Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson-backed progressive candidates fall short in Washington primary races

Two progressive candidates endorsed by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson were defeated Tuesday in Washington’s primary election, with one failing to advance to the general election and the other trailing by a wide margin.

In the 46th Legislative District, Ron Davis finished a distant third in the Democratic primary for the state House seat, receiving about 14% of the vote. Incumbent Rep. Gerry Pollet led with roughly 54%, while political newcomer Will Dreher earned about 31%, sending Pollet and Dreher to the November general election under Washington’s top two primary system.

The race had been one of the state’s most closely watched and expensive legislative contests. Davis, a former tech entrepreneur and policy consultant, campaigned on expanding housing, investing in transportation, and increasing education funding.

“I’m running to freeze the rent in public housing, build over a million homes, double the buses on the road, and make sure childcare is affordable for every family and protect our community from Donald Trump,” Davis told voters in a campaign ad.

Pollet, who has represented north Seattle since 2011, called Wilson’s decision to back Davis “astonishing,” saying he has consistently supported the city’s legislative priorities.

In the 43rd Legislative District, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen overwhelmingly defeated progressive challenger Hannah Sabio-Howell in the primary. Pedersen, who drafted and sponsored the state’s new income tax on millionaires, captured about 71% of the vote, while Sabio-Howell received about 18%. Independent Heather-Marie Wilson earned about 11%.

“We are paying so much more at the end of the day, at the end of the year, to live here than the super wealthy individuals and corporations that have built their wealth here and gotten richer and richer,” Sabio-Howell told KIRO Newsradio in July.

Because Washington advances the top two vote-getters regardless of party, both Pedersen and Sabio-Howell will move on to the November ballot. However, Pedersen’s commanding lead underscored his strength in one of the state’s most reliably Democratic legislative districts.

Wilson endorsed Davis, Sabio-Howell

Wilson had endorsed both Davis and Sabio-Howell, backing challengers who argued Democratic incumbents had not moved aggressively enough on issues including housing affordability, taxation and other progressive priorities.

The endorsements marked a significant political gamble for Wilson, who was elected mayor last year with backing from many of the city’s progressive and democratic socialist organizations. Wilson also rejected the longstanding practice of incumbents endorsing fellow incumbents.

“There is strong pressure for elected officials to endorse fellow incumbents. It’s a way of maintaining relationships, part of the quid pro quo of governing,” Wilson told The Washington State Standard. “We’re at an inflection point in our city and our region. Voters are feeling a warranted frustration with the status quo.”

The Washington State Democratic Campaign said Pederson holds the endorsements of multiple organizations, unions, and prominent members of the Democratic Party, like Governor Bob Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, King County Executive Girmay Zalhilay, and Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth.

Initial election results will continue to be updated as additional ballots are counted.

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