Photo: king-county-ballot
Seattle voters are receiving ballots for the Aug. 5 primary, which will decide the finalists in races for mayor, city attorney, city council, and school board, alongside contests for King County executive and council. Voters will also weigh in on campaign financing and a countywide parks levy.
Mayor Bruce Harrell is seeking a second term — something no Seattle mayor has achieved since Greg Nickels left office in 2010. He faces ten challengers, with the strongest being labor organizer Katie Wilson, former T-Mobile executive Joe Mallahan, and labor advocate and artist Ry Armstrong. The race is a choice between Harrell’s call for consistency and challengers pressing for sharper changes on affordability, public safety, homelessness, and transportation.
Incumbent Ann Davison seeks reelection after her 2021 win. She faces three challengers: poverty law attorney Rory O’Sullivan, defense lawyer Nathan Rouse, and federal prosecutor Erika Evans. The contest tests whether Davison’s tougher stance on crime resonates in a city still divided over enforcement and reform.
For the first time since 2009, the King County Executive race lacks an incumbent – Dow Constantine has moved on to become the CEO of Sound Transit. The leading contenders are County Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Girmay Zahilay, both progressive Democrats with strong fundraising and endorsements.
Three seats are on the ballot. Council President Sara Nelson faces a crowded field, with nonprofit leader Dionne Foster emerging as her strongest challenger, backed by progressive legislators and unions. Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck is defending her seat against two challengers, including Republican Rachel Savage. In District 2 (South Seattle), Jamie Fackler, backed by former Councilmember Tammy Morales, faces multiple contenders after the resignation of Morales earlier this year.
Three Seattle School Board seats (Districts 2, 4, and 5) are contested. District 2 appointee Sarah Clark faces two challengers. In District 4, five candidates, including Joe Mizrahi and Harsimran Kaur, are vying for the seat. District 5 is an open race with Landon Labosky, Julissa Sanchez, Vivian Song, and others. The contests come as the district faces budget shortfalls, potential school consolidations, and leadership uncertainty with Superintendent Brent Jones’ departure.
Seattle voters will decide whether to renew funding for the Democracy Voucher program, which provides residents with vouchers to support local candidates. Countywide, the King County parks levy renewal would raise $1.4 billion over six years to fund trails, open spaces, and recreation facilities.
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A hardware failure at a third-party data center forced Alaska and Horizon to halt all flights for three hours Sunday night, causing more than 150 cancellations and ongoing delays at Sea-Tac.
Newly released data show more than 275 arrests in June, the highest under Trump’s second term, with fewer detainees having criminal records as ICE meets higher quotas.
A federal judge blocked a new mandate requiring Catholic priests to report child abuse learned in confession, ruling it violates First Amendment religious freedoms.
The council voted 8-1 to add a 0.1% tax expected to raise $95 million annually, offsetting a looming $180 million budget deficit.
Market leaders extend vehicle restrictions after rise in foot traffic, with a long-term plan expected before the 2026 World Cup.
The Trump administration will unfreeze money for migrant education, English-language learning, and other programs, averting a $137M shortfall for Washington schools.
Seattle adds the 2024 All-Star first baseman in exchange for two pitching prospects, boosting its playoff push ahead of the trade deadline.
Ichiro Suzuki, one of the greatest hitters in baseball history and the first Japanese-born player elected to the Hall of Fame, was officially inducted Sunday in Cooperstown.
Suzuki played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily with the Seattle Mariners, finishing with 3,089 hits, a .311 career batting average, and 509 stolen bases. Known for his precision hitting and speed, Ichiro set the single-season record with 262 hits in 2004 and became the first player since 1900 to record 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons (2001–2010).
His rookie year was historic: in 2001, Ichiro won both American League MVP and Rookie of the Year, leading the Mariners to 116 wins, tied for the MLB record. He was a 10-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, cementing his reputation as both an offensive and defensive force.
Before arriving in MLB, Suzuki starred in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, collecting 1,278 hits over nine seasons. Combined with his MLB totals, his 4,367 career hits surpass Pete Rose’s MLB record of 4,256.
Ichiro’s groundbreaking career paved the way for future Japanese position players, and his induction was celebrated by thousands of fans, many from Seattle, honoring a global legend whose precision, discipline, and style reshaped modern baseball.
Pier 58 reopened on July 25, marking a major milestone in Seattle’s $806 million central waterfront redevelopment. The new pier adds nearly 50,000 square feet of public space to the 20‑acre Waterfront Park, offering a mix of play areas, green space, and sweeping views of Elliott Bay.
The redesign builds on more than 15 years of planning and public engagement. Pier 58 — once known as Waterfront Park when it opened in 1974 — had been closed and demolished in 2020 after structural failure. Its return completes a long chapter in the city’s effort to create a safer, more accessible, and more family‑friendly waterfront.
At the heart of the new pier is a marine‑themed playground featuring a 25‑foot‑tall jellyfish‑inspired climbing tower, an 18‑foot slide, and additional play structures designed for a range of ages. The play area was designed with clear sightlines for parents and guardians, reflecting a priority on safety and accessibility.
Other features include an elevated lawn designed for both relaxation and informal recreation, a shaded grove of trees, and a flexible plaza space intended for future programming and community events. Architectural lighting integrated into the railings, play structures, and seating areas enhances the space after dusk.
The Waterfront Fountain, a Seattle landmark originally installed in 1974, was restored and returned to the pier after collapsing into Elliott Bay during the 2020 demolition. Its return provides both a link to the pier’s history and a focal point for the redesigned park.
With its location between Union and Pike streets, next to the Seattle Aquarium and the Great Wheel, Pier 58 is expected to become one of downtown’s most heavily used public spaces. Managed and programmed by Friends of Waterfront Park, the pier will serve as both a daily gathering place and a venue for cultural events as Seattle continues to reshape its waterfront for the future.
Average cost of a 30-minute Uber ride in Seattle
Seattle tops the nation for Uber prices, with fares nearly double those in cities like Fort Worth and Indianapolis, according to a new study.
Decline in shooting victims in King County in Q2 2025
The county recorded 69 victims, marking the lowest second-quarter total in five years.
Homes on the Seattle market last month
Inventory reached its highest level since 2015 — about 50% more than June 2024 — giving buyers more leverage and choice.
A jogger in Ballard reported seeing a black bear on a Golden Gardens trail this week, prompting reminders from wildlife officials about preventing encounters. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said bears sometimes wander into urban areas in summer while foraging for food, and urged residents to secure garbage, pet food, and birdseed. Officials also advised against running if spotted — instead, make yourself appear larger to discourage the animal.
A new mixed-reality theme park has opened in Queen Anne’s West Canal Yards. DreamPark, a 25,000-square-foot space, blends digital and physical play using Meta Quest headsets and mobile devices. Attractions include Mario Kart–style scooter races and interactive lava-floor challenges. Founded by a team that once pitched on Shark Tank, the park raised $1.1 million in seed funding earlier this year. Open weekends, DreamPark is now the largest location of its kind in the U.S.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has proposed legislation to bring police surveillance cameras to Capitol Hill’s Pike/Pine nightlife district and Cal Anderson Park, citing concerns about street crime and drug use. The expansion builds on a pilot program already in place on Aurora Avenue, 3rd Avenue, and in the International District. Since launching in May, the Real Time Crime Center has aided more than 600 investigations, according to city officials.
A fast-moving overnight fire in the Central District damaged seven buildings and displaced several families after starting in a backyard shed and spreading to nearby homes. More than 80 firefighters responded, navigating tight streets to contain the two-alarm blaze. One firefighter was injured, but no residents were harmed. Four single-family homes remain uninhabitable while inspectors assess safety, though residents of a nearby apartment building have been allowed to return. Investigators are still determining the cause.
I am also grateful that to the Seattle Mariners for believing that I could become the first position player from Japan in American baseball. I have been in love with Seattle and the Mariners ever since. Thank you, Seattle.
