(Image: City of Seattle)
In advertising, orange can be used as a color representing boldness and excitement while green often represents feelings of sustainability — and wealth
Mayor Bruce Harrell is up for another round leading Seattle.
Harrell announced this week he will seek reelection in November 2025 to retain his seat at Seattle City Hall:
During my first term, we’ve made real progress and put our One Seattle approach into action – advancing our shared priorities by uniting the people of our city together around common values. We’ve delivered public safety solutions, kept parks and sidewalks open and accessible while moving people into shelter and housing with services, made historic investments in affordable housing, prioritized a transportation system focused on safety, and passed nation-leading climate legislation. But there is more work to do – this is the time for proven leadership to stand up for our values and keep Seattle moving forward as a city that is welcoming, affordable, and safe. Today, I registered my re-election campaign and look forward to kicking off this effort early next year.
Harrell’s camp points out the son of the Central District was elected Seattle mayor in 2021 “by the largest margin for a non-incumbent candidate since 1969” as the city’s voters chose the more moderate candidate over his more progressive opponent, Seattle City Councilmember Lorena González.
The race was marked by unprecedented spending with both camps raising more than $2 million combined. Another $2 million plus was raised by independent expenditure committees supporting the rival candidates. It was the first year the mayor’s race was included in the city’s Democracy Vouchers program.
Harrell’s first term has been marked by an economic recovery moderated by new social and economic habits plus rising inflation and labor costs coming out of the pandemic, downtown-centric and public safety-focused legislation, and moderate approaches to issues around homelessness, addiction, and mental health that have emphasized enforcement, housing, and services.
In addition to the mayor’s race, 2025 will bring many significant choices for Seattle voters.
This winter, a decision on funding for the city’s new Social Housing Developer will be on the ballot.
Meanwhile, summer and fall will bring a race for the next term of the citywide council seat won by Alexis Rinck over Tanya Woo and the political battle to lead King County after Executive Dow Constantine opted not to seek another term.
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Like Tanya Woo in his picture, he will soon disappear from Seattle politics and good riddance. This guy is a mondo joke.
My,my. Whatever will his toadies do without him?
Who on earth would vote for this guy. By any measure and no matter what your political beliefs this guy has been a total failure. How’s walking down Broadway lately? How are homicides doing?
I would, but that’s because I’m objective and look at data. So, what’s your reasoning? The deepest thought you’ve expressed below is “he’s better suited for when times are good.”
When I look at our council and their actions, I compare to like cities, in particular Portland and San Francisco.
Harrell objectively moved on cleaning up the drug offenses and encampments in a seamingly just AND compassionate manner, well ahead of San Francisco, Portland, and Los Angeles to boot.
Now, has there been groundshattering progress on crime? No, but he’s worked efficiently, not just effectively, within the confines he’s challenged with.
Give me another moderate or more left-leaning candidate who you think will continue on the trajectory of reducing crimes, especially violent crimes and homelessness erradication (not possible, but I’m purposely being aggressive with the public “ask”) with a push for housing and mental health care. If you know of better candidates, I’m open ears.
Lastly, be sure you’re looking outside one jurisdiction/neighborhood when being objective.
Okay, here’s the deal…
“Now, has there been groundshattering progress on crime? No, but he’s worked efficiently, not just effectively, within the confines he’s challenged with.”
The “confines” was a budget and Covid. He failed both. How? Covid he did not act to prevent the homeless population and lawlessness to get out of hand. Being nimble and bold would have curbed 90% of the looting for example. We simply provide for them all till we figure it out. I am thinking 7 trillion is enough. THAT is what was spent minimum.
How’d he fix it? Covid ended.
He also stole 350 millions from Jump Start further exasperating the issues. Then had the gaul to brag about all the good things he’s doing?
Oh paleeez..>he is doing what YOU wanted. Stop further taxes and claw back what was collected as well in defiance of the voters.
That is YOUR guy!
“Give me another moderate or more left-leaning candidate”
Almost all of them. I am serious.
What a good sport the current mayor is. All the best on your campaign.
What has he done? Nothing
Not true! One example: He has taken action to clean up most of the homeless camps, at least on Capitol Hill. Just 2-3 years ago, there were many large camps in parks and on streets in our neighborhood. Now, I sure wish he would do something about 12th & Jackson. The residents and businesses of that area are suffering mightily!
The issue is that he was elected by his supporters to be a “do nothing” mayor, similar to his Council stint. Then he tried doing things, which has been nothing short of disastrous.
Not sure what to think. He’s not the worse mayor we’ve had in recent memory but he’s not really the most effective one we’ve had either. If a progressive challenger enters the race, I’ll likely vote for them but I wouldn’t lose sleep if Harrell gets re-elected. Maybe my definition of “ineffective” or “terrible” is far too reserved for actual bad people to see Harrell as awful. Also, please vote out Ann Davison, she’s the combination of ineffective and a partisan hack. An actual example of a terrible politician.
Ann davison is the only one it seems is trying to do anything in this city. I’d vote for her again in a second.
I would too. And I would also vote for Harrell. It’s tough being the Mayor of Seattle, but I think he has done a pretty good job.
Thanks! I needed a good laugh after all the crazy stuff happening at the national level.
Between shutting down the community court without consulting the council and exiling prostitutes, she sure is #winning!
Wonder when she’ll fulfill her campaign promise of concentration camps for the homeless?
Agree on not the worst but he really doesn’t do anything. Is big space needle thinking is hanging some string lights. He’s a status quo mayor when that’s not what we need. He would be suited for a time when things are better. He’s afraid to do anything meaningful which is what we need.
same here
What would a progressive do that would make things better? The Seattle progressive platform is to let homelessness proliferate until we can magically provide housing for everyone, dismiss public safety and addiction as issues of poverty and continue to raise taxes to fund public programs with no measures of success or accountability.
I’d also remind you that Davison’s challenger ran on the platform of not doing the job and actively working to undermine the entire justice system.
Would it be awesome if Harrell and Davison could produce better results…absolutely but when you look at what the alternative would have been and the choice we’ll probably have again in Nov I have no hesitation to say I’d vote for both again.
Doubt he makes the primary. He doesn’t have any policies. Never has, even back to his Council days.
For example, he’s so obsessed with return to office to please his downtown property owner constituents, that’ll be the hill he dies on. Kind of similar to the national GOP’s weird obsession with return to office.