The incumbent strikes back: Harrell leads on Election Night as Wilson’s hope lies in later voters

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Wilson after the Election Night drop

Harrell and family attended a speaking appearance by Kamala Harris Tuesday night at Benaroya Hall before his Election Night party (Image: Bruce for Seattle)

After running from behind following a terrible showing in the August primary, Mayor Bruce Harrell is starting from ahead in November with an Election Night lead.

The first tally Tuesday showed the incumbent up 53% to 46% over challenger Katie Wilson, the progressive organizer and leader at the Transit Riders Union who has helped lead minimum wage and renter rights campaigns around the region.

On a night with socialist Zohran Mamdani declared the winner of New York City’s race for mayor, Wilson said hope was at the core of her campaign as she waited for the results Tuesday.

“I think it’s really grounded in hope and in a vision of the city that we can build together,” Wilson said.

Seattle’s history of late progressive voters will also help Wilson’s chances. With Washington’s by-mail system, ballots will continue to trickle in over coming days. In past races, progressive candidates have generally seen their tallies rise as the later ballots arrive.

The most classic example? Socialist firebrand Kshama Sawant overcame a nine-point Election Night deficit in her 2019 re-election run.

Continue reading →

Capitol Hill’s Queer/Bar is turning into the Christmas Dive Bar for the holidays

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The Christmas Dive Bar past

11th Ave is set to once again be Capitol Hill’s North Pole but this time the Christmas Dive Bar is taking over Queer/Bar.

“These past few months have been tough for queer bars and nightclubs across the city and country—this has been true for us as well,” the 1th Ave gay bar and drag venue’s management said in Monday’s announcement of the temporary switch. “We are investing all our efforts into this pop-up as a new way to sustain our programming throughout the year. Eight weeks of Christmas will help us pave the way for 44 weeks of Queer/Bar experiences in 2026.”

Work is underway to redecorate and welcome the first holiday bar customers this month. The Christmas Dive Bar has also announced a “How the Queens Stole Christmas” drag brunch and matinee series slated to run in the bar on weekends “through the holiday season.” Continue reading →

Hollingsworth 2026 spending proposals: $1.25M for Central District preservation, Black Advisory Council boost, $50K for Seven Hills Park, and, yes, even money for Hilloween — UPDATE

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A drone view of the affordable Acer House development at 23rd and Cherry (Image: @benmaritz)

Hollingsworth isn’t on the ballot this week — but her brother in-law Girmay Zahilay is as he waits for the first counts in the race for the King County Executive race (Image: Joy Hollingsworth via Facebook)

As Seattle voters consider new leaders this week, the current Seattle City Council is busy finalizing next year’s City Hall spending plan including proposals from District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth.

The council’s proposed tweaks, and additions reflect changing economic forecasts and neighborhood by neighborhood adjustments to Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2026 budget proposal that hinges on continued strong public safety spending while preserving affordable housing, homelessness, and addiction programs through new revenue sources including the COVID-era JumpStart tax and hopes on this week’s General Election vote on overhauling the city’s B&O tax system.

The council’s cut on the proposed amendments will come Wednesday when budget chair Dan Strauss releases his balancing package followed by a day of public comment Thursday in front of the council’s Select Budget Committee.

Now in her second budget session since her 2023 election victory, D3’s Hollingsworth brought 20 proposed changes for the 2026 budget to the table.

Some of her 2026 proposals would address festering issues in D3. Continue reading →

The CHS 2025 Last Minute Mayoral Election Survey

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You have heard the arguments — here’s why you should vote for Bruce Harrell and here’s why you should vote for Katie Wilson — and hopefully your ballot was delivered to King County Elections already or dropped in the Broadway ballot box. While we wait, here are a few more bubbles to fill out. Who did CHS readers pick for Seattle mayor, what motivated them, and who do they think will win? You can add your response below or check out results here. CHS will be presenting totals filtered by SurveyMonkey to reduce impact of “ballot stuffing.”

Create your own user feedback survey

 

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Limited Civil Emergency — Seattle OKs $1M a week boost food banks during SNAP uncertainty

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Smaller efforts like families rally to increase support for the Tutu’s Pantry program at Capitol Hill’s Stevens Elementary will also help

The City of Seattle is taking emergency action to help residents through the ongoing government shutdown and emergency funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Monday, the Seattle City Council approved Mayor Bruce Harrell’s declaration of a “Limited Civil Emergency” allowing City Hall to fund up to $1 million per week in emergency assistance to local food banks and meal services. Continue reading →

CHS Pics | Hilloween’s goblins, ghouls, and quite a few umbrellas

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Out of Seattle Halloweens since 2020, only half have been rainy. But 16.67% of them came when a global pandemic was still raging. Anyhow, our point is Emerald City trick or treaters are a hardy lot. And your next costume should either be “Atmospheric River” — or incorporate an umbrella.

Friday night’s Hilloween celebrations followed a rather subdued Hilloweekend after the power went out in Pike/Pine.

CHS still found plenty of fun scenes in the Capitol Hill Trick or Treat Hot Zone. More pictures are below.

We’ll see you again in 2026 when we’ll be just about due for a dry Hilloween. Continue reading →

This Capitol Hill coffee shop could be the start of a new Seattle trend: tipping

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(Image:Fuel Coffee)

A Capitol Hill coffee shop could be part of a new trend in Seattle food and drink.

The Fuel Coffee chain has announced it is re-instituting tipping at its three Seattle cafes as it tries to balance reasonable latte prices with fair compensation for its employees.

Ownership says it has been tip-free since 2020 when it instituted service charges but is bringing the practice back as they cut wages to Seattle’s upcoming $21.30 an hour minimum to counteract the soaring price of coffee beans. CORRECTION: CHS didn’t get this right. Fuel adjusted its prices in 2020 but did not institute a service charge. Sorry for the error.

“Based on our own research, along with customer and employee feedback, we’ve come to the conclusion that we would not be able to raise prices to the necessary degree needed to cover cost increases, pay our baristas a competitive wage, and still remain a viable option in the community,” Fuel said in its announcement.

Fuel says it is making the switch in a way it hopes will protect its employees, guaranteeing “that all team members will earn at least their current wages through the end of November–and if they don’t we will make up the difference.” Continue reading →

SPD criticized over bungled promotion of East Precinct Commander

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Chief Barnes, left, at a ceremony marking the promotion of Tietjen, right (Image: SPD)

Saying “community trust is built through transparency, not silence,” GSBA, the city’s LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce and a leading voice for many of Capitol Hill’s small businesses, has called on Chief Shon Barnes and the Seattle Police Department to address the recent promotion of a commander with a history of department violations to lead the East Precinct.

In a letter with the Lavender Rights Project, the organization has condemned the decision and is calling on SPD to provide “an update and timeline” for his replacement.

Barnes announced the promotion of Michael Tietjen to East Precinct Commander in September but said he would reverse the decision last month after a wave of backlash.

“GSBA, Washington State’s LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce and the Neighborhood Chamber for Capitol Hill, and Lavender Rights Project, are writing to express joint disappointment in the Seattle Police Department’s decision to appoint Captain Mike Tietjen to lead the East Precinct in Capitol Hill—a neighborhood that has long stood as the heart of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community,” the letter begins. “This decision was made without meaningful community engagement or transparency, and it sends a troubling message to the residents and businesses of Capitol Hill.” Continue reading →

One to hospital in 14th Ave E apartment building fire — UPDATE

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One person was hospitalized and the Seattle Fire Department was investigating the cause after a Sunday apartment fire on the ninth floor of 14th Ave E’s Capitol Park building.

Seattle Fire was called to the 1971-built Seattle Housing Authority building just before 5 PM to a report of fire and smoke on an upper floor of the 11-story building

One occupant was rescued from the unit and taken to the hospital for treatment. Continue reading →

Need to see what time it is after Sunday’s ‘fall back’? Check out Seattle U’s new 120-year-old clock

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(Image: Seattle University)

Sunday morning, the hands of the new clock in the middle of the Seattle University campus will be wound back an hour as Daylight Saving Time ends.

The hands of the old clock have fallen back before. Continue reading →