SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Will former U.S. attorney Jenny Durkan run for Seattle mayor?

May 4, 2017, 4:01 PM | Updated: 4:09 pm

jenny Durkan...

Jenny Durkan. (AP)

(AP)

Former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan could be considering a run for mayor of Seattle as current Mayor Ed Murray continues to battle sexual abuse allegations.

Who will run against Seattle Mayor Ed Murray?

KIRO Radio’s Mike Lewis told KIRO Radio’s Ron and Don that internal polling shows that support for Mayor Murray is “dropping pretty rapidly,” both from within Murray’s campaign and from his challengers.

“They’re always putting a finger to the wind to see how well their person is doing,” Lewis explained.

In Murray’s case the wind could be changing. Lewis reports that support is weakening for Murray, including support from labor groups. That, coupled with the possibility that another potentially strong candidate could jump into the race, is making the path to Murray’s re-election bumpy.

Jenny Durkan, who earned her law degree from the University of Washington School of Law, served as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington under President Obama from 2009 through September 2014. She’s a progressive Democrat who, according to Lewis, may even have support from the Downtown Seattle Association. Lewis reports Durkan falls even left of Obama.

Durkan hasn’t announced anything yet, but Lewis says she has good name recognition and a good fundraising ability.

As for Murray, he’s continued to say that he will run for re-election. However, Lewis says he’s heard that Murray’s resolve could be diminishing; especially after a fourth person accused him of sexual abuse.

“If the mayor is seen as weak or not all in, money could flow in different directions,” Lewis said.

“I hear things could get crazy over the next few weeks.”

Listen to the entire conversation below.

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Will former U.S. attorney Jenny Durkan run for Seattle mayor?