Trio of candidates maintain massive fundraising lead in race for Seattle council seat
Jun 11, 2021, 3:07 PM | Updated: 3:18 pm
Sara Nelson (left), Nikkita Oliver (center), and Brianna Thomas (right). (Campaign courtesy photos)
(Campaign courtesy photos)
Despite there being seven candidates running to replace exiting at-large Seattle City Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez, three have continued to lead the way in fundraising.
4 candidates continue to pace field in fundraising for Seattle mayoral race
Activist and community organizer Nikkita Oliver recently took the lead in campaign donations, having brought in over $185,000 across nearly 3,000 contributors.
Oliver has emerged early on as a favorite among prominent progressives, scoring endorsements from Seattle Councilmember Tammy Morales, King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, and state Rep. Tarra Simmons among others. Donors to Oliver’s campaign include 2021 mayoral candidate Andrew Houston, former mayoral candidate Cary Moon, critical race theory scholar Edwin Lindo, and activist and former council candidate Shaun Scott.
Trailing behind Oliver is Fremont Brewery founder Sara Nelson, who’s raised over $143,000 from 671 contributors. Nelson does not list any endorsements on her campaign website, but has received donations from Uncle Ike’s founder Ian Eisenberg, Seattle restaurateur Ethan Stowell, 2021 mayoral candidate Lance Randall, and former Seattle Councilmember Heidi Wills.
Fields now set for Seattle mayor, council, and city attorney elections
Brianna Thomas, the chief of staff for outgoing Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez, continues to round out the top three candidates in fundraising efforts, having received over $91,000 from 1,536 contributors.
Thomas has the most endorsements of any candidate from sitting Seattle city councilmembers, including Gonzalez, Lisa Herbold, and Dan Strauss, as well as former Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. Contributors to Thomas’ campaign include Seattle School Board Director Zachary DeWolf, state Sen. Mona Das, and 2021 mayoral candidate Colleen Echohawk.
None of the four remaining candidates have raised more than $10,000, with educator Corey Eichner sitting in a distant fourth at $9,680 across 82 contributors.
