SEATTLE — Early election results show that there could be a possible shakeup on Seattle City Council, with all three incumbents trying to keep their seats behind in votes as of Wednesday, Nov. 8.
On Wednesday night, District 2 Councilmember Tammy Morales, District 6 Councilmember Dan Strauss, and District 7 Councilmember Andrew Lewis all had fewer votes than their challengers.
On Thursday, Strauss took a slight lead over challenger Pete Hanning.
It was already known that Seattle City Council would look very different next year, with four of the seven district council members deciding not to run again. Now, with the three incumbents behind, some people think Seattle is moving toward a more centrist government and that voters are looking for change.
“While I do agree with some progressive policies, I think that for the City of Seattle, coming to the center is best as far as drug use, drug use on the street, homeless encampments on the street,” said Katherine Young, who is a voter in Seattle’s District 4.
“There’s been, I think, a pivot. I wouldn't say to something other than liberal, but something other than, say, deeply progressive, more pragmatic people,” said Steve Bollich, who lives in Issaquah but spends a lot of time in Seattle.
These thoughts are reflected in the early election results where the more progressive candidates and all three incumbents are trailing.
But Seattle University politics professor Patrick Schoettmer said those numbers can still change.
“Especially in the City of Seattle, we have something called the blue shift, where late returning ballots or ballots that are counted after Election Day tend to be more favorable to the progressive candidate,” said Schoettmer.
No matter what, there will be at least four new faces on the Seattle City Council, and depending on how the incumbents fare the next few days even more change could come.
“I would expect that Dan Strauss in the Sixth District, he looks like he's in pretty good shape, given how he's running,” said Schoettmer. “So, I wouldn't be too nervous about him. I would be more nervous if I was Morales and particularly if I was Lewis. But we have seen fairly big turnarounds before."
People KING 5 spoke with in Pioneer Square said that public safety helped guide their vote.
“I don’t want to go back to these really strong, forceful, police policing, but I think we need a little bit more security,” said Young
As more votes come in, the picture of Seattle’s future will become clearer
“Very hopeful about it,” said Bollich. “I love the city and I think it’s going to even get better."
It will take three weeks to officially know how Seattle’s leadership will shake out, because that is when King County Elections will certify the votes.