Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
City council elections in Seattle, Washington (August 3, 2021 primary election)
- Election date: Aug. 3
- Registration deadline(s): July 26 (by mail or online) / Aug. 3 (in person)
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Ballots mailed: July 14[1]
- Voter ID: By mail, no/In person, photo ID
- Ballot return deadline: 8 p.m. on Aug. 3, or postmarked by Aug. 3 if mailed
2023 →
← 2019
|
| 2021 Seattle elections |
|---|
 |
| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: May 21, 2021 |
| Primary election: August 3, 2021 General election: November 2, 2021 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: Mayor, city council, and city attorney |
| Total seats up: 4 (click here for mayoral elections) |
| Election type: Nonpartisan |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2021 |
The city of Seattle, Washington, held general elections for mayor, two at-large city council seats, and city attorney on November 2, 2021. A top-two, nonpartisan primary took place on August 3, 2021. This page covers the city council primary elections. For coverage of the general elections, click here.
Sara Nelson and Nikkita Oliver advanced from the primary for the position 9 city council seat. Incumbent Teresa Mosqueda and Kenneth Wilson advanced from the primary for the position 8 seat.
Local media outlets described the position 9 council race as more competitive than the race for position 8, citing Mosqueda's fundraising advantage in the latter race.[2][3]
Seven candidates ran for the position 9 at-large city council seat. This seat was open as incumbent Lorena González ran for mayor.
Media outlets focused attention on Nelson, Oliver, and Brianna Thomas. Oliver placed third in the 2017 mayoral primary. Nelson placed third in a 2017 at-large city council primary. Thomas placed fourth in a 2015 city council district primary.
The Seattle Times' Daniel Beekman wrote the following of the candidates' backgrounds and positions: "There’s Nikkita Oliver, a lawyer, organizer and educator who wants to divest from the police, reinvest the money in community care and bring people power to City Hall. There’s Brianna Thomas, chief of staff to council President M. Lorena González, who wants to reform the police and broker pacts to keep the council moving. And there’s Sara Nelson, Fremont Brewing co-owner, who wants to preserve police funding and 'course correct' a current council she describes as not pragmatic."[4]
Crosscut's David Kroman wrote that the core question of the race was: "What is the value of compromise?" and described candidates' approaches to that question. Nelson said, "The us-vs.-them ideological rhetoric is turning people off. ... What people want to hear are solutions." Oliver said, "There are those who are willing to compromise on the solutions that we know we're in dire need of. ... I think our camp represents a deep commitment to actually doing the work to bring forward solutions that are commensurate with the crises we're facing." And Thomas said she could build consensus "on behalf of the whole city and not niche constituencies" and was "best positioned to hear both from abolitionists and small business owners," which Kroman said was "a reference to the perceived core constituencies of her opponents."[5]
Four Seattle City Council members (including González), one former member, and PubliCola endorsed Thomas. Two council members, one former member, and The Stranger endorsed Oliver. The Seattle Times and five former council members endorsed Nelson.
Seattle's two at-large council seats, elected citywide, were up for election in 2021. The other seven council seats are elected by district every four years, with the most recent elections held in 2019.
Also running in the position 9 primary were Corey Eichner, Xtian Gunther, Lindsay McHaffie, and Rebecca Williamson.
Satellite spending groups featured prominently in the 2019 Seattle City Council elections. As of July 30, 2021, the groups that were active in those elections were not engaged in the 2021 elections. Click here for background information on the 2019 elections.
- Click here to learn more about the city's mayoral election.
- Click here to learn more about the city attorney election.
Candidates and election results
Position 8
General election
General election for Seattle City Council Position 8 At-large
Incumbent Teresa Mosqueda defeated Kenneth Wilson in the general election for Seattle City Council Position 8 At-large on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Teresa Mosqueda (Nonpartisan)  | 59.4 | 149,589 |
 | Kenneth Wilson (Nonpartisan) | 40.2 | 101,168 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 881 | ||
| Total votes: 251,638 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Seattle City Council Position 8 At-large
The following candidates ran in the primary for Seattle City Council Position 8 At-large on August 3, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Teresa Mosqueda (Nonpartisan) | 59.4 | 113,052 |
| ✔ | | Kenneth Wilson (Nonpartisan) | 16.2 | 30,862 |
| Kate Martin (Nonpartisan) | 11.6 | 21,997 | ||
 | Paul Glumaz (Nonpartisan) | 5.4 | 10,228 | |
| Alexander White (Nonpartisan) | 1.3 | 2,474 | ||
| Bobby Miller (Nonpartisan) | 1.3 | 2,438 | ||
 | Jesse A. James (Nonpartisan) | 1.1 | 2,051 | |
| Jordan Elizabeth Fisher (Nonpartisan) | 1.0 | 1,810 | ||
| George Freeman (Nonpartisan) | 0.8 | 1,575 | ||
 | Alex Tsimerman (Nonpartisan) | 0.5 | 961 | |
| Brian Fahey (Nonpartisan) | 0.5 | 887 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.1 | 2,075 | ||
| Total votes: 190,410 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Position 9
General election
General election for Seattle City Council Position 9 At-Large
Sara Nelson defeated Nikkita Oliver in the general election for Seattle City Council Position 9 At-Large on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sara Nelson (Nonpartisan) | 53.9 | 139,336 |
 | Nikkita Oliver (Nonpartisan) | 46.0 | 119,025 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 363 | ||
| Total votes: 258,724 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Seattle City Council Position 9 At-Large
The following candidates ran in the primary for Seattle City Council Position 9 At-Large on August 3, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nikkita Oliver (Nonpartisan) | 40.2 | 79,799 |
| ✔ | | Sara Nelson (Nonpartisan) | 39.5 | 78,388 |
 | Brianna Thomas (Nonpartisan) | 13.4 | 26,651 | |
 | Corey Eichner (Nonpartisan) | 3.5 | 7,030 | |
 | Lindsay McHaffie (Nonpartisan) | 1.5 | 3,048 | |
| Rebecca Williamson (Nonpartisan) | 0.8 | 1,646 | ||
 | Xtian Gunther (Nonpartisan) | 0.7 | 1,409 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 637 | ||
| Total votes: 198,608 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff compiled a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[6]
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Nelson (she/her) received a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from the University of Washington. Nelson lectured at the University of Washington before becoming a legislative advisor to former councilmember Richard Conlin from 2002 to 2013. Nelson founded Fremont Brewing in 2009 with her husband. She ran for city council at-large position 8 in 2017, placing third in the top-two primary.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Seattle City Council Position 9 At-Large in 2021.
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Oliver (they/them) received a bachelor's degree from Seattle Pacific University and a master's of education and a J.D. from the University of Washington. As of the city council primary, they were the executive director of Creative Justice, which they described as "an arts-based healing-engaged space for youth." Oliver was a founding member of the Seattle Peoples Party and had worked with several groups, including Urban Impact, the Union Gospel Mission’s Youth Reach Out Center, and the Urban Youth Leadership Academy. They ran for mayor in 2017, placing third in the top-two primary.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Seattle City Council Position 9 At-Large in 2021.
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Thomas (she/her) received a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington. She has worked as office manager for the Church Council of Greater Seattle, field director for the Washington Housing Alliance Action Fund, campaign manager for ballot measures, and as a legislative aide to Councilmember Lorena González. As of the city council primary, Thomas was González's chief of staff. Thomas ran for city council position 1 in 2015, placing fourth in the top-two primary.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Seattle City Council Position 9 At-Large in 2021.
Noteworthy primary endorsements
This section includes noteworthy endorsements issued in the primary, added as we learn about them. Click here to read how we define noteworthy primary endorsements. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.
Links to endorsement lists on candidate websites are included below, where available.
| Noteworthy endorsements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement | Nelson | Oliver | Thomas | |||
| Newspapers and editorials | ||||||
| The Seattle Times editorial board | ✔ | |||||
| The Stranger election control board | ✔ | |||||
| The Urbanist elections committee | ✔ | |||||
| PubliCola editorial board | ✔ | |||||
| Incumbent Seattle City Council members | ||||||
| Seattle Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda | ✔ | |||||
| Seattle Councilmember Tammy Morales | ✔ | |||||
| Seattle Council President M. Lorena González | ✔ | |||||
| Seattle Councilmember Lisa Herbold | ✔ | |||||
| Seattle Councilmember Dan Strauss | ✔ | |||||
| Seattle Councilmember Andrew Lewis | ✔ | |||||
| Other elected officials | ||||||
| State Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Sen. Mark Mullet (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D) | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| State Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Rep. Jesse Johnson (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Rep. Tarra Simmons (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Sen. Steve Hobbs (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Sen. Joe Nguyen (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Sen. Mona Das (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Rep. David Hackney (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Rep. Cindy Ryu (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Rep. Liz Berry (D) | ✔ | |||||
| State Rep. Debra Entenman (D) | ✔ | |||||
| Individuals | ||||||
| Former Seattle Councilmember Richard Conlin | ✔ | |||||
| Former Seattle Councilmember Heidi Wills | ✔ | |||||
| Former Seattle Councilmember Tom Rassmussen | ✔ | |||||
| Former Seattle Councilmember Jan Drago | ✔ | |||||
| Former Seattle Councilmember Jean Godden | ✔ | |||||
| Former Seattle Councilmember Mike O'Brien | ✔ | |||||
| Former Seattle Councilmember Sally Bagshaw | ✔ | |||||
| Organizations | ||||||
| Seattle Firefighters Union | ✔ | |||||
| Seattle's Building Trades Unions | ✔ | |||||
| Ironworkers Local 86 | ✔ | |||||
| Seattle Plumbers, Pipefitters, HVAC/Refrigeration Union | ✔ | |||||
| Sunrise Movement Seattle | ✔ | |||||
| MLK County Pride At Work | ✔ | |||||
| Seattle Peoples Party | ✔ | |||||
| Seattle Democratic Socialists of America | ✔ | |||||
| Working Families Party - WA | ✔ | |||||
| 11th Legislative District Democrats | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| King County Young Democrats | ✔ | |||||
| 350 Seattle Action[7] | ✔ | |||||
| Progressive Voter Guide, Fuse Washington[7] | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Young Democrats at the UW | ✔ | |||||
| MLK County Labor Council | ✔ | |||||
| UFCW Local 21 | ✔ | |||||
| ATU Local 587 | ✔ | |||||
| UNITE HERE! Local 8 | ✔ | |||||
| SEIU Local 925 | ✔ | |||||
| SEIU Local 6 | ✔ | |||||
| SEIU Local 1199 NW Healthcare | ✔ | |||||
| Seattle Education Association | ✔ | |||||
| AFT Local 1789 | ✔ | |||||
| UAW Local 4121 | ✔ | |||||
| WFSE Local 1488 | ✔ | |||||
| WFSE Local 304 | ✔ | |||||
| IATSE Local 15 | ✔ | |||||
| RFPU-NW | ✔ | |||||
| Book Workers Union | ✔ | |||||
| IUPAT DC 5 | ✔ | |||||
| Transit Riders' Union | ✔ | |||||
| FairVote Washington | ✔ | |||||
| 46th District Democrats | ✔ | |||||
| 36th District Democrats | ✔ | |||||
| 34th District Democrats | ✔ | |||||
| National Women's Political Caucus of Washington | ✔ | |||||
| King County Democrats | ✔ | |||||
| Women of Color in Politics | ✔ | |||||
| Northwest Carpenters Union | ✔ | |||||
| SEIU 775 | ✔ | |||||
| Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28 | ✔ | |||||
| International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Engineers District 751 | ✔ | |||||
- The Downtown Seattle Association rated Nelson to be in "Outstanding Alignment." The group rates candidates on how closely they align with its positions based on responses to a questionnaire.[8]
Questionnaires
The Urbanist questionnaire responses
Asian Counseling and Referral Service questionnaire responses
Click here to read responses to the questionnaire from Nelson, Oliver, and Thomas.
Downtown Seattle Alliance
Click here to read responses to the questionnaire from Nelson, Oliver, and Thomas.
Debates and forums
July 21, 2021
Nelson, Oliver, and Thomas participated in forum on Asian and Pacific Islander issues featuring position 8 and position 9 candidates following a mayoral forum.
Click here to watch the forum. (City council portion starts around 1 hour 20 minutes)
June 28, 2021
Nelson and Oliver participated in a Downtown Seattle Alliance forum.
|
June 4, 2021
The 43rd District Democrats hosted a forum featuring Eichner, Nelson, Oliver, and Thomas.
Click here to watch the forum.
Campaign themes
Sara Nelson
Nelson's campaign website stated the following themes.
| “ |
CRISIS BRINGS OPPORTUNITY WE’VE GOT THE CHANCE FOR A MAJOR RESET IN THIS TOWN AND I’LL BRING THE PRACTICAL, EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP NEEDED TO GET SEATTLE ON THE RIGHT TRACK Economic recovery is my top priority and it’s time for the voice of small business on City Council to support Seattle’s struggling small businesses and bring jobs back to the downtown core and neighborhood business districts. Delivering basic city services is the main job of local government and it’s time to refocus parks, libraries, transportation, police and fire instead of frittering away public resources on pet projects. Trust in government is at an all-time low and it’s time to elect leaders who will be held accountable for delivering measurable results. Economic Recovery Our city is facing an unprecedented economic challenge. The COVID pandemic has devastated both families and communities and exacerbated the longstanding challenges to starting and growing a small business in Seattle. As our city comes back to life, it’s crucial that we work together to ensure our economy prospers because our local businesses and workers are the heart of our city. Helping them must be an “all hands on deck” priority. For me it’s all about jobs and sustaining Seattle’s vibrancy and liveability. Here’s how I’ll help on City Council: 1. Bring a neighborhood business owner’s perspective Small businesses create jobs, spur innovation, and make up the fabric of our neighborhoods. But we’re struggling. Thousands of small businesses have closed and tens of thousands of people have lost their jobs. Seattle’s working families are hurting but Council’s not taking meaningful action to help. There hasn’t been a small business owner on City Council since 2009 and I’ll bring that missing perspective. I know what small businesses need and I’ll advance effective policies to help them survive the pandemic and thrive.
1. Get Downtown Seattle back on the right track. We need a proactive and strategic plan to revive our downtown core which is the economic engine of our region and contributes 50% of the revenue needed to keep our city running. Unfortunately, for years, City Council has neglected to support downtown-area businesses and arts venues which have been devastated by COVID and rising rates of crime. Doing nothing isn’t an option anymore. As we bring workers back, it’s time to address the downtown crime crisis. I will also work to bring needed amenities to the neighborhood, including a downtown school, major grocers, and improved streetscapes and activated open spaces. 2. Plan for the long-term. Seattleites will soon return to work and school but achieving a long-term, strong, and equitable recovery will require significant investment and focused leadership. I’m talking workforce Significantly expanding city support of neighborhood business districts, expediting building permits and business licensing, and incentivizing green technologies. Most of all, we must lead with creativity and deliberation to build Seattle back better. Homelessness What’s going on in Seattle is more than a political failure – it’s also a humanitarian failure. Spending has doubled, but the number of people experiencing homelessness has skyrocketed. Our homeless neighbors are not a monolithic block, these are individuals with very specific needs. Unfortunately, the city has pursued one-sized-fits-all policies that ignore the realities on the ground. These policies have wasted more than tax dollars – they’ve wasted lives. We can do better. But first, we need to tackle several big challenges: The City must fundamentally restructure our response to the homelessness crisis and put in place a model proven to work in other cities.
This isn’t rocket science and we don’t have to recreate the wheel. We just have to have the political will do do something different that actually works. The City must ensure it’s funding truly effective social service organizations and programs, including enforcing the standards it already has. To tackle this difficult problem, Seattle should only partner with organizations with a proven track record of delivering results and implementing metrics to hold them to it. Unfortunately, the city has a poor record on both monitoring and accountability. Here are my promises to you:
In the short-term, we should address dangerous living situations with real alternatives. Unfortunately, it’s increasingly clear that encampments are a safety risk for both residents and surrounding neighborhoods. From exploitation and crimes committed against homeless residents, to property crime issues in surrounding neighborhoods, to health and hygiene issues, encampments are a problem – not a viable solution. Seattle owes it to all of our neighbors, housed and unhoused, to find another plan. Here’s what I believe:
In the longer-term, we need more permanent supportive housing and a coordinated regional approach. The truth is, Seattle can’t go at it alone. Most resources related to homelessness are at the county, state, and even federal level. I support working to strengthen those partnerships. Here’s what I will make sure that partnership entails:
The bottom line: We need to get folks out of tents and RVs. Unregulated encampments are unsafe and inhumane. As we address this crucial public health and public safety issue, it’s important to provide short-term and long-term alternatives for our homeless neighbors. I’ll make sure the city is working with the most effective partners and solutions. Our neighbors, housed and unhoused, deserve nothing less. Government Accountability If we want to make real progress, it’s time to address the way the city operates. I believe that government accountability means:
To make that happen, we need to make a few changes: 1. City Council needs to do a better job of bringing those affected by policies to the table. Seattle is a city full of incredible talent and resources – our neighborhood leaders, non-profits, local businesses, and residents all have something to offer. 2. I’ll oppose passing quick-fix legislation on big issues without proper input. Unfortunately, on issues like the head tax, City Council often leaps before it looks. 3. It’s time to stop throwing money at the implementation of the legislation without considering the negative trade-offs. Public Safety Let’s talk about the Seattle Fire Department – not what comes first to mind under this issue heading, right? You know how when you call 911 because an elderly person collapsed and can’t get up and the paramedics come right away, take vitals, stabilize the person and then rush them to the emergency room? Or you smell gas in your apartment even though your oven’s off and a fire engine comes right away? Or when the lithium battery in your son’s remote-controlled truck starts the house on fire and you hear a siren moments later? Well, I do. I want to talk about the dispatchers, paramedics, firefighters, Health One units, and everyone else at SFD who respond to crises and put their lives on the line to keep us and our loved ones safe because they don’t get the attention or resources they deserve when we discuss public safety. Seattle’s tremendous growth over the past decade has resulted in a sharp increase in the number of emergency responses, but SFD’s staffing has remained relatively static. In fact, SFD has fewer firefighters than in previous years. On top of that, our homelessness crisis has dramatically increased the number and type of emergency responses, particularly incidents in encampments and abandoned buildings. And then came the pandemic and SFD stepped up to run the cities COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites. All of this has resulted in severe staffing and resources shortage – in personnel and equipment. The Seattle Fire Department is an overlooked but equally critical component of our public safety network. These first responders have come to my aid several times — and Seattle can do better by them. So, I will:
Now, we must talk about policing. Obviously, everyone deserves to feel safe and policing, like firefighting, is one of the five basic services called out in the Charter of the City of Seattle which states, in Article VI, Section 1, “There shall be maintained adequate police protection in each district of the City.” Unfortunately, crime is on the rise and is deteriorating the quality of life of all of our residents. It’s also driving businesses out of our city and signaling to potential new ones that Seattle is not a safe place to do business. Tourism has slowed, employers are fleeing to the Bellevue, and some residents are even moving out of town. While I strongly support diversionary programs and other alternative approaches, we can’t ignore or condone the real rise in crime we’re seeing. Council’s percentage-based commitment to defund the police won’t make our communities safer because it will increase response times, undermine the department’s ability to investigate and follow up with serious crimes, and reduce resources for training and the community policing model that’s proven to better ensure our officers are responsive and accountable to the people and businesses they’re supposed to protect. We need to reform policing in Seattle but we can’t accomplish that through slogans and soundbites. Instead, I will work to:
Gun Violence: In the first half of 2021, there were 230 gun assault cases, including 9 homicides – the highest number of incidents in a month since 1984. Clearly we’ve got an emergency on our hands and the only way to reduce gun violence is to treat it as the public health crisis that it is and direct all the resources and policy tools we can at preventing a continued escalation. My approach is simple: fund what’s working and invest in new strategies. But first, City Council needs to step up, speak out, show some heart to the families grieving the loss of a loved one, and most importantly, have the courage to lead on gun violence prevention.
HOUSING Although we’re facing an urgent homelessness crisis, even more Seattleites are at-risk of displacement. Rent and home prices are so high that people across income levels – teachers, firefighters, students, blue-collar workers, retail employees -- find it increasingly difficult to find housing they can afford close to their workplace or even within Seattle. I want Seattle to be a city where my kids can afford to live, not just a playground for the ultra-rich. So, we need more affordable housing but, let’s face it, we won’t be able to subsidize our way out of our housing affordability crisis. What do do? 1. First we need to retail existing, naturally affordable rental units, over 50% of which are owned by small, mom-and-pop landlords. That means we need to be very careful about measures that make it difficult to rent and maintain their properties. Otherwise, they are forced to sell their properties, resulting in market-rate redevelopment. 2. Seattle needs to add new family-wage and market-rate housing. I support targeting new housing growth along frequent transit corridors and in urban centers and facilitating the creation of “missing middle” housing such as backyard cottages, duplexes, and townhomes. These housing options also create more paths to ownership because they are generally less expensive than high-rise residential units. 3. We should fast-track new affordable housing construction. Projects like the Third Door Coalition, which help implement land use and regulatory changes to reduce the cost of affordable units, are key to getting very-low-income and chronically-homeless individuals into stable housing. 4. We also need to think outside of the box on housing, like legislation requiring that the City have the option of purchasing for-sale multifamily properties in the City for use as affordable housing. I also support a proposal to allow religious organizations to create affordable housing units on their property. Housing is a complex issue with no silver bullet. But, together, we can make a real dent in our affordability crisis. Environment It’s time to put the environment, particularly climate protection, back on the City’s agenda as a top priority. I worked in Councilmember Richard Conlin’s office at a time when Seattle was on the cutting edge of environmental policy. He established the Office of Sustainability and Environment which established the Green Building code. I helped write and advance the legislation to eliminate plans for a third transfer station in Georgetown and mandate recycling and composting. There’s so much more the City must do to advance environmental justice, improve the water quality of our lakes, streams and the Puget Sound, and reduce our carbon footprint. There’s no time to waste and as a lifelong environmentalist, I will act with urgency to reprioritize our stewardship of our air, water, natural resources. Here are ways I’ll start: 1. Promote and incentivize scalable green technology and renewable energy solutions. Like biodigesters that turn solid waste into energy. Many small businesses like Fremont Brewing want to take sustainability to the next level but can’t afford the expense because these technologies are priced for larger companies. Incentives would grow the market for such technologies which would lower their cost , create jobs, and help protect our planet 2. Promote the use of Cross Laminated Timber. CLT uses a plentiful renewable resource, wood, to replace concrete in buildings and its production is far less carbon-intensive than producing concrete. Because it’s less expensive than concrete and steel, its use could jump start the construction of affordable housing. It is also more flexible than concrete so it’s better able to withstand damage from the inevitable Big One and smaller earthquakes. Finally, growing the market for CLT would spur the creation of a CLT production facility in Seattle, creating well-paying manufacturing jobs. 3. Refine and expand the Living Building Pilot project and make it a permanent tool to incentivize greener buildings. Living Buildings standards surpass even the highest level of LEED Buildings in energy and water conservation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction and the use of environmentally friendly building materials. Most important, they are designed to change the behavior of the people in them so that workers and visitors use stairs more often and practice the values of conservation and climate protection in their daily lives. 4. Incentivize the inclusion of electric vehicle charging stations on private property. 5. Here in Seattle, we’re long on rain as my mother-in-law from Houston would say. We could be using more of that rain falling on our homes and buildings to water our plants and flush our toilets. I’ll expand the Rain Wise program that incentives homeowners and building owners to collect rainwater from roofs and I’ll strengthen Seattle Public Utilities water conservation incentive program to encourage incentive the use of grey water in buildings. 6. Work to finish the Missing Link of the Burke-Gilman trail. This project has been in the works for over twenty years and it’s been litigated up the wazoo. We need to encourage more cycling along this corridor to reduce C02 emissions and promote health so let’s get this done already! 7. Speaking of multimodal, I’ll promote human-powered water transportation as a viable alternative mode of transport for people and goods. We’ve got a lot of waterfront and a lot of private boat docks and marinas but very few publicly accessible facilities to land and secure a kayak, canoe, stand-up paddle board or small sailboat. I also support nascent efforts for a passenger ferry line on Lake Union. Both of these ideas will help people get out of their cars for their commutes which will obviously benefit our air and water and giving people places to launch and moor a kayak for example will also increase recreational enjoyment of Seattle’s gorgeous waterways. Basic City Services Local government’s primary responsibility is to deliver basic services. It’s not sexy, but it impacts our daily lives perhaps more than anything else. Unfortunately, with our failing bridges, pot-holed roads, community centers in disrepair, inaccessible parks and open spaces, and communities that don’t feel safe, it looks like Council is asleep at the wheel. I’ll be committed to my job of overseeing and adequately funding core city services. After all, that’s what we pay for. I believe that local government should keep its promises and I’ll fight for the city to keep those promises. Enough said![9] |
” |
| —Sara Nelson's 2021 campaign website[10] | ||
Nikkita Oliver
Oliver's campaign website stated the following themes.
| “ |
1. Housing For All Seattle is facing a dire housing crisis that city policies can solve. With the city’s Comprehensive Plan implementation on the horizon, now is the time to think big and bold about housing in Seattle. Stop the Sweeps The current city policy of destroying encampments established by the unhoused is cruel, inhumane, and needs to end immediately. Affordable Housing We must rapidly build affordable housing throughout the city by increasing investments in social housing, ending zoning laws which have segregated Seattle, and prioritizing housing for Seattle’s Black Trans & Queer communities. House the Unhoused The city should invest in hotels and tiny village accommodations for Seattleites experiencing homelessness. Radical accessibility The City of Seattle should create a fund inside the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department to support people who use the parks for housing, enabling parks to help sustainably and humanely address the needs of unsheltered people while expanding green spaces in the city and absorbing unneeded roadways. Solidify an effective regional approach to addressing the housing affordability and homelessness crisis. 2. Divest from Policing to Invest in Community Seattle spends far too much of its revenue on cops and courts, while our communities lack basic necessities. City policies can change to invest in human needs. We must address the root causes of harm, invest in culturally responsive community-led care solutions, and stop punishing people for the failures of the system. Following the recommendations of Seattle’s 2018 “Workforce Re-entry Work Group,” we must stop criminalizing homelessness and sex work. We must allocate funds historically used on a problematic model of policing to invest in housing, childcare, and support systems for our youth. It’s time to end Seattle’s contract with King County Jail. Seattle can lead on racial justice by ending the practice of collecting city revenue through fines and civil asset forfeiture, and can civilianize 911 for a more effective emergency response. 3. Environmental Justice A Seattle Green New Deal can eliminate climate pollution by 2030, address historical injustice and to create thousands of good jobs. SEATTLE FOR A GREEN NEW DEAL has already been leading the way and it is time that the City Council follow the lead of the people. In a cosmopolitan, 21st century city, public transportation should be universal and free. To address and alleviate present and historic wrongs, Seattle must formally collaborate with the Duwamish and other Coast Salish nations to arrive at a stewardship plan for Seattle -- a city named for a Duwamish Chief. To lead a just transition to a sustainable future, Seattle must empower and employ Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and women-led construction companies in building social housing and infrastructure. Fossil fuels are responsible for 86% of all residential and commercial emissions. The City of Seattle should fund a just transition by replacing fossil gas systems for all low-income residences while requiring commercial buildings to reach Carbon Zero by 2025. Pay for replacing fossil gas systems for all lower income residential buildings and require commercial buildings to eliminate their emissions in five years. Because transportation is Seattle’s largest source of carbon emissions, we must mandate and incentivize employers to allow workers to labor from home. 4. Children, Youth, and Families Deserve to Thrive City policies can give young people, parents, and households the support they need to thrive -- not just survive -- in Seattle. The COVID-19 pandemic has reintroduced the need for municipal broadband internet. We must identify a funding source and timetable to provide this 21st century infrastructure to a 21st century city. Instead of cops and security guards, restorative justice coordinators, family support workers, counselors, and healthcare professionals belong in our schools. We can start by increasing funding to the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department’s My Brother’s Keeper and My Sister’s Keeper initiatives. Elders and children deserve quality eldercare and childcare. Let’s partner with organized labor to raise wages for homecare workers, while eliminating antiquated zoning laws that make childcare facilities in much of the city. 5. Racial & Economic Justice The wealth gap in Seattle is unjust and racialized. City policies can help to close it. When we alleviate the burdens of the most marginalized, all will benefit. Following the recommendations of the City of Seattle’s 2018 “Progressive Revenue Taskforce on Housing and Homelessness,” Seattle must tax the wealthy to support people forced to the bottom of the economy. Seattle has the power to implement commercial rent control. Especially as we recover from COVID-19, this would help reduce the rates of displacement seen in community small businesses, particularly those in the Central Area and South End. Gig workers and contract laborers need a comprehensive Freelancer’s Bill of Rights that includes city ordinances ensuring timely repayment, portable benefits packages, and a ban on non-compete clauses that restrict worker mobility. Following the lead of Evanston, Illinois, Seattle can be the largest city in the nation to provide reparations to eligible Black residents. They can be funded by additional budgetary cuts to the Seattle Police Department negotiated in the biennial negotiations between the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Officers Guild. We have much ongoing work to do in addressing the devastating impacts of stolen land and genocide upon the Coastal Salish peoples of our region. 6. Disaster Relief & Preparing for Disasters When disaster strikes, people with the most wealth have the easiest time, and poor people and BIPOC are in the most danger. City policies could make a difference in preparing all of Seattle for the next time the air is full of smoke, or for when the next pandemic or earthquake hits us. Ensure a just recovery from COVID-19, so that no one loses housing, people can re-enter the workforce, and COVID-19 doesn’t leave Seattle with even worse racial and gender wealth gaps than we had before. Ensure racial, economic, disability, and gender justice in Seattle vaccine distribution planning. Build infrastructure for disasters to come, building out neighborhood hubs and resourcing block-by-block preparations so that everyone has backup sources of water and power, air filters, masks and other necessities for when disaster strikes. Assume that the federal government responds to disasters slowly and unevenly and prepare for Seattle to shore up our communities (especially those often excluded from federal disaster relief, like undocumented communities) when disaster hits. 7. Thriving Sustained Local Arts and Culture Community Local artists and cultural workers are essential to the health of our communities. Arts and cultural practices promote the mental, social and spiritual health of our communities, and access to the arts helps young people thrive. Create Arts Centers in areas currently experiencing the highest levels of police surveillance. Protect arts districts and ensure that the cultural workers and artists who have made them vibrant can continue to live and thrive there. Fund five hundred currently unemployed people, especially the long-term unemployed, to become community historians, community story-tellers, musicians, and artists. Ensure quality neighborhood-based arts programming for all youth. 8. Universal Healthcare Healthcare is a human right. Access to quality healthcare, including mental healthcare, should not be dependent upon someone’s employment, marital status, immigration status, or gender. Ensuring that everyone has health care prevents expensive emergency room visits, reduces the spread of disease, and improves everyone’s health in the City, as well as reducing contact with the criminal legal system. Guarantee mental health care to all Seattle residents who want it. Guarantee full-spectrum health support for all Seattle residents who use drugs who want it. Guarantee access to gender-affirming health care to all Seattle residents Support community schools which would include health services for youth and families 9. Democracy and Participation We need the people of the City, especially working people, to have more say in what goes on in our city. That means how we develop the city, and how we generate revenue and what we spend it on. Ensuring full transparency and accountability for all aspects of the budget. Scale up participatory budgeting so that people can spend revenue based on collectively identified community needs. Build City processes designed for participation and accountability rather than elite control. Fund neighborhood and community-based trainings for building local mutual aid projects and networks. Ensure that participation in City processes is accessible to all Seattle residents, reimagining democracy through the lens of universal design.[9] |
” |
| —Nikkita Oliver's 2021 campaign website[11] | ||
Brianna Thomas
Thomas' campaign website stated the following themes.
| “ |
Our Vision for Seattle I am running for Seattle City Council because our city's greatest challenges deserve REAL results, not just rhetoric - lifting ALL our neighbors up, and making sure no one is left behind. Criminal Justice Reform The city must continue to reform the very structure of our current criminal justice system. Seattle deserves a justice system that trusts its people, that addresses its inherent biases, and does not incur further harm against residents. I will prioritize:
Economic Recovery & Supporting Small Businesses Seattle has been at the national forefront of innovative businesses and labor laws. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, city, and local neighborhoods. I will prioritize:
Building a Seattle for Tomorrow We must act now to build a city that’s prepared for the continued influx of people being displaced by extreme weather conditions. While Seattle industries grow, so does the need for affordable housing and a clear path to continued sustainable, green development. I will provide the compassionate and effective leadership we’ll need for the city to thrive in 10, 20, or 30 years. We must prioritize sustainable growth so we can all live well in Seattle. I will prioritize:
Homelessness The solution to homelessness is in the name-- homes. We know that to get people off the streets and out of their cars, they need a roof over their head and supportive services to keep them housed. I will prioritize:
Housing Affordability In order to be a city where people of all incomes and economic circumstances can live and thrive, we must expand renter protections, foreclosure prevention, and actively prevent displacement and gentrification as our city grows. I will prioritize:
Climate Change Environmental issues are inextricably tied to issues of development, affordable housing, food security, and transportation. I will lead with an intersectional lens that centers communities most impacted by environmental injustice. Even in our beautiful city of Seattle, the effects of climate change disproportionately impact BIPOC communities. As Seattle grows, we must use green, sustainable development throughout the city. I will prioritize:
Transit & Infrastructure Having not owned a car in years, I rely on the C Line to keep me moving. All Seattleites should have access to a transit system that is reliable, multi-modal, convenient and accessible regardless of each person’s location or physical ability. I will prioritize:
Democracy & Accountability I’m proud to have led Honest Elections, which brought us the Democracy Voucher Program. I will continue to increase democracy, participation, transparency and accountability while in office. I will prioritize:
|
” |
| —Brianna Thomas' 2021 campaign website[12] | ||
Campaign advertisements
This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.
Sara Nelson
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
| Seattle city council position 9 election, 2021: Primary election polls | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Date | Other | Oliver | Nelson | Thomas | Eichner | Gunther | Williamson | McHaffie | Margin of error | Sample size | Sponsor | ||||||||
| Change Research | July 12-15, 2021 | 53%[13] | 26% | 11% | 6% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 0% | ± 4.3 | 617 LV | Northwest Progressive Institute | ||||||||
Campaign finance
Campaign contributions for each candidate are below.
Totals include funds from the Democracy Voucher Program. The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission distributed Democracy Vouchers to Seattle residents in early 2021. Each eligible resident received four vouchers worth $25 each. Under the program, residents can give some or all vouchers to city election candidates who are participating in the program.[14] Participating candidates are held to contribution and spending limits, unless the commission releases them from those limits under certain conditions.[15] Democracy Voucher fund totals for each applicable candidate are shown in orange below.
Background: 2019 city council elections
The 2019 elections for seven Seattle City Council seats took place amid conflict surrounding a 2018 tax on businesses grossing at least $20 million. The city council passed the tax in May 2018 and repealed it the next month following opposition from the business community.[16]
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce opposed the tax. Its political action committee (PAC), Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy (CASE), received $1.5 million from Amazon—which is headquartered in Seattle—and spent around $2 million supporting and opposing candidates in 2019. The PAC endorsed in all seven races.[17][18] The PAC Civic Alliance for a Progressive Economy (CAPE) formed in 2019, spending around $350,000 in opposition to some CASE-backed candidates and supporting different candidates in five races.
Two CASE-backed candidates (Alex Pedersen and Debora Juarez) and four CAPE-backed candidates (Lisa Herbold, Tammy Morales, Kshama Sawant, and Dan Strauss) won in 2019.
In 2020, the Seattle City Council passed a tax on companies with payrolls of $7 million or more a year. The tax passed on a 7-2 vote with five sponsors, including González. Juarez and Pedersen voted against it. Durkan opposed the ordinance and let it pass unsigned.
CASE announced it would not spend toward the 2021 elections, and as of July 30, 2021, CAPE had not been active in the races.[18][19]
Election history
2019
2018
Seattle held general elections for municipal court judicial seats on November 6, 2018. A primary election took place on August 7, 2018. The top two vote recipients in the primary advanced to the general election. The filing deadline for this election was May 18, 2018.
2017
Seattle held general elections for mayor, city attorney, and two at-large seats on the city council on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on August 1, 2017. The top two vote recipients after the final count of the primary vote advanced to the general election. The filing deadline for this election was May 19, 2017.
2015
The city of Seattle, Washington, held elections for city council on November 3, 2015. A primary took place on August 4, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was May 15, 2015. All nine council seats were up for election.[20][21]
About the city
- See also: Seattle, Washington
Seattle is a city in King County, Washington. As of 2020, its population was 737,015.
City government
- See also: Mayor-council government
The city of Seattle uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[22]
Demographics
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic Data for Seattle, Washington | ||
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | Washington | |
| Population | 737,015 | 7,705,281 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 83 | 66,455 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 65.8% | 73.5% |
| Black/African American | 7.1% | 3.9% |
| Asian | 16.3% | 8.8% |
| Native American | 0.5% | 1.2% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| Other (single race) | 2.4% | 4.8% |
| Multiple | 7.6% | 7.1% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 7.1% | 12.9% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 95.2% | 91.7% |
| College graduation rate | 65% | 36.7% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $97,185 | $77,006 |
| Persons below poverty level | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
See also
| Seattle, Washington | Washington | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ King County, "King County Elections Calendar," accessed June 24, 2021
- ↑ The Seattle Times, "2021 primary voter’s guide: What you need to know about the Aug. 3 primary in the Seattle area," July 12, 2021
- ↑ Crosscut, "Predicting a backlash election in Seattle this year? Remember 2019," updated June 5, 2021
- ↑ The Seattle Times, "Primary race for Seattle City Council’s Position 9 features Nikkita Oliver, Brianna Thomas and Sara Nelson," June 14, 2021
- ↑ Crosscut, "Compromise? It's the question at heart of Seattle council election," July 21, 2021
- ↑ In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Seattle Times, "Endorsements roll in for Seattle mayoral, council races," July 15, 2021
- ↑ Downtown Seattle Association, "Candidate Scorecard," accessed July 16, 2021
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Sara Nelson's 2021 campaign website, "Issues," accessed July 22, 2021
- ↑ Nikkita Oliver's 2021 campaign website, "Policies," accessed July 22, 2021
- ↑ Brianna Thomas' 2021 campaign website, "Vision," accessed July 22, 2021
- ↑ Not sure: 50%
Would not vote: 3% - ↑ King5, "Democracy vouchers: Seattle voters will soon have $100 sitting in their mailbox," February 16, 2021
- ↑ Seattle.gov, "Title 2 - ELECTIONS," accessed June 28, 2021
- ↑ Geek Wire, "Seattle repeals head tax 7-2 in dramatic reversal that leaves city divided over homeless crisis," June 12, 2018
- ↑ GeekWire, "Amazon gives $1M to group seeking to upend Seattle City Council in upcoming election," October 15, 2019
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Seattle Times, "Seattle businesses and politicians are at odds. The new Chamber CEO is calling a truce," April 10, 2021
- ↑ Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, "2021 IE Committees," accessed July 2, 2021
- ↑ City of Seattle, "Law, Rules and Information for Filers," accessed September 19, 2014
- ↑ City of Seattle, "Seattle City Council Districts," accessed December 31, 2014
- ↑ City of Seattle, "Elected Officials," accessed September 15, 2014
| |||||||||
