Early frontrunners emerge in latest polling for pair of Seattle council races

With ballots beginning to arrive, new polling numbers for Seattle’s two at-large city council races paint a picture of how both races are beginning to play out.

Former, current council presidents lead polling in race for Seattle mayor

Between Monday, July 12, and Thursday, July 15, the Northwest Progressive Institute (NPI) collected online surveys from 617 voters, asking who they planned to vote for in August’s primary election. For those who said they were undecided, they were then asked who they would vote for “if they had to choose.”

For the initial question, incumbent at-large Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda garnered 19% of votes, followed by local activist Kate Martin at 5%, and then Paul Glumaz and Bobby Miller at 2% each.

After the undecided voters were asked who they preferred, Mosqueda’s total ticked up to 26%, with Martin trailing behind at 6%. Glumaz and Miller both saw a slight increase to 3%, with five other candidates tied at 1%.

Polling for Seattle’s other at-large council race saw similarly wide margins despite not featuring an incumbent candidate, with local activist and organizer Nikkita Oliver out to an early lead at 24%, followed by Fremont Brewery Founder Sara Nelson at 10%. Brianna Thomas, who serves as Council President Lorena Gonzalez’s chief of staff, rounded out the top three at 5%.

All three candidates saw modest increases to 26%, 11%, and 6%, respectively, after undecided voters were asked for their preferences.

Mosqueda still faces little opposition in Seattle council reelection bid

Across polling for mayor, city council, and city attorney, Mosqueda and Oliver garnered the highest percentage of votes among all candidates.

“That suggests that the work they have done to build a people-powered campaign that resonates with the voters has been very effective,” the NPI theorized.

In terms of fundraising, Mosqueda has raised the most money of any candidate in her race by far, having brought in nearly $177,000 as of July 13. Martin trails in a distant second at roughly $19,800, followed by Glumaz at $10,400.

While Nelson trails behind Oliver in polling, she’s currently leading in fundraising dollars with over $216,000 raised across 991 contributors. Oliver trails behind her at just under $187,000, but with a considerably broader base of over 3,000 donors.

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