Seattle, WA – Progressive activist Katie Wilson officially launched her campaign for Seattle mayor on Wednesday, entering the race against incumbent Bruce Harrell.
Wilson, the co-founder and general secretary of the Seattle Transit Riders Union (TRU), has spent years advocating for a wide range of progressive causes, including expanded transit access, higher minimum wages, and stronger renter protections. Through her work with TRU, Wilson has been a vocal critic of City Hall and a leading force in mobilizing communities to secure policy changes.
“Over the past 14 years, I’ve been organizing and building coalitions that have achieved significant victories for working people,” Wilson said in her announcement. “I’ve done that as an outsider, challenging City Hall, and now I want to bring that experience directly into City Hall. Seattle is at a pivotal moment, and we need leadership that will confront our city’s challenges with energy and thoughtful action.”
Wilson’s efforts include successfully advocating for King County’s ORCA Lift program in 2014, which offers reduced-fare transit passes to low-income riders. Additionally, she played a key role in driving voter initiatives in Burien, SeaTac, and Tukwila to raise the minimum wage. She also contributed to the creation of Seattle’s Jumpstart Payroll Expense Tax, which supports affordable housing and budget stabilization.
She was also involved in the city’s Revenue Stabilization Workgroup, formed by Mayor Harrell and former Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, which explored potential progressive taxes to address Seattle’s ongoing budget challenges.
Wilson’s campaign is not limited to a single issue. As a parent to a toddler, she emphasized her commitment to improving transportation, tax policy, budgets, and child care and education. However, she identified housing, homelessness, and protecting Seattle from federal budget cuts as her top three priorities.
“Seattle faces immense challenges, particularly as we anticipate federal cuts to grant programs that help fund the services our residents rely on,” Wilson said. “These are issues that demand urgent attention and bold action.”
The catalyst for her mayoral run came after February’s special election regarding funding for the Seattle Social Housing Developer. Wilson was particularly motivated by the defeat of Proposition 1B, which would have used existing Jumpstart tax revenues to fund social housing, an initiative supported by Harrell. Proposition 1A, a competing measure to introduce a new tax, passed with 63% of the vote.
“This election highlighted a disconnect between Mayor Harrell’s actions and the will of Seattle voters,” Wilson said. “We need leadership that listens to the people, not corporate interests.”
Wilson is the first major challenger to announce a bid for mayor, with Harrell currently seen as the frontrunner. However, Wilson’s candidacy presents a notable shift for the race, as progressive candidates in Seattle traditionally secure endorsements from labor unions and left-leaning political groups.
While Harrell has already received endorsements from more than 50 current and former elected officials, many of whom are centrist or center-left Democrats, Wilson remains optimistic about building momentum among voters.
“I know I’m the underdog in this race,” Wilson acknowledged. “But as our campaign picks up steam, I’m confident we’ll attract more endorsements and resonate with the people of Seattle. Our plan will speak to the needs of the community, and we’ll have the momentum to back it up.”
Although the campaign season is still in its early stages, labor unions and political organizations have yet to make endorsements. In the 2021 election, labor supported former Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez over Harrell. Despite this, Harrell was recently recognized as “Best Elected Official” by the King County Labor Council for his efforts to improve the lives of working people.
For more updates on Wilson’s campaign, visit her official website.
