Seattle has elected Katie Wilson, a self-described socialist, as its next mayor in a race that saw her narrowly defeat incumbent Bruce Harrell despite being vastly outspent. Wilson’s victory reflects a growing trend in urban politics: a voter shift toward progressive candidates who reject corporate PAC influence and promise aggressive affordability reforms.
Wilson, 43, co-founded the Transit Riders Union and is known for pushing expanded public transit, progressive taxation, and tenant protections. She received 50.2% of the vote to Harrell’s 49.8%, winning despite raising just over $412,000 through her campaign PAC, compared to the $1.82 million raised by PACs supporting Harrell.
Her win comes on the heels of another upset: the election of socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City over former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Like Wilson, Mamdani raised a fraction of the money compared to his opponent’s PACs but managed to build a grassroots coalition centered on housing, transit, and social equity issues.
Wilson has not claimed affiliation with the Seattle chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America but says she is comfortable being called both a Democrat and a socialist. Her campaign prioritized a vision of “affordable Seattle” centered on free or reduced-cost public transit, universal affordable child care, and stronger renter protections.
Wilson’s PAC received major donations from labor groups, including $75,000 each from the Professional and Technical Employees Local 17 PAC and the UFCW Active Ballot Club. In contrast, Harrell’s PAC was backed by major business interests, including $100,000 from the Affordable Housing Council and $90,700 from the NAIOP WA State PAC, along with individual contributions from local elites.
The shift in Seattle’s leadership may influence other elections across Washington, including initiatives currently led by conservative funder Brian Heywood. His group, Let’s Go Washington, is backing K-12 education reforms and protections for girls’ sports through statewide ballot measures, including a proposal to prohibit biological males from competing in girls’ athletics. The group has raised over $2.4 million, with $1.47 million coming from Heywood.
Despite significant funding, Let’s Go Washington lost several key initiatives in 2024, raising questions about the effectiveness of high-dollar campaigns in the current political climate. As progressive candidates like Wilson gain ground by positioning themselves against big-money politics, the effectiveness of traditional PAC-funded campaigns faces new challenges.
Wilson’s win marks a political realignment in Seattle, as voters move toward candidates who combine economic populism with a rejection of corporate influence—even in deep-blue urban centers.
