Our sincerest condolences to candidates and incumbents who care more about big money special interests than working people! Sad!! Thoughts and prayers!
Last night, on Washington’s August primary election night, Seattle candidates who actually campaigned on building a fair economy that works for working people trounced their opposition who favor corporate bottom lines. It was a thing of beauty. Here are some highlights and here’s what we can take away from those results:
Dionne Foster, challenging Council President Sara Nelson, is currently leading 55.57% to Nelson’s 37.65%. Ouchie. Remember how Nelson made it her singular mission, one month into her first year as council president, to cut gig workers’ pay (unsuccessfully)? Yeah, turns out voters in the home of the Fight for $15 like raising low-wage workers’ wages, not rolling them back. We also didn’t like Nelson’s rushed and opaque approach to policymaking or her support of rolling back ethics regulations, among many other things. As the old saying goes: play stupid games, lose re-elections.
Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck is currently winning her primary with over 76% of the vote (like an absolute baller). Everyday people are tired of do-nothing, right-leaning, pro-corporate policymakers who have let costs for working people skyrocket while corporations and billionaires get richer and richer. We’re ready for bold leadership that puts working people’s needs first.
Katie Wilson, the director of the Transit Rider’s Union and a long-time working-class champ, is beating incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell. With 47.97% of the vote to Harrell’s 43.49% (a lead which history tells us is only going to grow over the next several days of ballot counting), we’re seeing further evidence that Seattle is ready for leadership that centers the needs of workers, renters, immigrants, parents, students, transit-riders, fixed-income seniors, and other marginalized communities.
Prop. 1, the ballot initiative to renew the Democracy Voucher Program, is solidly in the lead with 57.04% of Seattle voters approving. Democracy Vouchers are the four $25 vouchers that the city of Seattle gives every voter to give to the candidate(s) of their choice, meaning that everyday people get to help power their preferred candidate’s path to elected leadership. It levels the playing field for everyday voters against corporate special interests, and helps give us all the opportunity to shape the elections that shape our city. With the Democracy Voucher Program on the verge of renewal, we know that Seattle voters want a voice in our elections and the program will continue to facilitate that for the next ten years.
Working people deserve a city and a state that work for us. We’re excited to see results from last night that reflect how truly voters believe that in Seattle, and we’ll continue to build the momentum toward working-class power across all of Washington in the weeks, months, and years to come.