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Mayor Bruce Harrell’s most significant political threat so far in his race for reelection is set to be progressive activist Katie Wilson who has worked with organizations like the Transit Riders Union, helped lead minimum wage and renter rights campaigns around the region.

Wilson announced her campaign this week.

“Everything TRU has achieved has been possible because we built strong coalitions,” the Transit Riders Union co-founder said in launching her run. “Leadership is not about one person or one organization. It’s about bringing together competent, motivated people around a shared vision, making a plan, being smart about strategy and politics, making hard choices when necessary, and getting results. That approach will guide my administration in City Hall.”

Wilson’s “This is Your City” campaign will have some catching up to do with the incumbent.

With general support from the city’s business community, groups like the Downtown Seattle Association, and labor support, Harrell is shaping his reelection campaign with themes around “common values,” “public safety solutions,” and “proven leadership to stand up for our values.” But his field of challengers has been limited to candidates with little or no political experience in the city including Capitol Hill business owner Rachael Savage. And there are a few dents to smooth out including revelations around Harrell’s 1996 gun arrest.

More vulnerable could be incumbent City Attorney Ann Davison as she continues to try to shake her Republican connections in light of MAGA threats to the city. While the name will be new to many in the city, federal prosecutor Erika Evans is entering the race against Davison with endorsements from the likes of popular King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay and Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth.

Seattle City Council president Sara Nelson might also face a stiff challenge from the latest to jump into the race for her position. The incumbent has positioned her reelection campaign around public safety and avoiding the “political theater” of progressives. New challenger Dionne Foster is the director of the nonprofit Progress Alliance of Washington and will challenge Nelson’s policies from a left-leaning approach to the city and a desire to see the programs and support she benefitted from continue.

“Because of the opportunities she was given, Dionne has been able to commit her career to the service of improving people’s lives through work in nonprofits, government and philanthropy,” her campaign site reads.

While mostly a relative unknown for Seattle voters, Foster begins the race with endorsements from 43rd District State Representatives Nicole Macri and Shaun Scott, and former the retired Frank Chopp.

Her campaign seems to be off to a good start. Thursday morning, Foster announced her campaign had the 400 contributions and 400 signatures required to qualify for the Democracy Voucher program “in record time” after only one week on the campaign trail. Nelson is not participating in the public campaign financing program.

You can learn more about Wilson at wilsonforseattle.com, more about Evans at electerikaevans.com, and more about about Foster at dionnefoster.com.

Rouse

UPDATE: The campaign for Nathan Rouse says we should include the candidate, too, on our “serious” list of challengers to the field of incumbents. The City Attorney candidate, like Foster, also achieved his Democracy Voucher qualifications in record time, a campaign spokesperson said.

The public defender and Seattle University law school alum, like the other challengers, is also a political newcomer in the city.

Learn more at voterouse.com.

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