2021 Seattle City Council election explained

Election Name:2021 Seattle City Council election
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2019 Seattle City Council election
Previous Year:2019
Next Election:2021 Seattle City Council 3rd district recall election
Next Year:2021 (recall)
Seats For Election:2 of the 9 seats on the Seattle City Council
Majority Seats:5
Election Date:November 2, 2021
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Seats Before1:8
Seats1:8
Party2:Socialist Alternative (United States)
Seats Before2:1
Seats2:1
Map Size:250px
President of the City Council
Before Election:Lorena González
Before Party:Nonpartisan politician
After Election:Debora Juarez
After Party:Nonpartisan politician

The 2021 Seattle City Council election were held on November 2, 2021. Two seats of the nine-member Seattle City Council were up for election.

Background

Four incumbent members of the Seattle City Council did not seek reelection in the 2019 election while the three other incumbents won reelection.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that she would not seek reelection in the 2021 election.[6]

The 2021 election cycle was the 3rd use of Seattle's Democracy Vouchers Program,[7] which other cities and states have looked to replicate.[8]

District 8

Campaign

Teresa Mosqueda, who had served on the city council since her election in 2015, announced on May 5, 2021, that she would seek reelection instead of running in the mayoral election.[9] Kate Martin, who was also running for mayor, announced her campaign for city council on March 23.[10] Michael McQuaid ran in the election, but withdrew after his criminal record involving multiple assaults was reported on.[11] [12]

Campaign finance

Bobby Lindsey, Jordan Elizabeth Fisher, Martin, Paul Glumaz, and Mosqueda are participating in the democracy voucher program.[13]

CandidateCampaign committee
RaisedSpentdata-sort-type=currency
Brian Fahey[14] $1,914.23$1,914.23$0.00$0.00
Jordan Elizabeth Fisher[15] $1,751.38$0.00$1,751.38$0.00
Paul Glumaz[16] $6,861.86$2,797.73$4,064.13$0.00
Kate Martin[17] $5,846.25$3,576.49$2,269.76$0.00
Teresa Mosqueda[18] $163,777.20$47,922.85$115,854.35$3,090.80

Primary election

Results

General election

Polling

Graphical summary
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Teresa
Mosqueda
Kenneth
Wilson
OtherUndecided
Change Research (D)October 12–15, 2021617 (LV)± 4.1%39%31%3%26%
Elway ResearchSeptember 7–9, 2021400 (LV)± 5.0%33%17%11%33%

Results

District 9

Campaign

Lorena González, who was first elected in the 2015 election and was selected to serve as president of the city council in 2020, announced on February 3, 2021, that she would run in the mayoral election.[19] Nikkita Oliver, who had run in the 2017 mayoral election, announced that they would run for city council on March 10.[20] Businesswoman Sara Nelson, who had run in the 8th district in 2017,[21] and Brianna Thomas, who worked as González's chief of staff, also ran in the election.[22]

Campaign finance

Brianna K. Thomas, Corey Eichner, Oliver, and Xtian Gunter are participating in the democracy voucher program.[13]

CandidateCampaign committee
RaisedSpentdata-sort-type=currency
Corey Eichner[23] $9,680.00$4,358.33$5,321.67$0.00
Claire Grant[24] $901.32$427.77$473.55$0.00
Lindsay McHaffie[25] $0.00$1,296.86-$1,296.86$0.00
Sara Nelson[26] $133,853.98$39,223.04$94,630.94$5,500.00
Nikkita Oliver[27] $183,429.01$55,176.40$128,252.61$0.00
Brianna Thomas[28] $86,278.01$39,301.57$46,976.44$6,372.00

Primary election

Results

General election

Polling

Graphical summary
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Sara
Nelson
Nikkita
Oliver
OtherUndecided
Change Research (D)October 12–15, 2021617 (LV)± 4.1%41%37%2%21%
Elway ResearchSeptember 7–9, 2021400 (LV)± 5.0%31%26%9%34%

Results

See also

Notes

Partisan clients

Notes and References

  1. News: January 8, 2019 . Bruce Harrell third incumbent who won't seek re-election to Seattle City Council . . live . https://archive.today/20210621235452/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/bruce-harrell-wont-run-for-re-election-to-seattle-city-council-third-incumbent-to-bow-out/ . June 21, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  2. News: November 8, 2018 . Rob Johnson won't run for re-election in Seattle's big 2019 City Council elections . . live . https://archive.today/20210622012017/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/rob-johnson-wont-run-for-re-election-in-seattles-big-2019-council-elections/ . June 22, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  3. News: February 13, 2019 . Mike O'Brien is fourth Seattle City Council incumbent who won't run for re-election . . live . https://archive.today/20190323051611/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/mike-obrien-is-fourth-seattle-city-council-incumbent-who-wont-run-for-re-election/ . March 23, 2019 . June 25, 2021 .
  4. News: November 27, 2018 . Sally Bagshaw won't run again for Seattle City Council in 2019 . . live . https://archive.today/20210622011947/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/sally-bagshaw-wont-run-again-for-seattle-city-council-in-2019-elections/ . June 22, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  5. News: November 5, 2019 . 2019 primary results . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200104163527/https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/elections/2019/nov-general/results.pdf . January 4, 2020.
  6. News: December 7, 2020 . Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan won't run for reelection . . live . https://archive.today/20210625023518/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-mayor-jenny-durkan-wont-run-for-reelection/ . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  7. Web site: Democracy Voucher Program - DemocracyVoucher . seattle.gov . 2022-08-21.
  8. Web site: Democracy Policy Network.
  9. News: May 4, 2021 . Teresa Mosqueda will run for reelection to Seattle City Council, nixing mayoral speculation . . live . https://archive.today/20210624185157/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/teresa-mosqueda-will-run-for-reelection-to-seattle-city-council-nixing-mayoral-speculation/ . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 .
  10. News: March 25, 2021 . In a first, Kate Martin launches campaigns for both Seattle mayor and council . . live . https://archive.today/20210625000246/https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2021/03/25/martin-launches-seattle-campaigns.html . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  11. News: February 26, 2021 . Seattle City Council candidate was charged with assault, harassment after 2015 confrontation . . live . https://archive.today/20210624184838/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/city-council-candidate-was-charged-with-assault-harassment-after-2015-confrontation/ . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 .
  12. News: March 1, 2021 . Seattle council candidate withdraws after criminal assault exposed . . live . https://archive.today/20210624185007/https://www.kuow.org/stories/candidate-withdraws-after-criminal-assault-exposed . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 .
  13. News: Participating Candidates . . live . https://archive.today/20210625023941/https://www.seattle.gov/democracyvoucher/i-am-a-seattle-resident/participating-candidates . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  14. News: Brian Fahey campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625000430/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=788&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  15. News: Jordan Elizabeth Fisher campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625024215/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=799&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  16. News: Paul Glumaz campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625024339/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=776&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  17. News: Kate Martin campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625024505/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=777&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  18. News: Teresa Mosqueda campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625024639/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=747&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  19. News: February 3, 2021 . Seattle City Council President M. Lorena González is running for mayor . . live . https://archive.today/20210624235143/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-city-council-president-m-lorena-gonzalez-is-running-for-mayor/ . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021 .
  20. News: March 10, 2021 . Nikkita Oliver announces run for Seattle City Council, lays out vision for big changes . . live . https://archive.today/20210625001452/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/lawyer-community-organizer-nikkita-oliver-announces-bid-for-seattle-city-council/ . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  21. News: April 12, 2021 . Sara Nelson's Sobriety Changed the Way She Thinks About Homelessness, But It Hasn't Changed Her Policy Prescriptions . . live . https://archive.today/20210625001157/https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2021/04/12/56460038/sara-nelsons-sobriety-changed-the-way-she-thinks-about-the-homelessness-but-it-hasnt-changed-her-policy-prescriptions . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  22. News: February 25, 2021 . Two new candidates, Brianna Thomas and Mike McQuaid, seek seats on Seattle Council . . live . https://archive.today/20210624185331/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/two-new-candidates-brianna-thomas-aide-to-m-lorena-gonzalez-and-mike-mcquaid-neighborhood-leader-seek-seats-on-seattle-council/ . June 24, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  23. News: Corey Eichner campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625024834/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=781&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  24. News: Claire Grant campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625024953/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=755&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  25. News: Lindsay McHaffie campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625025107/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=766&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  26. News: Sara Nelson campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625025214/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=757&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  27. News: Nikkita Oliver campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625025354/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=773&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .
  28. News: Brianna Thomas campaign finance . . live . https://archive.today/20210625025507/http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2021&type=campaign&IDNum=770&leftmenu=collapsed . June 25, 2021 . June 25, 2021 .