With the May 9 candidate filing deadline behind us, the 2025 election landscape for Seattle and King County is coming into focus. Several high-profile races are now set, offering a glimpse into the political battles ahead.
Mayor Bruce Harrell is seeking to become the first two-term mayor since Greg Nickels, who lost his bid for a third term in 2009. As expected, progressive activist Katie Wilson entered the race for mayor. However, the list of 10 challengers to Harrell included one surprise – Joe Mallahan, a former T-Mobile executive who helped unseat Nickels in the 2009 primary before losing to Mike McGinn in the general election, setting up what will likely be a very competitive race.
The open King County Executive seat drew seven candidates, including frontrunners Girmay Zahilay and Claudia Balducci, both current County Councilmembers, and King County Assessor John Wilson. Zahilay and Balducci have commanding fundraising leads over the other candidates. After 16 years as County Executive, Dow Constantine decided against seeking reelection and, instead, took over the CEO role at Sound Transit.
Other notable races include Seattle City Attorney and three City Council seats:
- City Attorney Ann Davison is running for re-election and faces three well-funded challengers. She has secured endorsements from U.S. Representative Adam Smith and former Governor Gary Locke.
- City Council President Sara Nelson faces four challengers, including Dionne Foster, a former city policy adviser who leads Nelson’s opponents in both endorsements and fundraising. Nelson has strong support from Congressman Smith, most of the City Council, labor unions, and other former and current elected officials.
- Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, elected last year to a partial term, is now seeking a full four-year term in the other citywide seat. She faces just two challengers.
Three candidates filed for District 2, where appointed Councilmember Mark Solomon is not seeking election. The last person to win this seat, Tammy Morales, resigned from the Council in January.
