in the future. I’ve always supported open budgets, public disclosure, and strong oversight— As Mayor, I’ll work to rebuild that trust so we can get big things done together.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Ibsen completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• VoteWA Profile

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