‘Disappointing’: John Curley says Katie Wilson endorsement allegations are ‘a big deal’

Allegations of Seattle mayoral candidate Katie Wilson falsifying an endorsement could have the potential to derail her campaign.

Wilson stated that she was endorsed by Claude Burfect, a prominent civil rights activist who was the first vice president of the Seattle-King County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). However, Burfect told Frontlines he never endorsed her.

Burfect also accused Wilson of photoshopping a picture of him for her campaign and tagging it with the word “endorsed.”

EXCLUSIVE: Seattle Mayoral candidate Katie Wilson is accused of manipulating photos of Black leaders and falsely claiming they have endorsed her.

Wilson is now facing enormous backlash from community leaders and fending off calls to quit the race.@choeshow | @TPAction_ pic.twitter.com/um37ZK1Y0S

— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) September 9, 2025

“She used me to elevate her,” Burfect said in the report. “She’s dishonest.”

Meanwhile, Wilson told KIRO Newsradio that Burfect did endorse her over the phone and subsequently confirmed his endorsement through an email exchange.

KIRO host John Curley responds

KIRO host John Curley, who previously endorsed Wilson on “The John Curley Show,” was let down by the situation.

“I’ve only endorsed one candidate for mayor in Seattle my entire career,” he said. “It’s disappointing.”

Burfect said that Wilson called him on the phone, but he never gave the go-ahead.

“When you do call somebody and you’re sort of coming around and ask for the close, like ‘Can I ask for your endorsement, or will you endorse me?’ If you don’t specify the question, you’re not going to get the answer that you want,” Curley remarked.

While Curley noted he didn’t know the full story, he believes the situation is a “big deal.”

“So now this is going to be something that she’s going to have to deal with,” he added.

Curley said that while Wilson may recover, Harrell, whom Burfect did endorse, will certainly use it to his advantage.

Katie Wilson claims Claude Burfect did endorse her

However, Wilson told KIRO Newsradio that Burfect both endorsed her over the phone and confirmed his endorsement through email.

“Claude Burfect endorsed me during a phone conversation I had with him in August, and subsequently confirmed his endorsement via email,” Wilson’s team wrote in a statement. “Claude is free to change his mind, as sometimes happens during campaigns, and we wish him nothing but the best.” 

Wilson’s team then sent two screenshots of the email exchange between her and Burfect, which she said occurred after the phone call.

Burfect first emailed an official photo of himself to Wilson.

Wilson responded:

Thank you, Claude, and it was great to talk with you this afternoon. I’m so honored to have your support.

This photo is a little bigger than the one you texted, but the resolution may still be too low. I did find a larger black-and-white version online (attached), so we can use that in a pinch if you’re not able to send a larger file.

How is “Civil Rights Activist and Union Leader” as a description of you? Or let me know if you prefer something else.

I’m ccing my campaign manager, Alex Gallo-Brown, so he can make sure we add you to our endorsements webpage.

Let’s keep in touch!

Katie”

To which Burfect replied, “Perfect.”

Wilson and Harrell face off in 20 debates

Wilson led Harrell in the primary election, scoring 98,562 votes (50.75%), while Harrell maintained 80,043 votes (41.21%).

The two completed their first of 20 debates on Sept. 4.

Listen to John Curley weekday afternoons from 3 – 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.