A total of 56 candidates are campaigning to square off in the November general election for seven open seats on the Seattle City Council, according to King County Elections records.

The candidates have filed to compete in the August 6 primary. The primary will determine two finalists for each of the seven races to be decided in the November 5 general election. The council makeup includes two at-large seats on the nine-member body.

Washington Retail has distributed questionnaires to all the candidates to obtain indications of their positions on issues of importance to retailers large and small. WR also plans interviews with candidates as the campaigns unfold.

Click here to review’s WR’s candidate tracker that includes background on the declared candidates and incumbents. Besides the winnowing out of challengers, the fates of incumbents Lisa Herbold, Debora Juarez and Kshama Sawant also will be decided in the primary.