Already bonded over their shared communities in the Central District, the political fortunes of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and District 3 city council candidate Joy Hollingsworth are now further intertwined.

Thursday, the first-term mayor and former city councilmember formally endorsed Hollingsworth in the race to replace Kshama Sawant at City Hall.

“Growing up in Seattle’s historically Black community, my family and the Hollingsworth family share roots and values – both of us raised by parents and grandparents committed to equity, breaking down barriers, and making this a better place for the next generation,” Harrell said in the press release from the Hollingsworth campaign, adding that he is “excited that Joy is stepping up to serve and chart her path to public service.”

Harrel cited Hollingsworth’s “proven background in food security, small business, and standing up for youth” and said her experience would be “invaluable on the City Council, as we address public safety priorities, make Seattle more compassionate and affordable, and invest in our parks, community centers, and other nurturing spaces for kids and families.”

The endorsement might be the highest profile to date in the crowded, eight-way race as ballots will begin arriving in mailboxes across the neighborhoods around Capitol Hill, First Hill, and the Central District next week for the August 1st primary. The top two candidates will go on to the November general election.

The campaigns to date have been generally convivial in comparison to the more heated debates in past D3 races. CHS reported here on a recent forum as the candidates did what they could to differentiate their mostly progressive takes on the city’s most pressing issues. Hollingsworth’s tendency toward accessible takes and straightforward answers and solutions that veer toward a more centrist approach to the council is probably also a draw for Harrell.

First Hill’s Alex Hudson, who is second only to Hollingsworth as far as financial contributions go, has spent her campaign time solidifying her position as a wonk with first-hand experience shaping legislation and the political process around it while taking positions not that far from Hollingsworth’s. It’s not the mayor but Hudson received an important endorsement this week as The Urbanist media and advocacy organization threw its support behind the candidate in the D3 race over Hollingsworth. “The District 3 field is full of candidates with a positive vision for the city that are well-aligned with the direction that The Urbanist elections committee wants to move (we particularly appreciated hearing from Efrain Hudnell, Andrew Ashiofu, and Joy Hollingsworth),” the endorsement reads. “But Hudson is the one we trust to get us there.”

Judkins Park’s Alex Cooley, meanwhile, has emerged in the race as a neighborhood leader with progressive positions mixed with a bit of free market radicalism — he is calling for the legalization and taxation of drugs like cocaine and heroin. Meanwhile, Seattle LGBTQ Commission co-chair Andrew Ashiofu stands as the candidate most likely to pick up Sawant’s mantle of passionate speeches and deeply social legislation. Pierce County public defender and Capitol Hill resident Bobby Goodwin, meanwhile, has continued to hone is position as the race’s iconoclast, repeating his promise that he would have voted for a tougher stance on drug laws in the city. Despite that, Goodwin’s campaign stands dead last in terms of contributions with only just under $3,500 reported.

Each of them now face a more formidable opponent — though the support around Hollingsworth isn’t exactly a surprise. She had been derisively referred to as “the mayor’s candidate” in a recent forum.

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• BOBBY GOODWIN: Bobby Goodwin, a public defender who wants cops to work harder and the streets of Seattle to be safer, wants your District 3 vote
• JOY HOLLINGSWORTH: With ‘cannabis justice,’ hunger advocacy, and three generations in the Central District, Hollingsworth enters race for District 3 — UPDATE
• EFRAIN HUDNELL: This District 3 candidate wants to use affordable housing to help save Seattle from a ‘death spiral that we’ve seen in cities that have gone boom to bust in a way that only American cities do’
• ALEX HUDSON: With her heart on First Hill, Hudson joins race for District 3 with a neighborhood approach to urbanist policy
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In her campaign’s announcement, Hollingsworth claimed to also be leading the race in terms of “diversity of endorsements.”

“I’ve personally knocked on thousands of doors and collected thousands of vouchers in this campaign so far, earning support from voters across the district, and endorsements from progressive leaders and unions, small business owners, and community leaders across the city,” Hollingsworth said. “I am grateful for the Mayor’s support and look forward to working with him to take on public safety concerns I hear from neighbors and neighborhood businesses, housing challenges facing seniors, families, and young people, as well as the opportunities we have to give kids a safe, sustainable future in our city.”

The Seattle City Council primary election takes place August 1st. Ballots should begin appearing in mailboxes after July 12th. Visit King County Elections to learn about registering and more.

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