2026 King County Council election
November 3, 2026
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4 of 9 seats on the King County Council Officially nonpartisan | |||||||||||||
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The 2026 King County Council election will be held on November 3, 2026.
Background
[edit]In 2022, an amendment to the county charter was passed that shifted King County elections from odd-numbered year elections to even-numbered years.[1] As a result, the 2025 election was the last election to be held on an odd-numbered year, with 2026 being the first of the even-numbered year elections.
District 2
[edit]District 2 represents Bryn Mawr-Skyway, northern Tukwila and eastern Seattle, including the Capitol Hill, Central District, Eastlake, Laurelhurst, Rainier Valley and University District neighborhoods.
Council member Girmay Zahilay resigned in 2025 after taking office as King County Executive. Zahilay nominated three potential candidates for the King County Council to appoint. All three were Black women, ensuring the appointee would be the first Black woman to serve on the King County Council. Additionally, the appointment of a woman made the King County Council majority female for the first time in its history.[2]
The King County Council selected Rhonda Lewis. All three nominees, including Lewis, pledged to not run in the 2026 election.
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Toshiko Hasegawa, Port of Seattle commissioner for position 4 (2022–present)[3][4]
- Rebecca Saldaña, state senator from the 37th legislative district (2016–present)[5]
Filed paperwork
[edit]- Miriam Mboya[6]
Declined
[edit]- Nimco Bulale, senior program officer at the Seattle Foundation and interim nominee[7]
- Cherryl Jackson-Williams, engagement coordinator for the Renton School District and interim nominee[7]
- Rhonda Lewis, incumbent council member[7]
Endorsements
[edit]Local officials
- Rod Dembowski, King County Council member from the 1st district (2013–present)[4]
- Erika Evans, Seattle City Attorney (2025–present)[4]
- Joy Hollingsworth, Seattle City Council president (2026–present) from the 3rd district (2023–present)[4]
- 3 other Seattle City Council members[a]
- Teresa Mosqueda, King County Council member from the 8th district (2024–present) (co-endorsement with Saldaña)[4]
State legislators
Local officials
- Larry Gossett, former King County Council member from the 2nd district (1994–2020)[5]
- Teresa Mosqueda, King County Council member from the 8th district (2024–present) (co-endorsement with Hasegawa)[4]
State legislators
- Jamie Pedersen, majority leader of the Washington State Senate (2025–present) from the 43rd district[5]
- 9 other state senators[c]
- 11 state representatives[d]
District 4
[edit]District 4 represents northwestern Seattle, including the Ballard, Belltown, Broadview, Fremont, Green Lake, Interbay and Queen Anne neighborhoods.
Incumbent council member Jorge Barón is seeking reelection.[8]
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Jorge Barón, incumbent council member (2024–present)
Endorsements
[edit]U.S. representative
- Pramila Jayapal, U.S. representative from WA-07 (2017–present)[8]
Local officials
- Claudia Balducci, King County Council member from the 6th district (2016–present)[8]
- Jeanne Kohl-Welles, King County Council member from the 4th district (2016–2024)[8]
District 6
[edit]District 6 represents northern Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Medina, Mercer Island and southwestern Redmond.
Incumbent council member Claudia Balducci is seeking reelection.[8]
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Claudia Balducci, incumbent council member (2016–present)
Endorsements
[edit]U.S. representative
- Suzan DelBene, U.S. representative from WA-01 (2012–present)[8]
District 8
[edit]District 8 represents Burien, Tukwila, Vashon and southwestern Seattle, including the Alki, Delridge, Fauntleroy, Georgetown and West Seattle neighborhoods.
Incumbent council member Teresa Mosqueda is seeking reelection.[9]
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Teresa Mosqueda, incumbent council member (2024–present)
Endorsements
[edit]U.S. representative
- Pramila Jayapal, U.S. representative from WA-07 (2017–present)[9]
State officials
- Bob Ferguson, governor of Washington (2025–present)[9]
- Chris Reykdal, Washington State superintendent of Public Instruction (2017–present)[9]
Local officials
- Katie Wilson, mayor of Seattle (2026–present)[9]
Notes
[edit]- ↑
- Eddie Lin, Seattle City Council member from the 2nd district (2025–present)[4]
- Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Seattle City Council member from the 8th position (2024–present)[4]
- Dan Strauss, Seattle City Council member from the 6th district (2020–present)[4]
- ↑
- Steve Bergquist, state representative from the 11th district (2013–present)[4]
- Darya Farivar, state representative from the 46th district (2023–present)[4]
- David Hackney, state representative from the 11th district (2021–present)[4]
- Gerry Pollet, state representative from the 46th district (2011–present)[4]
- Sharon Tomiko Santos, state representative from the 37th district (1999–present)[4]
- Chipalo Street, state representative from the 37th district (2023–present) (co-endorsement with Saldaña)[4]
- ↑
- Emily Alvarado, state senator from the 34th district (2025–present)[5]
- Adrian Cortes, state senator from the 18th district (2025–present)[5]
- Manka Dhingra, state senator from the 45th district (2017–present)[5]
- Claudia Kauffman, state senator from the 47th district (2007–2011, 2023–present)[5]
- Marko Liias, state senator from the 21st district (2014–present)[5]
- Marcus Riccelli, state senator from the 3rd district (2025–present)[5]
- Vandana Slatter, state senator from the 48th district (2025–present)[5]
- Javier Valdez, state senator from the 46th district (2023–present)[5]
- Claire Wilson, state senator from the 30th district (2019–present)[5]
- ↑
- Liz Berry, state representative from the 36th district (2021–present)[5]
- Mia Gregerson, state representative from the 33rd district (2013–present)[5]
- Nicole Macri, state representative from the 43rd district (2017–present)[5]
- Shaun Scott, state representative from the 43rd district (2025–present)[5]
- Sharlett Mena, state representative from the 29th district (2023–present)[5]
- Edwin Obras, state representative from the 33rd district (2024–present)[5]
- Lillian Ortiz-Self, state representative from the 21st district (2014–present)[5]
- Julia Reed, state representative from the 36th district (2023–present)[5]
- Chipalo Street, state representative from the 37th district (2023–present)[5] (co-endorsement with Hasegawa)[4]
- Jamila Taylor, state representative from the 30th district (2021–present)[5]
- Brianna Thomas, state representative from the 34th district (2025–present)[5]
References
[edit]- ↑ "MRSC - Recapping the November 2022 Ballot Measure Results". mrsc.org. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ↑ Gutman, David (2025-12-03). "Zahilay successor will add first Black woman to council". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ↑ Rutledge, Jenna (2026-01-22). "Port of Seattle Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa launches campaign for King County Council's 2nd District". NPI's Cascadia Advocate. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Trumm, Doug (2026-01-15). "Toshiko Hasegawa Jumps in King County Council District 2 Race". The Urbanist. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Trumm, Doug (2025-12-09). "Rebecca Saldaña Announces Run for Girmay Zahilay's Former County Council Seat". The Urbanist. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ↑ "Miriam Mboya | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- 1 2 3 Boun, Seth (2025-12-04). "New Executive Girmay Zahilay just nominated three Black women to take over his spot on the Metropolitan King County Council". NPI's Cascadia Advocate. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
Zahilay had previously pledged to only nominate individuals who will not run for the 2026 term to ensure a transparent process and an open seat election.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rutledge, Jenna (2025-12-09). "Candidates and activists gearing up for an exciting 2026 cycle, as King County's switchover to even year elections takes effect". NPI's Cascadia Advocate. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Pauley, Spencer (2025-11-25). "Mosqueda announces she's seeking a second term on King County Council". The Center Square. Retrieved 2025-12-17.