By Renee Raketty

The executive director of the Capitol Hill-based non-profit, Seattle Out and Proud (Seattle Pride), will not continue her campaign for Washington’s 9th Congressional District seat. Krystal Marx had announced her intention in May to face-off against incumbent Rep. Adam Smith, who has held the position since 1997. She told CHS this week that she believed her “experience and dedication was better served in Burien” where she currently holds the position of deputy mayor.

“I would like to thank everyone who supported our campaign, especially the LGBTQIA+ community that I am blessed to be a part of,” said Marx. “While short-lived, our campaign was focused on the real issues we are experiencing throughout the 9th Congressional District and the nation. That is something I will continue to be proud of.

“I look forward to continuing to fight as an out, visible Bisexual woman in my re-election campaign to the Burien City Council and champion LGBTQIA+ rights and protections.”

Marx was elected to the Burien City Council in 2018 and is seeking re-election to Position 7. She will face off against Stephanie Mora, a business advocate with links to political and religious conservatives, in the General Election. Mora did not respond to requests for comment but did criticize Marx on her Facebook page last May for her decision to seek re-election while also running for Congress. “Burien deserves city councilmembers who aren’t focused on running for higher office while pretending to care about their community,” wrote Mora.

Marx was reluctant to attribute her decision to bow out of the race to the growing threat from her Burien City Council opponent who is currently outpacing Marx in fundraising. According to filings with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commision, Mora has $12,436.51 in the bank when compared to Marx’s $4,434.62. The difference of $8,001.89 is an advantage for Mora with just six weeks to go until election day on November 2nd.

“Fundraising will always be a factor for any candidate, but it was eclipsed by the desire to keep working on issues in Burien and King County that I’ve been working on for nearly four years,” Marx told CHS.

Marx was appointed as executive director of Seattle Pride in 2019 and has overseen a 750% increase in programming since the start of the pandemic. The organization has given out over $190,000 in the last four years in the form of grants and sponsorships to other LGBTQ+-serving organizations.

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