Anders Ibsen to be next mayor of Tacoma as John Hines concedes

Anders Ibsen has won the Tacoma Mayor’s race; his opponent John Hines conceded Thursday night.

“After a year of hard campaigning and three days of vote counting, it is clear from the results that this election did not go our way,” Hines said in a statement.  “I offer Mayor-elect Ibsen my congratulations, and I look forward to working with him collaboratively in my continuing role as a City Councilmember. Tacoma’s needs are many, and it is vitally important that we put aside our differences from the campaign trail and work together.”

Ibsen’s lead widened on Thursday, bringing him to 56.6% (27,874 votes), compared to opponent Tacoma City Councilmember John Hines at 42.7% (21,042 votes), as shown on the Secretary of State’s website.

In the first round of results Tuesday, Ibsen walked away with 53.6% of the vote (13,773 votes), while Hines took 45.7% (11,763 votes).

Victoria Woodards has been the mayor of Tacoma since 2018. Since she has reached the limit in the number of terms she’s allowed to serve, she is bowing out in favor of new leadership.

Ibsen had a strong lead in August’s primary election, more than doubling Hines’ tally. Ibsen received 38.5% of the vote (13,442 votes) while Hines earned 19.2% (6,709 votes), edging out Whitney Stevens by 1,262 votes.

Washington uses a top-two primary system in local elections, meaning the two candidates who received the most votes in the primary advance to the general election in November.

Ibsen, 39, served on the Tacoma City Council for eight years, from 2012 to 2019, in addition to being a broker at a real estate firm in Tacoma. He previously faced off against Hines for a council seat in 2015, winning that election a decade ago.

Hines joined the council five years later, reelected in 2024, while also working as an instructional specialist within Tacoma Public Schools.

On the campaign trail, Ibsen said Tacoma needs “a new direction,” pointing to rising crime and homelessness. He said he would use city-owned land for housing and revise building codes to speed construction.

Hines argued Tacoma needs steady leadership. He favors faster permitting for builders while enhancing collaboration between city staff and developers.

The city’s budget, public safety, expanding available housing, and improving workers’ conditions remain the top priorities for both candidates.

Hines has campaigned that public safety and practical fixes should come first.

Last month, the Tacoma City Council passed Hines’ measure to expand the city’s camping ban. The initial camping ban was passed in 2022 after Hines drafted the measure in response to a sharp increase in public health and safety concerns reported by community members regarding areas near Tacoma shelters.

Three years later, Hines led an effort to expand the city’s no-camping ordinance.

According to The Tacoma News Tribune, city officials estimate there will be a $15 million deficit in the 2027-2028 biennial budget.

Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.