In a surprising turn of events, Katie Wilson, a self-proclaimed socialist and activist, has ousted incumbent Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, a fellow Democrat, in the mayoral race.
This projection comes eight days after the polls closed, with Wilson securing 50.2% of the votes against Harrell's 49.5%, as reported by Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) on Wednesday. Wilson's victory, despite an initial lag in the vote count, was propelled by late ballot dumps that swung in her favor, pushing the leftist challenger past the finish line.
According to the Daily Caller, the incumbent mayor held a lead in the early returns, leading DDHQ to prematurely declare him the winner on November 6, with approximately 100,000 votes still uncounted. However, this call was retracted a day later after King County Elections informed DDHQ that there were significantly fewer ballots left to count than initially reported. Washington, one of eight states that employ universal mail-in voting, does not necessitate voter ID for mail-in ballots.
In a candid interview with The Seattle Times published on September 13, Wilson identified herself as a "socialist," albeit downplaying the label. She stated, "I'm not a super ideological person," expressing uncertainty about whether "waving the socialist flag" would bolster her chances in the general election against Harrell. "But, yes, I'm fine with being called a socialist," she affirmed.
Born to academic parents who reportedly provide financial support to her and her unemployed husband, 43-year-old Wilson outperformed Harrell in the nonpartisan primary election, garnering just over 50% of the votes on August 5. Despite Wilson's majority in the primary, both candidates advanced to the November 4 general election due to Washington state law.
The King County Democrats notably endorsed Wilson over the more moderate Harrell. Conversely, Harrell enjoyed the backing of Democratic Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, Democratic Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, and Democratic Washington Representative Adam Smith, who represents a portion of Seattle in the House.
Democratic Washington Representative Pramila Jayapal, who represents the majority of Seattle in the lower chamber, publicly endorsed Wilson on October 6, stating she was "proud to endorse her." Jayapal praised Wilson as a fighter for "equity, immigrant justice, civil rights, and fundamental democratic rights," all of which she believes are currently under threat. Jayapal's endorsement of Wilson, despite her initial endorsement of Harrell, is still listed on Harrell's campaign website.
Wilson, co-founder of the Transit Riders Union (TRU), ran her mayoral campaign on a left-wing platform emphasizing "climate action and environmental justice," "police accountability," "racial equity," and raising "new progressive revenue." She also pledged to "Trump-proof" Seattle, mirroring the campaign promise of socialist Democratic New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
Seattle-based radio host Ari Hoffman, commenting on the election results, argued that "Katie Wilson didn't win an election, Bruce Harrell lost one." Hoffman criticized Harrell's attempts to "out progressive a progressive" in a desperate bid for re-election, noting his lack of a ballot harvest or ballot curing operation and his virtually non-existent social media presence.
Hoffman also criticized Seattle's "mail-in ballot system," citing the slow pace of counting ballots in the mayoral election and questioning the verification process in the absence of voter ID or other safeguards.
The election results mark a significant shift in Seattle's political landscape, with a self-proclaimed socialist now at the helm. Wilson's victory underscores the growing influence of progressive ideologies within the Democratic Party, a trend that is likely to shape the city's future policies and governance.
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