The moderate versus left dynamic in Seattle mirrored that in other liberal cities, with “back-to-basics” candidates who promise law and order facing off against progressives who insist that new approaches are needed to solve intractable problems. And in Washington’s vote-by-mail system, ballots need only be post-marked by Election Day, not received. Liberal candidates in Seattle tend to gain ground in later vote counts. While Harrell and Davison now hold strong leads, it could be days before there are clear winners. Davison had said Thomas-Kennedy’s policies would jeopardize public safety. Harrell had criticized his opponent for supporting the goal of cutting the Seattle Police Department’s budget in half - a position she has since softened.Īnd in the normally low-key contest for city attorney, which also drew national attention, Ann Davison, who pronounced herself a Republican in overwhelmingly Democratic Seattle in 2020, was leading police and jail abolitionist Nicole Thomas-Kennedy. In the mayor’s race, Bruce Harrell, a former City Council president, was ahead of current City Council President M. SEATTLE (AP) - Moderate candidates took significant leads in early Seattle election returns Tuesday following a months-long debate about how to address the city’s problems of homelessness, policing and racial and economic injustice.
