MYNORTHWEST NEWS

4 candidates continue to pace field in fundraising for Seattle mayoral race

Jun 7, 2021, 2:01 PM | Updated: Jun 8, 2021, 7:50 am

Fundraising Seattle mayoral race...

The four leading fundraising candidates for Seattle mayor. (Campaign courtesy photos)

(Campaign courtesy photos)

While 15 total candidates are registered to run for Seattle mayor in 2021, four have consistently led the way in fundraising efforts, with one having already reached the limit for available funds during the primaries.

Fields now set for Seattle mayor, council, and city attorney elections

Homelessness advocate Colleen Echohawk continues to lead all candidates, having brought in nearly $400,000 from over 5,600 contributors. Echohawk has consistently paced the field in fundraising since the start of her mayoral campaign. She’s also the first and only candidate to approach the $400,000 limit for mayoral candidates in the primaries, although she is still allowed to petition the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission to waive that cap. Candidates are permitted to spend a combined total of $800,000 between the primary and general elections.

Prominent contributors to Echohawk’s campaign include former Seattle Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Public Defender Association Director Lisa Daugaard, and Seattle School Board Director Zachary DeWolf.

Trailing close behind Echohawk is Andrew Grant Houston, who had previously served as the interim policy manager for Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. As of June 6, Houston has raised over $320,700 across almost 4,500 contributors, as he, too, has continued to maintain early fundraising momentum. He’s also done so without the aid of major donors, but has been formally endorsed by the University of Washington’s Young Democrats and the Washington Stonewall Democrats, an LGBTQ-focused caucus that functions as part of the Washington State Democrats Central Committee.

Occupying the third spot in total fundraising is Council President Lorena Gonzalez, having brought in nearly $277,000 across 4,081 contributors. Among the major contributors to Gonzalez’s campaign are Councilmembers Teresa Mosqueda, Lisa Herbold, and Tammy Morales, as well as state Sen. Rebecca Saldana and former mayoral candidate Cary Moon.

Mayoral candidate: Challengers should defund SPD ‘or drop out’

Former Council President Bruce Harrell has raised the fourth most money of any mayoral candidate so far, having received over $264,000 in contributions from 2,016 donors. Prominent contributors to Harrell’s campaign include former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best, former King County Sheriff John Urquhart, real estate billionaire Martin Selig, and SoDo Business Improvement Area Executive Director Erin Goodman.

Harrell is the only candidate to also have an independent political action committee raising money on their behalf. As of May 28, the “Bruce Harrell for Seattle’s Future” PAC has raised over $24,000, including four donations of $5,000 each, and another three of $1,000 each. PACs are permitted to independently solicit donations on behalf of Seattle candidates provided the candidate is not directly involved.

Trailing behind the top four in fundraising are former state Rep. Jessyn Farrell ($103,811), economic developer Lance Randall ($46,109), and current Deputy Mayor Casey Sixkiller ($33,225).

MyNorthwest News

Everett boy missing...

Frank Sumrall

4-year-old Everett boy missing, police worried he’s in danger

Police and Search and Rescue crews are looking for a missing four-year-old boy they suspect could be in danger.

1 hour ago

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

11 hours ago

Photo: The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center....

James Lynch

King County’s plan to close youth detention center met with fierce backlash

The King County Law and Justice Committee received a final report on Executive Dow Constantine's plan to close a youth detention center.

12 hours ago

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

14 hours ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

15 hours ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

15 hours ago

4 candidates continue to pace field in fundraising for Seattle mayoral race